Inside facts of stage and screen (February 21, 1931)

Saturday, February 21, 1931 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Nine Ramblin’ With Vi By VI HEGYI Jose Rodriguez, with just pride and satisfaction, breaks out with the foJlo'wmg’anncmncenTent'for the glory and honor of K F1. To-wit: Last'week a soprano sang an en- tire program according to the orig- inal schedule she sent in. There you are. It can happen. KFI has a new one by remote control from the Birkel Music Co. Edwin le .Maire is under contract to give some, of his interesting organ concerts as a weekly feature. Le Maine’s specialty is extemporiz- ing on scraps of musical themes, turning them into real compositions under your very ears. Alexander Reily is of course being retained as staff organist. Now that Robert Hurd is back at KFI well enough to settle down to serious talk fests about his operation, Arthur Kales is off on the sick list. He's probably work- ing up a good line on intestinal flu to match against Hurd's ora- tions on the horrors of operations. Since Leo Tyson has assumed the title of Director of Public Rela- tions at KHJ, Dick Creedon finds more time to devote to his con- tinuity . writing. He's putting in lots of heavy labor on the Pershing Memoirs, of the World War just now. jimmy Bittick s Town House Or- chestra has made its debut over KHJ, remote controlling from that swank apartment-hotel. There’s not a brass instrument in his synco- pating aggregation — all strings • and reeds. Bittick goes in for the class angle on the pops. Don Abbott tenors on this, new fea- ture. Mayfield Kaylor, meaning pub- licity at KJ..M, .says that Ruth Golden, their neyv soprano soloist, is proving iso capable and amiable that they are dealing out a couple of new broadcasts to her. Both Highway Highlights hours and a program of her own are in the new schedule. It develops that Ed Lytton, who has been reading poetry over KTM, is an ace violinist, possessor of two jeweled orders from the former Emperors of Germany and Russia for Court appearances. Now that Lytton's poetry broadcast has been switched around, maybe he can find a few moments for his fiddle to win him some new air fans. Dorothy Dee and Don Allen have teamed up as KTM’s comic har- monisist calle d Dot and Don. Double pianos, vocal solos . and wise cracks fill the air on the new hour. Fred Shields, announcing over KTM, is an ex-actor, has run a stock company, originated the Pio- neers continuity which got quite a: play, on WDAF in Kansas City, and is now reading Charmers of History for his home station. Glen Hall Taylor, formerly manager of KTM, at present on KTAB, wrote the continuity. Corina Shields hap a record as long and varied as Husband Freds in the dramatic line. The Happy Chappies got a gift in their fan mail at KMPC of a faded, torn and mended copy of the song said to be the forerunner of today's pop ballads. It’s called “Fantom Footsteps,’ copyrighted in 1876. Of course the boy's will use it. 2nd Add at end Round the Lots Kathryn Carver lias returned from New York, to resume her picture work. Charlie Winninger has moved 1 nto his mew /home in Reverly Hills. -John ^Rutherford- - has also re- turned from New -York, and is stopping at the Knickerbocker. Nancy Carroll was in town for three days last week. She came from New York to . make the re- turn trip with her husband’. Russell Mack, director, formerly with Pathe, has just signed a long term contract with Universal. Mack is under contract to Nat-Goldstone, who turned the deal for him. KNX’s Arizona Wranglers had a popping experience in Bakersfield this week, where they' were filling an engagement at the Lion’s Club. They were just going into lunch as the guests of District Manager Slater of the Richfield Oil Co. when Nubbins jerked off Loyal’s hat. threw it in the air and shot five holes in it. Clerks hid behind counters, women fainted and strong, men simply disappeared.- This sounds like a regular wide open spaces demonstration on the part of the Wranglers. As if writing continuities, acting in them and handling publicity weren’t enough for one little blonde girl, KFWB has a new activity for Kay Van Riper. She will offer book reviews as a weekly feature, start-I ing Monday.- Readings and dra-| matizations will be the order of the new 15-minute boradcast. Johnny Murray is hack on the air at KFWB tenuring away with his usual pep after a siege with the flu. (Continued on Page 14) SAX FRANCISCO; Feb. KG - A research committee of Bay District radio stations has released a report on radio audiences compiled from more than 6,000 phone calls and covering the area surrounding San Francisco and Oakland. Under the direction of Chairman Ralph Brlinton, local station oper- ator, the accounting firm of llick- lin and Redmond completed 6,776 phone calls between Nov* 13 and Nov. 19, 1930, making them be- tween the hours of 7 a, m. and 10 p. pi- From these calls it was discov- ered that 6,021 of the people phoned had radio sets. Of the 6,021 having sets 2,643 were listening to programs.and 3,378 had them shut off. Research experts found the pro- portion of sets in use during the Honrs of day and night'varies as follows: morning average (7 to 12:30) is 18.4%; afternoon average (12:30 to 6) is 37.5%; evening av- erage (6 to 10) is. 64.3%. Along with the accountants’ find- ings Brunton's committee points out: "Assuming that Bay region telephone homes are representative of most homes, it is shown that ■the listening audience is substan- tially larger in the afternoon than in the morning. In fact, the re- port shows that based on the aver- age day time rate as compared to night rates, the cost of reaching’ radio homes during the afternoon is lower than at anv other time." By HAROLD BOCK SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19.— Rumors currently flying around in- dicate-that phonograph record dis-- tribtrtors are planning a hot. fight against radio stations that broadcast standard discs as a regular air fea- ture. The reports say that the leading recorders — Victor, Brunswick and Columbia—are attempting to secure injunctions against one or more sta- tions, as a te'st case. Disc companies claim their sales are constantly dropping as a result of continual broadcasting. 4n discussing the report one sta- tion manager said, "Let ’em come ahead. Once a record is sold it passes out of the distributor’s hands and it is the purchaser’s right to use the record for any purpose he may choose.” NBC and KPO are the only local stations not using records; all oth- ers use-then; at some time or other during the day. a week, using Dud's big wolf hound. Chief, as a valuable assistant. Dick Holdgraf, tenor and guitar- ist, has been added to KPO s staff. Dell Raymond and Frank Galvin of KJBS took a flock of fellorv radio artists to Alcatraz Island lastweek and put on a three hour, show- for the prisoners. Performers were John O’Brien, Oscar Young, Dell Perry and Imelda Montague from NBC; Ronald Jonson, Charlie. Linn and Ray Parker from KPO; Mort Harris from Coffee Dan’s; Scotty McNish and Patsy Vellou from KGGC; Carmen Brock, Helen Mc- Coll, Claire Smith, Jack Dolan, Ray and Bob and Billy Leonard from KJBS. A tabulation of 1700 of the 2500 ballots mailed in to Thomas. Nunan in the Examiner's radio survey- gives first place in popularity to the broadcasting of news. Old melodies are second, orchestra classics, third, symphony programs fourth and light concert numbers fifth. )fcocal jazz and health exercises hold down the bottom of the list. Most local radio stations prohibit the reference in dialogue to the sale of apples on the street. Tom Smith and Dud Williamson are going great guns with their new program over KYA for the Phillips Milling Co., for whom they broad- cast as the Phillips Doughboys. They are on the air three mornings Staff of the newly reopened KLS, Oakland, includes George Otto’s Hawaiians, Dick Bothello, Sieff Brothers, Charlie. Glenn, Don Jeff- ries, Harvey- Hoskins, Uncle Char- lie, Joe Lloyd and A1 Adams. A reorganization of KTAB has let out the present staff and for the next few -weeks, station will use UBC programs from the south and records. Coffee Dan's former pounder of the ivories, Les Poe, has joined KYA as a novelty- pianist. News dispatches from the East announce the arrest of Adolph Lin- den, former head of the defunct American Broadcasting Co., oil charges of embezzlement. Denver Radio Twirling the Dial By VI KFI SHELL OIL CO. 8-9 a. m. Feb. 7 A general spirit of sincerity was the essential kick in the Shell Hap- py Time Hour on the Shell Ship of Joy, originating in San Francisco. Captain Dobbsie put across homely philosophies in a way that could hit home with the snakiest sophisti- cate, Wishing Well ceremony was characteristic of the straightfor- ward simplicity that dominated the hour. It's all the kind of stuff that gets a great- response from any crowd when the delivery is up to Captain Dobbsie’s .standard. Roy- Harold played a (lute novel- ty, “Animal Cartoonics,” for all it was worth—which is. plenty. Grand- ma Louise Dunlap, old-timer; Dan- iel O'Bri-eh, tenor, and Theodore Strong, piano and pipe organ—in fact the whole orchestral organiza- tion—gave. a. good account :of them- selves. KMPC 10-11 p.m. Feb. 6 Beverly Hill Billies are a big draw. Sounds of crowds in the studio made it clear that the boy-s have visual as well as audible ap- peal. Glen Rice. (Mr. Tallfeller) kept the turn up to its standard form with drawling divertissements containing illuminating dope on the boy-s. Elton Britt, 15-year-old mountaineer, pulled top honors with super-soprano yodelling. Hank Skil- let’s fiddling was a highly atmos- pheric addition to the program. Ezra Longnecker, jad Scroggins. Zeke Craddock and Lem Giles are valuable members of this Ozark Mountain outfit that has taken the air by storm. “Yodelling Cowboy,” “Roll On, Silvery Moon,” and "Ev- erglades' were included in the mu- sical roundup. CINEMA TYPEWRITER COMPANY Phone: GLadstone S748 MACHINES RENTED 1 Month, $3.©8; 2 Months, $5.0$; 3 Months, $7.50 Dealer in Portable Underwood, Corona, Royal, Remington Typewriters New Corona Adding Machines—All Makes Sold, Rented, Repaired—Supplies J. W. McCOY, Manager Every Machine Sold or Rented hy Us is G-uiaxanteed. Our Prices are Right 6278 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD HOLLYWOOD KFI 12-12:30 p.m. Feb. 8 With a classical piano routine, Barbara Jamieson had a rather lim- ited field of appeal. But for air cur- rent connoisseurs' who wear their brows at a lofty level she is a good bet. Her most notable achieve- ment was with the Schumann group. Miss Jamieson chose four numbers from the Fantasiestucke, handling each mood with expert consistency. She gave a performance typically feminine in delicacy, of interpreta- tion, combined with highly capable execution. A pleasing halt-hour. KFI 2:30-3:30 p.m. Feb- 7 Not all the willing warblers and readers of poetry and fan mail could pull Sylvia and Al’s Happy Hour into the realm of honest aerial en- tertainment. There were individ- ual performers in amazing quanti- ties, but none got an even break in the wearying profusion of stalling and gat). Incidental auditors were shabbily treated, though the regu- lars may have been getting a thrill from hearing their names read at the end of birthday greetings and letters. A highlight was furnished by the mixed vocal duo who short-circuit- ed on harmonies but carried on with cold-blooded abandon to the. bitter blue end. Several perform- ers could have won an adjective of praise had they been set in even slightly- more, suitable surroundings. KECA 5:30-6 p.m. Feb. 8 The.-Utah; Trail Boy-s, Bob and jimmy Palmer, have this request and name-reading gag down to a fine point of efficiency. They har- monized about 16 songs in 30 min- utes and gave out a list of names that would have clogged up the ether with dense boredom for hours ! if they- hadn't been so fast and j snappy-. Unlike so many acts spe- cializing in their line of tunes, they didn’t wail or whine once, which puts them in a class by- themselves. Solos, duets or yodelling, these Pal- mer boy-s handed out first-rate en- tertainment. "Hello, Wisconsin"; and “The Cuckoo Can>-ou Line,” | dialect and laugh numbers, deserve ! special mention. "Moonlight On j the Colorado” will continue to hold! up around the “ten best” for a long time with peppy plugging like this. They’re a great pair. DENVER, Feb. 19.—The most singular tribute the Rocky Moun- tain region’s musical world can give was accorded Freeman H. Talbot, manager of KOA, Denver, when the board of directors of the Den- ver Music Week Association, draft- ed hint to direct the 1931 Music Week opera, “The Mikado?’ Directing this annual civic enter- prise is an honor coveted by alt western music leaders. The . yearly show is presented by two easts, of outstanding soloists, all of them;do- nating their services, and is clearly- the premier cultural 'event of the Mountain area. Talbot is one of the country's authorities on the production of Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He has long been a student of these two famous English collaborators, and has directed innumerable stage and radio productions of their- works, including the NBC network broad- casts of the Silver State Light Op- era Company last spring. KNX 12:30-1 p.m. Feb. 8 Astro-Analyst, success psycholo- gist, fortune teller—how ever she’s styled—Louise Johnson filled in her allotted time using up lo-ts of lan- guage concerning astrological in- fallibility. The broadcast ended on a note of high hope for sneering, skeptics. They-, and of course the open- (Continued on Page 14) When Roscoe Stockton, stage manager for Old Wagontongue’s dramas broadcast every- Friday night over KOA, goes after realism he does it with a vengeance. In his most recent program he was called upon to depict a fire that occurred in Leadville, Colorado, during the old boom mining days. He searched in the records and talked with old timers to be sure that his reproduction of all the ac- tion and sound would be accurate. And to climax the realism, he .ob- tained and used in the broadcast a fire wagon bell and a chief’s trum- pet that were used in Denver in 1875. “Croon, Croon Underneath de (Continued on Page 13) WILL PRIOR KTM 2-2:30 p, m. Feb. 9 Corina Shields and Dorothy Dee offered a gracious intelude called "Over the Tea-Cup.’ Miss Shields read quotations from “The Proph- et,” by Kahiii Gibran, prose poefns well up in the highbrow class. Her voice was pleasing and she read with restraint and simplicity. Very- wiser of her. Dorothy Dee’s organ numbers were good music, good radio and good entertainment. “Evening Star” of Wagner and two Moskowsky Spanish Dances were included. MUSICAL DIRECTOR 1187 South Rodeo Drive. Los Angeles OXford 6571 JESSE STAFFORD An^ Flip San Francisco PALACE HOTEL ORCHESTRA Featuring His and Gene Rose’s Song Hit, “Tonight”