Radio digest (1922)

ARCELLA Little Bird Knows All— Tells All— Ask Her About the Stars You Admire BERNARD BURKE, the snappy-eyed youth you see here, and the twentieth century arrived on this sphere almost simultaneously. Perhaps that's why this fair-haired announcer-singer at WTMJ has managed ^tfkr to keep up with the ever ^^F^ * changing entertainment trends of the times, so AHfc $i> remarkably. I Back in the days when ^j^fc^ one of Edison's cylinder talking machines was the marvel of the neighborhood, Bernard was imitating the rhythmic steps of the danceloving negroes in his native town of Natchez. Mississippi, and piping, in a childish voice, the spirituals they sing. As his limbs became longer and his voice waxed stronger, he was sought out for a place in the church choir, then the accepted place of "nice people" who were blessed with good voices. But Bernard wasn't satisfied. He wanted to get to New Orleans, center of the southern show business. Here he won a place with the St. Charles Stock Company, which landed him definitely behind the footlights. He played in "The Gingham Girl" in New York and on the road, and with Violet Hemming in Chicago in "This 1 hing Called Love." The little boy who copied the shuffledances of the Mississippi darkies became Roy Lane, the hoofer, in the road show of "Broadway." Next he went on a vaudeville circuit with May Irwin, comedienne. Then the lure of the microphone got him, and we certainly can't say we're sorry. How about it, little Miss M. R. A. K.? * * * Al Carney is heard regularly over JVCFL, Mrs. Empson, and you tt'ill find a little story about him on page 60 of the May issue; also a story about Harry Snodgrass. Harry is no longer on the air. Ted Poister is still at WTAM as you will note in the story on page 61 of the June issue. * * * Help! Help! Where is Cecil Wright, last heard over KTHS? Help! * * * Brad Browne has had an eventful life and a pleasant one. He was born in North Adams. Mass. His father was the end man in a minstrel show, and most of his relatives are musically inclined. A banjo was the inspiration that sent Brad on what was eventually to lead to a music-drama life in the business world. He used to plunk away on a banjo, nearly as large as he. back on the farm in North Adams. Then from the banjo, he went to plunking on his father's piano. Here is where he first began composing original music. His musical ability made him the "life of every party" and it was not long before he was in great demand. But his life did not move along directly into a musical career. He tried his hand at a variety of thing before eventually finding himself in Radio. A floorwalker in a department store, pin boy in a bowling alley, a law student at Georgetown University . . . these are a mere fraction of Brad's past experience. And you know the rest. This is to introduce Phil Stewart the announcer who joined up with KYW this spring and caused quite a rumpus . . . Oh, but we weren't going to tell about that! Phil was born in Glasgow, Scotland, some twenty-seven years ago — all of which makes him an honest-to-goodness Scotchman. But a very attractive little lady on the staff at KYW confided in me that he has become amazingly Americanized, paying luncheon-checks< for the studio fairsex and sharing cigarettes without a wince. We started to tell you the secret and Phil Stewart we can't quite resist, at least hinting at it. Fan letters have come pouring in asking all about the new announcer whose voice is just like, . . . and here again we are forced to stop out of respect to the wish of Mr Hogan, general manager of KYW, who has asked us not to tell. However, we can say that his voice is very similar to that of a certain famous Scotch announcer who is heard from another Chicago station in connection with Amos 'n Andy broadcasts. But ssh . . . ssh. Even if you do guess, don't tell anyone. When he came to this country about seven years ago Phil entered the theatrical profession and was successful on the vaudeville stage. Some time later his Radio debut was made over WJAS in Pittsburgh, Pa. In case you haven't heard this disturbing voice, you must listen in on the Merrymakers some afternoon or on one of the various evening programs. * * * Donna, my dear, don't you know that WJR doesn't seem to like US (me) very well. They won't accept Marcclla socially, or something, and that is why I can't oblige with the pictures you want. And to answer your other question, please don't worry about Rudy Vallcc. I haven't heard any <->nnors that should disturb VOM, You asked about Myrtle Spangen berg, Alyce. This blond, winsome WTMJ soprano soloist, my dean helped to rock the Radio cradle in Mil waukee. Seven years ago a local de partment store set up the first broad casting station in Milwaukee. It was H one-horse affair and they needed artist: j to help put it across with the public I At that time Myrtfe, who had studied voice in Milwaukee and Chicago, wa:l singing in theatres throughout the statel: She consented to warble over Mil j waukee's first Radio broadcasting sta tion. The venture was a success. Myrj tie liked Radio. Soon after, when Th<| Milwaukee Journal affiliated with Mari quette University to operate WHADI Myrtle joined the staff of that station She has since followed through witn Radio and is heard, as you know, oil many WTMJ programs. Myrtle is single, has blue eyes and golden hair, is five feet five in height and is more apt to be laughing thai I not. She has three important hobbies music of all kinds, fan mail and d^.icing. And the pet peeve of thi; singer — can you blame her? — is a cole in the head! * * * Here's a bit about Jack Shannon, hilari-\ ous Master of Ceremonies at IVOR. Hi hobby is Boston terriers and he is the ownc>\ of ten prize winners. He is often seen tak-\ ing his daily constitutional accompanied b four or five of the little animulcs. Sorry, Agnes, but you will have tc wait for the story about Freddy Ston But it's coming. * * * Richard Pavey. announcer and singe at WLW, is popular. And, to be mor specific, he is popular with two type in particular, the elder members of the Radio audience, and the very little, i. e., the very little girls. Elderly people find comfort in his voice and little girls find romance. They name their dolls for him. Classic programs are his favorites, perhaps because he was educated to be a gran opera singer. He might well have bee too, had not his eyes failed him, necessitating the wearing of heavy glasses that he could not lay aside even for th hours he would be on the stage. As it is, he uses his beautiful bariton voice on some WLW programs sings in the quartet of one of the larges Cincinnati churches. Listeners invariably picture him tall and blon€. Sad to say, however has a bay window. It's not a very la one, and somehow it seems to fit ~. with his dignity and that meticulousn which is an intrinsic part of him. H very satisfactory to look at. He brown eyes, brown hair, and a tache. For Pavey, nothing in the world ters but his wife and his two-year baby, a beautiful little boy who ha shown no tendencies toward becomin a Radio announcer.