Radio Digest (June 1932-Mar 1933)

back causing the fragile bit of wood to break into a million splinters, so that it was practically ruined like the One Hoss Shay. "So that's how Lew became an organist," said Nellie. You can't treat a fine old bow like that and expect to become a good fiddle player, reasoned the elder White. Lew was deprived of his violin. But before he got to the organ Lew mastered the piano. Studied in the Philadelphia Musical Academy. He started playing in a nickelodeon and made fast progress. There was a Methodist church near where he lived and often he would hear the organ playing as he went by. One day he mustered up his courage to ask the pastor if he could practice a little on the organ. Incidentally he had, in the meantime, continued up the ladder until he had a well-paying position as pianist at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel. He was ashamed to let his fellow musicians think he was interested in a pipe organ for in those days pipe organs were associated with churches only. So, when the pastor had consented for him to use the organ in return for playing on special church occasions, he kept the matter to himself. He fell head over heels in love with this great instrument. One day he pulled out all stops and gave it the works. The sexton came running up from the basement all excited and wondering where all the melody was coming from. He told Lew he never had dreamed the organ could produce such volumes and abundance of sound. That settled it. Lew was all hot for the organ from that time on and took up a course of special study at the University of Pennsylvania. In six months he was playing the most intricate of classical compositions. He yearned for one of the bigger and better organs. Came a day when he went to play at the Willard Hotel, in Washington, and he had to pass a theatre where one of the very latest organs had just been installed. T, _ HE organist at the console did not seem to know what all the new gadgets were for — the vox hitmana and all that. Lew asked to take a try at it. The manager rushed down to see him and said that he must come to play the organ regularly. Lew said he couldn't break his contract at the Willard. Then it was arranged that he would play at the theatre during off hours. It was a heart breaking schedule that kept young Mr. White busy jumping back and forth for nine months between the Willard and the Metropolitan theatre. As a result of this experience he was made an amazing offer by the Stanley amusement company and that was how he got into the big money class. A few of these facts are supplemen Lew White tary to those related by Miss Revell as we sat there listening to her. She told about his making records for the Brunswick company and finally how he became chief organist at the Roxy theatre in New York. He also has been made chief organist at Radio City. "Lew White is five feet four," said Nellie, in conclusion, "weighs 150 pounds, has dark brown hair plastered back like my own, wears quiet clothes. While he has a keen sense of humor, he is serious, sympathetic and kind, highly sensitive and rather credulous. Has been on NBC for fn-e years." His sympathetic understanding has a great deal to do with his successful interpretation of musical moods through the organ. After the program had ended and a few of us were gathered in the conservatory while other members of the party were scattered over the place he sat down to play Ferde Grofe's "Knute Rockne Suite". Ferde, himself, had gone up to the studio loft where the famous icebox of which Nellie had spoken had been opened for exploration. In a moment all the gay chatter and singing had ceased. The guests crowded (Continued on page 4S)