Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

The EMPIRE Builders 'By Jack Paul £ord WITH the entire facilities of the newest and most modern broadcasting studios in the world at their disposal, the Great Northern Railway "Empire Builders" productions, broadcast from the NBC Chicago studios each Monday night from 9:30 to 10 o'clock central standard time (at present — 9:30 to 10 o'clock central daylight time) represent the utmost in perfection in radio dramas. Every modern production device known to radio, and a few never before used in a radio broadcast, are available to make the "Empire Builders" programs conform to the strictest requirements of absolute realism, according to Don Bernard, program advisor, who personally directs the production of the series. In addition to the selection of a cast of nationally known actors, every other detail of the "Empire Builders" broadcasts is the result of weeks of experimentation in sound effect. Especially constructed apparatus is used in reproducing even the most minor sounds necessary to procure a realistic setting for the dialogue of the actors. In order to reproduce exactly the sound of a moving train, so often necessary in "Empire Builders," a specially constructed track is used in the studios, over which trucks with iron wheels are run. The track is an exact miniature reproduction of a genuine railroad track, and the wheels which run over it are also exact miniature replicas of the wheels of railroad locomotives and coaches. The apparatus was constructed in the Great Northern shops, under the supervision of Great Northern engineers. It is said by these experts that when the sounds produced by the movement of the wheels on the rails are picked up by the microphones, the most seasoned railroad veteran is unable to notice a singlefalse note in the entire effect. • This apparatus is used whenever the scripts of the plays designate the presence of a moving train, and, also, as a background whenever scenes are laid in the interior of the railroad coach, to give the subdued and far-off click of the wheels which always serves as an accompaniment to any railroad journey. Unlike most broadcasts in the past, acoustical alterations are made in the studios whenever change of scene in the plays makes such alterations necessary in the interests of absolute realism. For instance, when The Oldtimer and His Dog Listen to a Little Music the scene changes from an out-door to an in-door setting a thickly insulated sound-proof screen is set up to close the actors off from the rest of the studio. This imparts to the voices of the speakers the same resonance and provides the same echo effects as may be noticed in an ordinary room. When the scene changes again to an out-door setting, the screen is removed, and the quality of the voices are modified by the increased size of the room in exactly the same way as voices would be modified if the speakers moved from a closed room into the open air. In order to make the slightest movement of the actors audible to the listeners a highly resonant hardwood floor is used in the studios for indoor scenes. Thus, when an actor walks across the room, the sound of his foot-steps is picked up clearly by the microphones. Equipment also is provided to make possible any other incidental sound effects necessary, such as the moving of chairs, slamming of doors, or the noises of similar operations. Again, however, alterations are made for an outdoor scene, for then the sound of footfalls and other movements would be deadened by grass and earth. In order to achieve this change, a heavy carpet is thrown over the resonant floor to deaden these noises as nature would deaden them outdoors. • In casting the plays, scores of veteran actors were given trial auditions before the cast to be used in the series was selected. Harvey Hays again plays the part of the "Old Timer." Lucille Husting whose work in important Broadway productions has made her known to the theater-going public is cast in the role of feminine lead together with Bernardine Flynn. Miss Husting has played with Walker Whiteside in two of his greatest star vehicles, "The Hindoo" and Mr. Wu," and also was included in the same cast with William Hodge with whom she played in "For All of Us." Miss Husting made her radio debut in New York and starred in many important New York NBC programs including the "Colliers Hour" before coming to Chicago to take part in the "Empire Builders." Miss Flynn received early stage experience at the University of Wisconsin and played in such Broadway productions as "The Swan," "Seven Year Love," "Joseph" and "Strictly Dishonorable," and has taken RADIO DOINCS