Inside facts of stage and screen (February 7, 1931)

INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, February 7, 1931 igfe Ten HERE AND THERE ON THE AIR Ramblin’ with Vi By VI HEGYI KNX’s Soup-to-Nuts program boasts an overwhelming fan mail, jack Carter, Gene Byrnes and Maxine Elliott are the dial draw here. No wonder this is one of the Station’s pets. And while on the subject of KNX, it’s Reginald Sharland who rated the palms and laurel wreaths in last week’s review' of Hon. Archie and Frank Watanabe (Ed- die Holden)—not Ambrose Barkei who is no longer with the station. No stops here except for business announcements. Orchestra skips and flits from snatches of hot stuff to harmonies of Hayden, then cm to ballads or lullabies. Quite a cocktail. Edgar Eugene Eben is treating radioites to bits of pertinent in- formation about his organ solos Sundays at KTM. A neat idea that could be used more often to good advantage. Station is dolling up early morning record program up with De .Witt Hagar’s news comments. Dotty’s Ditties, piano and blues quarter hour broadcast is among KTM’S new ones. Bert’s Best Bets conducted by Bert Olbert comes by remote control from Santa Monica. An all request hour for those who are musically up and around from 7-8 A. M. Harry Geise, chief of the Happy Guys at KMTR says that his can- ary qualifiies for a place in show biz on two counts. First he’s a riotous warbler, and second he sleeps till noon, never vhhooping il up until the hours when good lit- tle canaries arc. tight asleep dream- ing of worms and lettuce, or what- ever it is they go for. Harry Geise had his beaming features on twelve pop song title pages in one month, is an old time pioneer in radio, having been announcer, en- tertainer, manager, writer and p. a. in the cast. So no wonder his can- ary- has succumbed to the profes- sional influence. Entire staff at KGER has gone poetical with the approach of spring or Valentine’s day, or some- thing. Even Bill Ray, station -manager cracks wise with this couplet: Blondes may come, and blondes may go But they all sound alike over the radio. No comment necessary on that. Hazel Warner, whose crooning contralto and whistling of ’’Spring- time In the Rockies’’ at the San Francisco Auto Show last year shot her radio reputation way above par, joins the staff of KHJ on the ninth. KFRC was her home station until this time. PlfS HOT IS SEED JS FOUST TELEVISION HE! N. B. C, and C. B. S. are plan- ning to stop everything and broad- cast the Pope’s address on Lin- coln’s Birthday. Should present plans materialize, this interesting special will reach the coast .around noon. John Drinkwater, piayvrite and Lewis G. Reynolds custodian of Lincoln Museum at Washington are scheduled to appear over KHJ during the Lincoln anniversary re- lease. Alexander Woolcott’s book talks will reach L. A. for the first time Saturday. Talks will continue.as a weekly KHJ feature. There’s a new "moods” series too, replacing “On With the Show." Range of music will cover every type that’s ever been written on a five line staff. KOI! at Reno will be added to the Columbia Broadcasting System on February IS, making a total of 78 stations for that organization. Nearness, of television as a new medium of entertainment is force- fully forecast in the annual report iff William S. Paley, president of the Columbia Broadcasting . Sys- tem. Coming as the first definite word fropt- so high an authority, the president s ^ statements regarding j characterized bv many flip remarks television created a decided stir in —' By HAROLD BOCK SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5.— Chroniclers of radio doings in the daily papers of San Francisco and Oakland cover the activities of a multitude of stations in an amaz- ingly dexterous fashion. We par- ticularly doff our bonnet to a pair of writin’ Irishmen . . . Dinty Doyle of the Oakland Post Enquirer and Thomas Nunan of the Examiner, as well as Clarence Mvers of the Call- Bulletin, a trio whose daily jot- tings are especially interesting. Doyle writes, in a zippy style for several months as a guest art- ist. Miss Mitchell bought a one- way ticket to the southern metrop- olis, carrying with her her 22 eve- ning gowns and other accoutre- ments that go to make up the com- plete wardrobe of a radio and cafe singer. the world of; show business. Regarding this coming develop- ment, Paley said: “Another important step in our .1930 operations was, to deal, we believe, effectively with the prob- lem of television. No one yet knows how soon television is com- ing or just how it is to he used, but when it does come we shall be ready: for it. We have been li- censed, by the Federal, Radio Com- mission, the apparatus is being loaned to us by the Radio Cor- poration, and our engineering de- partment soon will be working full "blast on this new development." Means It’s Near The admission of this interest in television was construed in many authoritative quarters to mean that the Columbia Broadcasting was far ahead of . what was stated in. the president's words. It is a'.'well- nd displaying an evident knowl- edge of his subject. Nunan is a re- formed drama critic whose favorite activities are DX hunting and his wife’s piano playing. Myers keeps up well on all current events , and knows what he writes. Despite the abilities of these aforementioned gentlemen there is. one fault with the radio depart- ments of most daily papers—their tit ups with one station whereby the activities of the stations ’ are shoved into the background and the programs of their chosen broad- caster are printed in bold face type. It is pur prediction that news- papers and radio stations ,will soon dispense with these associations. In- stead, the papers’ radio depart- ments, will be run on the same basis Station Manager Jerry King of KFWB is flying in, out and aound any number of hours a day,- and must be caught on the wing, if al all, since in addition to other duties and responsibilities lie is now mak- ing transcriptions. Jack Joy, production manager af KFWB is back in the harness af- ter a brief trip to the desert. He took time to mention Carl Hoff- mayer’s latest activity at the sta- tion. Hoffmayer is making modern arrangements of such old time pre- jazz melodies as “That’s A Plenty” and “Tiger Rag’’ which were among the leaders of their day. Bud Overbeck’s address is no longer First National. He’s gone radio, tenoring over KFWB. Bud has a “personality voice” that clicks with dial devotees. Johnny Murray has a new role in addition to being a KFWB tenor. He’s directing a flock of kids for an ether drama. Younger generation is responsive, but just the same the Johnny Murray hair gets disorganized during sessions, and his eyes have a far gone glit- ter from time to time. as the theatre page, with stations , t . , doing daily advertising and receiv- knovtn business principle always to ing equal gratis publicity from each . — publication. Why should a news- Atter hiding away in a basement for, lo, these many years. Coffee Dan’s has emerged from aerial ob- scurity and is now to be heard nightly, 12:15 to 12:45, over KJBS, where all good night owls listen in. Mort Harris. Tiny Epperson and Herman Nelson do the mike hon- ors -And the other night Johnnie Davis wife. Rub}' Adams, was wheeled up to the mike for the first song she has done in public in a long, long time. General Paint Corp. splashed forth with a new Tuesday night program over KFRC this week. Charles Buiotti and Anne Olander handled the chief vocal roles and Meredith Willson’s concert orches- tra supplied the music for the in- itial hour. Knickerbocker Piano Duo and Doug Richardson, vocalist, are out at KPO. I EC has a champ announcer in Sam Hayes. He totaled twenty- four play-to-play spiels last Fall. Hayes is now on the Chain’s an- nouncing and continuity staff. keep one’s announcements far be- nind actual facts, and many quar- ters stated they would not be sur- prised to hear a definite television announcement from Paley any day. Not only in this field, but also in general statements of Columbia’s, plans for the coming year, Paley’s report was of major interest to radio entertainers, presaging for them a big pickup in this field of endeavor. Speaking of the past year. Paley pointed out that during the past year gross, sales of Columbia had increased 58 per cent oyer 1929. i hen, turning to the future, he said: (Continued on Page 13) ON AIR DAILY Sherman Little, professional man- ager of Sherman Clay & Co., has inaugurated a series of pictorial window displays for each of the radio stations, first of which was KFRC. Joe Bishop is now a daily feature over radio station KNX. paper devote ail its space to one radio broadcaster, any more than, it would devote all its space to one theatre or one department store? J onimy Monroe is now singing over NBC. And while on the subject of newspapers it might be well to mention that the Chronicle has done away with pictures of radio artists. No more will they glitter forth from the dignified pages of that august daily. Even if the picture is of an artist on KPO, which sta- tion is jointly owned by the Chron- icle and Hale Bros. Which doesn’t seem to be such a good idea, so far as radio people are concerned. A shakeup in the female croon- ing section of KFRC has Hazel Warner and Nita Mitchell leaving. Miss Warner goes to KIIJ, Los Angeles, where she will be stationed Twirling the Dial Kelley Car Co. began a new se- nes Tuesday evening, KMTR broadcasting by remote control simultaneously with KFOX and ether western stations from the Kelley Showboat of the Air. A Aguiar show, with customers in- vited to view their air favorites sing, dance and clown in the flesh. KFI DR. S. M. COWAN (4:45-5 p. m„ Jan. 31) What a cerulean singer Betty Burke is. Checked up well on qual- ity, both blue and melodious. Spon- sor needed someone who could de- liver ns well as Miss Burke to get by w.th over-long commercial talks. A.dvetrising got way out of bounds and lost all meaning, besides kill- ing atmosphere the entertainer built up. “Castaway Blues" was a promising opener but interest drop- ped with the first wordy speech. which sounded like a first reading] KHJ at a,-line rehearsal. Gino Seven's ' musical background was worked in with harmonious good taste. Frank P. Doherty, owner of KMTR has just returned from what without exaggeration can be dubbed a most, successful trip to Washington, D. C. Station is co- operating with Western Air Ex- press, waiting only for okay atmo- spheric conditions to conduct a broadcasting test from receiving and transmitting standpoint. Direct communication between plane and station not yet having been estab- lished with practical success, it will be interesting to watch results of this experiment. Radio is going in for “world premieres” now. KFI presented George Leibling’s chamber cantata “Our Lady of the Angels” on Fri- day. Novelties, standard classics and modern were represented in this interestingly compiled pro- gram. KGER 5:15-5:45 p. m. Jan. 31 Small but vigorous band of Rhythm Rajahs stirred the air cur- rents in highly capable manner. Boys gave snappy plugging- to all their tunes, aided by a soloist who carried his Ishare of chorus croon- ing with a smooth tenor. Group is good enough to take a few orches- tral liberties instead of clinging to straight execution of the pops. Nov- elties are much in demand and could be worked in for contrasts! KFWB 8:30-9 p. m. Feb. 1 “The Silk and the Sinner” epi- sode of Hearts Around the World series proved to be an amusing story interlude. Kind of stuff that Mr. and Mrs, John Public eat up after Sunday night supper. Thi/s one loealejd in Venice with a nice as- sortment of deserted castles, stil- lettos, gondolas and heroes contri- buting to the drama. Anne Stone’s voice is light but pleasing, Cyril Armbrister played in tones of oily villainy, Roy Joseph Rcgnier did well with an old man - . go I part, and Edward Kirby was prop- c. er tne whole Columbia network. I erly heroic except for a few lapses KGER LONG BEACH BOOTERY 5-5:15 p. m. Jan, 31. Like most continuity ether en- tertainers, Em and Tim fall pretty, low on dialogue material. If this was a sample of ad libbing, its an imposition on that tried and true form, of verbal romping. If it was tided and proficient tonsils'.”Trickv 9:10 p. m. Jan. 31 Raymond Paige’s orchestra scores on versatility and high standard of every type of performance they put out over the ether. Merry Makers offered pop program with their usu- al class and finish. Vocal honors were garnered by Ted White, who worked well over half the numbers. Three Cheetfsj Hale, Derry and Bud Collver, are rhythm trio with prac California Musical Cpcktail, KHJ novelty is their third to actually written and rehearsed, the station could do something about it. Granting that much depends upon regular following of continu- ities, let’s have just one good spiel, gab or line per broadcast that needs no alibi but can stand on its pwn for - glory and honor of the new "infant industry.” Em, Dorrs Dofan, and Tim, Har- accordion routines of Bill Borzage drew honest chuckles. Little Blue Gate," by C’adman and Staff Lyricist Eddie Lynn, and “Dream .Lover, ’ warbled by Pear] Hunter, were only semi-pops of- fered and had good spotting. Ken Niles,- “master without ceremony,” had neat line of chatter and sketches in his m.c. activities. old Newton, between meaningless allusions to this and that, managed I KNX tevget in a few well warbled bal- j 8-8:30 p. m. Feb. 2 Marie Golden and Ethel Kav KECA 3:15-3:45 p. m. Jan. 31 Two boy/s strongest contrib was 111 harmony singing. Eddy Dem- j over the air with clean precision, nee ami Spike Williams, Rhythm j ,btu logout by reason of being too Piano Twins, offered several num- bers on the double ivories that mer- it no hotter adjective than “nice.” Straight fashion of playing came . . . . , . ,.4 o Masters, kept up a good tempo, j .simple. Piano, outside genius class working with well balanced .choice ; at average best, is unexciting means ot pop tunes. j of entertainment. Hot cadenzas .V. n f,'. 0t , nea . test hlneful moments | trills, arpeggios, with a counle of wai: the -boys own song, “A Beg- j (Continued on Page 14) gar s Dream. ’ Worked to piano accoinp, Williams soloing on ivor- ies to good advantage. . Here is a problem in radio dis- tance: If KOA now operating on 12,500 kilowatts is clearly heard in Honolulu, where will the signals reach when the local station goes on the proposed 50,000-kilowatt power? A letter received by C. L. (Poss) Parsons, sports editor of the Denver Post, from G. Ott Romney, athletic director of Brig- ham Young University in Utah, tells Poss his weekly sports inter- views from KOA are clearly heard in Honolulu. Romney re- cently visited the Pacific island metropolis, and from friends there comes the information they regu- larly listen in on Parsons' sports interviews, with good reception conditions. Romney was the “other end” of a KOA interview with Parsons during the football season, and re- ports receiving letters from friends “all over the country-” who lis- tened in. * * * Lee fl ay-lor Casey, whose daily column in the Rocky Mountain News is one of the outstanding newspaper features of the West, has been brought to radio in the new C. F. & I. program—Casey at the Mike—broadcast over KOA Denver, at 9:15 p. m., each Tues- day. Irish wit colors Casey’s discussion ot erudite subjects and his erudite discussion of popular subjects. He is usually found championing unpopular beliefs and is one of the lew writes who can entertain readers or listeners by making them think. Except for a year spent as in- structor of journalism at the L’ni- versity of Colorado, Casey has worked continuously on newspa- pers since his graduation from the University of the South at Se- wanee. Tenn, He has been star reporter, editor, editorial writer and columnist on papers in Kan- sas City, Chicago and Denver. * * * Lucile Fowler Marks, Western concert contralto, after a two months vacation from broadcast- ing, resumes her song recitals over KOA, Denver, at 3:30 p. m., Sat- urday, Jan. 31. She is to sing the song cycle. “Love’s Epitome,” by Mary Turner Salter. Behrendt-Levy Co., Ltd. General Insurance Insurance Exchange Building; VA. 1261 EARLE WALLACE Always Busy Developing Dancing Stars but Never Too Busy to Create and Produce Original DANCE ROUTINES and REVUES That Sell Belmont Theatre Bldg., First and Vermont PhonKEXposxtion 1196 Los Angeles, Calif.