Radio age (Jan-Dec 1925)

RADIO AGE for March, 1925 What the Broadcasters are Doing 35 Hazel and Her Tantalizing Fiddle THOUSANDS of people throughout the broadcasting area of radio station WBAP at Fort Worth, Tex., adjust their headphones and tune in their loud speakers each Sunday night for the midnight concert, knowing that unusually good entertainment awaits them. Are they disappointed? If you have ever heard Miss Hazel Boyer and her "tantalizing fiddle" at this period, you can easily answer that question for yourself. To play effectively to a countless number of people time after time, never failing to bring wires and long distance telephone messages from almost every state in the Union, to say nothing of the great quantity of mail received each week, is an achievement that few can boast of. Judging by the applause received by Miss Boyer, she is without doubt the most popular radio entertainer in the Southwest. At an Early Age AT THE age of five Hazel began -1 * her career as a violinist under the able teaching of her mother. Unlike most little girls of that tender age, she did not take her dollies to bed with her, but instead she religiously carried her violin up to her room each night and went to sleep with it hugged tightly in her arms. Her mother would slip quietly to the bedside and remove the fragile instrument. One year later, she made her first public appearance in recital before friends. She was warmly received by fellow musicians at that time and a successful future was predicted for her. When she was still a child of ten, she attracted the attention of serious musicians who assured her of a future of success and brilliance if she would only work to that end. Miss Boyer entered the professional world by playing at the Union Gospel Mission of Fort Worth, where she played for some time. The public gasped with astonishment at the skill the childwonder showed in handling her intrument. This engagement brought forth offers from various sources outside of her own city, some of them in vaudeville. All were refused. She preferred to remain in Fort Worth with her mother and play for the people who knew and loved her. Has Own Orchestra CHE played engagements at the ^ most prominent clubs and at the theatres of Fort Worth, later organizing her own orchestra and playing at the Metropolitan hotel. She is playing this season at the Crazy Hotel, Mineral Wells, a Texas health resort where her concerts are broadcast bv remote control. By LERA McGINTY {[This Charming Girl Violinist Got Her Start by Taking a Fiddle to Bed with Her Instead of a Doll; Now She's the Most Popular Radio Entertainer in the Southwest; Here's Why Miss Hazel Boyer, with her violin, which can radiate jazz and classical airs with equal dexterity. If you doubt Hazel's popularity, just read her mail for one week! Most of Miss Boyer's radio entertainment consists of that much-talked-of "American Folk Music" — jazz. That is because her audience demands it and not because it is the only class of music she can play. Hers is a rare gift that few are blessed with, for she is so versatile as to play also Mendelssohn concerts with the ease and artistry of a genius. She has often been told by artists of world fame that she has the makings of a Maud Powell. To be talented alone is wonderful, but to be beautiful, talented and the possessor of a smile that is never forgotten, is indeed a gift. It is an established fact to those who know her that her everpresent smile and pleasing personality have won for her as many friends as has her playing. Just how gracious she really is may be judged by the following remark, made by another woman musician of ability: "Hazel has had praise heaped upon her from her friends, her fellow musicians and musicians of note, yet she is unaffected and the same sweet Hazel of childhood." She also laughingly confided this, "You know as a rule that praise goes to one's head, especially to headsof temperamental musicians." Possibly some of the rest of us might have thought this, but would never dare to say it. The spokesman, being a musician herself, however, makes it all right. r I ''HE question was asked as to -* whether or not Miss Boyer expected to attain greater things with her violin than she has done. The answer was not very definite. She said home ties were stronger, but her secret ambition seems to be to do concert work some day. According to artists who should know by experience, she has no cause to fear the struggle experienced by many unknown musicians just beginning the upward climb, because she is a genius, and a genius is soon recognized and claimed. Besides playing her "tantalizing fiddle" Miss Boyer likes to dance, swim and read radio mail. Of course, she cannot acknowledge all of the letters received, for who would play the fiddle if she did? We radio fans are particular who substitutes for a favorite artist, and they tell her daily she has no equal. Therefore she wishes to take advantage of this opportunity to tell you that her mail is a never-failing source of delight to her and how much she appreciates the generous response accorded her each Sunday night by her listeners. Although midnight is a fairly late hour to start a radio program on.a Sunday evening, Station WBAP announces that judging by the number of requests that come in after midnight, a large portion of the radio audience is awake and listening at that hour. WBAP is particularly popular at this time on Sundays, in view of the fact that the majority of the stations throughout the country "sign off" about 10 o'clock.