Inside facts of stage and screen (March 8, 1930)

PAGE EIGHT INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1930 REVIEWS COMMENT RADIOL AND By FRED YEATES CHATTER NEWS SACIAMENTO, March 6. — In the new personal recording idea rapidly coming to the fore, Frank C. Burhans, manager of Fox’s Senator here, uncovered a good exploitation angle. Burhans had several records made in San Francisco, the records delineating on the character and quality of the Senator’s show to the many passing the theatre lobby where the record was playing. He did this on “The Locked Door.” On Paramount’s “ V ag abond King” Burhans is going even fur- ther. From the theatre he will have the entire city hooked in on a record broadcast and he’ll tell capitol city residents plenty about the Senator’s new show. E I A Los Angeles radio station recently broadcast an invitation to the public to criticise a certain program. A lady listener accepted the invitation, but instead of com- menting on the offering as a lis- tener she went up to the studio and watched the artists at work, then wrote a long letter criticising their personal appearance in great detail. Signing herself, “Just a Sweet Girl,” she said in part: “They all look so thin. The chief announcer wears his hair too slick, and so-and-so, whose voice always thrilled me, was awfully disappointing to look at—- so small. And the master-of-cere- monies for the hour, I’d like to put him on a milk diet. Those two women ballad crooners, April is awfully cute looking but her voice isn’t so. much, and the other one needs hair pins and could use some more flesh. "There was too much recitation and a look at the reciter was dis- illusioning. I stood up for an hour and forty minutes with a fur coat around my shoulders, But don’t think I write this way be- cause of that.” Following receipt of this letter it is rumored that an association of radio station employes is to be formed to petition inventors to postpone indefinitely the public introduction of television. George Fawcett was added to the cast of “Swing High” just be- fore it started shooting at Pathe. Program Reviews Over the Air From KYA SAN FRANCISCO Comes the Voice of Greta Gahler ALWAYS ANXIOUS TO PLEASE George Nickson TENOR SOLOIST KYA - SAN FRANCISCO TUNE IN ON DUD WILLIAMSON MASTER OF CEREMONIES and STAFF ARTIST KYA SAN FRANCISCO LITTLE THEATRE HOUR KTM, LOS ANGELES (Reviewed February 20) Two short sketches under the direction of Marillah Olney, whose own charming voice was conspicu- ous by its absence this week. “Look In The Book,” a little story of two 15-year-old boys trying to practice the teachings of a book of detectology in con- nection with a local jewel rob bery. An admirable amateur at- mosphere was created, with Joe Depew and Ashley Buck taking the juvenile parts successfully. Donald Kevin, in the part of a real dick, might have been more virile and leaned upon the heavy voice for a better impression. His lines sounded plainly as though they were being read from script, and lacked character. Patricia possesses a voice that broadcasts exceptionally well. She was Elsie the crook. “Baggage,” story of an old man whose son was estranged from him through marriage to a play- acting woman. Said woman min isters to the old man’s comfort at a resort and wins his favor, then reveals herself as his daughter in-law. Boyd Agen read the part of the irrasci'ble old invalid and created a very good characteriza- tion. Nance Dorland was the daughter, broadcasting a nice voice and prepossessing personality. And then she sang! Oh, dear. Barks From the Office Dog: Tom Alton completing five years as. night host at KFI . . . never missed a night . . . nor a gate crasher . . . Cactus Kate now au- dition arranger at KFI and KECA . . . one wa,y to date her . . . Robert Hurd caught offering tur- key sandwiches to his secy . . . and buying jewelry . . . Berton Bennett catching a bughouse broadcast . . . Carl Haverlin re- covering from serious operation . . . removal of historic moustache . . . Earle Anthony to Honolu- lu .. . with his wife ... ho, hum . . . Ray Winters in Cal. Luth. Hospital . . . intestinal op- eration . . . Jose Rodriguez pour- ing for the office girls . . . not tea . . . paste . . . Doc Foley making nasty crax on air about radio editors . . . better watch out . . . get your fat fried . . . Jeanette Rodgers and Bob Brad- ford starting out together on life’s hiway . . . dangerous curves ahead . . . Blake Reynolds a papa . . . soprano sex . . . June Parker starting on her first car- load ... in large company . . . Bob Swan to sing for the butcher boys . . . yo, ho, and a meat axe . . . Howard Griffin recuperating in the foothills ... A Microphone from “Mac” Martin ... all the way from Vancouver’s wide open places . . . Ho, hum, it’s a dog’s life. SELLS RADIO SKETCHES Two sketches for recording and reproduction over radio station broadcasts have been bought by Soundcraft from Evelyn Blan- chard. One is “House of Clay,” a comedy drama in which Lillian Albertson played in the East, and which Soundcraft is understood to have slated for air presentation by Barbara Worth; and the second is “The Plunger,” in which Lincoln Stedman is understood to be slated to appear. HE TROUBLE TO SAN FRANCISCO, March 6.— An enemy more difficult to cope with than static confronts radio engineers when they venture into the field of international program exchanges, according to C. W. Horn, general engineer of the Na- tional Broadcasting Company. The new enemy is the so-called mag- netic . storm, an effect known to electrical engineers for years. “We have known for many years that the magnetic storms affect land-line communications to quite an extent and influence delicate instruments, such as ships’ com- passes,” said Horn. “However, it is only in recent years, since the advent of long-distance radio com- munication, particularly on short waves, that we have noticed any great effect from this source. “It is a peculiar fact that the magnetic disturbances act differ- ently in the case of young waves. Dr. L. W. Austin, of the Bureau of Standards, who has been mak- ing measurements for many years on long waves, reports a general increase in signal strength at about the time that magnetic disturb- ances take place. “We have found that these dis- turbances react in just the oppo- site manner on short waves. That is, they reduce the signal strength very greatly and seem to offer impedance to the passage of the wave.” The uncertainty as to when mag- netic storms may be expected makes it difficult to plan trans- Atlantic program exchanges in ad- vance, Horn explained. Twice last week the National Broadcast- ing Company’s attempts to relay European programs in this coun- try were defeated by magnetic storms which attacked the pro- grams coming from England and Germany and made it impossible to pick them up ■ on this side of the ocean. Pickups & Viewpoint JACK ON AIR Well known on the Pacific Coast as a character actor, Jack Mac- Bryde has gone into radio and is now frequently heard over both National and Columbia broadcast- ing systems, appearing with the Empire Builders, Eveready, West- inghouse Salute, Majestic Theatre of the Air and other well known programs. TO CORRECT ERROR A boxed story printed on the front page of “Tidings,” Catholic weekly, last week to the effect that KFI refused to broadcast a Sunday afternoon Catholic service on the national network was proved to be due to a misunderstanding and is to be retracted in the next issue. The program comes in the middle of the afternoon, when KECA handles the chain offerings, and is being released over that station. The article brought a heap of calumny down upon the heads of station officials, which was gladly withdrawn when it was discovered there was absolutely no founda- tion to the charges of prejudicial discrimination. BIG MIDNIGHT FROLIC Deal is now being framed to make a big time affair out of KFI’s Saturday midnight frolic. Names of the show world are being lined up for an hour of fast showman- ship calculated to draw a big bath- night audience from midnight till 1 a. m. By FRED YEATES An announcer tells us that his position is the most neglected in all radioland, and he is probably right. A few of them sound as though they were in the last stages of neglect. Seriously, however, the lot of the announcer, like that of Sullivan’s policeman, is not a ’appy one. He is exposed to the whole world in front and to sponsors and studio execs behind. All around him is an atmosphere laden with high- power electricity that seems to charge his nervous system with restlessness. He is hard put to it to keep his poise. He enters the privacy of many thousands of homes and must express all the attributes of a gentleman; must have a good voice, reflect culture and that subtle something that in- dicates background, yet must be young. He should be well edu- cated musically, intellectually and morally; should know how to play the perfect host in introducing his programs, must never sound stilted nor common, for he is heard by all, from the halls of profound learn- ing to the gutters of soup dispen- saries. And yet, with all that is required of him, practically nothing seems to be done about training and pol- ishing him for his career. He seems to be regarded as just one of those things that it seems neces- sary to have around; the woods are full of boys who want to be radio announcers, and who work until so charged with restlessness that they break away again and go back to bookkeeping; then there is a new crop. Unless they are en- tertainers there seems to be no fu- ture for them. Actually, the announcer is the most important single individual on a station staff. His voice and name become known to the home folks, who come to accept him al- most as one of the family without ever meeting him personally. He is a host who brings them a mead of good things, and the measure of his personality governs his value to station and sponsor. His pro- fession is one that should be ‘due for a lot of study, at this particu- lar stage of radio development, and one that should be lifted out of the thirty-five-a-week class withqut loss of time. * * * . A tremendous ascension in mu- sical taste by the public within the past few weeks is noticeable. A lot of credit for this is given radio, through broadcasting so much . cheap stuff, that the public has sickened of it. The insistent demand now is for light classics, operettas, good musical comedy numbers and a goodly representa- tion of grand opera. There is no denying, however, that Lawrence Tibbett has done much to turn the popular, taste upwards. He was. a radio artist before he achieved operatic fame. * * * Gene Byrnes has built himself a reputation for comedy, but once in a while he gives us an un- intended giggle, such as on the night of February 19, when he snuounced he would give us the “miniature temperature reports.” Standard McWebster functioning off-stage. * * * The debut of the California Symphony orchestra over KHJ, Feb. 19, was auspicious enough for a first public appearance. It RADIO PEOPLE DO OPLIFTIIB. 0. SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— The drawing power of radio ar- tists, when properly presented on the vaudeville or presentation stage, is being evidenced at the Fox Theatre. In its third Satur- day midnight show the Fox ad- vertised a group of local radio people and played to bigger busi- ness than at previous 12 o’clock shows. As a result the fourth midnight show was billed “Radio Revel” and featured, in addition to Fan- chon and Marco’s “Havana Bound Idea,” Edna O’Keefe, Jean Wake- field, Sambo and Ed, Prof. Her- man Schnitzel, Harmony Queens, Johnnie O’Brien, William Powers and others. Others are slated for future shows. was a performance hard to anal- yze critically, even in face of the announced eight months prepara- tion, when one realizes the first difficulties of broadcasting a new body of instruments. On the receiving end, as a body it seemed a little unwieldy at times, and apparently half a dozen laggers were the cause of an uneven line of attack. The first and second strings showed a most, effective unity, but violas and ’cellos were below their pro- portion of strength, which less- ened the body of tone. Wood- winds showed to advantage, but brasses were weak, especially trumpets, which seemed unable to vocalize on certain tones. Nevertheless it was an enjoy- able performance, and a feature we would like to hear regularly. The new Wednesday night se- rial play over KFWB, “The Pest of the Rancho, said pest being a tenderfoot woman who bought spats for the cowboys, shows the author, Johnston McCully, in a new mood; serio-comedy as con- trasted with the bloody murder of the two preceding stories which attracted such large audiences. But, unless we miss our guess, there will be a lot of protests against the he-man cussing in- dulged in by the rough calf- valets. D s and H’s in abundance, and not a little blasphemy. Hard, of course, to depict the true char- acters without such trimmings but a lot of wholesome home folks will decide to get along without it it it is continued. Junior’s in- nocent ears must be kept clean * * * Sponsors of national broadcasts are confusing station publicity men by grabbing off big name at- tractions and substituting them for the routine programs previous- ly, arranged and sending the pub- licity direct to the press, over- looking the p. a’s. Cramps style and. limits opportunities for ex- ploitation. “HOW TO PRACTICE” . “How to Practice, and Why,” is a new series of 15 minute se- quences to be presented over KFI, designed to be of particular bene- fit to younger musicians and mi- crophone artists. Jose Rodriguez is in. charge of the series and is enlisting the help of many lead- ing performers and teachers. FINISHES PART Jeane Cowan, entertainer at radio station KFWB, has just completed a part in Universal’s “Czar of Broadway.” ART S C H W A R T Z Pacific Coast Mgr. THE HEAVENLY TWINS OF RADIOLAND and “WITMARKS ARE H1TMARKS” Hangin’ on the Garden Gate Watching My Dreams Go By Once Upon a Time Room 309 Phone GLadstone 2263 ARTIE MEHLINGER Pacific Coast Mgr. “HARM SONGS ARE CHARM SONGS” A Little Kiss Each Morning, a Little Kiss Each Night If I’m Dreaming I Love You, Believe Me, I Love You Room 301 Phone GRanite 9711 WARNER BROTHERS HOLLYWOOD THEATRE BLDG., HOLLYWOOD, CALIF 6425 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.