Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

A Heritage Fulfilled Continued from Page 19 his choice of that branch of the service, for he belongs to a branch of the family of Richard Henry Dana, author of "two Years Before the Mast." While he was serving his own two years before that famed article, Harold was stationed for a time in Boston. He learned that the original Dana home was open, and walked up the little old worn pathway one day in his gob's uniform. Harold still chuckles as he tells how a quaint little lady met him at the door, and upon his declaration that he was a Dana also, took him into the front parlor and solemnly produced a huge, oldfashioned Bible. In it the entire Dana family tree, past and present, was inscribed, and Harold got a thrill as he saw his own name written there along with the personnel of the California branch of the family. Charles A. Dana, great publisher, and other Danas, famous or obscure, but all "third cousins," Harold's hostess assured him. When the war was over. Harold came back to San Francisco, and the only job he could get was selling pianos in a local music store. It was worse than picking olives, he thinks, now, because although he enjoyed playing the pianos and comparing their respective tonal qualities for customers, he wasn't so good at getting their signatures safely on the dotted line. But he did manage to continue his vocal coaching and pay for it in this manner. Then came his second opera star. A "baritone contest" had been arranged by a San Francisco newspaper, and Titta Ruffo was to be the judge. Dana was one of the five candidates who survived the preliminary tests. One by one they sang, and Dana was last. As he finished his final number, Bruno Hahn's "Invictus," Titta Ruffo leaped to his feet and threw an arm around his shoulder. "I congratulate you!" the famous singer told the hopeful one. "You are the winner!" It was an exciting moment, and changed Harold's whole life. He was literally deluged with offers on the strength of Ruffo's glowing praise. He accepted one, a six months' concert tour of the Pacific Coast, and then returned to San Francisco and made his radio debut. The microphone as a vocal medium was still young, and many of Dana's friends advised him strongly against it, telling him he would waste his talent on an "experiment." But he made his choice — and today he is one of the highranking figures in a profession to which more and more operatic and concert artists are turning every year. In 1928, Dana joined the staff of the NBC studios in San Francisco, where he has remained ever since. When he first sang before the microphone, in 1923. he expected to leave it eventually for grand opera. Now, however, he feels that he has worked hard to perfect his art in a medium in which it has virtually grown up. and that he would miss the microphone if he ever left it. "Radio is the most exacting stage upon which any artist can perform," he declares. "It offers a perpetual challenge. Your voice must be kept at its best, and your technique flawless. Tones must be timed to the split-second, and the microphone never softens a mistake or gives a false value. Singing the same roles over and over behind footlight would be dull compared to the work in do in the Matinee along, with all its different parts, acting as well as singing. I like to be where things are happening!" So perhaps Drama, looking around for a young man to pursue, picked the right one! For years Ben Bernie has been trying to obtain one of the rare old genuine Savart violins, with no success. Then the other night, as he turned from the mike after his broadcast, someone placed a violin in his hands. Some of the members of the orchestra had discovered a Savart somewhere and presented it to the "Old Maestro." (Before this goes any farther, for we'll be speaking of the "Old Maestro" often, please remember that he really isn't old — really quite a kid. Should judge about 32.) • Je3se Crawford, NBC poet of the Organ, usually spends three hours in preparation for his 15minute program. • Harry Jackson, whose "Whoa Bill" Club and little pig have endeared him to hundreds of children, is beginning the new year right. He has added several embellishments to his afternoon 5:30 program over KFAC, and is being sponsored by Bullock's. This is the first Still More Chatter Continued from Page 32 time Bullock's has been represented on the air. So, congratulations, Harry — congratulations, Bullock's! • Connie, petite member of the Boswell Sisters, has a hobby — she's a sculptress. For once in their lives Van and Don. NBC's "Two Professors," looked serious when they read a fan mail letter not long ago. It was from the wife of one of their ardent followers, who told them that her husband, who had recently suffered the loss of a limb, had been removed to a hospital and was unable to hear their morning programs as there was no radio in his room. Van and Don lost no time in telegraphing the hospital and having a radio installed. So their sick friends laughs with them again. • Bing has been chosen judge of a beauty contest sponsored by the "Yamacraw," magazine of the Oglethorpe University in At lanta, Ga. But as luck would have it, Bing is so busy that he will have to make his decision from photographs sent to him. That probably suits the wife better, at that. • Talk about church attendance! It is estimated that around 12,000,000 persons listen to the Columbia "Church of the Air," in which every denomination is represented in the morning and afternoon periods. • The other evening two ladies approached Charlie Lung after his program at KFWB. "We've driven forty miles to see you tonight," one of them said. "You see we just had to settle our argument. She maintained there were more than one person acting the parts of your Gang, and I had to bring her 'way up here to prove she was wrong!" RADIO DOINGS Pafi«' Forty-one