Inside facts of stage and screen (June 28, 1930)

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE Radio Program Reviews 2ND S.D. CHAIN DEAL HELD UP SAN DIEGO, June 25.—Reports are current that the Don Lee and Columbia broadcasting networks have been negotiating for station KGB here, with a view to offset- ting the new competition with the NBC over KFSD. Our information is, however, that the negotiations have come to a sudden halt, due, it is said, to the Pickwick people, owners of KGB, setting too high a figure for the property. The figure asked is said to be in the neighborhood of $90,000, with Don Lee failing to see how he could profitably operate at that figure. San Diegans would like to see the second of the big-time net- works release here, but it looks off for the present at least, unless KGB can be prevailed on to ac- cept some of Lee’s programs on a friendly basis. EISENSTEIN GREETED Sergei M. Eisenstein, much- discussed Russian director, was informally presented to film news- paper and magazine writers at a luncheon in the Indian room at the Ambassador Hotel yesterday noon. The director of “Potemkin,” “Ten Days That Shook the World” and “New and Old” has been brought to Hollywood by Paramount to do a picture which will combine his silent screen technique with the talking film. MISS McCALL BETTER SAN FRANCISCO, June 26— Helen McColl, blues singer, is recuperating from a recent opera- tion performed after she returned from Portland. ARMAND RETURNS Jean Armand has returned from the Northwest headquarters of In- side Facts and is now associated with the Los Angeles main office. CROSS-SECTIONING RADIOLAND THUMBNAIL REVIEW LOS ANGELES (Reviewed June 21) KECA, 3:50 p. m.—Orchestra and soprano in “I Never Dreamt.” Man and woman talking about “our wonderful brush organiza- tion,” then the man singing about a trombone and a bass drum “prancing heair and prancing theair.” After that they asked for recruits from college ranks to de- scend on the defenseless public with brushes. KGER, 4:01 p. m.—Records. Then an announcement that “this studio will broadcast the finest ex- ercises ever broadcast from any station anywhere.” Look out for a breed of Long Beach supermen. KFOX, 4:05 p. m.—News bul- letins. He seemed to be bent on reading the whole paper. When he reached the want ads we tuned out. KGFJ, 4:15 p. m.—Somebody playing something that sounded like a parlor organ, and making a fearful job of it. The number sounded like an invocation to the gods of mourning, but turned out to be “What Do I Care.” Then a voice singing, “Washing the Blues From Mah Sowl,” with piano ac- companiment. Page a washboard. KMIC, 4:30 p. m—Record of music comedy selections. Then ad plugs: used cars “where Main Street meets Moneta”; home build- ing; refrigerator repairs; garage service; ship by truck—ha! Music at last. A phonograph record. KNX, 4:37 p. m—“Wotan, hear me! Rest then, thou gods!” Voice reading Wagnerian opera, then a phonograph record of the music, but very indistinct. KFVD, 4:50 p. m.—A child singing ‘Springtime in the Rockies,’ then another one reciting “At the Photographers.” Children’s hour, evidently. KFWB, 4:52 p. m.—“Convert ex- cess fat to energy and vitality,” then a guitar—it seems somebody likes those things or they would not be encouraged. “Banish un- sightly fat” Dorothy Bernard play- ing “Song of the Bayou” on the piano, nice little performance. KHJ, 5 p. m.—Beach real estate plug; Sheriff’s picnic announcement “for the benefit of sick and dis- abled peace officers.” Here’s your chance, gorillas, to support a worthy cause); Kentucky State picnic; electric clocks. Finally, The Showboat, CBS program from New York,w ith Hank Simmons and his company in raw, red drama of the good old days. KELW, 5:07 p. m.—Man with a voice almost a ringer for Will Rogers’: “Here’s a letter frum a man as wants to know, should he go to a randh in Arizona; well,, now, I shouldn’t advice a change right now. Now here’s a letter from E. J. M. (or something), says she’s got one of my Moon Books, now that’s mighty fine, more of you should have them Moon Books; they must be 80,000 of them out now in Southern Cali- fornia. Now this lady wants to know is herb usband going to get a permotion. . . ” KMPC, 5:12 p. m.—Records. KFI, 5:14 p. m.—Announcer says, “The trio singing “Just Around the Corner”—can you hear them?” (Ain’t he the limit.) Male voices; they sounded healthy, any- way. Silver Moss singing “My Guitar and You,” but it was a piano accompaniment (heh, heh, right back at you, Mister An- nouncer). KMTR, 5:15 p. m.—Ad plugs for theatres and auto company. Then Tom Mitchell, singing pops at the piano; a hard working boy trying to get along. Back to the Show Boat. LABS ARE MERGED NEW YORK, June 26.—Super- lab Corp., of which Max Mayer is president, and Cinelab, Inc., headed by J. H. Smith, were merged last week. The capacity of the merged plants, specializing in 16 mm. printed by contact or reduction, will be 300,000 feet weekly. San Francisco Radio Notes SAN FRANCISCO, June 26.— In the face of personnel slashing by other stations throughout the country, KFRC is augmenting its musical department by building up its concert and dance orchestras to a minimum of 22 men. Meredith Willson, whose re- markably clever musical creations are one of the features of this CBS station, is now in complete charge of all musical affairs and will conduct both orchestras. * * * * Marion Y. Fonville has joined KTAB as announcer. He former- ly was with KWKH in Shreve- port, KSOO in Sioux Falls and KMBC in Kansas City. He plays trumpet, sings baritone, and is _ a graduate of the University of Mis- souri. He hates spinach and no- body knows what his middle in- itial stands for. * * * This Monday’s Jamboree over KFRC was one of the fastest yet. Of 36 numbers on the two-hour program 29 were segues, speeding it up beyond all previous offerings. * * * Marian Gilbert, NBC contralto, who formerly sang at the local studios, has made her bow over that company’s New York station as Bernice Alstock. * * * KWG, Stockton, has become af- filiated with the Don Lee-Colum- bia chain, giving that system nine stations on the coast. * * * Bob Bence of KPO’s announc- ing staff is confined to his home with scarlet fever. * * * Overturning and crashing down a 75-foot incline la'st Saturday Cal Pearce of KFRC’s Pearce Broth- ers was quite seriously injured and had to have 16 stitches taken in the back of his head. However, he was able to tune in on his brother A1 on Monday’s Jamboree. * * » Helen O’Neill, KTAB program director, will fly to Seattle on July 9 where she will visit her family for a week. * * * Clair Morrison, former manager MERRICK JOINS NBC-NEW POST SAN FRANCISCO, June 26— Mahlon Merrick has resigned from KFRC of the Columbia chain to join National Broadcasting Co., where he has charge of the Camel Pleasure Hour, expensive broad- casting period, inaugurated last week by the Reynolds Tobacco Co. The Camel Hour got under way last week to one of the greatest responses yet given a new pro- gram. General comment was that the hour, as conducted by Merrick, was one of the most showmanly programs that has emanated from a Western station. It is reported that Merrick may possibly get another program or two to conduct for NBC, in view of his excellent start on this one. He has with him some of his ace men who were formerly in his Modern Melodists on KFRC. STAGE WEDDING SAN FRANCISCO, June 26— Betty Blossom, playing in Sid Goldtree’s “Hot ’n’ Bothered,” at the Green Street, will be married on the theatre stage the night of July 3 to Elmer Hansen, beauty parlor operator. of KYA, has deserted the broad- casting field to start in business for himself as a radio advertising specialist with offices in the Mar- shall Square building. * * * With the Don Lee stations in Portland, Seattle and Spokane as his destinations, Harrison Holli- way, KFRC manager, has left for a short tour of the Northwest. * * + Harold Horton has joined KFRC as an announcer. HAVE YOU HEARD BILLY VAN? At KFWB, Hollywood LIBORIUS HAUPTMANN AND HIS EMBASSY MELODY ARTISTS “The World’s Music in Original Presentation” LIBORIUS HAUPTMANN EARL C. SHARP Conductor — Piano Special Arrangements — Harmonium Wagnon’s Embassy Theatre SAN FRANCISCO