Inside facts of stage and screen (January 31, 1931)

Page Eight INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, January 31, 1931 HERE AND THERE ON THE AIR By VI HEGYI Ramblin’ with Vi By Vi HEGYI United Araists and KMTR are get- ting set- oil. preparations for the new station.to be erected on Santa Mon- ica and Cahu'enga, operating on 1,000 watts. . They will be equipped with all- the latest refinements of radio • gadgetry, not to mention the 250 feet high towers. Now everybody- can look forward to a weekly U. A.hour. *, * * Etheopian Supper Club, meaning '.'8 Ball,” Frank Bull, Uncle Herb, etc., made a grand slam for their sponsor, Podolor Motor 'Co., last week. Twen- ty-seven enthusiastic listeners went out there and bought as many cars. These boys are just going to kill the hard times bugaboo. * * * - In connection with this it's-interest- ing to remember that on a half-hour advertising program after 6 p. m. KMTR allows a maximum of three announcements, not exceeding 1 !■> minutes each. Another boost for qual- ity, punch and delivery. ; * Vernon Riccard, featured in “Temp- tations” and "Follow Through,” and Don Abbott, N. B. C. artist, are two vocal additions to KMTR’s permanent Staff. - Mischa Gegna, one of this sta- tion’s Strongest class bids, is also on the regular pay-roll. He solos Mon- day nights -with his cello, appearing at other times in Justin Johnson’s String Ensemble. * * * Johnny Murray, KFWB feature ten. -, has had a thorough musical ed- ucation that he finds- valuable in many phase; of his career. Musical com- edy, m. c.-ing, voice doubling and playing the trumpet are a few of the angle , he’s played about with. V. * * Understand Jerry Joyce had some plain and fancy trouble with a flat tire on his new car. The radio gag- sters say that the best remedy for anything like that is to get an Austin and carry a few rubber bands in your wallet for spares. * * * New it’s Gallic Holden, KFWB dance leader, who has one of those 24-hour-a-day schedules. Not only- does he play the trombone for many orchestral programs, but he has the job of, writing musical arrangements to keep him from worrying about other things should he find a few mo- ments for idle thumb twiddling. * * * Wedgwood Nowell, m. c. of the at- mosphere, broadcasting the fashion re- vue at the Auto Show through KECA, came out with a record of 250 words a minute. That’s telling ’em, and do- ing it. fast. * * * Robert Hurd (Paul Roberts), KFI director and popular tenor, is recover- ing from a long illness. Hope he’ll be back on the air soon. * * * Norman Pringle and Gayle Whit- ney who play “Bull” and “Slim” in are the reinforcements sent up by Jack Lewis, creator. of the skit, who plays the “Lieutenant.” * * Earle C. Anthony,- KFI-KECA, notes that big stations are deluge^ with .requests for time and service of stations by “Genteel Racketeers” who want to take this public means of promoting their “altruistic” prop- ositions. But they are promptly- greased down a direct skid-way to the waste basket, because radio and rackets don’t mix. * * * Chckcty-Clack and the Air-Castle Family continue to be a KFI feature. When the L’nion Oil Co. discontinued sponsorship of this broadcast the stu- dio took it over. * * * Frederick Stark, KHJ stall arrang- er, lias replaced Scott Bradley as as- sistant director of the KHJ orches- tra, He has had wide experience wielding the baton over large orches- tras both here and abroad., * * * Credit Dick Creedon, publicity di- rector of KHJ with transposing the General Pershing war story, running currently in newspapers, into dialogue suitable for radio. It’s quite a job because nearly all the characters are still alive and ready to start kicking the moment one little line of fact is sacrificed to dramatic effect. Lindsay MacIIarrie plays General Pershing. '*■ * KHJ has some specials going out over the ether soon. Edward Moly- neaux, international style creator, who look , as intriguing as his fas- cinating frocks — watch for this one, girls. President Hoover will speak on Lincoln’s birthday, and so will Joseph H. Hazelton, an eye wit- * * * Leigh Ilarlinp and Baron Keyes have a waltz that is about to come into its own. “Valley of Broken Dreams”—that’s the tune's title. * * * Several new people, and old ones in. new jobs at KIIJ. Leo Tyson is the new director of public relations. While, this position contacts every- thing and everybody, it involves more than just being an official hand-shaker. Qaudine Cartier is fhe new -staff organist, and she’ll have to do a lot of playing now that KHJ has cut record broad- casting. Felix Mills is a new mem- ber of the staff of arrangers. Eddy Lynn, who has written many lyrics for Cadman, is on the staff. * *, * “On With the Show” is out. The sponsor, however, is planning a new series. Franco American Bakery is putting out a new comic skit called Frank and Eleanor. Theme song will be to the effect that it’s well to take the wife out to dine once a week just to keep peace in the family. Jack Stern, who wrote “Talking to the Moon,” and his wife Grace, formerly of “Artists and Models.” are starting a series of musical sketches. They have a new angle for family stuff. All is rosy and the world is just one big apple pie. Can you imag- ine that? There’s a new Chap- man’s Ice Cream broadcast to start Wednesday, too. * * * Buddy Collyer, brother of June Coliye'r, is replacing Freddie Furt- sch as one of the Three Cheers. Hale and Derry complete the trio. Li toy The so-called “big name” draw for radio is definitely dead, at least insofar as the coast is concerned. What lingering tendency there was to grab off stellar stage and screen names for the air was. laid to ■ rest 1 by'the Hoover hard times. While the- radio probably felt the general, business depression as lit- tle as. any major industry in the nation, ‘ still the money tightness had its effect in making more care- ful the editing of budgets and other expenses. At one time the promise to de- liver a big show name to the air was an- entry into any radio sta- tion, and the assurance of a. more or less sincere conference. But now the first question asked is. “How much?” and if the much is anything sizable, that’s out. Distinct Province “The air appeal is a distinct province,” one station manager ex- plained, “and We find it is just as easy to sell an unknown to our audiences if he has the goods as it is to,, sell a name. Our fandom is different from the fandoni of pic- tures, and it makes un its mind entirely on the radio delivery.” Another station manager was even more emphatic. “It is easier to make a radio name into a picture favorite than it is to make a picture name into a radio, favorite,” he declared. “We feel that the time is definitely here when, the screen will look to radio for ready-made favorites, and that the time when things were the con- trary is washed up.” Of course, it--.was explained, this does not apply to single programs but only to instances where the broadcast is to be a series. By HAROLD BOCK SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.— Over-commercializing of radio pro- grams has come in for its deserved share of panning but there is one other aerial feature that is equally annoying, yet seldom receives men- tion. That is comedy. Up and down {he coast, east and west, there are' hundreds of pro- grams sent out daily, many under the guise of comedy offerings, yet offhand we can name only .two or three outstanding big laughs in more than a year of consistent ra- dio listening-in. Bum gags, gleaned here and there . . . humor magazines ... old sketches and blackouts . . . some ’lifted from vaude acts . . . some from columnists . . . that character- izes the general run of radio humor . . . the weakest feature of the aerial theatre. Thomas Nunan of the Examiner lias inaugurated what probably will be an exceptionally interesting re- sume when completed: a list of ra- dio preferences. Nunan’s list runs the .gamut from jazz orchestra to travelogues and church services to DX hunting and includes some thirty-five departments. A new NBC program is spon- sored by the Rainier Co. and is on the air thrice weekly for 15 min- utes at a time with Tom. Mitchell vocalizing and pianoing. He’s on Mondays and Saturdays at 8:15 p. m. and Wednesdays at -9:15. Newest entries into the local ra- dio field are Chico and Jewel, mu- sicians and singers. They are ca- naries owned by the Boston Dance Academy and broadcast from KYA. Doakes and Doakes in “Songs KNX 7:15-7:45 P.M. Jan. 24. This half-hour never reaches the fusing point, but then, who wants to burn up all the time? Bill Hatch and orchestra gave a smooth enough account of themselves with the new favorite “Just A Gigolo,” “Drifting,” “Blue Again,” et al. The KNX Girl, June Pursell, is a natural for the mike. “It Must Be True” and “Fall In Love With Me” were two of her vocal specialties that came over effec- tively. KECA 4-4:15 P.M. Jan. 24. Gertie Jacobs is an agreeable little warbler of blue, hot, or sweet melodies. And besides she’s a tuneful ivory exponent. Not bad. that old player piano imitation of the hoary chestnut “Kiss Me Again.” “If I Could Be With You” had all the rhythm manner vocal twists and “To Whom It May Concern” simply oozed gooey sweetness all over mv kilocycles. KNX 7-7:15 P.M. Jan. 24. Eddie Holden a n d Ambrose Barker as Frank Watanabe and the Honorable Archie are welcome to ride the wave lengths over to my dial as long as they keep their snappy little continuity up to its present diverting standard. The simple (not stupid) Japanese house . boy can always win a grin or i two with his characteristic man-1 gliug of what used to be the- King’s English. And speaking of the King's English, Hon. Archie is the one and only mona’cled; geni on the air who doesn’t overplay his linguistic hand. My respects, Archie. In Life” and “Song of the Blues,” vocal solo, were capably offered. KFI 8-8:15 P.M. Jan. 24. “I Could Go For You In A Great Big Way” was George Grandee’s opening song. Lay your money on Georgie when he gives out patter, melodies like “Methus- lah” or “Take the Whole Durn Farm.” Piano medley was in the okay class too. Closed with two musical, comedy selections in which straight vocalizing also ran. KFWB ST. HELEN’S PETROLEUM CO. 6:30-7 P. M. Jan. 25. The attraction or female' har- mony singers is debatable when you can’t see their pretty little heads cocked close together and their billowing skirts flipped rhyth- mically around by dainty white arms. But if you do like fern harmonists, the Locus Sisters are right there all along the line. Jerry Joyce’s Quintet is a peppy oufit of instrumentalists. “Fail In Love With Me,” “Little Things KECA 7- 8 P.M, Jan. 23. A substitute feature replacing Eddie Armstrong, vocal soloist, proved an outstanding contribu- tion. Anne Blackwell did it with piano nifties, “Melancholy Rhythm” and “Baby's Birthday Party.” She gives a snappy and at the same time musicianly performance, de- pending less on tricks than most ivory specialists. Manny Stein’s El Vaquero Or- chestra might venture, something original in the way of presenta- tion now and then. ’’Walkin’ My Baby Back Home” is getting a real radio run. “Tears” is like most waltzes that survive the rig- ors of competition w i t h that hardier musical form, the fox-trot. It has a real melody. “What A Fool I’ve Been" cord'd just as well be filed in the wastebasket. KNX PERFECTION BAKING CO. 8- 9 P. M. Jan. 23. Bert P.utterworth and Gang usually give a snappy, informal show, with advertising smartly •presented. Unlike so many broad- casts that play up the carefree-and casual line this group goes through its paces without a n y “stage. Waits.7 The Optimistic Do-Nuts haven’t any holes in their pro* gram. It all measures Up to a very acceptable level, KHJ DR. STRASSKA’S TOOTH- PASTE 7:30-7:45 P. M. Jan. 23, Charlie Hamp, radio’s mello-o- oh-ow voiced king pin with the sunshine personality and Howers- that-bloom-in-the-spring patter line is the big rave of the air. His vibrant crooning and nimble piano accompaniments delight the jaded ears of fandom, ever on the alert, ready to receive something out of the general run of air fare. Hamp played around with a medley of pop tunes, but the big- gest feature was “Wedding of the Birds” that got its special kick from a whistling cadenza into which the estimable artist inter- polated our well known musicians’ razzberry. These brief moments wherein Charlie Hamp kids him- self are subtly done and have helped to build him into the unique entertainer that he is. . (Continued on Page 10) and Jokes” have a 15-minute spot for, themselves on Saturday nights from 10 to 10:15 over KFRC. This is in addition to their appearances on the Jamboree- and other pro- grams. Riuji Nakayama, managing direc- tor of the' Broadcasting Corp, of Japan, was here this week confer- ring with Don Gilman of NBC. Plans are on foot for the establish- ment of direct communication with this country by means of a short wave station to be erected in Japan. In addition to his b-aritoning, Gene Sullivan is announcing over KYA. Max Dolin returns to NBC Feb- ruary 1, not. as a station artist but on a sponsored program for the Fuller Paint people. William Clifford's new serial, “Phantom Empire,” takes the air week after next over KYA follow- ing the current "Amber God.” Sydney Dixon, KYA program di- rector, has a new secretary in the person of Marion Tad-lock, and it seems that most of George Nick- son’s business is . now being con- ducted in the Dixon office. REGGIE TO WRITE Reggie Montgomery, who is work- ing with Marian Harris, sails for Lon- don this week. Prior to leaving they will broadcast over the N. B. C. chain on the Fleischman Yeast hour. MGR. AT RKO SAN FRANCISCO, Tan. 29- Don Wilding has been appointed production manager of KPO suc- ceeding Merton Bories, who was transferred to the commercial de- partment. Wilding has been on the staff as an announcer but a short time. 1 i!#Jj Schapp’s Restaurant QUALITY FOOD Member I. A. T. S. E. 128 Sam Hochfeld 211 Vo B’way Portland, Oregon Behrendt-Levy Co., Ltd. General Insurance Insurance Exchange Building VA. 1261 WE PAY CASH 822 Metropolitan Bldg., 315 W. ,5th and Highest, prices for Diamonds, Jewelry, etc. Private Office—Confidential Dealings A. KIRSH St., hetw. Hill and Bdwy., Les Angeles Rep airing — -Remodeling Special Attention, to Profession S. SAVITSKY 812 IiOew’s State Building Los Angeles EARLE WALLACE Always Busy Developing Dancing Stars but Never Too Busy to Create and Produce Original DANCE ROUTINES and REVUES Thai Sell Belmont Theatre Bldg., First and Vermont Phone Exposition 1196 Los Angeles, Calif, The biggest cafe business in San Francisco • ••••• TOPSY’S ROOST with Clyde “Red” Lockwood's Orchestra