Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

Feeling the Need for a Fast-stepping, Wise-cracking, Gloom-dispelling Jamboree to Fill in the Sombre Hours of Sunday Evening, a Smart Sponsor Conceived the Idea of the "Sunday Hi-Jinks," KFWB. By Kay Van Riper HIJINKS— SI NDA\ night audiences in Southern California dialed and dialed and dialed impatiently. Wasn't there some li\ ely program on the air? It was bad enough after a heavy dinner and a drowsy day to listen to just a plain musical program, but when those gol-darned stations started dishing out somber, indigestible classics, something oughta be done! And something was done. A smart sponsor, realizing the crying need for a happy, jolly, and fasttempoed Sunday night frolic, went into a huddle with KFWB. The result was "The Sunday Nite Hi-Jinks," whose amazing success showed that the sponsor was right. The first broadcast drew an audience of two hundred people, tropping curiously to Warner Brothers Sunset studios, Sound Stage Four, to see what the Hi-Jinks had to offer. Ten short weeks later, it was found necessary to knock out the entire north wall of the studio and convert it into an auditorium that would accommodate about eight hundred persons. At first, tickets were obtained onlv by writing to the Franco-American Baking Co.. the sponsor. None was given out at the gate. On the eleventh broadcast. Masters-of-Ceremonies Johnny Murray announced that anyone who wished to see the Hi-Jinks might ask for the entrance chits at their restaurant, where they were urged to "Take her to a restaurant at least once a week." Bv the next noon, four hundred anxious ticketseekers had stormed the restaurants in the vicinity of Los Angeles. By the following Friday, two thousand requests had been made. Whereupon the ones who had faith in a jamboree hour turned to the scoffing skeptics and said, "Oh yeah?" Now, just what is this H-iJinks? It is a radio-vaudeville show lasting an hour, presented on a brightly-lighted stage backed by dark red velvet drapes, and with old man microphone lurking unobstrusively in the foreground. The performers, numbering from 20 to 50 each week, appear in their best bibs and tuckers — meaning black and white conventional evening dress for the men. and for the women a dazzling array of sleek, satin gowns, bouffant fluffv frocks, or daring, sophisticated, black creations. Master of Ceremonies Johnny Murray, who drives the Hi-Jinks at its fast pace, smiles at the hundreds of people, and chats informally to them and to his radio listeners, introducing and waving off each number. Every so often he sings one of those dramatic songs which he does so well, and the audience nearly tears the place apart — and the transmitter!— with their applause. A concert orchestra under the expert direction of genial Carlton Kelsey is always present, but otherwise, the bill changes every Sunday night. There are Julietta Novis, June Purcell. Leah Ray Hubbard. Go"o Delvs. and Sylvia Pick JUNE PURCELL JOHNNIE MURRAY er, representing the luscious-looking and easy-on-the-ears female singers' contingent. The King's Men lend their strong and hearty masculine voices to the ensemble numbers, and Harold Spaulding, Eric Bye, and Lewis Meehan have presented classical arias, which have always drawn a great hand. The Rhythmettes, Billy Taft, Nat Specter, Gordon Smith, Samuel Padraza, Artie Mellinger, George Gramlich, and many others have been featured attractions. Of course, comedy can't be overlooked— as indeed it isn't on the HiJinks! Ken and Sally, formerly headliners in vaudeville, do a straight man and dumb giggly girl act which seems to tickle everybody's funnybone. Red Corcoran with his round amiable face, red hair and silly hair ribbon gets the roar of laughter, and his songs, done to the accompaniment of a plunking banjo, have a flavour all their own! And dear old Aunt Addie! She can't be forgotten! Cliff Arquette dons grease paint, wig and costume every Sundaynight, to step out on the stage and be the little old lady who gossips about present dav conditions and usuallv finCTurn to Page 44) Page Twenty-four RADIO DOINGS