Inside facts of stage and screen (May 2, 1931)

Saturday, May 2, 1031 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Nine Ramblin' With Hal By Harold Bock. SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Bruce Quisenberry and the NBC Artists' Service have signed Pejrgy Rollins, brinj?ing' her here from the Multnomah Hotel in Portland, whore she was sinking* with Dwight Johnson's band. She will work on a number of pro- grams, including her own Monday nig"ht spot, Cuiuiiu(ing with the Quisen- berry activities, that worthy has placed Clarence Hayes with Jesse Stafford's band at the Palace Ho- tel, doubling the Southern singer in from the NBC Studios. I heard him Wednesday night and he sounded plenty okay. Al Pearce and his Happy-Go- Lucky gang of KFRC are slated for a May 23 showing at the Al Malaikah Temple in Los Ange- les for the benotit of the crippled Shrine kiddies. There will be matinee and night performances at 25 cents for kiddies and four bits for adults. Bill Cowles has left KFRC for NBC. Ernie Smith is passing around the cigars again. A baby girl was born this week to Mrs. Smith. The premier sport announcer's family now includes a girl, two boys, two dogs, a cat and a snake named Lena. Bert Flynn's School of Music has a swell representation over KTAB on Friday nights with such members of his staff as El- liston Ames, Frank Gilmore, John Picadera and the banjo maestro bim-^elf. tion is about to lose what is not only its ace band, but is one of the most popular cafe dance bands on the Coast — Val Val- ente's crew, broadcasting from the Roof Garden Cafe. People returning from the Northwest have gone on big raves about Valente's popularity in that ter- ritory. Check up and you'll find he's about the biggest thing up there, NBC would be smart to giab him off, or one of those Northern hotels. However, it is reported he has landed a very nifty job for his dance organiza- tion and will go into it as soon as he leaves the Roof on May 31. Whoever grabs him is smart. Josef Swickard (you Holly- woodites remember him) has been added to KJBS as coach for that station's announcers. Sends Out Call to Get Suitable Acts SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— National Broadcasting Company, through its Artists' bureau and Bruce Quisenberry, has sent out an urgent call for suitable radio act^ to fill in on sustaining pro- grams in its western studios. Advent of daylight savings time in the east has forced the coast studies of NBC to put on a flock of supporting spot acts. Since all the necessary talent isn't available in San Francisco, Quiseiiberry has communicated with Hollywood agents and bookers, as well as the trade papers, in an effort to line up suitable stuff. He's n.it hunt- ing for such artists as can merely sing or gag, but wants people who have plenty of material laid out, just as in a vaude act, most of this to be done in 15-minute periods. Ramblin' With Ralph By Ralph Poland Tom Breneman of KNX was held up on his way from the stu- dio a few nights ago, the bad, bold robber taking all Tom had —12 cents. Naturally Mr. Brene- man feels pretty bad about this, and sends a warning to all radio artists advising them against carrying the pay envelope home after dark, as the bandit will probably be on the lookout for more soft touches from radio art- ists. Frank Vallen of KGFJ has just bought a great dane puppy which weighs 14G pounds, is trying to find garage or somet^ng runt in. Now Frank a barn or to house the KGFJ reports that they are receiving from 30 to 40 letters a day, mostly from men, compli- menting them on the 6-8 a. m. Morning Moods musical prograna. Recent additions to the physU cal accommodations of KFI- KECA include quarters for the library, a new remote booth, general offices for gram department and a room for artists. control the pro- wai^/'iig A string quartette has been found at KFI-KECA from the string section of the orchestra, and will soon make its debut in a series of recitals. The quartette is made up of Rene Hemery, first violin, and Michel Peniere, second violin; Silvio La Vatelli, cellist, and John E. Bingham, vio- list. Tuning The Dial On The Ether Offerings L. iScott Perkins has introduced a new personality in his S. & W. " ' in the person of Kenya LiiA, V. jth George Rand handling the role. Speaking of KFRC, that sta- The HARMONIZERS RECORDING TRIO KPO SAN FRANCISCO KFWB 9:30-10:00 P. M. "Slumber Time" programs have been on the air before, but never with the radio worth as during the current presentation. An inter- esting half hour from the pen of Lewis TeeGarden, this program does not grow tiresome, as do so many of those over the ether, be- cause numbers offered are short and the period is brief, TeeGarden read the script, and introduced the numbers. His voice is pleasant and he has a nice de- livery. Playing of Jerry Joyce's ensemble is very satisfactory from a musical standpoint, and carries a strong appeal to music lovers. A pleasing little song program, effec- tive for build up interest, is clev- erly interluded, featuring Oscar Heather and Alice Prindle as solo- ists. "Slumber Time," a new nightly feature on this station is sure to build a following, and while it carries no commercial plugs, this "Time to retii'e" pro- gram should have no trouble in finding a sponsor, if they want one. KFWB 6:00-6:30 P. M. Harry Jackson's orchestra, broadcasting from the Hollywood Pig iiwd Whistle, is another of the worth-while bands which needs no pat on the back for its musical rating. This 30-minute program coming over KFWB offers straight instrumentation. "Whistling in the Dark,'* used for an introduction, was soft, pleasing and effective as played by this combination. Two choruses of the same number were repeated, with slight tempo variations at the close of this program. "Maybe I'm in Love With a Dream" and "Tie a Little String Around Your Finger" filled out the period nicely. Com- mercial angle mentioned at open- ing and close of program. KMTR 7:00-7:15 P. M. That Valhalla Memorial Park may be better known, Justin John- son's string ensemble offer a pro- gram of music worth listening to. Poetic phrases and recitations used throughout this 15-minute period did much toward disguising the plug end of the program and were put over effectively. Pleasant lit- tle orchestral progi vm, KTM 2:15-2:30 P. M. Fifteen minutes of organ music, consisting mostly of pop tunes, played by Edgar Eugene Eban, of- fered the listeners a program worth while. Commercial plugging capably handled. KEYW 6:00-6:30 P. M. Rango, the qutstion and answer man, fearless, defying and deter- mined in his efforts to better con- ditions for the unfortunate, desti- tute and discouraged, has for the past 14 months been the outstand- ing air personality of this station. Not only has Kango built an enor- mous following, largely through his tireless efforts in establishing and maintaii.ing his relief fund for the unemployed, but he is still going strong. Requests for advice concerning location of lost articles, contemplated purchase or disposal of property, settlement of martial difficulties and countless other questions are sent to Rango for solution. Goo(' showmanship, an infectious personality and an earn- est desire to help others, has placed Rango among the few of- ferings of this kind, holding dial interest. BOOKING RADIO ACTS Patrick & Marsh, well-known Coast bookers, are opening a new department ■ i- the booking of radio acts. Ihe department will begin to function at once, with Patrick & Marsh already set on an ace list of radio spots. IN LIONS' CLUB DENVER, May 1. —The KOA Koons took the leading roles in the Denver Lions Club's annual minstrel show. T. RAWLS PIANO ACCORDION ARTIST Open for Radio and Club Dates Call Inside Facts for Information FOX THEATRE CORP. PRESENTS Musical Director and Master of Ceremonies FOX THEATRE, Detroit, Mich. Opening MAY FIRST, 1931 Just concluded eight weeks as Guest Conductor of Concert Orchestra and Stage Band at Academy of Music, New York City Direction of FANCHON & MARCO New York City, N.Y.