Inside facts of stage and screen (Aug 09, 1930)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE (Editor’s Note: The following talk on radio work was broadcast last Friday afternoon, August 1, by Fred Yeates, Radio Editor of Inside Facts, and following numer- ous requests from listeners-in, is herewith reprinted.) How to make money on the radio 1 This question is the most often asked and the easiest to answer. It is quite simple. All you need is— First, superior talent; Second, experience; Third, an audience demanding your entertainment; And fourth, a sponsor who wants you on his program. It is a peculiar thing that ama- teurs who would not seriously ex- pect a theatrical manager to fea- ture them in a stage production, without first acquiring experience and a following, will thrust them- selves upon radio managers. The lay public has little concep- tion of what is required of a radio performer—of the things that go into the making of a microphone artist. Radio ^constantly needs new and better talent. But of all the ama- teur singers and performers who come to the stations seeking audi- tions, not one in a thousand has anything new or better to offer. They have heard someone they do not like, and say, “Well, I can do as well as that myself!” And they come in, bringing exactly the same kind of poor material and expect to be hired forthwith. The profession of radio artist is an exacting one and must be taken seriously, just like any other life profession. One must have a thor- ough musical education, and must have talent with it. One must have a sense of showmanship, an ability to take the simple things of everyday life and make them ap- pealing, beautiful. This is a talent that develops only with practice and experience. It is not neces- sarily heaven-born genius. Every- one who possesses the faculty of being able to “put himself in the other fellow’s place” can become an interprettive artist. But you who would like to get a start in radio, please do not come to the studios with a copy of “I Love You Truly” or some other sweet but overworked song, and expect to plank it down on a piano, sing it and get money for it. Your friends may kid you that you have a nice voice, but you know your- self you can’t kid the great radio audience. You must either be new and original, or be very, very good. If you are an amateur you are not good. If you have not per- formed professionally do not ex- pect radio to pay you money for raw gifts. You must first have training, preferably from someone who is able to command money for his own radio performances, and then you must expect to in- vest in some unrewarded radio ex- perience until you can command money for your work. Now a word for the professional entertainer from other fields. Radio is very different to the theatre. Theatre patrons pay their way in, and it is part of this money that pays the performer’s salary. In radio, the audience pays noth- ing. Some advertiser must pay the entertainer’s salary, as well as the station fee for broadcasting. Reasonably enough, the adver- tiser wants to be sure that the artists on his program are the kind that people like to listen to. He cannot be expected to gamble on talent that is not known to the radio audience. Thousands of ra- dio listeners are not theatre fans, and vaudeville and stage names mean little to them. To get a ra- dio audience you will have to in- vest some your time, and you will have to learn a new technique. If you think your stage name will get you, big radio money from the jump you are just kidding yourself. To all those who want a radio career let me say: Keep your mind busy picking up pointers. Prac- tice. Get on the air whenever you can, on any station you can, wheth- er there is any money in it or not. Invest your time and talent. Then when you become known outside the circle of your family, relatives and friends, when people quite un- known to you begin to commend your work by mail, phone and tele- graph, and when you have im- pressed studio officials with your willingness, ability and drawing power, you will find yourself pro- fessionally engaged in the newest, pleasantest and not the least profit- able of the entertainment fields. Avoid racketeering. Never mind having your friends phone in ap- plause calls. You fool nobody, least of all the studio officials. Do not pin your hopes on lightning. Success comes as the cumulative result of steady effort. There is no short cut to becoming a polished radio performer any more than one can become a lawyer, physician or banker without mjaking the “grades.” RADIO VISITS KTM now has two “hospitality nights” when the public is made welcome. The Ranch gang hold their open house every Friday night, and there has recently been added a Bill Sharpies Gang night, Wednesdays, at the close of which the guests are treated to refresh- ments. WEEKLY AUDITIONS KGER, Long Beach, is holding weekly auditions, the prospects from which are being featured on the Mid-Week Varieties hour, staged 8 p. m. Wednesdays. That Personable MASTER OF CEREMONIES JACKIE SOUDERS NOW 7TH WEEK BOULEVARD THEATRE WITH PAUL TITSWORTH AND THAT RED HOT BAND FRED YEATES’ TALK ON RADIO DISCUSSES HOW TO MAKE MONEY BY RADIO WORK Behind The Mike With The Microphone Club Franklyn Allen, piano star from the Fox studios, was an on-the-air visitor last week during the Mike Club program from KGFJ. * * * Ray and Opal, two girls making a name on radio, have been doing screen and cafe work in Los An- geles, but now they have turned to radio, and we think that they will go far (and still be with us). * * * Ruby Dell Masters-, radio and stage star of the British Broad- casting Co. in dear ol’ London, is one of the new members of the MCA, and after you hear her you will want to hear more of the “Masters” voice. * * * Conrad Hays has resigned as di- rector of programs for the Gen- eral Broadcasting Association to return to New York City, where he will take over the program de- partment of Cameo Radio Produc- tions. Conrad is a member of the Mike Club and will form a branch in New York, according to present plans. ♦ * * \ Rodaro Swanson, cousin of the motion picture star, Gloria Swan- son, was featured last week on the Mike Club frolic from KGFJ. Mr. Swanson is a player at M-G-M studios and a member of the Mike Club. (Rodaro looks more like a brother of Gloria’s. As Jack Par- ker said, “He looks more like Gloria than Gloria does.”) * * * Earl Hampton, late of “Follow Through,” was m. c. at the Frolic last week, and he did the job up in a big way. The boy is sure good, and we want him to come back real soon. * * * Haven Johnson, the Crown Prince of Syncopation, is to be the chief attraction this week on the Frolic at KGFJ, the 24-hour sta- tion. HaveYi is loaned to the Mike Club by Master Productions. * * * Wonder why the Radio Commis- sion does not take time off and tune in local stations. The low type of advertising that goes out on the air is making radio (except for a few stations) programs hard to listen to. * * The Microphone Club of Amer- ica stands ready at all times to help the Government Radio Board in clearing up the air and to help raise the standard of broadcasting, not only on local stations but on stations of other cities. * * * Jack Parker, our president, tells us that he expects to open a re- mote-control studio in the club rooms of the Microphone Club, lo- cated in the Hollywood-Plaza Ho- tel, on Vine and Hollywood Blvd. * * * We hear that a well-known local station is for sale for a price said to be $125,000 (I told my informer that I would withhold the call let- ters), but if any of my readers have the cash, call me. * * * Chief White Eagle, radio and talking picture star, has asked for Anonymous Letter Dear Sir: • It’s a sucker’s racket, any way you look at it. Are you a success as a music publisher? T CHOLLY. ADDED TO CAST SEATTLE, Aug. 7.—Four new members are now seen in the A1 Franks cast. They are Tommy Parker. Bobby West, Rose Mc- Crary and Norma Venters. These additions have strengthened the show considerably. NEW WEST STORY Walter DeLeon and Neal Burns of the Educational-Christie sce- nario staff are now at work on the first story for Buster West. membership in the Mike Club. We knew the Chief back in Chicago— and by the way, he was the first man to be married and have the fatal step broadcast. The Chief is heir to the largest Indian nation in North America. * * * If you are interested in member- ship in the Microphone Club, you may call NOrmandie 7294 at any time. BABY GOLF FOR NORTH AT HALT SEATTLE, Aug. 7.—Stories of baby golf expansion on the Pa- cific Coast in conjunction with coast theatres brings a statement from Northwestern officials that this will not include any Washing- ton, Oregon, Idaho or Montana towns. “There are already around 70 courses in Seattle, 40 in Portland and 15 in Tacoma, and with the rainy season limiting the season of logical play, we do not figure that there is a need for further courses here,” says one exec. “In California, where plays runs the year round, it is another mat- ter.” RUGGLES WITH BOW Charles Ruggles will be featured in support of Clara Bow in her next Paramount starrnig picture, “Her Wedding Night.” GEORGE and FLORENCE BALLET MASTER AND MISTRESS Formerly 68 Successful Weeks Producing Weekly Changes in Australia's Largest Theatre THE STATE, SYDNEY Producers Desiring Originality WRITE or WIRE Permanent Address: INSIDE FACTS, Los Angeles WALTER S. WILLS STUDIO OF STAGE DANCING 7016 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD GLADSTONE 9608 PROFESSIONALS TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONALS Enroll Now—New Summer Classes for Adults—Tap, Acrobatic, Soft Shoe, Eccentric, Waltz Clog, Musical Comedy, Ballet Also Children's Classes SPECIAL SUMMER RATES W SCHOOL for STAGE & SCREEN* H •'always COOL IN OURSCHOOL"-20"(OOIERTHAN outside iPHONI DUNKIRK 6721 Associates—Gladys Murray, Lafe Page Ballet Dept.—Mary Frances Taylor PRACTICAL DRAMATICS — and — STAGE DANCING Tap, Off-Rhythm, ‘‘Modernized Ballet” and Acrobatic “THE ORIGINAL MURRAY SCHOOL” OF NEW YORK; CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES HARVEY KARELS VALL1E SCHOOL OF DANCING 7377 Beverly Blvd. OR. 2688 BENITO (BEN) KA1TZ DIRECTOR OF CATALINA CONCERT ORCHESTRA AND CASINO DANCE BAND SENDS HIS BEST REGARDS TO HIS MANY FRIENDS and Particularly to VictoF Baravalle, Luther Reed, William Le Baron, Larry Ceballos, Fan- chon and Marco, Rube Wolf, George Lipchultz, Carli D. Elinor, Arthur Kay, Arthur Lange, A1 Short, David Broekman, Joseph Heindl, A. F. rankenstem, Lew Smtih, Rudolph Berliner, Adolph Tandler, Harry Du P»i i er r C ' ? aka i 1 . e ^i/?, ff ^ A - Co " DI » A1 Lyons ’ Geor « e Stoll, Raymond Paige, Gus Eysdl, Will Pryor, Abe Lyman, Gus Arnheim, Patrick and Marsh, B.B.B., George Olsen, Paul Whiteman.