Radio mirror (Nov 1936-Apr 1937)

RADIO MIRROR through his mind a mile a minute. That is his duty. Nowadays a young announcer is content to sit in a booth and dream of a big commercial, lazily announce his sustaining, and then go back to dreaming. "The only time they come out of their dream is when they are off the air. Then they go into their favorite grumble. "If an announcer has a kick coming. and very often he does, the place to take that complaint is to the highest man in the company — that is, the highest he can get to. "When I started in at NBC," Jimmy said with a slow smile, "they called me the 'announcing radical.' I always spoke my mind, and I didn't care to whom I was speaking. I believe that if the announcers today would take their complaints to the higher executives as I did they would be doing a tremendous lot towards elevating the position of the announcer. "Time and time again, I would run into Vice President John Royal, and state my complaint. He would be working at his desk when I came in, and without even looking up he would say: " 'Well, Wallington, what do y o u want?' IT was a case of stating my troubles, and stating them in a hurry. If I stammered, or shifted one foot to the other, as I did at first, Royal would say: " 'Get outside and make up your mind. Find out what you want to say before you get in here — I'm busy.' "I soon learned to come to the point in a rush. If I had a legitimate complaint it was always straightened out for me. I never brought anything to John Royal that did not get fair and square consideration. Very often I was wrong, but when so. I had the satisfaction of being told why." Jimmy paused for a minute, and then, shifting one long leg over the end of the chair, continued: "I've outlined three things that have taken announcers downhill: First, not knowing their jobs; second, the fact that they are not paid enough because they undercut themselves," third, not understanding to whom to take their problems for remedy. "The fourth problem that faces an announcer today comes under one word — self-importance. An announcer must know where his ability leaves off, and where his conceit begins. It is easy to imagine you are more important than you are." I suggested that perhaps the best were those who had won the Diction Award. Jimmy waved a hand scornfully. When a man who has won the Diction Medal twice waves his hand scornfully, there must be a reason. Jimmy explained. "When I won the award I took it home to my wife, and handed it to her. She looked at it, and then she said: ' 'That's pretty nice, isn't it, Jim. That's about as high as they go, isn't it?' " 'Honey,' I told her. 'if you want to keep on eating, if you really love your husband, and want him to keep his job, you had better drop that medal in the "dirty clothes hamper.' " She did. There are two of them there now, and Jimmy Wallington still has his job. "That medal is nice to win, but," and Jimmy snapped his fingers, "it doesn't mean a thing. "There was an award winner a few years ago — a very good friend of mine then — who let it go to his head. He had a copy of the medal engraved on every one of his dinner plates! He is now looking for a job. "None of us can last if we think we are more important than we are. Now, more than any other time, we announcers should realize that we have just started our battle for respect and financial reward. "I would like Radio Mirror to bring these things to every announcer on the air: "Take your work seriously — do the best job you know how. "Bring 'good will' to your public. "Bring your complaints to the right person. "Create respect for announcers by respecting yourself. "Do not undercut a fellow announcer!" Jimmy paused. "What I have said is meant in a constructive sense. I would like to see every announcer who deserves a break get one. "Such men as Graham McNamee, Ted Husing, and Harry Von Zell stand behind me one hundred perecent. I know they will back me up to the last ditch!" With these words, the tall, broad shouldered young man had spoken his piece. As we walked towards the elevator I couldn't get over the fact that here was a radio personality who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. It was almost too much to believe — and I couldn't help but like the guy for his courage. Margaret Lindsay, Warner Bros. Star appearing opposite Errol Flynn and Anita Louise in Warner Bros.Cosmopolitan Picture "Green Light" 79