Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

scenario idea from some member of the NBC audience who grew up in just such an atmosphere as the serial portrays. Sometimes an apple-butter-making episode, or some other characteristicly seasonal touch is suggested. Sometimes a listener just can't bear it any longer if some particular thing isn't done for Josephine Conway or Muriel or one of the other characters. When Ma and Pa Smithers quarreled, recently, the entire "Memory Lane" audience was divided into two enemy camps, judging by the fan-mail which preceded the reconciliation. The somewhat acid-tongued but warm-hearted Ma Smithers, who is the leader of the community and arbiter of church bazaars and other events, has her own particular followers, most of whom insist, "I knew just such a woman as Mrs. Smithers, back home." Pa Smithers carries hi own flock of fans, and as for Billy Smithers, that Hoosier Peter Pan evidently represents his or her own lost youth to ten out of twelve middle-aged or elderly radio fans who write to Connette. Billy and his jews-harp and his dog, and the events which keep him busy, have a strong grip upon the audience. • Incidentally, Eileen Piggott, who plays Ma, mms and Billy Page who WW plays Billy Smithers, 'iM probably hold the record in continuous radio performance, since they have \ enacted their parts without missing a single night for the entire three years and a half that "Memory Lane" has been on the air. Dick Le Grand who plays Pa, and Bobbe Dea who enacts half a dozen characters in the serial, inch Lucinda Higgins, run them a close second. "Memory Lane" is responsible for at least two members of its cast becoming actors. Eileen Piggott's soprano voice had always been her principal talent until the program of old-fashioned songs in which she had been appearing, changed into a dramatic serial. The Hoosier dialect she employs as Ma Smithers, and the characteristic high, somewhat sharp, speaking voice which is part of her role, both are foreign to the soft-spoken Miss Piggott. She drilled for days in the Hoosier accent when she first became Ma Smithers, and many of the Indiana-born radio fans refuse to believe she isn't one of them. The thirteen-year-old juvenile star of NBC who is Billy Smithers to thousands of listeners, made his debut in that part. He was not quite ten years old at the time; neither was Billy Smithers. A child actor was needed who could "get" the accent required, and Connette, who had written the part into the continuity without considering how difficult this might be, had a strenuous three or four days. One day, however, Billy Page trotted into the studio, with his father. "Where did you get that voice?" demanded Connette, in joy. Billy, it turned out, was the son of two real Indianans, and although he had never seen the Wabash, he had inherited the Hoosier voice. Besides, as has been discovered since, he was a natural-born actor. He mastered the dialect required for the Smithers lad in one rehearsal. Wisely, Connette has had Billy Smithers grow older as Billy Page has done in the ast few years. In fact, so al has Billy become, and so -like all the other Goshen r residents, that their aunits he gets almost frightsometimes, for fear he will meet face some day in his own office. 'Ain '/ She Sweet So "Memory Lane" goes on. Sponsored now by the Associated Oil Company it carries listeners back to a time which, for many persons, is seen through a mist n which chuckles are touched with tears and laughter. • "Memory Lane" is broadcast over NBC stations at 8:15 p.m. Tuesdays. • "Memory Lane" is one of the most popular programs on the air. Recently, to test its popularity, it was suggested over the microphone that listeners send in their opinions of the feature. Nine thousand letters flooded the NBC offices in San Francisco lauding the program. RADIO DOINGS is anxious to run stories on programs of such wide appeal. Write and let us know who you would like to read about; tell us which are your favorite programs and artists.