Radio Digest (Nov 1929-Apr 1930)

Record Details:

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65 On Getting Acquainted of Gawja Voice By Doris Campbell THE soft, likable drawl of the southern voices seems to hold a peculiar fascination for most of us northerners, and if he is to be heard often — and it seems like'1' that he is — on chain broadcasts, whic we all admit reach to every farthest corner of this land of the more or less free, you'll want to be .netting acquainted, won't you, with that particular Southern Voice we heard assisting Mr. McNamee with that Miami thing, sometime back, from WSB? It belongs, as you doubtless know, to Billy Mundy, sports writer on the Atlanta Journal, the daily, Sunday, triweekly publication that "covers Dixie like the dew" — or so it claims — and whose voice WSB is. The Sharkey-Stribling broadcast was his first big one, of a major boxing affair, and he told me that he very much enjoyed working with the gentleman whom Phillips Carlin calls Graham. "McNamee is a wonderful chap personally," the southern scribe declared, "and is without a peer anywhere in announcing any event, I sincerely believe." He's not alone in his belief, either, I'm sure. Tho' I did think Mr. McNamee wasn't quite up to his usual mark that night, but perhaps it was the fight — or the lack of one; it's never a really BIG time, you know, unless this McNamee person is on the verge of passing out at least twice during the event. But .... this is Mr. Mundy's story. W. C.. Munday, Jr., is his formal signature. His association with the Atlanta Journal dates back to 1919. In 1924 he was graduated in law from the U. of Georgia, and was admitted to the bar, but instead of practicing he preferred to resume his work in the newspaper profession. "I knew that a young iawyer did not practice law but merely read it, the while he practiced economy," he explained. Imagine a kid of twenty-one being that wise! In fact, imagine a kid of twenty-one being admitted to the bar! Oh, I suppose there have been — and will be — others, but it seems rather unusual to me." Seated in the studios of WGCM you see Frank J. Kroulik, manager and announcer, Miss Gwen Friedrich, staff pianist, Pat Sheehan, tenor, and Mrs. Grace Calhoun, pianist, and an unnamed friend. Bill Nye, Jr., may or may not take after his famous namesake. Douglas, for that's his right name, sings over WWNC at Asheville, home of Bill the First, his father. Bine Yodel Creator Visits "First Love" JIMMY RODGERS, the "one and only" creator of the "Blue Yodel," visited Asheville, North Carolina, last December, and spent some time entertaining the audiences of Station WWNC, the place where he got his start. The success enjoyed by Jimmy Rodgers deserves a prominent place in the chronicles of those to whom Radio has brought recognition of particular individual talent. Three years ago the Asheville Chamber of Commerce decided that the city should have a Radio station. Steps were taken to bring about a realization of that need, and, after a spirited campaign, funds were secured, the equipment purchased, and on Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1927, WWNC embarked upon its career. Among the first to broadcast, was a long, lanky individual whose crooning, simple melodies brought an avalanche of requests every time he stepped before the microphone. Jimmy Rodgers at that time was an unknown. To hear him tell it one realizes that he was decidedly up against it. Taxi driver for a season, member of the police force, member of the fire department, and there you have the Jimmy Rodgers of three years ago. Jimmy would come to the studio with one of the many "fiddle bands," and with them, would play mountain tunes. His singing of "Sleep Baby Sleep" brought calls for more. Then he organized a little company of entertainers and started out on a barnstorming trip through the mountains and up to Bristol, which is that town located astraddle the Tennessee-Virginia state line. It so happened that there was a representative of the Victor Talking Machine company doing some scouting around Bristol, and there Jimmy got his big chance. His work over the Radio had been heard by the head of that company and they gave him a test. He sang "Sleep, Baby Sleep" and one of his own compositions, and that first record achieved the greatest sale of any first record ever made by a Victor artist. From that day to now— well. Jimmy Rodgers has traveled a "fur piece." His record sales have established records and have already reached the staggering total of over twelve million. Needless to say, Jimmy does not have to worry about the wolf outside HIS door — yet he has not forgotten, and his first thought upon getting back to Asheville, up in the "Land of the Sky," was for the folks who gave him a start along the highway to success. He gave several programs from Station WWNC, informal little affairs in which the desires of the listeners were the guiding hand. Requests were given the same impromptu reception that they used to receive back yonder when Jim was not famous — and when the station, itself, was not so well known. Today — well, Jimmy Rodgers is known wherever there is a phonograph. And WWNC is a prominent member of the Columbia Broadcasting system with a schedule that begins at eight in the morning and that continues through each day until midnight. Quite a contrast to the time three years ago when programs were more or less occasional — when there was practically no daytime broadcasting, and when there was no such thing as a chain program available. It would be quite interesting to know how many artists who today are amongst those who have "arrived," got their start as did Jimmy Rodgers, through the magic medium of a broadcasting station. He Uses His Irish Wit ONCE there was an Irishman — how many stories start out like that? Right the first time. But there is an Irishman, and his name is Tom Mooney, and he lives in Nashville, Tennessee, I'. S. A. And the pride of his life and the joy of everyone who tunes in to WSM on Saturday nights at seven o'clock is the Tom and Joe Minstrel Show. From the pen of Tom Mooney Hows the fast stepping line of jokes and quips on a wide variety of subjects, including everything from Broadway to the local barber shop. Joe Combs is an old time minstrel man who appeared with Al Fields, and several other topliners. He has a tenor voice of remarkable quality, and while the old black-face business has given away to more staid enterprise in Nashville, Joe still likes to keep his hands in the minstrel work. And so it's Tom and Joe and their Minstrel Show. * * * Station WJDX in Jackson. Miss., has been added to the National Broadcasting company system. The addition of the southern station brings the total served in the NBC t. ons.