Radio Digest (June 1932-Mar 1933)

39 Ranny Weeks Just Had to Sing Star of the Yankee Ne t w ork Deserted Executive Ca reer for Song RANNY WEEKS couldn't escape his destiny. Though he _ could whistle a tune before he could toddle, his first ambitions were for a public career. Also, the fact that his father was Mayor of Everett, Mass., was responsible in a way for his interest in law and politics. This ambition lasted until he was defeated for the first office he ran for in high school. As time went on he leaned more to the musical side of the family. So he dropped it all and started singing at various social functions. He soon received offers to appear at leading hotels and society parties. With the advent of radio Ranny took more and more to music. His next move in this direction was when he became radio advisor for an advertising agency. The executive duties this entailed caused him to forget his vocal ambitions for the moment. However, no matter how busy he became he always managed to continue his vocal studies, but listed them under the heading of diversions instead of ambitions. JTINALLY he decided that he was fed up with executive duties and from then on he would become Ranny Weeks, baritone, with the words "he man" placed before baritone by his radio sponsors. Ranny's flair for doing the unusual was demonstrated forcibly at the Metropolitan Theater in Boston. He holds the distinction of establishing a record at that theater which no other featured artist has ever approached. Last winter Ranny appeared at the Metropolitan for a period of seventeen weeks, having gone in there in the beginning for a one week's engagement. For one of the few times in the history of the theater, in which the most famous stars of the stage, screen, and radio have appeared, Ranny's performance stopped the show cold. The applause continued for six minutes into the talkie feature of the program. Finally the lights were put on and Ranny was forced to come back for bows. Though this happened nearly a year ago, this feat stands unequalled to the present time. Following his debut into the talking picture field last summer, Ranny joined his present radio .program — The Pacquin Program which is heard every Sunday afternoon at 5:00 o'clock over Station WNAC and WOR in New York and the Yankee Network. The completion of his picture, "It Happened in Paris," was the realization of a life-long ambition for him. Ever since he has been before the public he has wanted to appear on the screen. And in that time he has received several flattering offers. One of them was from Lilyan Tashman, who wanted him to come to Hollywood and appear with her in pictures. Betty Balfour, noted British actress, and Sophie Tucker have both been very complimentary in their praises of Weeks. "It Happened in Paris" is a full length feature picture based on the stage play "The Two Orphans," for which Nathaniel Shilkret composed an original score and conducted during the film For the benefit of those who often have heard but never have seen Mr. Weeks, he is six feet even in height, brunette, handsome, laughs easily, is modest and is best described by the term "regular." Randall Webster Weeks is his full name. The Webster is in honor of the great Daniel Webster, for whom his father always had the greatest admiration. Ranny Weeks is strictly a man's singer, and a regular out-door man. Ranny Weeks, heard over the Yankee Network as well as WNAC and WOR, New York