Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

"ARTHUR HOPKINS PRESENTS" NBC Creates New Fortu of Radio Dramatic Expression in Program Series Under Supervision of Dean of A»it^rJC(7ii Theater Producers. WITH the iniiuji:uration of its new dramatic series "Arthur Hopkins Presents", the National Broadcasting Company lias added one more page ofprogress in radio presentation of drama. The new programs, presenting fall hour radio versions of great stage plays, with as nearly as possible the orig- inal stars, have already in a few short weeks achieved recognition from the public and the press alike. In planning the series, Clarence L. Menser, XBC Vice-President in Charge of Programs, invited Ar- thur Hopkins to produce the plays for NBC. It was Menser's feeling that with Hopkins' vast theatre background as the dean of Ameri- can theatre producers and with the resources of NBC, a new radio dra- matic expression could be created. It was Menser's idea to present "theatre radio," not just radio or just theatre. Hopkins, Menser and Wyiiu Wright, NBC National Production Director, and director of the series, have made the program different in the sense that it does not seek to use radio effects for their own sake, but employ them only to aid the drama. The play is the thing al- ways. Music, sound effects and other particular radio creations are integrated into the whole perform- ance so that they do their job. with- out being sejiarate entities as en- tertainment. Not only in its general purpose or the distinguished personnel is this series so significant, but also because of the calibre of the stars and the plays. So far such distin- guished artists as Frank Craven, Dorothy Gish, Louis Calhern, Philip Merivale, Katharine Hepburn, Paul- ine Lord, J. Edward Bromberg, Dudley Digges and Montgomery Clift have appeared on the show, with many more outstanding names to come. Hopkins Explains Action In announcing his decision to produce on the air after more than thirty distinguished years in the theatre, Hopkins said: K.\THARI.\E HEPBURN ( BEU)W) IS AMONG THE DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS PARTICI- PATING IN THE "ARTHUR HOPKINS PRESENTS" SERIES. SHOWN WITH HER ARE WYNN WRIGHT (LEFT), NBC NATIONAL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR, AND CLARENCE L. MENSER, NBC VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF PROGRAMS. ARTHUR HOPKINS, DEAN OF AMERICAN THEATER PRODUCERS "One of the regrettable extrava- gances of the modern theatre is the shelving of plays once they have been removed from regular presen- tation. There are many plays of abiding interest that too soon be- come neglected treasures. Many people would like to hear them again, and an infinitely greater number who have never heard them should not be denied the opportu- nity. Frequently hastily abbrevi- ated versions of some of the.se plays have been heard on the radio. "For the first time, there is now to be a comprehensive program of outstanding plays in full hour per- formances, carefully prepared so that the original emotional impact and character significance are fully conveyed. "Wherever possible, actors and actresses originally identified with the plays will be obtained. It is not the plan to discard these plays once they have been presented, but to build up a permanent repertoire to be drawn upon in the future. "Thus, through the National Broadcasting Company, there is an oi)portunity simultaneously to cre- ate a people's theatre and a reper- tory theatre, two dreams that have long seemed impossible of fulfill- ment." The broadcasts are heard Wed- nesdays at 11:30 p.m. (EWT). [RADIO AGE 23]