Inside facts of stage and screen (July 26, 1930)

PAGE EIGHT INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1930 Pickups and Viewpoints A DANGEROUS PRACTICE It is a dangerous thing for an artist to tamper with a style that has struck the public fancy. The elusive, intangible something that makes popularity is a thing that has to be guarded and jealously preserved. Ted White appeared inconspicuously one morning at the KHJ auditions and had the good luck of only one in a hun- dred—he made an impression. He was tried out as an announcer, but failed, which was another break for him. An- nouncers are executively classed with doormats; almost any- thing will serve the purpose. It is the performer who gets the money and the laurels. Ted filled in as a crooner and was liked around the station. He was taken away from the announcer’s mike entirely and made an entertainer. His sweet lyric crooning not only went straight to he hearts of the women listeners, but was polished and refined enough to appeal to the men also. He became one of Don Lee’s best draws, and was rapidly approaching star« grade. But somebody suggested he change his style. Well meant, of course. And Ted, anxious to please and to improve, did change his style. He stepped back from the mike and let ’er go. He became declamatory, slurry, after the best manner of Jolson, Lewis, et al. Inside of three days he was no draw at all, but just another radio yeller. All the appeal, person- ality and flavor were gone. Since Ted was nobody’s fool, he sensed there was some- thing wrong and went back to his original style before he had done heavy damage to his building reputation. The inci- dent is useful to the radio profession in that it proves the wisdom of the rule: Never change what “goes over.” The time to change is when it fails to click. A man on a journey won’t get very far if he leaves the highway for unknown trails. * * * It should not be deduced from Ted White’s success that any un- known can step before a mike and immediately ascend the throne of popularity. Too many think that now. Ted, in addition to a pleasing personality and engaging appearance, has the equipment of a back- ground of travel and professional experience. * * * A CRITICS FAUX PAS The music critic of a local morning paper committed a terrific breach of propriety over the Hollywood Bowl broad- cast last Saturday night. During the half-time intermission it is the custom to present somebody of more or less distinc- tion in a peppy, entertaining talk. On this occasion, following a prayer-like rave by somebody from one of these Hollywood “philosophical” schools, the lady critic was run in by a Bowl dignitary, presumably to speak for two minutes on “Music and the Child.” She spoke of how a musical education, how- ever slight, would operate to make more appreciative listeners out of children. Somehow she seemed to think this education should be on the piano. Then she capped it by running in an ad plug for a certain piano school, giving the street address. In the first place, that was wretched bad taste. It was also a breach of hospitality. But worst of all, she did it on radio time paid for by another advertiser, and on an NBC hook-up. And she kept right on talking, regardless of signals from the announcer, until Conductor Karl Kreuger was back on the stand and ready to play, leaving a furious and dis- mayed Carl Haverlin with continuity in his hand but no time to read.it. * * * UNHONORED BUT SINGING Can an unknown crash local radio? Does one have to have a reputation before he can make one of our major stations? Well, there is a new harmony team functioning on KHj in the mornings, doing nice work. They are billed as “Hale and Derry,” but when we tried to find out something about them we could find no one around the station who even knew their names! * * * THAT PSYCHIC MACHINE Until recently we enjoyed nothing but the best kind of reception from our—(this space for sale)—set, and then one day we began to receive weekly installments of a series of technical articles by G. R. Walters, of the Radio Trades As- sociation, pointing out millions of reasons for poor reception. Stucco coating on houses, water pipes, gas pipes, electric light wires, vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, door knobs, cigar ashes, alimony receipts, and skads of other things, all oper- ated to interfere with radio reception. And we had ’em all. Now, every day in every way our radio gets worse and worse. Will Mr. Walters please write an article in more optimistic vein so we may show it to our set? Our readers are yelling for more reviews. * * * DIFFICULTY ON COPYRIGHTS OF BOWL NUMBERS One of the most difficult things about the Hollywood Bowl con- cert series, originated by KFI, Los Angeles, for the National Broad- casting Company every Saturday night at 8:30, is the matter of clearing copyrights on the works performed. “‘It has taken us some time to get adjusted with copyright re- quirements,” says Glenn Tindall, general manager of the Bowl, “but now Carl Haverlin of KFI and our office has the situation well in hand. “Many a time we have had per- mission from composers to per- form their works and for a time assumed the permission was suffi- cient, but it isn’t. The holder of the copyright is seldom the con- ductor or composer. “In the case of very old works, like those of Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Palestrina and others, modern ar- rangements covered by copyright rendered legally meaningless the age of the work. It must be con- sidered a modern, copyrighted work. “The unfailing alertness and sound information of Haverlin and the courtesy of publishers have, however, saved us the expense of legal advice over copyrights.” COAST ADVANCE AS RADIO SPOT (Continued from Page 5) the most rapid that can be cited : by any industry,” Gilman pointed out, adding: “The rapidity of development precludes a definite iforecost as to what will come for there is no indication that the present tempo will slacken. Three years ago no one would have guessed that this new industry would bold its pres- ent position today. The volume of business which radio is doing is increasing and indications are that more network stations will develop in the West as presentations from this section become increasingly significant in the East as well as in our own area.” Programs already sent East from the San Francisco studios will be increased in number with completion of the fall schedule which now is being worked out, Gilman believes. Under the pres- ent set-up, more than 150 broad- casts are built and released weekly from the San Francisco studios to the stations affiliated with NBC in the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain areas. Approximately 60 others are received from the east- ern NBC studios for distribution through the coast chain. Cost of the production work, rents, salaries and supplies bring the expenditures by NBC at the division headquarters to approxi- mately $1,500,000 per year, Gil- man estimated. The investment in- cludes three modern studios and a rehearsal room, engineering equipment valued at more than $35,000 and a music library of thousands of orchestrations the value of which is declared to be between $75,000 and $100,000. About $250,000 is paid annually to musicians alone, the salary schedule reveals. Fees to singers, actors and producers are not in- cluded in this budget which al- lows for several concert and dance orchestras in the studios. The present personnel includes Announcer Tourney Resulting from a sugges- tion by Kenneth Niles, KHJ announcer, an international golf tournament among radio announcers is being arranged by Ted Plusing, ace sports announcer for the Columbia Broadcasting System Each city will hold its own elimination tournament, win- ners meeting for the grand championship on one of the nationally famous golf courses. RADIO DEMANDS SPECIAL PLAYS FOR BROADCAST SAN FRANCISCO, July 24.— Theatrical successes adapted for radio presentation have their merit but the studio drama written espe- cially for broadcasting, is favored by National Broadcasting Com- pany producers at the San Fran- cisco studios. “The Cross-Eyed Parrot” is only one example of the popularity of drama written for radio, say producers. That series brought to the NBC San Francisco studios a tremendous amount of enthusiastic audience mail. “The Dragon in the Sun,” an- other mystery thriller, bids fair to excel in popularity its predecessor. Both productions, presented seri- ally through the NBC network, are from the pen of Carlton E. Morse, former newspaper writer, now on the NBC continuity staff. “The Unseen Hand,” written by Tom Hutchinson and adapted by Morse, and a series of short com- edy-dramas by Harry DeLassaux are other examples of the “legiti- mate” in the studio. “Memory Lane” is distinctly a radio pro- duction which grew into a drama from a musical performance typ- ical of the ether fare three years ago. H. C. Connette is the author of this serial which draws thou- sands of audience letters. CONTINUE OPERA The full radio productions of grand opera presented over KFI recently, under the Adohr banner, are to be continued by Earle C. Anthony. Regularly once a month the station will produce unabridged opera with the best available radio talent. BREAKFAST SWITCHED Bill Sharpies and His Gang, who have conducted the Breakfast Club morning over KMTR for the last four years, have switched stations, and are now to be heard over KTM daily. The change went into effect July 23. DON LEE REQUEST SAN FRANCISCO, July 24.— Don Lee has applied to the Fed- eral Radio Commission for per- mission to increase the power of his KFRC and KHJ stations from 1000 to 50,000 watts. THREE COEDS SIGNED The Three Coeds have been signed by KGER to appear over that station three times weekly. more than 150 musicians, singers and actors and a force of office employees raising the total to around 300, regularly engaged at the Pacific division headquarters. RADIO CANS VARIETY Radio variety seems to ,be suffering somewhat of an eclipse. “Chas- ing The Blues,” Saturday night jamboree hour, has been chased off to make way for auto race broadcasts, and the Merrymakers’ Thursday night hour of jolly geniality gives way shortly to a period of straight music in classic vein. Gagmen are now sweeping out the studios. . * * * His Majesty Colonel Charles Lindbergh will speak over the radio August 8. King George will please remain standing. * * * Barks from the Office Dog: Ted White having tire-d trouble, and framing a car swap with Dick Creedon—Dick shedding his decorum and his clothes and swimming in the all-together—with Jose Rodriguez setting the bad example— Carl Haverlin suffering from an embarrassment of riches— and looking for a louse to put on a music critic—KFI office in the doldrums—Oma Rhoads is on vacation—June Parker putting a pinch on Elvia Allman—you’d never guess where—• Glen Dolberg on vacation—Ken Niles hearing his name on the radio—from New York—such is fame—Robert Nicholls missing from the air—where has that boy gone this time?— Lindsay MacHarrie giving the golf pants an airing—Leigh Harline walking ’neath sunny California skies—Carl Laemmle kidding the listeners—Charles Gabriel among the first-night- ers—Ho, hum—it’s a dog’s life. WARNERS USING TRICK SYSTEM ON BROADCASTS With Larry Ceballos Revues now on the air every Friday night from KFWB, the station has an oppor- tunity to use the elaborate broad- casting equipment which was in- stalled in the Warner Brothers Hollywood when it was built, and which has been under steady ex- perimentation since. The Hollywood is ideally adapt- ed for such a remote control pro- gram, according to Gerald King, manager of KFWB. “When the theatre was being constructed Chief Engineer Frank Murphy saw to it that a complete system of microphone outlets was installed in the orchestral pit, on stage and back-stage. Ten micro- phones in all may be employed in this broadcast,” states King. Over the stage manager’s desk in the wings has been erected a platform, the floor of which is eight feet above the stage floor. A com- plete mixing room, far more elab- orate than that employed in the ordinary remote control broadcast, has been installed there. From this elevation the an- nouncers view the presentation. Because stage presentations are not, as a rule, so accurately timed as a radio program, a system of telephonic communication has been installed, linking the back-stage an- nouncer with the radio studio it- self, thus making it possible to shorten or lengthen the preceding studio program. RADIO ORGANIST DEAD Arthur Shaw, radio organist, passed away at his home in Holly- wood on July 17. Shaw was one of the best of the broadcasting or- ganists and was known here for his work over KTM. He was a na- tive of England and won first hon- ors for three successive years at Trinity College, London, for his organ work. Before coming to KTM he was organist for KTAB, Oakland. ACT JOINS KYA SAN FRANCISCO, July 24.— “Dealers In Old Ivory,” mixed piano duo, have joined KYA. They will be on the Embassy and Rhythmic Ripples programs. KENNETH RUNDQUIST Baritone LEIGHTON'S CAFETERIA Market at Powell San Francisco WM. DON ENGLISH COMEDIAN Creator of the Famous Character, “Dr. Oojah” National Broadcasting Co. San Francisco HAVE YOU HEARD BILLY VAN? At KFWB, Hollywood Says: Mayer and Evans in town—- Jack Haley and Ray Mayer putting on the Ritz for Leon- ard Stevens—Lou Enderly, fe- male baritone, back from Chi- cago—Bee Jackson coming to the coast—song pluggers story by Gene Swift in Inside Facts last week sure great — Al Herman on the opposish list— “Oh Judge” opening — so what! p. r— m* Tariff « m Oosmo Street aim xiuiiy wOoa Boulevard . . . between Vine and Oahuenga . . . the phone numbers are GRanite 8 8 8 2 and HOllywood 9 15 9 . . . parking is free at the lot across from the CELLAR . . . the CHRYSLER, and SAM- SONS are there. Thank You.