Radio Digest (July 1924-Apr 1925)

February 14, 1925 RADIO DIGES T— Illustrated Ednyfed Lewis, station director at WPI. IP YOU'RE a DX hound you've no doubt heard Station WFI, one of the most powerful stations in the United States. It is not an idle boast to say WPI is powerful, for, he it known, it is the only station in Philadelphia that was heard on the other side during the recent trans-Atlantic tests. And that's going some, for the city of brotherly love hoasts of five broadcasters transmitting on 500 watts. WPI, operated by Strawbridge and Clothier, a large department store, boasts of the honor of being the first station in Philadelphia to broadcast. It just nosed out another "Philly" station by about fifteen minutes for the coveted honor. The governor of Pennsylvania and the mayor of Philadelphia both participated in the opening exercises, and then proceeded to another station just across the street, there to also officially open that station. When WPI "went on the air" it was only a 15-watt station. Then it got a little more power, and now, since the station has been rebuilt at a large expense, it transmits on 500 watts. The wave length is 39 meters. To give the people what is best in everything is a hard road to travel, and one on which the owners and the personnel of any broadcasting station will find little help. But, and WFI proves it, if a station will stick to its rule and allow no deviations, it will finally win a host of admirers, and admirers are listeners in, and that's what every station wants. WPI is the Philadelphia station which broadcasts the Everiady hour and the Goodrich Silvertowi Cord orchestra, and its latest achievement is to be among those broadcasting the Victor concerts, which have created a furore in theatrical circles. Many other features have been offered WPI, but it turned them down flat and simply because it did not think it was the kind of entertainment its clientele of listeners in wanted. The personnel is composed of people musically inclined. The director, Ednyfed Lewis, is one o+ the hest known Welsh tenors in the eastern section of the country. He comes of a musical family. His father was an opera star, and his brothers are part of a well-known Welsh quartet. Mr. Lewis last year won the $1,000 prize in Philadelphia as director of the Welsh chorus, which competed against a number of other well-known musical organizations. John Vandersloot bears the reputation of being one of the best announcers in the country. He is known as "J. V.," and is also an excellent bass soloist. Mabel Swint Ewer, program director and hostess to those who entertain from the studio, is an accomplished musician. She also comes from a musical family of Boston, and to keep up the name, Mrs. Ewer is having all the little Ewers study music. Although her children are well up in music, none have ever been heard over the Radio, for living up to the traditions of the station, Mrs. Ewer says they will not be heard until she thinks they are up to the mark for the best Radio broadcasting. Harold A. Simonds, who announces as "H. S.," is the possessor of a pleasing baritone voice, particularly adapted to Radio broadcasting. Aleta Smith, an assistant, is a soprano with a sweet mellow voice, who hopes to be heard in the highei* circles of music some day. One of the best known entertainers from WPI is Jean Hight, better known as "Sunny Jim, the kiddies' pal." Mr. Hight, who is still quite young, made "a hit over night." Previous to his coming to WPI, the station always had women bedtime story tellers. Sunny Jim came, spread a lot of sunshine among thousands of kiddies all over the country, and became so popular that one of the song hits last year, "Sunny Jim," which was played and sung at virtually every station throughout the country, was composed in his honor by a nationally known song writer. There is one person connected with the station who is virtually unheard of over the air and he is, nevertheless, the guiding light in all things musical. It may be said that he is responsible for nearly all of the big musical events heard from this station. He is Mr. Herbert J. Tily, general manager of the store, and a doctor of music. Mr. Tily is one of those unusual combinations of successful ^f< | mzmmm Above, view of the studio, showing Harold Simonds at the microphone. Miss Caroline Hoffman, one of the station's accompanists, at the piano. Left, Mabel Swint Ewer, program director. mmmtimiWVvW^: business man and musician, and neither vocation suffers because of the other. He is a conductor, an organist, composer and a connoisseur of art, and was a regular entertainer some time j ago over the Radio. § Now, Radiophans know lis why WFI broadcasts $; such wonderful music. |1 It is said that song §§ pluggers on passing WPI || hang a piece of crepe 'g on i their hats and go their way. They know \ there is no open door for them. One of the"outstanding broadcasts that this station has put across, was when they broadcast the Carnivora Opera company. The members of the company, be it known, hail from Africa, Asia and points west. Their initial appearance was broadcast from their present headquarters at the Zoological Gardens in Philadelphia. Leo Africanus, a gentleman of color, with a deep bass voice, proceeded to imitate static during its worst period when he opened his mouth. At last reports, the operators of the station were well on the way to having the microphone adjusted to its normal sensitiveness. Novel features WPI has just added are the Gold Dust Twins and the Atwater Kent Radio artists. Many novel and unique features are scheduled for this station in the future. That is one of the WPI staff's best pastimes — planning new and original features for Philadelphia and outside listeners — and they thrive on the pastime. Main operating room. Howard W. Miller, chief operator, at the control table, while George Humpfer, Radio engineer, is seen at the power panel. "Sunny Jim" telling the kiddies their to e d t i m e story. Although women have tried to take his place in the kiddies' hearts, they have not succeeded. t^VKW^w^'^^^V ■