Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

^ assr Vocal Boy Makes Good! Tommy Harris Is Supposed To Be In Five Or Six Places At Once — And Heaps of Scented Letters Tend To Prove That He's Succeeded Pretty Well by Ralph Clark IT'S JUST too bad, folks, that there isn't enough of Tommy Harris to go around. He' such a likable young chap. Even his listeners, particularly the ladies, if mountains of vari-tinted, sweetly odoriferous letters may be taken as a criterion, have taken him to their hearts. It would suit Tommy, too, if there were about a half dozen more of him. He's always supposed to be in five or six different places at the same time, which almost everyone agrees is a darn hard thing to do. In fact, it's almost an impossibility. But Tommy tries. Which is one of the many reasons why everybody likes him. Aside from being likable, Tommy has talent, spelled with a great big "T." And he has that intangible something that Eleanor Glynn named "It." which, when not applied to the female species, means "personality." All of which makes him one of the most popular of the KFRC, San Francisco, staff artists. Once Tommy got under way, his rise was rapid and phenomenal When he came to KFRC several years ago, he was practically unknown, with only a variated background of vaudeville experience. Within a few months, he had risen to one of the reigning favorites over the Columbia-Don Lee network. And he has held that place since. Good? They've got to be good! (Apologies to the ciggy ad writers.) Tommy's first experience with the public came at the tender age of ten years, when he got up on the big stage at the Granada Theatre in San Francisco and sang comedy songs for Paul Ash. He was a hit and there followed numerous theatrical engagements. But the strain was too much for his young vocal 7 chords. Mother Nature took her toll and young Tommy awoke one morning to discover his voice, so far as singing was concerned, was gone. It was not until six years later that M. N. relented and his voice returned, all freshened up. in excellent spirits and ready for hard work. The hard work started after Tommy won a silver cup for imitating Al Jolson. From the El Capitan Theatre in San Francisco he started on a tour which took him up and down the coast and through Canada. Tommy swears that it wasn't a publicity stunt, but when he reached Port Arthur. Canada, he came down with appendicitis. This occasioned an international exchange of greetings when the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce sent him flowers while he was in the hospital there, and the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce acknowledged them with the pomp and splendor true diplomatic relations calls for. Back in San Francisco again, the young singer organized a small band Tommy and his band that went around the world. That's Tom in front. among some iaas of his age. One night they were playing a benefit for the American Legion when the Robert Dollar publicity agent approached Tommy and asked hi if he and his gang would like to go around the world. "It came so sudden," says Tommy, "and we were so excited that we almost broke down and cried then and there." That is how Tommy Harris' band got the orchestra berth on the President Wilson for a trip around the world. Tommy acted as director and master of ceremonies and his vivid personality won him many friends. Shortlv after his return to the states, Tommy dropped into KFRC one afternoon and asked for a tryout. Harrison Holliway. station managter, heard him and from that day to this, Tommy has been an integral and popular part of the Don Lee Station's artist staff. Tommy is now heard singing regularly during many of KFRC's feature productions ; namely, the Golden State Blue Monday Jamboree, the Happy Go Lucky Hour, the Friday night "Preview," the H-0 Surprise Program on Thursdays and the Tuesday afternoon "Feminine Fancies" hour. Strange as it may seem, Tommy is a dyed-in-the-wool radio fan himself and has his favorite radio stars just like anyone else. Although he has never met him. Tommy's favorite is Donald Novis, who sings over KFI from the Ambassador Grove in Los Angeles. (Who's press agent am I, anyway?) Tommy thinks he's (Novis, not Harris!) the best male singer on the air, but Tommy has a lot of friends who won't agree with him on this subject! (Turn to Page 32) RADIO DOINGS Page Fifteen