Inside facts of stage and screen (April 5, 1930)

PAGE EIGHT INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1930 REVIEWS COMMENT RADIOLA^VD By FRED YEATES CHATTER NEWS 3 Pickups & Viewpoint By FRED YEATES Few publicity men have a sense of humor, and that perhaps is yvhy they are publicity men. But Dicky Creedon of KHJ turns out some classic copy regularly and as a result many newspaper columnists are acquiring reputations as joke- sters as they are not above lift- ing’ it bodily. Here is Dicky’s latest: “There is a psuedo-scientific talk of a new race being de- veloped in Southern California. One characteristic of this present crop of super-children is that they all play harmonicas — and over KHJ. Twenty-eight thousand chil- dren from 35 Los Angeles public .schools have been formed into groups by Charles McRay, su- pervisor of harmonica bands, and most of them have been heard over KHJ on Friday afternoons. Perhaps it is the deep chests, bulging eyes and puffed out cheeks of this mouth-organing generation which has made science scratch its bald but noble bean. Perhaps the time will come when the civilized world will agree to sink its navies if the Unfted States will drown its harmonica players.’’ * * * A “girl reporter” broadcasts news items over KMTR. Let’s hope she has an indulgent city editor. « * * Bernice Foley has been put in charge of publicity for KMPC. Beverly Hills. One look at her and we pray for television to hurry; KMPC would make the Big Time at one shot. * * * Will Rogers is reported to have drawn down over $7500 for his appearance over KFI for the NBC last Sunday. Well, that trade paper must have been nearly right when it declared Los Angeles radio performers were saps who worked for nothing. * * ♦ The Ritz Trio are due to crash the air in these parts very shortly. They will likely be a riot as there is nothing quite like them on any local program. Male harmonizers whose repertoire includes comedy, novelty and straight numbers, their record is one of unfailing success during the four years they have been together on both stage and radio. The personnel: Rudy Wintner, Ray Angwin and Dale Jackson. » * * Marillah Olney, director of dra- matics at KTM, has had pub- licity added to her duties and we are anxiously awaiting the first script. * * ♦ KFI is the latest station to go for a variety hour. Tuesday night is the time, and the first reaction is a complaint about lack of orig- inality. We were unable to hear it. but we heard a loud squawk that artists on it were copping off material used on the Blue Monday Jamboree, Tsk, tsk! * * * The technician sent by KFI to handle the remote control from Max Fisher’s cafe now has to check his hat and coat at the door. It was first his habit to stride through the cafe toward his equip- ment booth without removing them and several cases of nervous pros- tration developed the fact that cus- tomers didn’t know whether he was a prohibition officer or a boot- legger. A head waiter imposed the new rule in the cause of ru- manity. NICHOLS GOES SOUTH SEATTLE, April 3.—Bob Nich- ols, prominent local radio announ- cer, left here this week for an ex- tensive trip to California, where he expects to locate. He was singer and announcer at KOMO and chief announcer at the now defunct American Broadcasting Company for two years. JOINS STATION SEATTLE, April 3.—S t e v e n Galer has joined the staff of Sta- tion KVI in the capacity of bari- tone soloist and announcer. The realignment of KVTs announcing staff finds Dick Rickard now chief announcer there. M. P. BKQUE H KMPC SCHEDDIE KMPC, Beverly Hills, is to fea- ture a travesty on interviewing casting directors for talking pic- tures on Saturday night, April 5, at 9:15. The skit is titled “Us Men” and features little Leon Janney of “Our Gang” fame, Flor- ence Stone and Jack Richardson. Florence Stone will be remem- bered as having opened the Phil- harmonic Auditorium and as hav- ing starred in sitock at the old Morosco Theatre. She has just re- turned from two years with the Shuberts in New York. Jack Richardson will be casting director in the skit. He has had heavy roles in “Leatherneck,” “Sailor’s Holiday” and other talkies and knows his c. d.’s. cmuicmli IT Di E STITIOII Ted White has been added to the announcing and entertaining staff of KHJ. He is a former newspaperman and night club per- former. Harry Johnson, vaude per- former, has been signed by KHJ for a regular morning program of music and patter. Roy Ringwald is to direct the vocal ensemble at the local Don Lee station. Lindsay MacHarrie, chief an- nouncer, has been made produc- tion manager, and Leigh Harline has become program manager. Both have been at KHJ for some time. DIXOf Pin ON AIR FOR 9 YEARS SEATTLE, April 3. — Sydney Dixon, one of the coast’s pioneer radio artists, has established an enviable reputation with both the fans and the profession since coming here nine years ago. He has appeared over every radio sta- tion of any prominence on the Pacific Coast, prior to which he toured the Orpheum Circuit do- ing a single. Forty-two weeks at Loew’s Capitol Theatre, New York City, and a seven-month tour of the Famous Players-Canadian Circuit preceded Dixon’s advent into the local radio field. Since first coming to Seattle, Dixon has absented himself for eighteen months, during which time he served as the leading tenor of the Pacific Coast NBC System. KFI, KPO and KGW are listed among the larger sta- tions at which Dixon was fea- tured. Dixon, currently featured over the Northwest Broadcasting Sys- tem’s networkthrough the local outlet, KJR, has built a heavy following for himself. He varies his programs from operatic clas- sics to popular ballad numbers. Studio Execs Asked for Help On Debating The subject of radio advertis- ing is now occupying the serious attention of high school and col- lege students, and debating clubs all over the country are driving studio executives near to hysteria in their incessant queries for de- tailed information “fer an’ agin” the proposition. The broadcast execs are taking encouragement from the thought that the boys may help them to solve some of the problems that have been bothering them since the beginning of radio broadcast- ing. Program Reviews Of Air Offerings CROSS-SECTIONING RADIOLAND THUMBNAIL REVIEWS LOS ANGELES (Reviewed March 30) Sabbath twilight on the Califor- nia air. Pipe a Los Angelos vesper. 5:55 p.m.—KECA. “. . . I just adore talking about Freud!” A fe- male gusher coming in strong. 6:00 p.m.—KGER. Phonograph records, symphonic selections. 6:02 p.m.—Doc Shuler’s radio. A lady singing hymns. Some of the regular radio artists might well simulate her earnestness. 6:05 p.m.—KFOX. Harmony Girls singing “Just You, Just Me.” This sounded like a hymn, too. 6 "07 p. m.—KGFJ. Just another organ grinding out pops. 6:15 p.m.—KFI. Atwater Kent hour via NBC from New York. Presenting Sigrid Onegin, operatic mezzo, and orchestra. Always a big shot on this hour, and they seem to know how to broadcast them. 6:50 p. m.—KMTR. “Just You, Just Me,” piano and fiddle playing to each other. 6:55 p.m.—KELW. Burbank Methodist Church, announcing re- ceipt of a dozen or two requests, all answered by a tenor singing “I Came to the Garden Alone.” 7:00 p.m.—KHJ. Majestic hour (CBS) just concluding, followed by Royal Typewriter hour from New York, featuring Jesse Craw- ford at the organ in light classic and pop medleys. 7:10 p.m.—KFWB. “Every Cloud Must Have a Silver Lining,” lady’s voice and piano; followed by Hollywood Revelers Orchestra in “Broken Dreams.” 7:15 p.m.—KNX. “The practical purpose served by the Bible . . .” A voice, but male or female we dunno. 7:20 p.m.—KFSG. “A-a-a-m-e-n! Let us sing ‘Hail to Thee, O An- gelus Temple!’ Say Allelulia!” They clapped their hands and sang like everything. This is Aimee’s radio. Yeates. CROSS-SECTIONING RADIOLAND THUMBNAIL REVIEWS SAN FRANCISCO (Reviewed March 26) KFWM, Oakland (5:45 p. m.)— Highlighted by Dr. Forrester’s lengthy blasts re his treatments; has determination to warble, giv- ing rise to the supposition that he is a much better medico than a singer. Nice pop voice displayed by Beth Chase; Harriette Pool okay in organ number; Bob Trav- ers weakly tenoring a ballad; Charley Pacheco in piano number. KYA (8:10 p. m.) — The 1640 Boys, Tommy Munroe and Bob Allen in an excellent program. Munroe displaying highly pleasing voice and Allen playing plentj; of piano. Auto plugs. Jack Lee sing- ing, accompanying himself on gui- tar; George Bowers hitting high notes in “Love Me.” Larry Smith announcing. Very good program all the way through. KRE, Berkeley (8;35 p. m.)— Recordings. Echo. Announcer sud- denly remembers things he forgot in previous announcements. KGGC (8:38 p. m.) — Request program of accordion numbers by Johnny Tivio alternating with re- cordings. Heigh ho. KFWI (8:50 p. m.) — Woman giving educational talk on invest- ment. Starting disclosure that she was born in Visalia and that she and announcer are old friends but didn’t remember. Announcer had nice voice, however. ^ KQW, San Jose (9 p._ m.)—Re- ligious ranter biasing into mike . . . Hallelujah, brother ... In 1914 the Lord saved my soul . . . Come and have your’s saved . . . Hallelujah . . . Taking cracks at other denominations; a very bad policy for any station to permit. KLX, Oakland (9:07 p. m.)— Man reviewing books, punctuating each phrase with a cough in the mike, minus apologies. Smacking of lips as if drinking beer. KGO (9:17 p. m.--Max Dolin in violin solos revealing excellent ■technique and ability. Schubert’s “Cradle Song” and a Kreisler num- ber. Beautiful. Piano accompani- ment by Arthur Schwarzman. KPO (9:24 p. m.—Auto plug. Chain program with Maurine Dyer singing the solemn “Romance” with piano background. Excellent coneert orchestra. KFRC (9:30 p. m.)—Columbia chain program with nicely bal- anced popular music . . .“Blue Is the Night,” vocally effective; “Neapolitan Nights,” good orches- tral number. Lengthy finance com- pany plug. “Lonely Troubadour.” Rather flowery continuity. KTAB (9:45 p. m.) — Pepper Box hour. Male quartette singing “River S h a n n o n.” Two-minute sketchy sketch about corn muffins. Colorless male voice accompany- ing self on guitar and doing song about being hungry. Accordions. Orchestra with piano subdued more than it should be. Bock. R-K-0 SPOTLIGHT KPO, SAN FRANCISCO Rebroadcast by KOMO, Seattle (Reviewed March 29) Deviating from a general policy of pop programs the RKO Spot- light Revue featured Adele Verne, vaude headliner, at the piano and Claude Sweeten, Golden Gate house leader, on the violin in some classics. The numbers came over the re- broadcast excellently. Miss Verne’s own composition “Inspiration” proved to be a heavy classic, played artistically and altogether a nifty offering. An arrangement of the Ceasar Franck symphony was played as a duet, the piano work leaving nothing to be desired and the double stopping and staccato of the violin standing out. _ The third number was Bach’s air for the G string, showing both artists at their best and executed for best results over the mike. Jean. BRIDGE HOUR—KYA SAN FRANCISCO This is an informal hour of general entertainment m. c.’d by Dud Williamson with an assisting group of five artists. Program re- viewed was one of the best Bridge Hours yet. Started with Tom Smith guitar- ing, Freddie Heward fiddling and Virginia Smith pianoing “Sitting On a Doorstep,” with Williamson and Smith doing a vocal harmony chorus. Marv Atkinson, soprano, sang “Sarita.” Williamson vocalized “Happy Days.” probably his best number. Displayed nice delivery and pleas- ing voice. Okay on the an- nouncing, too, but wants to watch the wisecracks; they come a little fast and often for this type of program. Virginia Spencer offered a piano solo “Moanin’ Low” with lots of modern and futuristic twists. Tom Smith singing ‘‘Waitin’ For the Train” showed nice tone quality in voice and good guitar accompani- ment. Helen Stone in trick vocal version of “Ain’t She Sweet” scored. A difficult violin solo “Fiddlin’ the Fiddle” by Freddie Heward was outstanding. Works on style of Joe Venuti and plenty hot. Has nifty harmony and counter mel- odies on his vocal accompani- ments. Mary Atkinson balladed ‘‘Come Back To Me” nicely. Wil- liamson in “Watching My Dreams Go_ By” was good and then Vir- ginia Spencer followed with “Doo Doo Doo” in characteristic style. Nice harmony in Mary Atkinson, Helen Stone and Virginia Spencer doing “In My Dreams.” Helen Stone’s reception in the bag when she did “Gee, But I’m Blue” in classy fashion. Instru- mental tricfc—Spencer, Heward and Stone—did “Lover, Come Back To Me,” a good tune, but could have been shortened by one chorus. Williamson in “Hello Baby,” Mary Atkinson doing “Sweet- hearts” and Tom Smith and Fred- die Heward doing “Go To Sleep, My Baby” with Smith yodeling, closed the program. Hal. (Continued on Page 9) SEATTLE, April 3.—KOMO has introduced a new idea in chil- dren’s radio entertainment with the initial broadcast of the “Garden Patch Lady” program. Malcom E. Moran, motion pic- ture writer and author of Douglas McLean’s “The Carnation Kid,” has written a running story for these programs that has been tran- scribed to dramatic dialogue by Dorothy Cleland. “The Garden Patch Lady” pro- gram carries plenty of exciting en- tertainment .for the youngsters. A group of educational features will be interwoven with the unfurling of the story, KOMO officials de- clare. Among these will be talks by Gertrude Andrus from the chil- dren’s book department of Fred- erick and Nelson, local depart- ment store. Miss Andrus will in- terpolate book reviews on late children’s novels and histories. Kathryn Compton of the Cornish School will relate, from time to time, according to the schedule, ep- isodes from the lives of famous musical composers and render some of their compositions. George Godfrey, stage and radio actor, is directing the “Garden Patch” program, which goes out over KOMO daily except Saturday and Sunday. CLIFFOn KMEK PKIME MDIO FIV SEATTLE, April 3. — A pupil of his father, Clifford Kantner, well-known local teacher of voice culture, Jean Kantner, currently featured baritone soloist over KJR, possesses a wide range to his voice that, coupled with its pleas- ing qualities, makes him one of the prime radio favorites of this town. Jean Kantner first gained promi- nence here when, in 1927, he was chosen winner of the musical con- test sponsored by the Federated Women Clubs of Seattle. His programs include the popu- lar ballads, standard classics and operatic excerpts, with plenty of personality injected into his work. ANTHONYS BACK Earle C. and Mrs. Anthony are back from their Honolulu jaunt. They report that on account of excellent weather conditions very little broadcasting was done from the steamer-side. Over the Air From KYA SAN FRANCISCO Comes the Voice of Greta Gahler AliWATS AltXIOUS TO PLEASE George Nickson TENOR SOLOIST KYA - SAN FRANCISCO TUNE IN ON DUD WILLIAMSON masteb of ceremonies and STAFF ARTIST KYA SAN FRANCISCO RADIO’S PERSONALITY GIRL JEANE COWAN Dally At KFWB DOBY & LOU COMEDY HARMONY Per. Address: INSIDE FACTS SAN FRANCISCO