Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

Reno TIES a Knot Edna O'Keefe, original "Oh, Woe Is Me" girl and staff artist of KFRC. THE KFRC studios were treated to effects resembling the explosion of a bomb shell recently when Edna O'Keefe walked in one morning and casually remarked that she had been married to Ronald Graham since last April. Of course, there were certain few around the studios who suspected that the infatuated pair might have put on the shackles, but it was a mere suspicion. Here is how it happened. On a certain Saturday night in April, Edna, together with a number of other KFRC artists, was playing a show in Sacramento. Ronald Graham, who is staff baritone on the station, motored up to bring Edna home that night. The others were staying over until Sunday. But, instead of coming back home, the pair pointed the radiator of their roadster towards Reno. They arrived about daylight. A deserted town greeted them. However, youth will be served, and they located successively two cups of coffee, two doughnuts, one marriage license and one Justice of the Peace. Reno is very accommodating to persons who are either in or out of love. They returned to KFRC Sunday night and both were on deck for Golden State Jamboree rehearsal Monday morning just as if nothing had happened. And now, close upon the heels of the announcement of their wedding, the papers are carrying the story of Ronald Graham's winning of the AtwaterKent audition contest for San Francisco in a field of several hundred contest A bombshell in the KFRC Studios could have created no greater disturbance than the news that Edna O'Keefe, original "Oh, Woe Is Me" girl had eloped several months ago with Ronald Graham, Staff Soloist — and nobody knew it. Here's how it all happened. by Bob Rand "Blue Monday Jamboree," 8:00 P. M. Mondays, over stations on the Don Lee System, originating from KFRC. ants. He will shortly compete for the state-wide honors. Edna O'Keefe came to KFRC by way of a wager. Two of her girl friends at the San Francisco Girls High School bet her a dinner she was afraid to try out on the audition period. Edna already had considerable of a reputation around the school as a singer. Well, the girls bought the dinner after Edna had braved the microphone with "The Desert Song." (At that time KFRC was in the habit of broadcasting the auditions.) She felt that the African desert had nothing on that studio; she was afraid the microphone was going to reach over and bite a huge chunk out of her shoulder any minute. Although "The Desert Song" wasn't the type of song for Edna's voice, it was felt she had possibilities and she was given her chance. Her first song, over the Golden State Blue Monday Jamboree, was "That's My Weakness Now." And speaking of the Jamboree, KFRC's big weekly two-hour show, it is on that program that Edna has built up an enviable reputation as a character actress and comedienne. She is at home in all dialects, Irish, French, Spanish and German. And she is famous as the original "Oh Woe Is Me" girl in the Deep Dramatic Stock Company's weekly productions on the program. Edna was born in San Francisco in 1912 and attended Jefferson Grammar Ronald Graham, Atwater Kent award winner, and Edna's husband. and Girls High Schools in the city. As far back as she can remember she has taken dancing lessons and sung popular songs, though she didn't take vocal lessons until recently. She is brown-eyed, black-haired and five feet two inches tall. Her weight is 115 pounds. In school she liked to play baseball and tennis. She once won a cup in a tennis tournament. Edna says that she has a terrible Irish temper, but it seldom flares up, even when "Pedro," staff comedian, calls her "Wop," which she objects to strenuous Ronald Graham was born in Hamilton, Scotland, the birthplace of Harry Lauder. He lays claim to the distinction of being one of the few Scotch singers who doesn't imitate the style of the famous Sir Harry. He is only 20 years old and has already had a life filled with travel and interesting experience. His father was an officer in the British army during the world war and while he was on the Front in France his family in London saw the German air raids. After the war he brought his family to the San Francisco Bay District. The children arrived clad in the Scottish kilts, but soon abandoned them for the conventional attire. At Tamalpais High School, Ronald studied commercial art, but his vocal efforts were also greatly encouraged, and after graduation he made frequent appearances as a singer at amateur affairs. Music appealed to him so much {Turn to Page 39] RADIO DOINGS Page Twenly-five