Radio mirror (Nov 1935-Apr 1936)

NEWS WHILE IT IS STILL HOT AND GOSSIP BEFORE ITS. NEWS Davis. Arnall, until recently Buck Rogers in the script of that name, in turn, is succeeded on that program by Matthew Crowley, who originated the role in 1932 and thus preceded Arnall. . . . And, incidentally, Meredith, a big hit this Winter on Broadway in the Maxwell Anderson's drama "Winterset,',' leaves for the RKO lot in Hollywood to make his movie debut. WAYNE KING capitulates to the cinema and signs for a full length feature with an option on three more — if the fans like his first one. . . . Network officials and the New York musicians' union Wide World I BY JAY PETERS , THE news, like the music in the goofy song, goes 'round and around and comes out like this: Certain big business interests, rallying to the Republican banner to wage war on Roosevelt and his New Deal policies, appropriate the biggest sum ever spent in a political campaign to reach the voters via the radio. But the Democrats have a man who doesn't have to worry about the cost of radio time . . . He, of course, is Franklin D. Roosevelt ... As President of the United States he picks his own spots on the air and doesn't have to pay a penny for the privilege! The night he addressed Congress he chose the period from 9 to 10 p. m., thus preventing the coast to coast broadcasts of four commercials on the networks at an estimated loss — to them — of |35,000. Television prepares to round that corner with a suddenness that will startle the country ... An established success in the laboratory, the problem remaining is to decide upon the type of transmission and receiver to employ . . . Several different systems are being experimented with and to bring television successfully into the homes it is necessary to standardize the equipment . . . Realizing that sound-andsight projection involves radical changes in style of entertainment, broadcasting companies, advertising agencies, engineers, artists and others concerned are experimenting, more or less secretly, with the "new art forms" deemed necessary. Fred Allen, steadily climbing in public esteem to the exalted position as the ace comedian of the air, signs a new contract guaranteeing his performances on the kilocycles for three more years . . . Phil Baker, likewise in high favor with funloving listeners, renews his contract for another thirteen-week period and his continuance in the studios until June is assured . . . George Burns and Gracie Allen, returning to Hollywood for more movies, play three weeks of vaudeville en route to the Coast and collect $10,000 per week. . . . Four years ago their stage salary was $1,250 weekly . . . Popularity on the air is the explanation for their big boost in income. W. C. Fields, restored to health and Hollywood again, is willing to do a few broadcasts at $6,000 per . . . And Groucho and Chico Marx say $8,000 weekly will lure them to an air castle again. ... At Edgar A. Guest must have liked his Hollywood stay. Here he is with Valerie Hobson and Binnie Barnes. this writing no sponsors are in sight for either Fields or the mad Marxmen but you never can tell when one will bob up . . . Frank Fay, ballyhooed by Rudy Vallee as the most promising radio comedian for 1936, was being offered to sponsors at a more modest figure and seemed more likely to land when this was typed. Mark Twain is suddenly discovered by NBC as an author and a series of programs involving Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn is projected . . . Lou Holtz plots his return to the airwaves sans his Jewish dialect and enlists the aid of Ken Englund, topnotch scriptist, to design his vehicle for him . . . And George Givot, whose reputation was built on his claim to distinction as the Grik Hambassador, succumbs to an overwhelming ambition to discard his dialect for sophisticated comedy . . . Meanwhile, Harry Einstein, the ex-advertising writer and Eddie Cantor's "Parkyakarkus," finds the Greek dialect pays him handsome dividends and betrays no hankering for Hamlet or any other ham role. Dick Paulin, youthful baritone who both looks and sings like Lawrence Tibbett, reaches Radio Row from the West and hosannas hailing him as the first real voice discovery of 1936 are heard. . . . The Red Davis serial so popular a couple of seasons ago returns as Forever Young, written by the same author, Elaine Sterne Carrington, the novelist, but with a new juvenile lead in place of Burgess Meredith. He's a new lead, yet an old one, for Curtis Arnall was Meredith's predecessor as Red Right, the Ozzie Nelsons were radio's happiest married couple on Harriet's return from Hollywood. got into a huddle over a new contract to become effective March 1. Currently the harmonists on sustaining programs get $100 a week and those on commercials $140. The studios are demanding reductions in both classifications. Meanwhile, certain free lance instrumentalists in demand for their skill, dependability, pinochle-playing, or something, collect from $500 to $800 a week while thousands of their less fortunate brothers are on relief.