Radio digest (1922)

fl Xorman Xielson of KI'RC is a good coking, agreeable young chap of about nenty-six years. He originally hailed from the East, and says ^^^^ that after high school he ^^^"^ slated for Pennsyl X vania Male College, but, 0 as Norman puts it, the * 4^ W slate must have gotten 7 cracked, for he found t_\ himself in a railroad of T fice instead. It was hardly the thing he wanted, however, so he soon travled across the country to San Franisco. where he took up the study of 1 oice. i His first job on the stage was in 1 omic opera, with Hartmann and Stein orff. He was with them for three sea1 ons then went into musical comedy and layed all through the West for four ; ears. The last two years of this 1 eriod he was managing and producing afx W ilbur Cushman. After that was H year's engagement on the Orpheum i ircuit, then KFRC. i Norman says he likes Radio work ' etter than the stage. But there's a E eason — it allows him a permanent ome. and that's very important, in f , iew of the fact that Xorman has only ' een married a little over a year, til * * * Help! Help! Where is Irving Berg lan? Mrs. L. D. says he was at WEBR p until recently, but where is he now? it * * * i:[ Yes, Marie, the Strollinq Guitarists are •-hue other than Jim and Boh of W EN R & id they are heard regularly from that sta Thank you, Mrs. J. A. C, for the lformation about John and Ned. ' * * * ii A tall, slender young man of some « lirty odd years walks briskly into the \ tudios of KFRC. There is an intent ) xpression in his eyes: his hair is very lond — he is. in fact, an ideal Scandiavian type. You've guessed it, Tome :o to, it is Robert Olsen. Bob is so idealistic and serious that e is always busily occupied with his ffairs and is so busy indeed that he Iways walks fast to keep up. But don't link that he isn't a nice person to have round, for he is a good natured. deciddly likable fellow with a sense of umor. His popularity is no doubt due to that ll ort of tender quality in his voice that I eople just can't resist. And he is makj ig Victor records, you know, i Bob and his wife were married before I ither of them were twenty, and they lust make a very nice contrast together, ' or she is as dark as he is fair. There Ire two youngsters. Bob Jr., 11. and petty. 10. And those who are really I I the know, say that their's is an ideal I larriage. In his college days at Georgetown University he was engaged . in drama and glee club activities, also publicity work. These were really fore-runners of his later life for before entering the field of Radio Bill was an advertising and publicity man; and up to the present he continues his dramatic work, from time to time giving recitals in Pittsburgh. Then there is his war record to his credit, too. During the World War Bill served his country for thirteen months in the United States Xavy, receiving his training at Xewport, R. I. Forgot to say that Bill was born in Albany, New York, and received his early training and high school education in Schenectady, a regular eastern lad. * * * ANNOUNCEMENT Marcella is very sorry to state that it is quite impossible for her to furnish her readers with the home addresses of their favorites. She admits to being a gossip but refuses to become a telephone book. * * * Can't tell you, Mrs. Brinson, what has happened to the Happy Go Lucky Office Boys. Does anybody know? * * * How would you like to have ''that is. if you happen to be a man), a dressing room with racks for 100 shirts. 100 neckties; a fancy barroom reached by an aluminum staircase; a bed to live in, equipped with book-shelves, light switches. Radio panel? If you would, just think of William S. Paley, 27-yearold president of the Columbia Broadcasting System. He has 'em. ■ . ' * * * Beg Your Pardon The Ashley Sisters have NOT gone to KMOX as stated on this page in the June issue. We had it on good authority that they were, but when all zvas said and done, they couldn't bear to leave Chicago, so are still at WLS. *. * * Many thanks to all the kind people .-vho have written in about Ed and Mom. It seems to be a firmly established fact that Ed is none other than Smilen' Ed McConnell of WTAM. And "Mom" wasn't his wife, ever. This partnership business evidently broke, some way or other, and that is what got us all worried. * * * For your information, F. T. C, Marcella Roth is no longer at WSMB and, as far as we know, is not on the air at present. No, no, no, Helen, Mat Tompkins, Seth Parker and Luke Higgins are not the same person. Not any of 'them, or all of them — no dual personalities here. After five years as musical director of WLS, Don Malin has left the Radio field and has become associated with the R. J. Wiese life insurance agency of Chicago. Coming to WLS in 1925, after editorial work on farm papers, Don adapted his hobby of music to the job of designing Radio programs. In Chicago Radio circles he attained a reputation for his choral music presentations. Steve Cisler, chief announcer, has succeeded Mr. Malin to the post of program director. * * * Did you know that Anson Weeks has been in New York taking Guy Lombardo's place at the Roosevelt Hotel while Guy zvas in Chicago? And^ that Ted Fiorito has, in turn, been taking Weeks' place at the Hotel Mark Hopkins in San Francisco? Weeks will return to San Francisco for the Summer and Fall season and Fiorito will be back at the Congress by Fall. And more romance! This time cupid ensnared an attractive young dramatic artist and a sports announcer. The girl was Peggy Dale who conducts the Homemakers Hour over WBRC down in Birmingham, and the man. Jack Skeavington, formerly sports writer for a Louisville daily and announcer over WHAS. Xow they're married and both at WBRC. of course. It looks as if Jackwas a pretty smart boy taking a real "Homemaker" for a wife, and although Peggy is now Mrs. Jack Skeavington she is still simply "Peggy Dale" to her Radio friends. Cheerio — so many people have been writing about him that I did my best, and almost to no avail, for this immensely popular individual who broadcasts an early morning inspirational program six days a week through the NBC has been successful in throwing a complete veil of mystery about himself. He absolutely refuses to tell anyone his real name, not even the high-ups at the NBC. He's a zealous old fellow, somewhat fanatical, who takes his mission to do good in the world quite seriously. He is "Cheerio" just for that reason (to do good in the world), receiving no personal compensation for this role. He started the Cheerio program about four years ago with the idea of reaching the ^bed-ridden and shut-ins with a form of mental setting-up exercises. And that his idea has been a big success is evidenced by a recent total of 52.000 letters in less than thirty days. * * * Jack and Jimmie, sometimes known more formally as "Corlies and Gillissie" are entertaining at the Tea Garden Cafe in Detroit, so if you want to see them and hear them in person, there they are. On the air they're heard through WGHP. * * * Can't you just tell that Bill Farren ia bridge shark? I couldn't figure out why he had such a preoccupied expression, then when somebody told me about bridge, I knew. This Junior member of the Westjnghou.se Radio Station KDKA who is professionally known as William A. Farren is interested in many, many other things besides bridge, however. Take swimming, f'r instance, or tennis, or recitation work, or announcing. * * * Marcella hears all, tells all. Write her a letter, ask her any of the burning questions that are bothering your mind. Information is her middle name. ipied expres