Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

-AND MORE CHATTER Getting what she wants seems to be a woman's prerogative, but when it comes to a tttianhaired maid, especially Roily Wray of KFOX, it ts a habit. Recently Roily saw one of those smart summer frocks "for the slender miss." and though the dress was a bit too small 'midships, Roily was not to be daunted. She underwent a rigid fast and strict diet, and lost six pounds — all so she could have the pretty dress she wanted. But we can't see yet why the diet and fasting were at all necessary, Roily. • H. C. Connette. who wrote the hilarious article "How to Get Shipwrecked Gracefully," or "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Weather," in this issue, is another of the newspaper clan to turn to radio. He has worked on papers all over the country, has traveled Europe and Asia, and worked in Shanghai as news editor of a radio station. Thence to San Francisco, where his clever pen has originated such successful continuities as "Memory Lane." • One of the greatest disappointments in the life of Meredith Willson, KFRC's young and versatile musical director, was when he learned that you approach a flute from an angle of ninety degrees, and not headon. as he had fondly imagined. Meredith was iust one of the "Little kids" in Mason City, Iowa, at the time, and he had sent to a mail-order house for a flute. Eventually, however, he became so reconciled to the instrument that he became flute soloist in the New York Philharmonic Symphony — one of the greatest. He wasn't an old man. either — about 23. As a matter of fact, he's only 28 now. 9 The "Missing Tonsils Detail" of the Los Angeles Police department report that Mona Content, Lindsay MacHarrie, and Leigh Harline have given up their tonsils after a brief • A crew-race bet cost Jennings Pierce. NBC Pacific announcer, several tons of perspiration and toil when he had to wheel Bob Nichols, another announcer, all the way up Market Street, San Francisco, in a wheelbarrow. struggle. MacHarrie, being Scotch, gave up only one. but he's making just as big a fuss over it as a hen with one chick. He claims that it was much larger than any other KHJ tonsil, and boasts that it cost just as much to remove as two little ones. • For radio's Who's Who. Ben S. McGlashen, owner of KGFJ, is the youngest owner of a radio station on the Pacific Coast. He is 26 years old, and opened the station when he was 2 1 . An up and comin' young feller. 9 Pete Barlow, drummer at KFRC, and "Axel" on the Jamboree, on a recent trip to Sacramento was descended upon by a delegation of aspiring high-school orchestra drummers. They wanted some of the "lowdown" on Pete's tricks on the drums. Obligingly, Pete spent a half-hour with them in the dressingroom, explaining the ways and means of making boom-boom. • Vive la Fiesta! Los Angeles will celebrate her hundred and fiftieth birthdau from September 4 to 13, which will be broadcast over national networks. Among the principal musical treats of the occasion will be the presentation of "Los Rubios." a new American opera colorfully portraying the Spanish life and romance of early Los Angeles. It requires a cast of more than 500, and will be given on September 10. Foremost Spanish and American opera stars are being engaged for roles. The composer of the music is Mary Carr Moore, who captured the David Bispham trophy last year for her "Narcissa." Librettos are by Neeta Marquis, well-known California poetess and historian, and author of novels. An international musical fiesta in Hollywood Bowl will also be broadcast over the nation. Leading stars. American and foreign, will join to make it a rare musical treat. Meanwhile. Los Angeles radio stations and national chains are telling the world about the "Fiesta de Los Angeles." the most colorful celebration ever carried out in Southern California. That means something! • A novel reason for buying time on the air brought a telephone call to NBC's San Francisco studios a few days ago. "My daughter is getting married and we want music for the ceremony!" wailed a feminine voice. "I have engaged a violinist and a cellist, but now I find I can't get a piano into my house. I'd like to buy half an hour's time on the air, and have the pianist play the wedding music. The violin and cello could follow the piano as the music came through our radio." Network programs, she was regretfully informed, would interfere with her plan.