Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

The Cradle cf Talent FROM KFWB to unusual prominence — such has been the fortune of an extraordinary number of artists! Fame smiles easily on the members of KFWB'S staff— chance is genial! Just cast an eye over the list of outstanding personalities who gained their first fame over KFWB, the Cradle of Talent! The Boswells — bless their N'Yawlins accent! — found their first fans among KFWB's listeners. L. Scott Perkins is a name familiar to most Los Angelenos, who were twisting the dial about two years ago. His Spanish continuities, colorful, well written, and well directed, made him one of the most popular of radio writers. He is now a producer and writer at the San Francisco studios of NBC. Leon Belaski, violinist supreme, appeared only at KFWB when he was in Los Angeles a few years ago. He was a featured artist here. Then he went to New York and recently, the whole nation hears him conduct his orchestra as he accompanies Morton Downey on the CBS program. He also directs at the Club Delmonico. "CLICKETY CLACK, CLICKETY CLACK, CLICKETY CLACK!" What familiar sounds are these to boys and girls everywhere! Children, who in the late afternoon congregate near their radio sets to hear Ihe story man, this is their hour. The hour when the story man tells of the happenings in the AIR CASTLE in the LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE. The story man is seated at a desk in the studios of KFI nearly buried by hundreds of by Kay Van Riper Loyce Whiteman Only a short time ago, daytime listeners of KFWB heard the wistful singing of Jean Cowan. Accompanying herself Dn the piano, Jean sang her heart out by "Uncle Jay" letters from boys and girls from far and near; these notes telling how much President Pip, Clickety Clack, Yip the little wooden dog, Happy Duck, and Bugler Murphy are relied upon to chase the gloom of the day. It was nearly four-thirty in the afternoon, and not long before the story man would take charge of the microphone. He was surrounded by hundreds of letters. Some of them carried word that some listener was ill; someone had a birthday today; and others contained ribbons for Yip; medals for President Pip; and saw-dust for Clickety Clack! You know that saw-dust is what this littlewooden man eats. One glance at the clock and the story man jumped from his chair, and hurried into the studio, where there is a huge castle. All around are beautiful plants, toy balloons of all colors, pictures of children and a big box containing rays of sunshine that are sent out each day. The story man played the piano and sang a song, but not before turning the microphone on and greeting the little boys and girls with his cheery "Hello, Hello, Hello!" The first song was about a Japanese doll, then came the song about the farmer. These were followed by the ringing of the magic bells, and, to the tune of "Home, Sweet Home," in walked Aloysious Whimpleton Washington Lincoln McPip; in short, Pip, president of The Land of Make Believe. In he walked, President Pip, only three feet tall and one to the "mike," and gained an enviable reputation for herself as a blue-ballad crooner. Now, she gives the whole country an opportunity to hear her low, throaty voice over the NBC network. When Eddie Bush, who formed the first Biltmore Trio, was convalescing from a serious illness, he made plans for a new and even a better musical act. He found the necessary talent at KFWB — chiefly, Buster Dees. Everett Heagland, possessor of a sense of dance rhythm, found an outlet for his energies and talents in forming an orchestra which demonstrated his own theories of what a dance band should sound like. One day an auburn haired, blue eyed slender girl wandered into KFWB, and announced timidly that she was a radio singer. After testing her voice, the officials agreed that she was. So did Southern California listeners. Loyce Whiteman was beseiged with demands for her picture — her autographs — any testimony from the girl whose voice (Continued on Page 58) hundred years old. (He never gets any older.) President Pip was wearing a suit of all colors, a magic ring and a magic medal. Inventing is this old fellow's hobby and what (Continued on Page 39^ The Children's Hour P*qe Twenty-thr««