Radio age (Jan-Dec 1925)

28 RADIO AGE for September, 1925 What the Broadcasters are Doing Everyone Tunes in California — Because Distance by Radio Lends\ Enchantment! By DR. FRANK L. POWER Sylvia Breamer, talented film star, who has been charming the fans for years, has been discovered to have a "silvery voice" for radio. As a result she is in demand throughout California. She gives pleasing, interesting talks. HOLLYWOOD and Los Angeles continue to entertain radio fans all over the country with breezy chats from prominent film people and tuneful melodies from stage and screen stars who are fortunate enough to have the necessary talent. Probably .the radio programs from Southern California are no better than those in other parts of the country, but distance always lends enchantment. Then, too, so many radio ent h usiasts are movie f ans , also, that there is an added incentive to listen to radio progra ms from the Pacific So u t h west. There's talented Sylvia Breamer, well known film star, for instance, who always enchants radioland with her silvery voice and she has taken part repeatedly in the film star program which the Wampus, official movie organization, presents on alternate Wednesdays from 9 to 10, Pacific time, at KFI. Then, again, there's Lucille, who made countless friends in radioland by her singing, and hundreds who heard her sing have been to see her dance. When radio is developed to the extent where you can actually see the performers, then Lucille will receive many more applause cards. Most people do not know it, but Hazel Brewster, famous harp soloist, is a sister of Victor Schertzinger, film director and composer of many popular song hits, the best known of which is "Marchetta." Hazel Schertzinger Brewster has taken part in many delightful musical hours from KHJ and KFI. Stedman Gives Plays 1X/T ARSHALL Stedman, dramatic read-!»-*■ er, has appeared at all of the radio stations in Southern California during the last three years, and his radio plays have won for him hearty applause cards from all corners of the globe. With the erection of KFWB, owned by Warner Brothers motion picture studio, the raging controversy about radio displacing the films has received a sad jolt. There can be little doubt at this time but that radio will supplement and not displace the films, just as radio supplements the newspapers but does not displace them. Carey Wilson has been giving a series of twelve radio talks on scenario writing, and he has this to say of the situation: "Radio does not endanger motion pictures any more than the present tendency toward short and skimpy skirts endangers the cloak and suit industry." Wilson, now scenario editor for the huge combine of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has been in his chosen field for twelve years. He is the author of the "Ben Hur" scenario, "He Who Gets Slapped," and others, and speaks with considerable authority. Another radio enthusiast in the ranks of the film industry is Milton Sills, who never misses an opportunity to give a little radio chat. When he was elected King of the Raisin Festival at Fresno, he accepted via radio, as did Lew Cody when he also was "King for a day." Out in Hollywood, both KNX and KFWB are essentially film fan stations. In Los Angeles, KFI has the majority of movie celebrities on its programs, with KHJ a close second. Bridging the Gulf NATURALLY, the broadcasters of California during the past few months have been wondering with what success their offerings have been transmitted to the East. Several broadcasters have become discouraged and have claimed it was well nigh impossible to bridge the Rocky Mountains during the time when Static was at its worst. So the surprise was most welcome when it was announced that several California radio stations which had trouble in being heard in their own neighborhoods were being received during the warmth of July with clear loud speaker volume, as far East as Chicago. That is quite an accompli s fame n t , although the type of circuit used had just as much to do with the records reported as did the power of the transmitting station. Out on the West Coast There's No End to Supply of Radio Talent Marshall Stedman, dramatist, has charge of radio playlets which he produces regularly from most of the Southern California stations. Lucille, from the Turkish village in Los Angeles, has made a host of friends through California radio stations. Those who liked her entrancing voice were naturally agreeably surprised when they went to the "Village" and saw her in real life — all "dressed down" 'n everything! The announcement that California was "coming in" with loud speaker force beyound the Rockies was spread all over the Coast, and as a result the old interest in broadcasting is being revived. It might just as well be Winter-time, judging from the number of applicants appearing at stations daily. Recently several Eastern broadcasters decided to entertain the feasibility of broadcasting criminal and civil court trials by radio. Such a storm of protest greeted the proposal that it was hushed down before a plan could be matera'ized. However, when it was learned that "Mary and Doug" of movie fame were going to testify in a kidnaping trial in Los Angeles, the Coast stations were besieged with requests to put their testimony on the air. The same requests were sent in at the opening of several other trials in California, of more or less importance. Which all goes to prove that distance does lend enchantment, if it's by radio, and if the broadcaster is assured he's bridging the great open ethereal spaces.