Radio Digest (Jan-Oct 1926)

RADIO DIGES T— Illustrated No. 11 OFFICIAL BALLOT Announcers' Contest RADIO DIGEST THIRD ANNUAL GOLD CUP AWARD GOLD CUP AWARD Editor, Radio Digest, 510 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111. Please credit this ballot to : (Announcer's Nainej Signed Address City .of Station. (Call Letters) ...State EAST NEEDS PEP TO CAPTURE GOLD CUP ARNOUX,MAY AND BROKENSHIRE STILL 1, 2 AND 3 Chester Gaylord, WTAG, to Fourth— Who Will Win?— Bonus May Bring Surprise Ending If the East is going to repeat its surprise of 1925 and again capture the Radio Digest Annual Gold Cup Award, it will of necessity require considerable votes, for indications show western announcers still firmly entrenched in the first two places. G. C. Arnoux of KTHS is still first with a 11,000 vote gain. Earl E. May of KMA remains second with a 6,000 vote increase and Norman Brokenshire of WJZ, strongest eastern contender, continues to hold third and shows an 8,000 vote gain. Chester Gaylord of "WTAG, sixth in last report, has jumped to fourth over the heads of Pat Barnes of WHT, who has been forced to fifth, and A. S. Kyne of KMMJ, now pushed down to sixth. Gaylord gained 4,000 votes, but this speed isn't fast enough to catch up with any of the present three leaders, considering the rate they are adding votes. Who'll "Win? Nobody Knows Nobody can predict who will win the solid gold 1926 cup and title of world's most popular Radio announcer for 1926. The bonus votes may throw off the final counts of many present leaders and bring a dark horse to the top. Watch out for the bonus votes which are explained in detail further on. The coupon ballot numbered eleven appears this issue. There are three more to appear, the last one being published in the first September number of Radio Digest. The end is fast approaching. Gaylord's advance was the only surprise above eleventh place since the last published report. Henry Field of KFNF, the Hired Hand of WBAP, Phillips Carlin of WEAF and Peter MacArthur of WOC remain seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth respectively as betore. Below tenth place climbs were made by Johnen of WLW, Grubb of KFAB, Griffin of WHO, Johnson of WCCO, Konecky of WOAW and Cole of WHO. Kay of WSB, Sullivan of WQ.J, Husing of WRC and Kaney of KYW remained in their places, while losses were taken by Randall of WSJIB, Palmer of WOAW, W. G. Hay of WGN and WLIB, Schilling of WHB and Isbell of KNX. Standing of Leading Twenty-rive The present standing of the first twenty-five candidates is given below. The figure in parentheses following the name and stations of certain announcers, indicates their order in the standing last issue if they were in the first twenty-five: 1. G. C. Arnoux, KTHS (1) 33,739 2. Earl E. May, KMA (2) 25,179 3. N. Brokenshire, WJZ (?,) 24,110 4. C. Gaylord, WTAG (6) 15,540 5. Pat H. Barnes, WHT (i).... 15, 096 6. A. S. Kyne, KMM.I (5) 14,402 7. Henry Field, KFNF (7) 11,287 8. The Hired Hand, WBAP (8).. 9,248 9. Phillips Carlin, WEAF (!)).. 6,681 10. Peter MacArthur, WOC (10) 5,483 11. Louis J. Johnen, WLW (12).. 3,907 12. Gayle V. Grubb, KFAB (14).. 3,782 13. C. R. Randall, WSMB (11).. 3,715 14. R. W. Griffin, WHO (15) 3,621 15. Lester Palmer, WOAW (13) 3,186 16. Lambdin Kay, WSB (16) 2,465 17. Jerry Sullivan, WQJ (17).... 1,743 18. Paul Johnson, WCCO (20).... 1,738 If). J. T. Schilling, WHB (18).... 1,706 20. E. Konecky, WOAW (25) 1,581 21. Edw. B. Husing, WRC (21).. 1,542 22. W. G. (Bill) Hay, WGN (19) 1,520 23. Harold Isbell, KNX (22) 1,402 24. Sen Kaney, KVW (24) 1,385 2.",. N. Dean Cole, WHO 1,375 Although the order has not changed for the five leading Canadian contestants who seek the special 1926 Canadian Silver Cup and title of Canada's most popular Radio announcer for 1926, Miss Lillian Shaw of (Continued on page 29) ROMEO IS KEEN FOR PRETTY COVER GIRL SHORT WAVES APROPOS of true Radio Digest cover girl, this issue, Marcella received the following letter from a Montana fan which was forwarded to our correspondent, Mr. G. L. King, Los Angeles: 'Marcella: When weather and other conditions permit I find myself holding the dials on KHJ, Los Angeles, for a certain Miss Luella James. I imagine she's a pip from her voice. Can you tell me anything about her? Romeo de Butte." To which our Mr. King replied: "Marcella: Your air mail of 21st about Luella James. "Miss James sings exclusively over KHJ, the Los Angeles Times station. She is five foot three; weighs 118 pounds; has hazel-brown eyes, medium brown hair —NOT BOBBED — and a VERY light complexion. She is studying voice under tutelage of Sam Glasse. She has a good contralto voice, very pleasing personality and other qualifications best appreciated when seen on the sands of Redondo Beach, near her home. Very truly, G. L. K." CONTENTS Radio Digest, Illustrated. Volume XVIII, Number 1. published Chicago, Illinois, July 15, 19215. Published semimonthly on the first and fifteenth of each month by Ratlin Digest Publishing Co. (Incorporated), 510 N. Dearborn Street. Chicago, Illinois. Subscription rates yearly. Three Dollars; Foreign Postage One Dollar additional; single copies Fifteen Cents. Entered as second class matter Way 3, 1926, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Title Reg. U. S. Patent Office and Dominion of Canada. Copyright 1926 by Radio Digest Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Short Waves, by Marcella 2 KTAB, "Shepherd of the Air" at Oakland, Calif., by Harold P. Brown 4 Sitting on Top of the World at KPWO, by Nettie D. Pilcher 5 WOAI Intrigues Border "Vets" 6 "Sure-Fire Stuff", Conclusion, by Harry Van Demark 7 If It Doesn't Work — Then? Trouble Chart and Hints, by the Technical Editor 8 Sir Oliver's New N Circuit, by Milo Gurney...; 9 Editorials; Indi-Crest; Condensed by Dielectric 12 An Evening at Home with the Listener In; a Chart in Central Daylight Saving or Eastern Time Showing When to Listen for Stations 14 Women's Page; Women's Programs Index 15 Advance Programs for the Larger Stations, July 15-31 16 to 27 Directory of Radiophone Broadcasting Stations; Part VI (Revised) 31 By Marcella Looking Ahead Big Brother Bob Emery at Boston Has So Many Brothers He Doesn't Know What to Do — almost but not quite. Thousands of them he never has seen. There are thousands of little sisters in his big Radio family, too. They all get together five nights a week for air adventures and the story appears in the Radio Digest dated August 1. When John Wolf and Ned Tollinger, a Couple of Town Boys at Council Bluffs, happened to tune in together while coming from a party in a flivver, they little dreamed it would lead to national fame. But it did. The story appears in the next Radio Digest, on newsstands July 31. Another Van Demark Short Story Will Appear in the Next Radio Digest. It is called "The Fall Guy." Van Demark conies from Texas where O. Henry first established his fame as a story writer. They tried to make a Fall Guy out of Dick but Dick turned the tables. You'll like it. Four Years Ago WEAO, the Station of Ohio State University, at Columbus, began broadcasting educational subjects interspersed with bits of campus frivolities. It has established an unusual record which will be featured in Radio Digest soon. It May Be a Little Station as Electrical Power Is Rated, but WFBG at Altoona speaks with the voice of the mountains. This voice is wafted from one coast of the continent to the other. There is a very human touch to its activities as will be told in an early number of Radio Digest. How Do You Like the Trouble Chart on Page Eight? The technical staff promises another easily understandable and helpful article on Radio sets' tricks and foibles. Watch for it in the August 1 issue, on newsstands July 31. What's New in Receivers? A Fair Question — and one whose answer you, no doubt, are interested in learning. Milo Gurney surveys the market and describes the outstanding offerings of the opening season. These thumb nail sketches will interest you. about broadcasting stations and artists, with photographs, and NON-RADIO fiction 5,000, iOIJ words in length are desired. No manuscripts accepted unless typewritten and prepaid, oi Special articles returned without return postage being inclosed. All manuscripts are sent at owner's risk. Newsstands Don't Always Have One Left WHEN YOU WANT Radio Digest YOU WANT IT! BE SURE OF YOUR REGULAR COPY BY SUBSCRIBING NOW SEND IN THE BLANK TODAY Publisher Radio Digest, 510 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, Illinois. Please find enclosed check M. 0. for Three Dollars (Four, Foreign) for One Year's Subscription to Radio Digest, Illustrated. City Marcella had a short vacation just before putting this edition to press and she met lots of famous people. It was on the occasion of the recent re-opening of KVOO, the "Voice of Oklahoma," at Bristow, whither, she went with her boss. Let's see, Boss, whom did we meet? Oh yes, Frank Lane and Roy Griffin of KVOO, Adams Colhoun of WFAA, Gayle Grubb of KFAB, Lester Palmer of WOAW, Peter MacArthur of WOC, Henry Field of KFNF, G. C. Arnoux of KTHS, and Bob Graham of KFJF. Just prior to that trip several notable visitors shook hands with me at the office. These were the Mona Motor Oil Twins of KOIL and the country-at-large, and Eugene Konecky of WOAW. What do you want to know about them? My Boss says I can tell anything I want — so ask me. * * "M", "Inquisitive" and several others have asked about H. Dean Fitzer, the "Singing Announcer", Chief of the Nighthawks and director of WDAF. Following are just a few of the things he is willing to admit about his present and past. Fitzer, early last fall, succeeded Leo Fitzpatrick, the Merry Old Chief of the Nighthawks. Fitzpatrick went to WJR and took his title with him, becoming the Merry Old Chief of the Jewett Jesters. Fitzer's friends were soon calling him "the Singing Announcer", so he bowed and took unto himself the title. The Nighthawks hear his songs far into the night, but rest assured, he is modest enough to give others a chance too. He was born in Kansas City and hopes to die there — after a reasonable length of time of course — taking only one great sojourn in foreign parts. As a warrior back in '18 he played a slide trombone on a destroyer. Between the period of the war and his succession to the WDAF microphone he was a newspaper man, which seems to be the background of so many leading announcers. He is twenty-seven years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, wears brown eyes, browner hair, no bow ties and few Tuxedoes, has a wife, and a baby to spank (Mr. Fitzer forgot to put the comma after wife so it was inserted by Marcella). The fellow informs me it does not add to an announcer's mail to admit he's married, but Marcella knows all, tells all. * * Another promised sketch for this issue is that of Ernest Rogers of WSB, "Willie the Weeper" or "Old King Tut, the Radio Nut" — take your choice of name or nom de Radio— who was originally "discovered" about three years ago by Colonel Lambdin Kay, WSB's drawling director. Age, 27; married seven months; height, trifle over five feet; eyes, baby blue except when someone looks at his new wife when they become violently green; complexion, indoor tan on a "skin you love to touch"; hair if any, used to be red; ambition, to travel around the broadcasting stations for some big corporation selling soap, sarsaparilla, or sardines by singing songs about them; present occupation, feature writer and general assignment man for the Atlanta Journal. "Willie" adds many interesting bits in his letter to me. He says he prefers blondes, but since his wife is a brunette, to say nothing about it, so I won't. He notes that the Keith circuit thinks he ought to go on Loew time and the Loew circuit vice versa; that he has sung "Willie the Weeper" 2,777,777 times up to last Tuesday; that his chief claim to distinction was when he elected himself president of the Red Head 'Club of WSB at the organization meeting of the outfit, he being the only voting member present; and that his favorite Radio periodical is the Radio Digest, because he adds, "they printed my picture a couple of times, you know." He has recorded "Willie the Weeper" and "My Red Haired Lady" for Columbia and Okeh, and Ernest Hare recorded Mr. Rogers' "Tune in with My Heart." "Forgiveness," another of his songs, has been published, and in addition he has written many other tunes. He remarks, however, that he did not write "I Wonder What Became of Sally". * * Wendell Hall, speaking of red heads, is off the air until fall. During his vacation he will get a new repertoire of songs and stories ready for the air. Marcella also happens to know that at least a few weeks of his time will be spent with "Gloomy Gus" or Gayle Grubb of KFAB, striking terror into the hearts of Nebraska fish with rod and reel. * * Yes, "Marguerite", Chester Gaylord of WTAG, Worcester, Mass., is still single and eligible. Your interest in him as a candidate for the 1926 Gold Cup is shared by "Roxy" of WEAF, for I understand the latter notable sent Mr. Gaylord a vote to help his count along. Incidentally, three newspapers, the mayor, postmaster and other Worcester civic leaders are campaigning for the victory of the announcer v (Continued on page 15)