Inside facts of stage and screen (March 29, 1930)

PAGE EIGHT INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1930 REVIEWS COMMENT RADIOL AW D By FRED YEATES CHATTER NEWS Program Reviews 1 SURVEYS ARE Pickups & Viewpoint SCORES BEIT OK BOAT RACE TIE-1 The popularity of the special radio programs where the public is admitted to the studio is giving rise to the belief that it will not be long before the stations begin to cash in on this popularity. Nearly all the major stations have provided seating accommoda- tion, and general invitations met with such overwhelming response that now the custom is to require visitors to secure tickets in ad- vance, which are issued without charge. Two weeks ago the Na- tional Broadcasting Company opened a new studio on the New Amsterdam Theatre roof in New York, providing 600 seats for visitors. With the general public finding so much of interest in seeing the inner processes of broadcasting, and of seeing their favorite artists in action, it is believed that it will only be a matter of time before the stations will establish boxoffices and charge admission to their shows the same as theatres and other public entertainments do. At first it will probably be a nominal charge for feature programs only, and later a small general charge for ordinary daytime hours and a higher tariff for the special pro- grams. NO PUBLICITY FOR EUROPE PROGRAMS The National Broadcasting Com- pany has requested all its associat- ed stations to refrain from publi- cising trans-Atlantic programs in any way, even to program listings. Reception of the short wave of- ferings has been so uncertain lat- ly, with so much disappointment occasioned when promised pro- grams failed to materialize, that this course has been deemed wise. In future the best that stations are permitted to do when some- thing from Europe is scheduled is to list it as a surprise program, with a substitute ready in case of failure. The radio companies feel they would rather lose the publicity value of the programs than break faith with their listen- ers and fail to deliver what is promised. WANT FULL TIME KTM, Los Angeles and Santa Monica, makes an appearance be- fore the Federal Radio Commission in Washington, April 2. to support its request for a full time alloca- tion. At present the Pickwick sta- tion is compelled to share time with KELW, Burbank. The steady advance in quality of pro- gram material put out has won considerable support to KTM’s claim and many communications have been forwarded to Washing- ton in their behalf. RUMOR NEW STATION Reports are current that a new station, with the call letters KOAK, is to broadcast from Los Angeles in the near future. Some of these reports have it that the Richfield Oil Company is to spon- sor the station, but officials of that company refuse to make any statement either of confirmation or denial. KFQZ being off the air gives rise to the theory that this wave length is being nego- tiated for. CHET JOINS KJR SEATTLE, March 27. —Chet Cathers. who was last seen here with the Fanchon and Marco “Beaux and Bows Idea,” joined the staff of station KJR here this week. Cathers, a whispering bari- tone, in addition to singing with “The Harmony Aces,” and indi- vidually, has also been placed on the studio staff of announcers. Be- fore coming to Seattle, Cathers was affiliated with various radio stations in Los Angeles, including KFWB, KFI, KFVD, KHJ, KTM, KNX and others. CROSS-SECTIONING RADIOLAND THUMBNAIL REVIEWS LOS ANGELES (Reviewed March 20) KECA (5 p. m.). NBC from New York; Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees playing the usual pop numbers with Rudy murmuring the vocals. Little Jack Little in a piano transcription of “Love Your Spell Is Everywhere” and “Chant of the Jungle”; played with variations in a different way and enjoyable for that reason. Ad plugging yeast cakes. KFOX, Long Beach (5:30 p. m.). Ad plugs for a gun shop, a chicken dinner resort and a bootery. Femme vocal harmonists and piano in one short selection, then more ad plugs for another chicken dinner place. The announcer was a good sales- man. KGFJ (5:40 p. m.). Ad plug for oil lands. Announcer called the phone number so often it sounded like a football game. Ray West’s trio in “Ain’t Got Nobody,” guitars and sotto voci voices, all trebles. KNX, (5:55 p. m.). “. . . How would you like to win a hundred dollars . . .?”, receipt contest and cocoa plug . . . “send 25c” . . . “Madame so-and-so, psychologist, can help you . . .” Country Club memberships . . . Dance Pavilion, lucky number on your dance ticket, maybe . . . Auto loans . . . Cafe . . . Chop Suey House in Chinatown . . . Fishing barges . . . And so on, and on, and on. KMIC, Inglewood (5:50 p. m.). Real estate ad plug, followed by a phonograph record, “That’s My Weakness Now.” KFI (7:30 p. m.). L. A. Phil- harmonic (symphony) orchestra, sponsored by oil company. Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” played with a heavy mass effect, started vitally but seemed to fall of its own weight towards the end. Saint Saens’ “Night in Lisbon,” a little characteristic sketch, of little im- portance. First movement Beet- hoven’s 5th Symphony, nobly and smoothly executed; more of this kind wanted on symphony hours. Second Peer Gynt suite, imagina- tively treated and glowingly pre- sented. KHJ (8 p. m.). Merrymakers’ Hour, oil company sponsor. The family music album and joke book brought up-to-date. Carl Omeron, male chorus and orchestra offered an inspiring rendition of “March of the Grenadiers” from the “Love Parade,” best thing Omeron has done in weeks. Lew Kelly in his vaude role of Prof. Dope, intro- ducing the new generation to the laffs of yesterday; Lindsay Mac- Harrie and Gene Byrnes taking a Scotch dialect for an airing; Gene’s malaprop act as Standard Mc- Webster, and Robert Wildhack, radio cartoonist, in an essay on nicknames, staggered the merry- making through musical numbers furnished by Raymond Paige’s or- chestra. A novelty transcription of “When You and I Were Young, Maggie” appeared for the third time in recent weeks (twice by Wineland) but was plainly en- joyed by the mob in the studio, this being one of those hours to which the public is admitted. KTM (9 p. m.). Little Theatre Hour. Two-act play, “Stepmother,” by Arnold Bennett; Nance Dor- land as the stepmother, a success- ful novelist; Marilla Olney as her secretary; James Eagles as her stepson, and Boyd Agen as her suitor. Stepson is kicked into the street for falling in love with her secretary and wins his way back by writing a criticism of his mother’s work that she had thought written by her lover. An- other success for Miss Dorland who has radio personality plus. KMPC, Beverly Hills (9:30 p. m.). Some dialogue and Down- the-Bowery songs, soprano and piano; not bad. Securities Co. plug. KMTR, Hollywood (9:45 p. m.). Orchestra playing "Indian Love Lyrics” suite, fair, rather nice coordination for a small group. Plug for Fords. Ul- liflliL IMU Surveys of radio are utterly use- less, and prove nothing beyond the uselessness of the survey. To survey, to probe, to investi- gate is an American habit, some- times yielding valuable fruit. In the case of radio, however, no sur- vey yet undertaken has proved any- thing, except perhaps that people do listen to radio. At least such is the contention qf Carl Haverlin. As commercial manager of the Earle C. Anthony stations in Los Angeles, and Southern California contact man for the Kfational Broadcasting Company, Haverlin has made surveys of his own and studied every available survey by other authorities. “Yes,” he says, “people do listen to radio, but that is all we have ever been able to prove. No Clue Yet “We are still without a clue as to what the public wants on the air. Only a fractipn of one per cent of listeners write its views to a radio station, and these are the same letter-writing-complex people who write letters to news- papers. “If we send out investigators to call on the citizenry in their homes and ask what they like best in radio entertainment, the answer is invariably something they heard yesterday that struck their fancy. Tomorrow they will like something else. Amos and Andy come on the air. They are liked, perhaps, by 65 per cent of the listeners. Does this mean a broadcaster can figure on pleasing 65 per cent of his au- dience with a negro dialogue act? Of course not. A similar act by other artists may easily turn out to be a flop. Upsets Dope “Grand opera singers have been notoriously poor broadcasters. They are listed only as stunt num- bers, to draw on the basis of their names for a single performance omy. Then along comes a Law- rence Tibbett to upset all the dope at one shot. “Much money has been spent in attempts to diagnose the radio sit- uation and establish definite rules for broadcasting. The main object has been to accumulate convincing data to present to advertising cli- ents, but the actual result has only been confusing and has really worked to the disadvantage of broadcasters. “But our biggest problem is the advertising client who makes his own surveys. He asks his stenog- rapher, his elevator operator and somebody at the club how they liked his program last night, and on this ‘survey’ he bases his inter- ference in the work of our pro- gram directors. He may be a suc- cessful cigar, manufacturer, but he believes his judgment on the pres- entation of radio entertainment to be as good as his judgment of to- bacco grades, and the consequence is grief. ( Only One Guide “There is actually only one safe guide for us to follow, and that is: Whatever the nature of your en- tertainment, make it the very best of its kind, and then wait and see if it brings results. If the client’s business increases you have achieved your object, and must be right. “All the surveys in the world of the tobacco tastes of the public won’t do the cigar manufacturer any good if his cigars fail to sell. We should do the same with radio surveys as smokers do with cigars —burn them up. Then, if we could get a prohibition clause in our con- tracts restraining advertisers from making surveys of their own, life would be a lot simpler and there would be less static in the family radio sets.” OUT ONE DAY Jeane Cowan at KFWB had a tooth pulled last week and was off of the air for a day. By FRED YEATES There has been some discussion as to the propriety or good taste of radio stations in billing general utility orchestras, groups of any- where between three and thirty pieces, as symphony, symphonet or symphonic orchestras. People of breeding and culture believe it is a breach of good taste, and in some cases rather cheap showmanship, to so denominate an orchestra whose main product is popular and light classical music. It seems to be only on the radio that the misnomer is applied, it very rarely being attempted in con- nection with public appearances. It is felt that only the full sym- phony orchestras are entitled to the term, and even these consistently insult the public by playing down to them, rather than having the courage and good sense to perform their normal functions. Walter Damrosch is the only symphony conductor on the air to win and consistently maintain the confidence of the great army of discriminating music lovers. His concerts every Saturday night are intelligent, informing and satis- fying. * * * * These women who dispense household hints over the radio around breakfast time are very amusing. Give one of them six minutes in which'to tell how to cook bean porridge, and she’ll take five to wax philosophical about the beautiful gardens that raise the beans. And while papa is wonder- ing where he tossed his hat last night, mamma is bawling out papa, rattling dishes in the sink and listening to the neighbors quarrel- ing in the next apartment. The lovely discourse on the perfectly gorgeous evolutions of nature in the beautiful outdoors producing the exquisite bean for consumption by red-blooded American manhood wanders disconsolately around the room looking for a receptive ear. But then, women talkers never ex- pect other women to listen to them. * * * Observers of the theatre claim that slapstick is on its way back to popularity. The rising generation has seen little of it and falls for it. This checks with the experience of broadcasters. Their frolic pro- grams are getting more slapstick every day. A pseudo-profound professor an- nounces his assistant will hypno- tize the subject for scientific pur- poses. There is a loud “klop!” and the assistant states the subject is duly hypnotized—with a mallet. The audience shrieks with laughter. The world is becoming weary of wisecracking and now wants to be entertained with some vigorous pratt-smacking. * * * The broadcast by Lawrence Tib- bett last Sunday night brought the baritone at the summit of his power. It was a concert that will never be forgotten by those who tuned in. A glorious voice, per- fectly miked, a generous group of songs and magnificent artistry. Who could fail to feel grateful to radio? * * * While handing out credits, the Boswell Sisters are entitled to a few for fine progress in their har- mony singing. On the First Na- tional hour last Sunday night they were one of the outstanding fea- tures, nobly seconded by Jeane Cowan. Regular radio performers make the so-called picture “stars” look like amateurs when it comes to broadcasting. * * * The boys of KHJ were up against a tough day last Saturday. Some- thing happened to the telephone wires and held out hours and hours of network programs, leaving the gang to stall as artistically as pos- sible, playing records, telling old stories and dragging out many an old script that had failed to make the broadcast previously. The night entertainers could have been called out, but of course there was the minute-by-minute hope that the SEATTLE. March 27.—A classy radio tie-in was scored by KJR when Thomas F. Smart, manager of the Northwest Broadcasting System secured exclusive rights to broadcast from the referee’s boat during the Washington-California crew races on Lake Washington April 11. KJR will have a short wave set on the boat following the races and two announcers will describe the shell classic as the collegians vie in their annual race. The de- scription will be picked up by the station’s transmitter and sent out to fans. On the officials’ craft will be Ken Stuart and Thomas Free- bairn Smith, who acquired a row- ing reputation at Kings College School, Cambridge, England; Ang- lian Boat Club, London, and with the Portland, Ore., Rowing Club. NO M-G-M BUY Rumors that Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer were to take over the old KNX plant in the California The- atre building, Los Angeles, and establish it as KMGM for their own exclusive use, were denied this week by executives of the motion picture studios. They claimed the idea had not even been considered, and characterized it as pure fabri- cation. TO DO PICTURES Cotton Bond, long known to San Francisco air fans and heard here on the Jamboree and other chain programs, is in town preparing to make some picture shorts and re- cordings. lines would be cleared. However, hope was indefinitely deferred and night fell, leaving it to Charlie Wellman to chase the blues. * * * The boys who pilot radio in the daily press are working in accord- ance on a program to make listen- ers “guide conscious.” The idea is that you can’t listen intelligently to radio if you just tune in ac- cording to the vagary of your fancy; you should consult a guide, and what better guide than the impartial one of the dailies who black-face the programmings of a pet station? * * * The R-K-O hour Tuesday night brought greetings home from Ray Mayer back in New York. He violated the Federal Radio Com- mission rule against direct com- munication by saying, “Hello, ma and pa. I’ve got the Coffee Dan blues!” The gang says, Hello, right back at you, Ray. Over the Air From KYA SAN FRANCISCO Comes the Voice of Greta Gabler ALWAYS ANXIOUS TO PLEASE George Nickson TENOR SOLOIST KYA - SAN FRANCISCO TTJNE IN ON DUD WILLIAMSON MASTER OF CEREMONIES and STAFF ARTIST KYA SAN FRANCISCO RADIO’S PERSONALITY GIRL JEANE COWAN Daily At KFWB DOBY & LOW COMEDY HARMONY Per. Address: INSIDE FACTS SAN FRANCISCO