Radio Digest (Nov 1930-Apr 1931)

65 Gladys M. Petch discerned by none other than Ted Weems. It was natural for Ted to translate almost anything into musical terms, for one of his forebears, Angus Wemyes — is said to have invented the Scottish bagpipes, and his parents are both music teachers. Besides composing and music-ing, Ted took excursions into the literary field while attending the Towne Scientific School of the University of Pennsylvania, and contributed generously to the humorous publication, the Punch Bowl. To Ted Weems and his orchestra were paid the highest tribute afforded to any musicians in our land — that of playing for the Inaugural Ball of the President of the United States in Washington. And so day after day, the writer of Piccolo Pete, and his band gather fresh fame. Of course any little sketch about Ted would be incomplete without the mention of Art, his brother who early joined him in their melody journeys. Ted Weems and his orchestra are heard every week Gladys, over the Columbia Broadcasting System, presenting their programs direct from the Hotel Lowry, in St. Paul. Ted Weems Nc IORMAN L. of Souderton, Pa. wants pictures and sketches of Harry Vonzell, Brad Browne and Al Llewelyn. And here they are grouped in a quartet, the fourth of which is Reynold Evans of whom a word later. Harry Vonzell started out on his Radio career, as a singer, believe it or not, but is now an announcer — and over the CBS. His later capacity was discovered when he was on a program in a local station in Los Angeles. Harry was to sing, with several other artists, but as the time rapidly approached for the opening of the program and no announcer appeared— Harry found himself with a script in his hand instead of the music sheet. He was nervous about it and thought that he had "flopped", but a week later was surprised when he was given a regular job as announcer. Then in the competition for announcer on the Old Gold program, Vonzell was chosen out of two hundred applicants for the job. A, if you asked 'Reyn' in a real nice way he would give you a picture without the Sheik's garb." Mary E. K. of Tonawanda. N. Y., asks for his photo; and E. E. D. of Buffalo wants a photo of Reyn for her scrap book. Well, here is Reynold Evans — and without any of the fol-de-rols which he wears in Arabesque. Reyn got the fundamentals of readin', writin' and 'rithmetic at Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven. But the wanderlust seized him and he ran away to join a New York Stock company. He says he was terrible in the part that he took, but it could not have been that as this role started him in his theatrical career. Both of his eyes appear to be quite healthy, but he almost lost one of them in a duel with Walter Hampden during the first act of Cyrano de Bergerac. Reyn also played with Cyril Maude and with Jane Cowl so he has an excellent dramatic background for his Radio career. J_L(DYTHE J. MESERANDE in the Press Relations Department of the NBC writes to Radio Digest and says, 'This is for your little bird that knows all." Please page Mrs. A. M. B. of Earlville. N. Y. James Wallington, or Jimmy as he is known to everyone, is only 22 and hails from Rochester. For three years he studied at the University of Rochester — that is, he attended, anyway. He always had a charming voice, as his neighbors commented, and like most Radio announcers, he began his public career as a singer. It was at WGY, Schenectady that he sprouted up into a full-fledged announcer. .LMOST every day Marcella receives requests for more about Reynold Evans. Ruth A. of Akron says, "He surely is one of Columbia's best announcers. I believe James Wallington writing continuities and directing the plays. Came the day — (last summer) he met Miss Stanislawa Butkiewicz, or the future Mrs. Wallington, which is much easier to pronounce, and they sailed off upon their honeymoon on an airplane trip through Canada. Jimmy looks a bit older than his twenty-two years. He is over six feet tall, has blue eyes, light brown hair and a close-clipped mustache. Our Imperturbable Printer must have shaved off the mustache in the process of reproduction here. lfflS too. is for Mrs. A. M. B. Good evening, Ladies and — Ford Bond speaking. In a Chicago medical college where his parents urged him to go. Ford preferred studying music to dissecting cats. That's where parents err — of course, this column is not for the purpose of disciplining parents — but when a lad has a singing voice, why send him to a medical college? When he was twenty-two he directed the community chorus and church choir at Alexandria. La., but sooner or later. Radio "gets" any ambitious person, and beginning at WHAS. Louisville, as announcer, then director of studios, music and general programs, he won his way to New York and hied himself over the NBC. Fifteen churches in New York invited him to sing but he accepted finally the offer of the Marble Collegiate Church to become a member of their choir and sing to the congregation. Ford Bond G Upper: Harry Vonzell, Brad Browne Lower: Reynold Evans, Al Llewelyn /HUBBY PARKER is not on WLS any more. Mel. R. He is living in Chicago, with his family, but is not connected with any station. Bob Boulton is back at college, probably deeply immersed in higher math. Greek, literature and the like. Steve Cisler — says that Bob was a live wire around the studios and quite popular with the ladies on his famous Town Crier Cooking school. Very young and unmarried. Eddie Allan is the Dixie Harmonica King of WLS. He has six hundred tunes packed in his mouth harp. Married! More of WLS in March. Marcella hopes. Bradley Kincaid is dividing his time between WLW and WLS. Even Steven himself has turned Buckeye and joined WGAR at Cleveland.