Inside facts of stage and screen (October 18, 1930)

PAGE EIGHT INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN OCT. 18, 1930 REVIEWS COMMENT RADIOLAND CHATTER NEWS SAN FRANCISCO RADIO NOTES SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16.—A system of silent communication by which radio station technicians can carry on a conversation with studio artists and directors during a program broadcast has been developed by engineers of NBC and the Telautographic Corp. Under the silent Tel- autographic system, a light advises the artist when the control room seeks his attention. Then the message is delivered by Telautograph. Device will be put in the San Francisco NBC headquarters soon. * * * “INSIDE FACTS’’ HEREWITH PRESENTS FIRST OF A SERIES OF LISTS, GIVING PERSONNEL, EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTS OF BAY DISTRICT RADIO STATIONS. CLIP AND FILE THIS LIST. IT MAY BE OF VALUE ANY DAY. * * * KFRC PERSONNEL 1000 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco (Don Lee-Columbia Chain) HARRISON HOLLIWAY Manager MEREDITH WILLSON Musical Director EUGENE HEYES Concert Master MONROE UPTON Publicity Director MERLE MATTHEWS Production Manager EDWARD WILSON Commercial Director WALTER BUNKER, JR. Chief Announcer WALTER KELSEY Asst. Musical Director FRANK MOSS, Vocal Director STAFF Eleanor Allen, organist; Mary Pasmore, violinist; Abe Bloom, pop singer; A1 and Cal Pearce, harmony team; Charles Cartier, pop singer; Herman Reinberg, ’cellist; Gilbert Hyde Chick, tenor; Nita Mitchell, blues singer; Robert Rourke, violinist; Fred Linn Church, announcer; Bill Cowles, accompanist. Juanita Tennyson, soprano; Monroe Upton, announcer, comedian; Clark Sisters, harmony team; Hazel Warner, pop contralto; Madelaine de Mischel, accordionist; Cecil Wright, hill billy; Edna Fischer, pop pianist; William Wright, comedian; Robert Graham, baritone; Western- ers, male quartet; Mary Lewis Haines, domestic science. Mac, Harry McClintock, hill billy; Tommy Harris, pop singer; Doakes and Doakes (Hardy Gibson), comedy team; Eugene Hawes (Pedro), comedian; Winifred Louthain,- daily chats; Harold Horton, announcer; Arnold Maguire and Tommy Monroe, Lem ‘n’ Lafe, black- face act; John Hoss, basso; Norman Nielsen, tenor; Margaret O’Dea, contralto; Robert Olsen, tenor; Edna O’Keefe, novelty singer; Francesca Ortega, Spanish singer. TECHNICAL STAFF * * * Alan Cormack, director; Victor de Roco, technician; Liston Bowden, technician; Don Cameron, technician; James McArdle, technician * * * SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16.—In a shifting of sponsored programs on local stations, Tommy Monroe and Bob Allen have left Lloyd Hill- man and his “1640 Boys” program on KYA, shifting to KLX, Oakland where they will handle a broadcast for the Motor Credit Corp * * * Taking Monroe’s and Allen’s place on the 1640 program, is Henry Starr who left NBC about two weeks ago. Starr will do his stuff over the KYA ether lanes for five weeks; then will shift to KPO Later he will temporarily move to Los Angeles where KECA will take the hour * * * Formation of the new United Broadcasting Co. is seen as a great break for KTAB, a member of the Pickwick chain which was drawn into the UBC network. Although the UBC headquarters will be in Los An- geles, KTAB probably will get a power increase, more money to spend for talent and a better opportunity for more commercial accounts. Or- chestra will be dispensed with, and a number of changes in artist per- sonnel are looked for. Bob Roberts remains as manager * * * Columbia Pictures has landed a self-plugging episode of talk titled Roger and Ellen” over KGGC. Josephine Friscella and George Ross read the skits. Harold Davis Emerson Columbia studio writer, wrote the series, which has considerable mention in it of Mickey Mouse car- toons and various of the Columbia players. * * * A new athletic feature, including a question box, comments and views on sporting events and intimate stories of sporting people are a part of an NBC program being done by Jack Keough with a local clothing store as sponsor. * * * The Lucille Gordon Players, presenting Wednesday afternoon sketches over KJBS, include John Seifert, director; Jean Moore, Patsy O’Brien, Ruth Benze and Richard Blackiston. * * * Liston Bowden has been promoted from KFRC’s technical depart- ment to the position of sound engineer for all the station’s broadcasts * * * Sunny Cohan and Lucille Atherton Harger have been dropped from KFRC S payroll and Bill Cowles has been added to the staff as accom- panist. * * * A new feature over KTAB is the Night Owls from 11:30 to 1 night- ly, except Sunday. Willard Kimball is m. c. and artists are Chili Peppers Alice Blue, Gerda Lundberg, Muzzy Marcelina and others. * * * After a short jaunt to the Northwest on a decidedly personal mission George Nickson, KYA tenor, has returned. There seems to be romance m the air. * * * Freddie Heward and Mort Grauenhorst are doing some neat fiddle and gitter duo work on NBC programs. * * * J. L. Pattison is out of KTAB. sketches. KH J Expectations of lovers of fine music were realized with the broad cast of the New York Philharmonic concert October 12, from New York over the Columbia Broadcasing System, released locally by KHJ. Although Goldmarks, “Spring Ov- erture,” was haunting in its com bination of Hungarian and Oriental melody, full honors for the two hours concert must go to Bee- thoven’s Eighth Symphony. Erich Kleiber, who welded the baton of the New York Philhar- monic Sym'-'ho—- composed of 111 musicians also conducted for the Columbia Network, Scherzo Cap- riccioso, Opus 66 by Dvorak. * * * KFI Leopold Stokowski, through the courtesy of Philco, conducted Phil- adelphia S” , ™'>hony Orchestra of 110 musicians, termed by many the greatest symphony orchestra in the world, in four modern compositions. Program was rather boring, bein~ of slow tempo, with exception of a “Fire Dance Number.” Released over National Broadcasting Com- panv, coming to Los Angeles over KFI. * * * KGF J . From 3 to 5 p. m., Lani Mcln- tire and his six Hawaiians tinkled ukeleles in a stirring rendition of native music over KGFJ, the 24 hr. station. They’re —-od, every one of them and Ben McGlashan should be congratulated on having so good a collection to offer to radio land. KHJ AGAIN PICKED FOR KENT FINALS Pickups and Viewpoints CLASSIC AND POP FROM L. B. Everett Hoagland can justly lay claim to having a top notch program radiating from KGER in Long Beach every evening from 6:30 to 7:30 when he appears with his musical pot-pourri and his Hoagland Troubadors from 9 to 10, and 11 to 11:30, according to the amount of phone calls during broad- casts and fan mail. The musical potpouri, which the fans appreciate, because of fine variety, combines the classics with the more popular form of musical entertainment. A decided contrast is af- forded between, for example,, “Just a Little Closer,” and Men- delsohnn’s “Spinning Song,” both of which were very nicely rendered by Hoagland’s organization. Idea of interspersing popular with pleasing chamber music has won approval of many listeners of the Beach City station. THAT RADIO SHAKE-UP Past several months in and around Los Angeles and Hollywood have witnessed a shake-up of station staffs. Most notable to occur were the reshifting of officers at KHJ, KMTR, KNX and KMPC. It seems to have started when Glen Rice re- signed from the position of assist- ant to Naylor Rogers at KNX sev- eral months ago and took lead at KMPC, the MacMillan Station at Beverly Hills. Both KFWB and KNX are scheduled for sweeping changes according to inner rumbl- ings, although Charles Gabriel, for- mer radio editor of the Los An- geles Evening Express, and now as- sistant general manager to Vice President Naylor Rogers has not expressed a definite policy. KHJ has again been selected by the Atwater Kent Foundation to broadcast state finals in its fourth annual auditions. Last year, the finals, broadcast over KHJ, received 7000 votes of listeners, the largest number recorded in the United States. Interest which the Southland has shown in this effort to discover and help young artists is reflected in the fact that 700 contestants have en- tered the lists this year, nearly double that of last year. Last year, Southern California regarded as a State (California is the only State divided into two so- called States for the purposes of the audition) ranked third in its num- ber of aspirants, a jump from twelfth to third place in two years. Iowa was on top. BIG POWER FIGHT ON Six stations of the fifth zone, west of the Rockies, fighting in Wash- ington, D.C., for permission of the Federal Radio Commission to op- erate on a power of 50,000 watts, have representatives on the ground, who even now are probably hear- ing the verdict. According to prev- ious announcement, the fifth zone can have only four 50,000 watt sta- tions and already KFI and KNX have been granted permission, thus slating four of the six competing stations to disappointment. Other stations grimly racing for coveted increase of power are KPO and KFRC, San Francisco, KHJ, Los Angeles, KOMO, Seattle, and KSL, Salt Lake City. An interesting fact is that KHJ, KFRC, and KOMO, by some rul- ing of the Federal Radio Commis- sion are so-called ‘regional” stations and according ‘to law, limited to 1000 watts. This will probably mean a difficult struggle for the three sta- tions. Current opinion indicates that Los Angeles has her share of 50,000 watt stations with KFI and KNX. In the event that KHJ should miss with the commission, the permit for greater power will, in all likeli- hood, fall to Don Lee through KFRC in San Francisco. Fourth station to have the in- crease probably will be KOMO, Seattle, or KSL, Salt Lake City. Seattle, by virtue of being a mari- time city has just claim to the in- creased power, while Salt Lake, an important railroad junction and in- land metropolis, is placing equal stress upon the necessity of added power. NEW RADIO PRODUCT SEVENTEEN WEEKS FOR “STAR SCRIBE’ He wrote the Togo and other HAVE YOU HEARD BILLY VAN On K. G. E. R? STOP and LISTEN to the WESTERNERS MALE QUARTET KFRC San Francisco PROGRAM HASHING PUTS OLSEN AHEAD George Olsen and his music, be- ing featured in the M-J-B Demi- Tasse Revue, are being broadcast from KHJ over the Columbia Chain every Friday night, 8 to 8:30 o’clock. The change is made neces- sary by the annual re-scramble of programs, attending the East’s re- turn to Standard time. Olsen’s numbers will include the latest and. most popular hits that scored during the preceding week. Nothing in the way of physical hazards stops Joan and Mark, prin- cipals of “Star Reporter,” a series of newspaper playlets that are re- leased regularly over KMTR on Monday eyenings, from 9 to 9:30. On the air 17 weeks with each episode a different, complete story, the personnel of the “Star Report- er,” may justly claim the record for having, the longest constant series of radio plays presented over one station without a break. Nancy Drexel, formerly with Wil- liam Fox studios, plays the femi- nine lead of Joan Huntley, a fea- ture writer. Negotiations for serial rights to the episodes are being con- ducted between Universal and the authors, it is asserted. BUCK IN RECORDS A. G. Buck, for the nost year manager of the Picture-Music de- partment of RCA Photophone, Inc., has been appointed manager of the record order and production division, with headquarters at Cam- den, N. J. Mr. Buck succeeds J. L. Crewe, Jr., resigned. ARE ASSOCIATES Douglas MacLean and A1 Boas- berg have been signed as associate producers by RKO. RKO TAKES HEAVY Bill Davidson has been awarded a “heavy” role in RKO’S “Hook, Line and Sinker.” From Jack Joy, manager of pro- ductions at KFWB, comes word of a new type of performer, produced by radio. Joy describes a rather mild, well dressed fashionplate, in comparison to the talkative troupers of vaudeville and legitimate. Every profession has its require- ments, and undoubtedly radio, which is steady, and minus the vigorous influence of road shows, stage hands and absconding managers, has a more quieting influence upon the characters of the performers. The atmosphere of a studio is a little more refined than the wings of a second run circuit house. Joy, an old time trouper and vaudeville orchestra leader, offered an explanation. Bragadacio on the part of radio performers is lacking because artists, who broadcast have no immediate way of finding how their work clicks, with the audience, and they’re constantly wondering. SWAGGER INN GOES ON KMTR SHORTLY Swagger Inn, popular rendezvous of stage and screen folk, formerly known as. “Coffee Dan’s” on Hill Tviorm’ F° on the air from KMTR as a regular weekly feature shortly, it was announced. Paul McPherson and his band will furnish music, playing latest dance hits and accompanying the impromptu entertainment that will be. presented with Art Varian at the microphone as master of cere- monies. Carl Pelley, manager will have his portion of the “mike,” in the coming interesting broadcasts. SALESMAN WRITES Continuities for KGER are ground out by one of the sales ex- ecutives, Herbert Connor, and Cath- erine'Brown, comedienne. Cerro Chico Apts. MRS. WILL DAVIS, Mgr. 3517 Marathon St. OLympia ‘5983 2 Blocks East of Corner Melrose and Hoover Half way between Broadway and Hollywood. Unobstructed pano- ramic view. Large singles and doubles—Frigidaire, service and extras. Individual entrance. CYRUS TROBBE MUSICAL DIRECTOR Scrapbook Midnight Melodies Shell Happy Time Salon Orchestra MASTERS OF MUSIC PROGRAMS KPO SAN FRANCISCO