Inside facts of stage and screen (Aug 16, 1930)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE ACTS READY FOR RADIO SHOW Pickups and Viewpoints KTM's Ranch boys transferred their activities during the past week from the studio to a servke station opening, but were put on the air by remote control. The boys proved a popular draw to air fans. They are much in demand for per- sonal appearances. » ♦ ♦ Bill Sharpies, who conducts the Breakfast Club every morning over KTM, has announced that hereafter he will serve breakfast every Sunday morning between 7 and y tor all visitors who care to come to the studio and watch his gang in action. "Jackson," Clarence Muse, chief cook and bottle washer of the club, takes care of the service. ♦ ♦ ♦ RADIO PUZZLE LAUNCHED The Columbia chain is trying out the popular puzzle idea on the radio, and on August 12 offered a program in which a number of errors were concealed in announcements, musical selections, and so on, offering prizes for winning solutions. The idea went over big and will likely take as a tad tor a while. It lis particularly intriguing to advertisers, who see in it chances to grab subtle plugs for their wares, and it makes people more intent listeners. ♦ * ♦ Mrs. Sybil Fullmer is substituing as organist for KGER, Long Beach, during Dick Dixon's absence on vacation. ♦ ♦ ♦ HILL-BILLY SURPRISE DUE "H:11 Billys" of KMPC, Beverly Hills, have something up their sleeves. Glen Rice, manager of station, is spending some time in Arkansas, having journeyed to the Ozarks in the big Fokker belonging to R. S. MacMillan, petroleum magnate, who owns the station. Purpose of trip announced as being r to return Hubert Walton, 14-year-old hill billy find, to his parents. Belief, however, lis that Rice may bring another billy entertainer back with him. He recently left on a similar mystery trip, returning with the Walton kid. ♦ * * Marillah Olney denies she is temperamental, and we don't believe she is, but there's no denying that she was a bit ruf- fled when she found that having her "Little Theatre" broad- casts on KTM moved to Friday nights put her on just before the Ranch Boys' big Friday night show. Friday night, as everyone knows, is visitors' night at the KTM Ranch—and how those visitors do flock to see the boys perform. Well, that's fine for the Ranch Boys, but it wasn't so good for Marillah and her players. It's pretty hard to concentrate on one's lines with hundreds of people crowding outside the studio, some even gaining admission feito the studio proper before the doors are opened for the Ranch Hour broadcast. ' ' *| As it happens, sponsors of the Highway Highlights pro- gram on KTM have been wanting for some time to get the Friday night period from 8:00 to 9:00, so the schedules have now been adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned, and the Highway highlights programs now go on from 8.00 to 9:00 Friday nights and Marillah and her "Little Theatre" have hteir old Thursday night spot from 8:30 to 9:00 o'clock ENTERTAINMENT SELLS SETS, IS ADMIHED NOW William Rader, character play- er; Dorothy Woodward, talented ingenue and several new chorus girls will make their first appear- ances here in Al Franks' new show. When the two-a-day engage ment of "Hell's Angels" con- cluded last week, Fox Theatre returned to its continuous per formance policy, opening with "Sins of the Children." Radio Program Reviews Broadcasters are reported get- ting behind the Los Angeles Ra- dio show, to be held in Ambassa- dor auditorium, September 2 to 7, on a more energetic scale than ever before. Inside reason for this co-oper- ation generally—understood to be an extra degree of appreciation of entertainers' efforts recently mani- fest by Southern California Ra- dio Trades association, organiza- tion conducting the show. Association is reported fully un- derstanding the value of good air entertainment as a means of sell- ing more radio sets. Work of entertainers at the show will be confined to one hour each afternoon and night. This shortening of the broadcast events is to give the exhibs more time to talk business over the counters of the booths. Always the hroadcasters have taken their hot-shot acts to the show. Receptions of the fans have been held at each broadcast. Opinion seems divided whether the big draw of the show is the chance to see the entertainers in person, or the big line-up of re- ceiving outfits on display. Some of the sages of radio row main- tain it's an even break. Much competition among the different stations to see which one draws the biggest crowd of fans always is noted. Already, the sta- tions are brushng up their enter- tainers for specially irnpressive presentations on the radio show stage. All of the show's entertainment will be broadcast. In the past, when entertainment went on every hour of the day and night, only certain programs were broadcast. Glass enclosed stage is being prepared to make the broadcast effective. Crowd will be seated in a special radio show theatre to witness, as well as hear, the en- tertainment. ^ In the past, everyone stood up to see the acts. This svyarming through the aisles, _ treading on corns and overflowing into the booths has been declared taboo. SEATTLE, Aug. 14. —June Clyde, petite RKO motion picture actress, arrived here this week from Chicago to aid in the open- ing of the Pacific Northwest Merchants' and Maritime Expo- sition. Notable among the fes- tivities given in her honor was a reception by Admiral W. V. Pratt, commander-in-chief of the United States fleet, aboard the U. S. S. Texas. CROSS-SECTIONING RADIOLAND THUMB NAIL REVIEWS LOS ANGELES (Reviewed August 8) KFI—9:11 p. m.—Rhythm Boys inflicting themselves upon an un- suspecting audience. We "caught" Crosby and Rinker one their first show years ago. They were bet- ter then. The announcer, Walter O'Keefe, outshone them a hundred to one in one of the most humor- ous pieces of continuity heard on the air for many a day. His bit on Doug's recent holdup was a pip. More of him and less of the Rhythm Boys will be the order of the day in a very short while. KMTR—9:20 p. m.—The great Oscar Reichow announcing. In that patronizing voice of his we heard "the count on Baker in three balls and one strike"—be- tween times one hears Oscar tell- ing the latest gag to someone in the press box. Oscar used to be a good ball club secretary. KTM—9:22 p. m.—Frank Gage's Ranch Hour. Rapid cross-fire chatter here with Gage offering the old-timer "Barbara Allen." Fair enough now that Hill-Billy stuff is all the vogue. KOIN through KHJ—9:27 p. m -As a rabid radio fan, the re- viewer has listened to many hun dreds of programs, local and na- tional, but this one, a musical combination of pipe organ and Hawaiian music is, in his humble opinion, the peer of them all. The Mission Isle of Dreams program is a musical gem. The combina- tion is unusual, but outstanding in its beauty. The program arranger and musical director of this offer- ing will build more listeners for this station and network vtith quality offerings of this type, than all the la-de-da stuff put together. We'd stay home any time to listen to another of these. An announce- ment on this would be worth its dough. L<^cal announcer cut in too short with a beach plug. KFWB—9:30 p. m.—Mark Kelly of the local Hearst sheet in a sports interview. Should grab a valued sports following. Interest- ing chats on local sports celebri ties. Kelly is good radio ma- terial. KFVD—9:34 p. m.—Hal Roach's Happy-Go-Lucky Trio. Tenor gui tar and sax combination that's a knockout. Piano thumper unusu- ally excellent with clever breaks Knows his piano. Light advertis- ing plug but nevertheless effective. This one a good bet for any com- mercial ad space. KNX—10:14 p. m.—Gil more Blu-Green Gas getting a noisy plug through the Lion Tamers They blazened their way with "Stars and Stripes Forever" in true circus style. Noisy and unin teresting, followed by a long winded plug on beach fishing. KGFJ—9:50 p. m.—Curtis Mos- sy and his Blue Blowers, exhibit- ing how a lessened name band can outplay some of their better known brethrens. In "Rag-a-Muf- fin Romeo," one of their offerings, the bass is a pip. Had to listen to another one of his hot tunes. My Future Just Passed." Same high hot quality. KECA—9:53 p. m. — Catherine Dixon, concert pianist, in her "Preamble by Schumann, showed excellent dynamics but a little too much sustenuto pedal for radio. Very clear technique. Remembrance" by Ruben Davies, again too much pedal, slightly blurred harmonies. Excellent tonal KNX—9:55 p. m.—Curtis Ben- ton announcing the fights from the Hollywood Legion Stadium. He knows his jabs and right crosses, irrespective of how fast Wolgast was throwing them into Robledo. Commercially a good audience getter. JEAN. CROSS-SECTIONING RADIOLAND THUMB NAIL REVIEWS LOS ANGELES (Reviewed August 9) KHJ—8 a. m.—Arabian Nights adventures for the children over Columbia chain; an ideal way to put on kiddies' programs, and in- teresting also to grown-ups. KHJ—8:13 a. m.—"Izzy Wright" breaks in on Arabian Nights. His hour is scheduled for 8 a. m. daily, but apparently the wires got crossed, and the "happy philoso- pher" only had 17 minutes in which to hand out a half hour's worth of advice. Too bad. KTM—8:30 a. m.—Bill Sharp- ies and Gang in their breakfast club jamboree. "Guest from Ari- zona" singing "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," and no doubt there were many willing volun- teers. Then to reading letters, telegrams and phone calls, attest- ing to the popularity of this frolic. KFI—8:45 a. m.—Character ex- ercises for the kiddies; verses, etc. KMTR—8:50 a. m.—Lessons m Palmistry, ". . . but do not take it too seriously . . ." Plugging a skin cream. KMPC—8:55 a. m.—"American Prosperity Hour." An association whose members are liable to hand you a ticket bearing a numbered coupon. Deposit this with certain merchants, then listen in to see if you have one of the lucky num- bers. Piano and Violin, "Woman in a Shoe." KFWB—9 a. m.—Dorothy, pian- ist, plays "Where Can You Be?" (In the kitchen frying the eggs, Dorothy.) "Two Million Dollars to Loan." Ivory Twins, pianists, playing "Cheer Up." "Shoes, your choice of the house, three ucksbay the pair." ADELAIDE — PAT — MIMI — KAY DOYLE QUADRUPLETS WITH FANCHON AND MARCO GOBS OF JOY THAT SINGING AND DANCING QUARTETTE OF GIRLS LOEWS STATE THEATRE—AUGUST 14—LOS ANGELES FANCHON AND MARCO ANNOUNCE THE SECOND ANNUAL CRUISE OF GOBS OF JOY ST ARJRIN G ARTHUR PAT WEST TOUR BEGINS AUGUST 14 THE ADMIRAL OF JESTERS "AL BOASBERG AT THE REMINGTON** AT LOEWS STATE LOS ANGELES