Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

KEN NILES THE strange disappearance of the Hallelujah Hour a short time ago remains today one of radio's most baffling major mysteries. Early one morning it failed to show up at its customary time. Thousands, yes, hundreds of thousands (well, anyhow, quite a few) of its friends began a systematic and coast-wide search — to no avail. Not a trace of it could be found — it hadn't even said "good-bye." The finger of suspicion pointed at KHJ. Threats of violence poured in. A cordon of motorcycle police patrolled in front of the studio to prevent a lynching. (Mr. Editor, is this going too strong?) But KHJ refused to answer, on advice of counsel. Hope, last to die, was dead. Then suddenly, on the morning of September 28. 1931, at 8:00 a. m., the Hallelujah Hour returned. As suddenly as it had gone it had come back. No confessions, no explanations — just there: back at the old stand. Now. for the first time, let RADIO DOINGS tear the veil from the fac of this grewsome mystery — this horrid carnival of crime perpetuated on the listeners of the West. Let us expose the whole unwholesome mess to the full light of publicity. OH, IT S NICE TCjet In the Morning— When Vou Hare the Hallelujah Hour for a Daily Eye-Opener To begin in a scientific and businesslike way, let "X" mark the day on which the Hallelujah Hour disappeared. From "X" we proceed immediatlye to "Y" — the "why"' of its return. A confession signed by KHJ, and now in the hands of RADIO DOINGS tells all. The Hallelujah Hour was abducted from the air because KHJ didn't think it had achieved the high standards of entertainment and popularity expected of it. There was a large, grave doubt in the heart of KHJ as to its merits. There was a conviction that the Hallelujah Hour wouldn't be missed. The stream of fan mail which had acclaimed the Hallelujah Hour was discounted on the theory that any lighthearted program on the air gets lots of fan mail. Out of thousands of listeners always come some good people to champion a program. The Hallelujah Hour, therefore, was withdrawn from circulation. Ken Niles, its personable master of ctremonies, was permitted neither to say "adieu" nor give warning or explanation to the air audience. And as far as KHJ was concerned, the Hallelujah Hour was gone — taps — lights out. No headstone was to mark its grave. Yes, gone — but not forgotten. KHJ had not reckoned with the host. Immediately upon the sudden demise of Ken Niles' gang, the host laid siege to KHJ and all the stations of the Don Lee chain. Radio editors, station telephone operators and mailmen groaned, winced and howled beneath the steady and withering barrage of protests. (Whew! surely that won't get by.) The odds were too great. KHJ saw itself surrounded, outnumbered — the white flag of surrender was flung from the aerials of the station. Suddenly the Halleluiah Honr reappeared! At eight o'clock, on the morning of September 28. 1931. the West heard the Three Gheers sing "I Surrender Dear." The Hallelujah Hour, fresher, faster and haonier, was back to stay. Yes. the wrinkles have been removed from the Hallelujah Hour's face. It has been rejuvenated. The gang trots out on the radio gridiron every morning like a bunch of colts that have breakfasted on strychnine, and in the lead Ken Niles, the bouyant boy of boundless enthusiasm — glad he's alive even at eight o'clock the morning of the night before. Behind Ken — but not far behind — comes Felix Mills ; Felix of the Soothing Sax, and organizer-leader of the new Hallelujah orchestra. And then the rest of the gang: Nell Larson, the Three Cheers, the Chili Peppers, the Hallelujah Quartet, Dwight Muma and his fevered fiddle, Cecil Noe and his Gabriel's trumpet. Don Hopkins and NELL LARSON the beeg bull fiddle, Eddie Schrivanek with his banjo and chronic guitar — the microphone, the xylophones and the telephones. There's not an instrument the boys can't double on ; not a tune the gang can't sing (except the restricted ones) . And there's no one among them to tell you that the world is a great big pre-digested apple pie. and that everybody ought to love his neighbor, even though he keeps chickens, children, a saxaphone and the neighborhood awake. The Hallelujah Hour says it with music. But if you prefer to wake up with a grouch, go Page Eight RADIO DOINGS