Inside facts of stage and screen (February 14, 1931)

Page Eight INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, February 14, 1931 Sieve Grajeda, who toots a trumpet in Santaella’s orchestra, is busy rehearsing a band which he plans to'* take on a Mexican tour. Rehearsing at KTM came in handy the other morning. Don Allen, station’s chief announcer, fell heir to piano-player part when Graje- da'-’ ivoryist was temporarily laid up. Allen is not going to. Mexico or anything like that. He’s too busy, having branched out impressively info the entertainment line. He is doing piano solos, singing and Mel- ody-Man-ing on the Children's Hour, for which he wrote the theme song, “March of the Titiy Town- Cactus Mack, one of the Ranch Boys, is suspected of being in love during business hours at KTM. There is a possibility that he will break into poetry at any broadcast now. Lena, also of the Ranch, is that way too, making quite a ro- mantic atmosphere around the place. KTM Wednesday Nighters, with Nick Stuart in. c.-ing, gets good rating on popularity. Belle Bennett read a sentimental bit of sunshine philosophy last time, and after a brief announcement that copies might be had, letters and phone calls poured into the studio for a. week. Two chain broadcasts were going on at the time, so it's easy to figure the basis of their rating. The Hollywood location of KFWB may be one reason that they are always well supplied with musical comedy and dramatic tal- ent. Instead of using only, staff artists they find that it's often ad- vantageous to use outsiders, thus getting just the right people for- special parts and adding to atmos- pheric accuracy. One of this station’s pet programs is Broadway Reflections, featuring Sam Winch-nd's Orchestra. Elea- nor Gail is on this one. They spe- cialize in style of presentation. KHJ has switched the Vig- nettes in Symphony to Wednesday night. Ted 11 using, outstanding sports authority, can be heard over this station now in his interviews and chatter with the champs of the athletic world. This is a C. B. S. feature, the title is Sportslants and* it’s from New York. Louella Parsons may handle the lining up of guest artists for the Sunkist Musical Cocktail at KHJ. Wallace Beery and Louella .Par- sons appeared on the last one. Ruth Golden, ex-stage and screen- er, is now a regular soprano tea- ture of KTM's Highway High- lights. Dorothy Dee, staff organist, gave the studio a big surprise when she walked in Saturday with grand blonde hair replacing her erstwhile brunette locks. I-Ienry Hohrnan, managing direc- tor. of Pickwick Broadcasting Cor- poration, has returned to the home office in Los Angeles from a busi- ness trip to the East. Jack Joy, KFWB production manager, is full of praise for tne station’s three musical directors, Sam Wineland. vjino Severi and Jerry Joyce. They’re always on the job and their presentations prove it. KFWB’s regular feature pro- grams are handled by three individ- uals, each specializing in a distinct type. Tom Brenneman supplies the humorous hours, Kay van Riper is in charge of class broadcasts and Jack Joy draws the difficult job of putting on the novelties. The original Banjo Boys are to- gether again at KM PR. It's-Andy and Chester once more. The boys start their punchy teamwork on the strings Sunday. 8TI11Q IF SOSO SEATS IS PLAIED FOB BROADCASTING A . monster radio broadcasting studio,With seats for from 5000 to 6000 spectators will be opened about March 1 by the Rainbow Gardens. Broadcasting will be by remote control, going, out over the air either on KHJ or KFI. it is understood. The Rainbow Gardens, which is one of the most popular dance pal- aces in Los Angeles, is now build- ing a stage measuring 40 by 45 feet, from which the broadcasting will be done. Present plans are to have different sponsors for, time on the programs, though jj. is consid- ered not improbable that in many instances one company may tie up the whole program as sole sponsor for an evening. While the programs will at first be sent out over stations already established, the Rainbow Garden management later plans to get a permit for their own studio, it is stated. Glen Dale is production manager, and Charles Swanson and Otto Swift are sponsors for the venture. By HAROLD BOCK SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12- Three weeks ago these columns hurled charges that -several execu- tives of San Francisco radio sta- tions were not as capable a-s they might be, that they played favor- ites with artists ail'd program, that they were petty in their dealings, that they were not modern. No flames were mentioned but since that time three executives, one of them important have phoned or written this office, demanding pub- lication of an apology raid wanting to know whence had come our p.rivilenge of printing such insinu- ations about them. Its antique but still good, that old adage about “when the shoe fits the foot.” emanating front KYA. Max Dolin has left for a short- stay in New York, returning soon- to continue several commercial programs he has on the air. Added to KPO this week were Arthur Lindsay, announcer, who came from NBC, and Elizabeth Bell who joined the traffic de- partment. ,A1 and Cal Pearce have spent almost two years in building up KFRC’s Happy Go Lucky Hour to the point where it is now. the outstanding impromptu afternoon program on Western air lanes. Realizing its commercial possibili- ties Swift and Co. has bought two 15 minute periods weekly as a test of its 'draw before proceed- ing further. Third of the Tom Smith daugh- ters made its appearance this week and there’s a lot more of the plain and fancy Smith guitar playing Dial — By VI FILMARTE 1228 Vine Street Hollywood Hollywood demands a second week of the great Pudovkin drama “Storm Over Asia” KMTR KELLY CAR CO. 8-9 P. M., Feb. 10 The Kelley, Showboat of the Air has the novelty angle that draws the dialists. Joseph Diskay, tenor, with three ballads, was fea- tured on this ether voyage. He scored heavily with the power and quality of his vocalizing, drawing the big hand of the broadcast from the crowd at the Showboat. This is a rare achievement for a class artist and definite evidence of his rating with ozone enthus- iasts. Phiflipe de Lacey acquitted himself well in one of those, “How was your last picture?” dialogues with Truman Bradley, announcer. Charlie Leland and Colonel Jack George handed out gags that were duly appreciated. Andy and Chester, Banjo Boys, gave a couple of their fast musical rou- tines. Doris Toddings warbled, and the Rhythm Makers’ Orches- tra carried on in snappy style, using a rhythm trio for good measure. KHJ 8-9 p.m. Feb. 7 Tschaikowsky was the subject of the third Vignette in Symphony. Raymond Paige again directed his 35-piece orchestra' through the in- tricacies of symphonic interpreta- tion with the intelligent and dis- tinctive musicianship that has won tins proficient and versatile leader a large, faithful following. To Maurice Joachim belongs N.Y.—STAGE and DANCE DIRECTOR and PRODUCER—L. A. FACULTY—Bud and Gladys Murray, Byron Cramer.— (BALLET)—Mary Frances Taylor PRACTICAL DRAMATICS AND STAGE DANCING TAP, Off-Rhythm, “Modernized” BALLET & Acrobatics Only AUTHORIZED ‘ ‘Bay District Branch,’ ’—JANICE SPRAGUE SCHOOL, 127 Marine St., Ocean Park—Tel. Santa Monica 63145 ‘THE ORIGINAL MURRAY SCHOOL’ uF NEW YORK, CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES credit for the brilliant writing of the continuity: His keen sense of radio drama made the well-balanced dialogue strikingly effective. The tragic tenor of the whole found re- lief in the bit of satirical humor be- tween Tschaikowsky and Brahms. Vibrant voice of Joachim, acting as narrator, kept interest to a spark- ling intensity. Paul Rickenbacker played.... Tschaikowsky with skill. Lindsey MacHarrie gave sincere performance to small parts, and Charlotte .Young contributed satis factory vocal dramatics. . Melita Kreig, pianist, was outstanding. Hour is among most satisfactory in the field of radio. KMTR E. R. EVANS CO. 3-3:30 p. m. Feb. 9 Harry, Geise and his Happy Guys opened with a rousing round of prolonged ha-ha’s that got them off to a nifty start. Harry Geise’s smooth showmanship guided this hand broadcast, into something pret- ty neat right up Entertainment Al- iev. Johnny Lindhardt, with one "of his own okay tunes, used a gui- tar with favorable results. Sterling Young got sweet with a fiddle solo and Joe Graham and a chap called Baldwin vocalized. Nearly all tunes were down-to-the-minute pops, but Geise, spotted a few such hoary melodies as “Limehouse Blues” and “Alexander's Ragtime Band” ef- fectively. He has, in addition to plenty’ of other radio' recommenda- tions, an intimate and appealing vo- cal lianner. up a pinch hitter who more than makes up for the scheduled acts that occasionally fail to appear. KFWB 3:30-4 p. m. Feb. 8 English-Gibson Orchestra is a straight dance band and they held to straight dance tempo in all num- bers, which was just the right thing to do. The chorus vocaler and an ambitious sax tooter kept the tunes merry and bright for non-terpsi- chorean listeners. The band drifted into that old-timer, “My Buddy,’’ a melody that’s always welcome. “Sweetheart of My Student Days” made good aural material. Stand- ard pops received peppy handling. Broadcast came from the Rendez- vous Ballroom at Balboa. KFI 4:15-4:30 p. m. Feb. 8 The scheduled broadcast didn’t show up and a piano program was substituted. Ruth Francis, whose playing had a strong semblance to that of Lillian Ariel, KFI’s ace class pianist, did the subbing. Two Godard numbers, “Au Ma- tin" and the Second .Mazurka, were played with distinctive quality and good taste. The performer’s tech- nique is far above average of radio or vaude turn of this type. This station always seems able to send CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS Dr. Edith Woods Rm. 4 — 1096 No. Western Ave., Corner Santa Monica Warner Brothers, not the picture boys but the radio equpiment duo, have reopened their KLS, Oak- land, after having kept it dark for several months. Charles Hart is conductnig by pantomime in the N’BC studios since he had his tonsils_ bobbed; last week. What’s this about George Nick- son of KYA? Aiso Edna O’Keefe and Ronald Graham of KFRC? Personnel of the newly' retained male quartet, the Buccaneers, at KFRC, includes Earl Towner, di- rector; Elbert Bellows, first tenor; Ray Nealan, second tenor; Morton Gleason, baritone. Recommend for swell harmony; the Harmonizets, KPO. Effective Friday, KYA comes on the aerial lanes with an all-studio program on which Lewis Lacey, will double in brass from his mana- gerial desk, to the announcer’s mike All KYA artists will con- tribute to the new program, Radio Rodeo. ' Averaging more than two thou- sands letters a day, local NBC studios received 43,286 letters dur- ing the month of January. Jerry Jermaine is tripling between KPO, her voice studio and RTAB. On the latter station she now has a. 15-minute talking-singing pro- gram, “Gossips With the Business Women.” ON AIR NOW Charlie Leland and Happy Jack George have -stepped from the- boa-rds of vatid'e to the air, where they' are a laugh feature on the Kelley Showboat Hour. Their ne- gro dialect gags in cabin boy char- acters garnered plenty of giggles at the ether docks of the Showboat last Tuesday. 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 Phone Exposition 1-196 * Los Angeles, Calif. HAROLD AMES Featured Dancer in the “CIMARRON” Prologue at the ORPHEUM SAN FRANCISCO Thanks to Bud Murray George Scheffer Featured Baritone in the “CIMARRON” Prologue at the ORPHEUM SAN FRANCISCO Appreciation to Bud Murray JACKS BACHELORS CRYSTAL ROOF BALLROOM LONG BEACH LONG BEACH JACK YOUNG Gill Scott Bill Schoeder Art Brunelie Jimmy Wood Buddy Crowell Larry Hill, Mgr. KGER WATTY WATKINS KGER