Inside facts of stage and screen (March 1, 1930)

PAGE TEN INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1930 GREETINGS TO THE RADIO WORLD FROM PICKWICK BROADCASTING CORP, HENRY A. HOHMAN, Managing Director KGB 1330 Kc.—250 WATTS—225.4 METERS PICKWICK TERMINAL HOTEL SAN DIEGO R. G. BINYON, Manager OTTO HOEG, Program and Studio Director KTM 780 Kc—1000 WATTS—384.4 METERS 3636 BEVERLY BLVD., LOS ANGELES KTAB 560 Kc—1000 WATTS—535.4 METERS PICKWICK TERMINAL HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO . BOB ROBERTS, General Manager WALTER J. RUDOLPH, Program Director STAGE, SCREEN and RADIO ARTISTS: WHEN YOU THINK OF TRAVEL THINK OF PICKWICK TO BIG POPULARITY BY 11-1 PI It is expected that the Pick- wick Broadcasting Corporation, owners and operators of radio sta- tion KTM, Los Angeles and Santa Monica, will shortly com- plete an amalgamation that will result in changing the name of their transportation lines to “Grey- hound Stages.” The corporation also operates KGB in San Diego and KTAB in San Francisco. Henry Hohman is managing di- rector of the corporation. The KTM station is under the management of Glenhall Taylor, who has placed program direction in the hands of Frank Gage, for- mer assitant program director of the Pacific Coast Division of one of the major networks. Assisting Gage is Johnny Mack, who also serves in the capacity of chief an- nouncer, and broadcasts the Uncle Jay feature. Dramatics Featured In charge of the dramatics and kindred production work is Ma- rillah Olney. An array of radio stars comprises such names as Ar- thur Shaw, organist; Lucy Day, soprano; Lou Gordon, tenor; Paul Reese, pianist; Phil Newcomb, tenor; Loyce Whiteman, Sweet- heart of the Blues; Dorothy Dee, and a score of others. Of interest to Inside Facts read- ers is the statement from KTM that the station will continue to show a sincere effort in fostering its already established movement to give drama and true showman- ship its place on the air. This station, one of the oldest in this territory, introduced to the air last November 28 the finest thousand-watt equipment that money could buy, said to be the finest transmitter of this power on the entire Pacific Coast. The sta- tion invested a considerable sum of money, purchasing its own property on a rounding knoll near the Clover Field Airport, near Santa Monica, giving a complete blanketing of this densely popu- lated territory. Rapid Growth At this station’s Los Angeles Studio, from which the major part of the programs emanate, are the announcers’ booth and control room where the technicians, under the guidance _ of E. A. Hughes, have full visible control of a spacious studio. Both the floor and _ suspension type microphones receive the music, and are mixed and monitored in the latest dictates of talkiedom. In the center of the studio, the console of a fine Robert Morton radio organ _ stands. Boasting a splendid station orchestra, an en- viable array of talent, and excel- lent ensembles, this station, through the personality of its pro- grams, now rides the crest of a popularity wave along with sta- tions which overshadowed it only three months previously. HANSON PROMOTED A1 Hanson of the National The- are Supply Company has been promoted from Los Angeles branch manager to be the assistant division manager of the Western division. INCREASED SHOWMANSHIP AND BEAUTY ARE DUE DURING 1930 By DON E. GILMAN ^.casting lifts the entire nation out (Vice-President of NBC, in Charge of the Pacific Division) SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27.— Outside of the technical advance- ment of radio, the future should mean to the listening public an era of increased beauty and show- manship in the broadcast program. Looking back over the past year’s advancement in radio pro- gram building, one sees clearly a transition period which has led us to a new type of entertainment. Unlike the concert stage, vaude- ville or the legitimate theatre, stu- dio entertainment should stand alone. With hundreds of former the- atrical people, writers and skilled performers concentrating upon the building of unique and worth while programs suitable to broad- casting needs, the year 1930 must see many striking and practical innovations in broadcast enter- tainment. Chain Broadcast Increase Musicianship and program qual- ity will be improved, obviously, and I see definitely an increased employment of chain broadcast periods by the various stations throughout the country. After slightly more than two years, the Pacific Division of the National Broadcasting Company now is rendering a 16-hour serv- ice to the six network stations, and to KOA, Denver, and K'SL, Salt Lake City, as it is required. This system of network broad- of provincialism. Educational fea- tures, addresses by officials of the United States government, the per- formances of opera singers, and internationally famous entertainers are available to the members of every home that is equipped with a radio receiving set. It is easy to see the universal growth in culture which will follow. Trans-Oceanic Interest The interest in trans-oceanic broadcasts which have been brought to America by the Na- tional Broadcasting Company is evidenced each time a program of this type is made available. Thou- sands of Americans remained awake or arranged to be awakened at 3 o’clock in the morning to hear the voice of King George of England in January. That is an example of the universal desire to hear what others in the world are doing. Technical development in radio is showing great strides. This will mean better facilities for transmission and will facilitate our pick-up of short-wave broadcasts, which gives promise of a regular exchange internationally. The chain broadcaster today recognizes his responsibility to the audience of the various stations affiliated with his network. His programs are built with this in view.. A proportionate number of sustaining programs are supplied in conjunction with the educational and entertainment features offered by net-work sponsors. High Satisfaction Satisfaction is expressed con- tinuously by the radio audience through thousands of letters com- ing every month to the NBC Pa- cific Division headquarters. A friendly feeling is felt toward the program sponsor for his effort to bring the finest features to his audience. Radio’s paramount function is service and we have tried to build always with that vision. Stimu- lated by experimental broadcasts in the early days of radio, the public’s interest in the release of events of national importance and of general interest has increased- to a demand. To supply this de- mand is one of the functions of the chain broadcaster. Program sponsors fell quickly into this policy and contract periods are surrendered quickly in the event that NBC desires to offered a vital news broadcast. Speeded Growth The attitude of the coast public and of the user of radio commer- cially has speeded the tremendous growth of. the NBC Pacific Di- vision, which was inaugurated in April, 1927, to offer seven pro- grams per week to the western radio audience. Already the pro- gram service has grown to meet the necessary 16-hour day sched- ule and it has been necessary to build and equip three modern studios to house the broadcasting artists. It was only during the recent presidential campaign that trans-continental hook-ups were at- tempted for regular consumption and now we are giving to the Pa- cific states nation-wide broadcasts at the rate of more than SO a week. We look forward now to regularly scheduled international hook-ups. SALUTATIONS FROM THE STAFF OF KTM LOS ANGELES GLENHALL TAYLOR FRANK GAGE E. A. HUGHES STATION MANAGER PROGRAM DIRECTOR TECHNICAL STAFF MARILLA OLNEY CONTINUITY and DRAMATICS JOHNNY MACK, (Uncle Jay) ASST. PROGRAM DIRECTOR