Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

Febi 1931 RADIO DOINGS Page Forty-three THE OFFICE BOY SEZ: Folks; meet two of our veteran radio impresarios Yes, sir, folks The Not-GoodBut-Loud Rag-Time Revue is about to be perpetrated right here before your very ears! What's the first one on the list, Jack? Alright, Let's Go! "When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose." Not Good, but LOUD! And here's the debonair originator of this famous program and even more famous slogan. Bill Ray, in person, now busily and efficiently managing KGER in Long Beach. Bill's most engaging feature over the ether is a youthful enthusiasm which instantly takes hold of his audience. Don't be misled by all this youthful talk. Bill talks young, he dresses young and he IS young, but in spite of all that, he is one of California's veteran announcers. Years ago he used to help Jerry King keep KFWB going smoothly and about a year ago, C. Merywin Dobyns, owner of KGER, found Bill and gave him his big break. How do you like Bill's natty suit, jaunty cane, and general appearance of just being about to take off into a neat bit of dancing? * * * HaLO . . . dear EVERYBODY, EVERYWHERE! KFWO on the air and Lawrence Mott greeting you from Santa Catalina Island, that dee-LIGHTFUL little isle in the emerald green Pacific Ocean! ...EVERYBODY HAPPY this GLORIOUS morning??? The St. Catherine Hotel Concert Orchestra will now entertain you, dear people, with a charming hour of concert music . . . After this SPLENDID program, I have a REAL surprise for for ye . . . Wasn't that a MARVELOUS program, folks?? and now . . . for the SURPRIZE! I have my big Magnaformer Super-heterodyne (adv.) all tuned up . . . and WE, all my DEAR Listeners and I, are going to TOUR the country by AIR!! We will pick up the distant stations on my POWERFUL set and re-broadcast them over KFWO for your entertainment . . . Now listen ye! HERE'S KOA, DENVER . . . Now Chicago, WGN ... and now KDKA, East Pittsburgh! Think of it, my dear friends! The marvel of radio! "Them were the days" when the jolly Major's cheery greeting from the Sunshine Isle made your day a success. Lccking backward With R. B. Yale NOT SO LONG AGO: Dave Saranoff was a wireless operator on a tramp steamer. F. A. D. Andrea of Fada fame made Swiss watches. E. T. Cunningham manufactured the first audions with pigtails in a small shop in 'Frisco. Charles Freshman was a big shot in the Florida real estate boom. W. E. and W. H. Jackson, purveyors of radio in San Francisco, sold sewing machines and parts. Mr. Freed of Pacific Radio Supply sold bicycle supplies, spokes and coaster brakes. John G. Rapp, who made Kolster sales galore, used to make that good old Ranier beer. Lucas was one time chief technician of Angelus Temple radio station. Tom Lambert held the only independent RCA license in this part of the country. Cloyd Marshall was factory representative for Crosley. George Lane was the head man in this territory for Kennedy. The Federal, made in Buffalo, was the most popular crystal set. Harkess and Flewelling were the best known circuit developers. Bakelite, the only material for panel use — if not used, look at the losses. Aeroplane cloth speakers were hot stuff. Television apparatus was being sold to the public. Public address systems were a novelty and stopped the boys on the street. Freeman Lang was just a good radio technician. Les Taufenbach was a first-class ham operator. Ken Ormiston went to sea in ships and was called "Sparks." No one had ever heard of a midget set — "Happy Days!" Sam Van Royne, who established Radio Supply Company, was selling auto parts and accessories. The Union Hardware Company was one of the big radio jobbers. Fritz Falck cluttered up the country with battery chargers of his own manufacture. Edgecomb ran the Wireless Shop and owned all the sheet bakelite in this part of the country. Erla made the best fixed crystal detectors. Console radio sets were being sold at from $275.00 up. Atwater-Kent made swell variometers and variocouplers instead of radio sets. No one had ever heard a chain broadcast program. Folks really used to listen to sets playing in the dealer's doorway. Screen-Grid tubes were only used in England and Europe. Two or three hundred feet of wire made a good antenna. O. K. Smith ran Broadway's main exclusive radio store. The Major's hearty voice, which greeted us over his own KFWO some three years ago and lately over metropolitan stations, simply radiates happiness and enthusiasm. The Major is a world traveler, an author of numerous books, veteran of several wars in which his conduct has been nothing but honorable as attested by the decorations on his manly chest and an all-around good chap and sportsman. Major Mott has been making a gallant fight against ill-health the last few months and we wish him the greatest success and a speedy return to the microphone.