Inside facts of stage and screen (September 6, 1930)

PAGE EIGHT INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, SEPT. 6, 1930 Pickups and Viewpoints GOOD WILL AN ESSENTIAL If radio is to continue prosperous it must win and hold the good will of established theatrical institutions. The future of radio depends upon the talent of the stage both for name value and ability. In order to secure such talent, there are certain channels which have been adopted and fostered by both man- agers and performers as a clearing house, namely, the theat- rical agencies. Actors seek agents for their jobs, managers seek agents for their shows. The agent is conversant with available talent as well as with prospective positions. Most of the recognized agents have their clients under contract and they can be ob- tained in no other way than from those particular representa- tives. Every radio station should have the good will of every agent and extend to them the courtesy of their stations. Not only should they consider the talent presented upon its merit, but they should make it their business to see that the commission is properly paid to the right agency. It has been brought to our attention that a certain large sta- tion employs its extra talent from one agent and all perform- ers are compelled to pay that one agent a commission whether he obtains the job for them or they book independently. This is all wrong. No actor should be made to pay a commission if they secure a job of their own efforts nor should the com- mission due an agent be paid to any other person. Checks should be paid to individuals, not to an agent, who may hold out unearned commission and do an injustice to the actor, who must pay two agents or be placed on one blacklist or another for not paying one of them. There is considerable criticism already over the manner in which this station is working exclusively with an agent and other reputable agents are considering withholding their con- tract talent if the practice persists. Radio cannot afford a scandal nor adverse talk among the profession at this time so it is advisable that this station maintain at! attitude of courtesy to all agents if it desires to prosper and retain good will. Cowle Secretary School Attracts Theater People Jane Cowle’s Secretarial Studio, 735 South Grand avenue has been a rnecca for theatrical folk during the last few weeks. She is special- izing in teaching an A-B-C system of shorthand known as Super-Speed Writing. Miss Cowle has made special in- ducements to members of the theat- rical profession to acquire this knowledge, which she says can be mastered in five week's time, apply- ing about an hour a day. A free lesson is offered to those who are interested without obliga- tion to take the course unless they so desire. F. & M. SIGN FIVE Five big time dance masters are to produce one Idea, a month for Fanchon and Marco. They are Larry Ceballos, formerly with W B., LeRoy Prinz, from New York; Sammy Lee, formerly with M-G-M; Albertina Rasch and Carl McBride who will produce the tap dances. The Comedian; • Issued monthly, offers less comedy material for more money than any printed publication in the world. And yet, it’s a gold mine for the better grade of vau- deville performers, radio artists and humorists in general, be- cause it contains ALL NEW LAUGHS. Each issue presepts one of James Maidson’s latest monologues and double routines, individual gags, etc. No. 4 is just out—price $1. For $3, will send THE COMEDIAN, No.’s 1, 2, 3, and 4. Or for $12, the first 4 issues and a full year be- ginning with No. 5. If you buy your laughs by the pound, “Lay off MacDuff.” Send orders to the publisher, WALTER LON- DON, P. O. Box 139, Vine St. Station, Hollywood, Calif. WALTER LONDON P. O. Box 139, Vine St. Station Hollywood, Cal. ENGAGE NEW CAFE BAND George Freeman and his orches- tra opened at the Montmarte Cafe last week for an indefinite engage- ment. Freeman recently completed an engagement at the Norconian Club, following a two-year stand at the La Monica Ballroom, previous to which he was at the Kit Kat and the Piccadilly Clubs in London. Numbered among his personnel are Jack Malman, violin, Mat Kres- sich, sax, violin and voice, Charles DeNell, piano, George Byrne, sax and clarinet, Kinney Becker, sax, Alden Gray bass, Aubrey Rebard, drums, with George tripling on the fiddle, trumpet and piano. One of the aggregation's out- standing offerings is a string trio featuring Freeman, Malman and Kressich, which are released nightly together with other popular offer- ings over KFWB. ALMOST STRUCK A strike by the chorus of the Paramount stage show was threat- ened last night when the girls of ‘he Mosconi Bros, took the stage to rehearse. Th present chorus thought they were being summarily discharged without notice. The management explained that the Mosconi girls were rehearsing for the following show and gave each member of the current line a new contract and their two week’s no- tice. The show has been held for a second week. Radio Sciences In Phraseology of Pass Letter RADIO SCIENCES Radio show pulled a nifty in its letterhead, which was gotten up like a radiogram. “Radio- show - gram,” with syllable “show” in small type, was phraseology. In mailing complimentary sea- " son tickets, the radio-show-gram read: “This is first time science has accomplished the miracle of sending season passes by radio- show-gram.” KEEP STATIONS IS BOARD PLAN SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 4.—No reduction in the number of broad- casting stations in California is being considered by the Federal Radio Commission, that body stated this week. Statement, declared to be offi- cial, comes as somewhat of a sur- prise, inasmuch as elimination of several broadcasting units, especial- ly in Southern California, was ex- pected following a rigid inspection by the Commission. The Commission also said that a station popularity poll being con- ducted by a radio fan publication that states the poll results will be the deciding factor in the Commis- sion’s station slashing was just a lot Radio Sparks By THE TATLER Why can’t some one find out why the radio game is so full and empty at the same time. Radio is over crowded with songsters and others that think they are made to order for the Mike; while the treasuries of mos tradio stations are empty and now looks like they will stay that way, so you see the radio stars are bound to work for nothing for a while anyway. * * * Why don't the Radio Show give more of the radio stars a chance to do their stuff before the crowds at the Auditorium? Many talented persons of local stations have no! been booked for the show and we still wonder WHY? * * * A certain radio artist told me that he received over two hundred letters last week, and in this day of radio I can’t see how he did it; unless he has a good many friends and re- lations-to send him mail. * * * Good radio programs are hard to find, and why they should be is more than I can understand, with the wonderful talent to be found in this city, but most of the local sta- tions go right on with recorded pro- grams and pass up talent that is waiting for the chance that never comes. STAGE AND SCREEN EMPLOYEES—LEARN JANE COWLE’S SYSTEM OF SUPER-SPEED WRITING IN 5 WEEKS SHORT SHORT SHORTHAND—Easy to Learn—Easy to Pay This Ad Entitles You to a FREE Lesson PHONE FOR APPOINTMENT JANE COWLE SECRETARIAL STUDIOS 735 South Grand Avenue Phone TUcker 9186 Los Angeles Behind The ‘Mike’ With The Microphone Club By JACK PARKER Returning to work, after four days in old Mexico is hard to do, so if the news in this department is old by the time you read it you will know the reason why. Billy Cantor, the writer and Jack Mayo Jr. tried to forget the cares of radioland for a few days but on our way to Mexico we had to stop in San Diego for one night, and up to the studios of KFSD on the U. S. Grant Hotel, where we found that Mr. Adams formerly of KMTR was directing things there in a big way. * * * Jerry Grant & his orchestra have joined the staff of the Microphone Club as official orchestra and will be featured hereafter on the Mike Club Frolics. Jerry will also act as musical director of the program department. * * * Robert Kidder, “The Boy With the Silver Voice” is also a new comer to radioland and will be heard on all Microphone Club pro- grams. Mr. Kidder is well known in vaudeville and on the light con- cert stage. * * * The Radio Show is now in full swing, and if you have not paid a visit to this great display of things that are new in radio I urge you to do so at once. A large studio has been built in the Ambassador Au- ditorium and the artists will be on display in this glass room during the broadcasts. * * * As Billy Cantor remarked “I feel like a bird in a glass cage” while broadcasting this year at the show, and June Fox, added “The visitors look at you like you were some rare curiosity.” * * * Gene Clark, has taken up his duties in San Francisco to form a branch of the Microphone Club of America in the northern city. Mr. Clark will be gone about three weeks and during that time Jack Mayo will act as program director for the Mike Club programs. * * * 29—FACTS caw7 Charles Buck, one of the directors of the Microphone Club has beer forced to take a vacation of several weeks for his health. Mr. Buck has ben working very hard as an- nouncer for KFI and KECA and will not return to his post until fully recovered, according to Dr. Tohn Davis, medical director for the Microphone Club. * * * Lily Morse, blues singer and favorite of radio fans of the West- ern United States will be officia’ entry of the M’crophone Club for ‘he title of RADIO QUEEN of the Radio World’s Fair in New York. * * * Ravenelie, the head of the RA- VENELLE SALON in the Holly- wood Plaza Hotel will act as dir- “ctor of the MICROPHONE SA- LON programs over KGFJ each Friday at 2:30 while Gene Clark is in San Francisco. * * * Bill Cody, the western star was a visitor at the club rooms last week as was Victor F. Zang, Jr., the former maker of good beer, (this was some time ago) Mr. Zang is said to have made millions in beer during the good old days, but if he was in the game now he would make BILLIONS. (A bootlegger told me so). * * * Some one asked my why I left KFI and KECA. Well to tell the truth they had so many good tenors that I felt a move would be good for all concerned and as long as Terry Kav, “THE VOICE OF A MILLION THRILLS” was on the staff I had not a chance. (I mean this Jerry). * * * All kidding aside, the staff at KFI and KECA is like one big happy family, Harry Hall, Jerry Kay, Don Wilson. Polly Hall, Charles Buck and others that I can’t remember at this time, are to be classed as the finest in radio. And I am hapov to have been associated with the KFI- KECA organization. * * * Now to let the folks know that I am now with KHJ and for the time being will do my stuff on the Don Lee system as one of the “BALLAD CROONERS” released each Wednesday night at 7 P, M. thanks to Ray Paige (one of the finest men in the game. * * * ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE MICROPHONE CLUB OF AMERICA, CAN CALL NORMANDY 7294 FOR FULL INFORMATION. * * * Chief White Eagle was with us on the frolic last week, told the fans that were tuned in that he was the first man to be married via the radio, at once we had calls from over fifty men who wanted to talk to the Chief to find out how they could “tune out” of their present marriage. * * * Well, news is hard to dig up at the last minute, the dead line is only a few hours away, so will sign off for this week and will see you next week at the same time. Yours for Better Times, JACK PARKER. Braven Dyer, Times sports expert, will handle microphone for KHJ on all football broad- casts this season. Dyer has the confidence of the athletes, coaches and reading public. His excellent broadcasting of the basketball games last season is a guarantee of his microphone technique. * * * Gogo DeLys, Fanchon-Marco and vaudeville headliner, has signed with KHJ and will dispense various shades of blues. Gogo is a former U.S.C. co-ed and was careering to- wards the legal profession when snapped up by an Eastern producer. The beautiful one has been en- croaching on the pictures with con- siderable success the past year. * * * Scott Bradley, trained under Vic- tor Herbert and formerly program director for KTM, was guest con- ductor at KHJ this week. Brad- ley’s arrangements of Montemartre Rose was the feature of the pro- gram. * * * Mack Sennett and Daphne Pollard are again scheduled for California Melodies next Wed- nesday after illness thwarted their microphone appearance twice in the past month. * * * June Parker and Nell Larson cut short their vacation at Monterey after feeling their way through fog for three days and reached Santa Barbara in time for an earthquake. * * * The harmony trio on Kenneth Niles early morning Hallulujah Hour is looking for a name. * 4 = * They came as the Three Buddies and in the past week have changed the trade mark, to Three Paupers, Three Cheers and the Racketeers. * * * Major Lawrence Mott, famed dic- tator of the former Catalina Island station and one of Western radio’s few vivid personalities, will inau- gurate a series of Sport-O-Logues over KHJ September 10. The in- trepid Major will recall his exper- iences in outlandish spots of the uncivilized world. * * * Friday is KHJ Day at the Radio Show. The entire KHJ staff will do their assorted stuff from 4:30 to 5, 7 to 8, and 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. The Bilt- more Trio, Hallulujah Quartet, and Zimmerman and Grand- ville, the world’s greatest yod- lers, are a few on the program. * * * Polly Grant Hall and Weldronov are experimenting at the Anthony stations with two piano jazz nov- elties.