Radio mirror (Nov 1935-Apr 1936)

established himself as a story teller par excellence on the ether, became arrogant in his attitude toward his benefactors and labored under the misapprehension he was the Omnipotent of the Air. This delusion was created in his own mind, more or less, by the success which attended his ballyhoo of books. His "While Rome Burns" of last year and his current "Woollcott Reader" became best sellers; he boosted James Hilton's "Good-Bye, Mr. Chips" to similar glory, and the tradition was built up that all Mr. Woollcott had to do was to spout a few words of honeyed praise and Presto! any book so honored was a commercial success. . However, the record indicates the literateur is not infallible as a press agent. He went into ecstasies extolling the virtues of Evelyn Waugh's "A Handful of Dust," but, perversely enough, Mr. Woollcott' s public refused to respond to his enticements and the volume gathered the dust of its publisher's storehouse rather than the golden dust of the book-stalls. * * * ADVERTISERS spent $86,000,000 to exploit their products on the air in 1935. thus giving to commercial broadcasting its best year by $1 3,000,000. Naturally an industry which is so manifestly growing is attractive to investors and all over the country stock in radio stations is booming. Promoters are busy with projects for more networks and all sorts of schemes are under way to stake out claims in the ether Eldorado. Among the new prospectors is Samuel Insull, former opera patron and aged midWestern utilities magnate whose busiiness empire collapsed, bringing ruin to thousands of small investors. Seeking a financial come-back, Mr. Insull has lined up a dozen or so minor stations in Illinois and Iowa and hopes to link them into a regional chain with more power and prestige. Associated with the veteran operator is none other than Ota Gygi, the former vaudeville fiddler who promoted Ed Wynn into organizing the ill-fated Amalgamated Broadcasting System a few years ago. Wynn lived up to his former stage billing as "The Perfect Fool" by sinking a quarter of a million dollars in the enterprise. * * * I^BC operates a school for announcers. i^ selecting its students from pages and guides employed in the Radio City studios. It is under the supervision of Pat Kelly, chief of the announcerial staff, and under the direct tutelage of Dan Russell . . . Two graduates who have already won their spurs as microphone men are Ellis Andrews, who was a tourist guide for two months, and George Ansbro, who left Manhattan College to become a page boy. * * * IN THE SOCIAL WHIRL The Boswell Sisters, harmony stars of the Columbia Broadcasting system having annexed husbands recently, atten Matthew Crowley is the new Buck Rogers, replacing Curtis Arnall, now that Cream of Wheat sponsors. tion naturally turns to the Pickens Sisters, their rivals for years on the opposing network, to see what they might do under the circumstances. To date, Helen is the only married one of the Pickens, choice specimens from Gaw-gah. She is the wife of Saivatore Curioni, Italian engineer, artist and war ace. There has been a lot of talk about Patti, youngest of the Pickens, and Bob Simmons, one of the most desirable of radio's bachelors. Their matrimonial alliance, if it really is projected, is said to be deferred in deference to the wishes of Ma Pickens, who insists Patti is too young to marry. Gossipers frequently link the name of Jane Pickens with eligible young men, but so far as Radio Row knows no real romance has yet developed in her life. Just to keep the record straight on the Boswells: Martha, the last of the trio to wed, was welded New Year's Day to Major George L. Lloyd, war-time British aviator and now an insurance executive. Helvetia, youngest of them and popularly known as "Vet," married John Paul Jones, young Texas oil man, in July of 1934, but she kept her wedding a secret for over a year. Connie, the crippled sister who broadcasts from a wheel chair, also was secretly married. That occurred in December last but the bride and groom succeeded in keeping it quiet only a few weeks. Connie's husband is her manager, Harold Leedy, whom she married just before he went on an operating table in a hospital. On Leedy's recovery their marriage became public property. Domestic discord breaking about the same time in the menages of Frank Fay, Ernest Truex, Roy Atwell, Colonel Stoopr nagle, Cliff Edwards and Doctor Rockwell, all more or less known to dialists. emphasized the fact that the home life ot a professional funny man isn't necessarily one continuous laugh. Still there are some splendid examples where all is happiness in the homes of radio comics, especially if the spouses are helpmates professionally as well as matrimonially. Reference is to George Burns and Gracie Allen, Fred Allen and Portland Hoffa, Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone, Fibber McGee and Molly (Jim and Marian Jordan), Goodman and Jane Ace, and Tim and Irene Ryan. Add to these Phil Baker and his missus, the former Peggy Cartwright, of the English musical comedy stage, who recently joined her husband's company as a stooge, and you have seven of the most congenial couples you can find anywhere. Speaking about the separation of the Ernest Truexes, did you know that the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Truex — Mary Jane to her friends — was formerly the wife of Michael Durso, the orchestra leader once of Rudy Vallee's band? It is said on the Row that as soon as she gets her divorce from Ernest she will wed for the third time, Duncan McMartin being named as the incoming groom. Doris Dudley, daughter of Bide Dudley, veteran newspaper columnist heard on WOR, and Sidney Kingsley, author of this season's dramatic success, "Dead End," will be Mister and Missus before you read this. Doris was recently divorced from a musician . . . Ella Logan, the canary, and the handsome Ramon Ramos will walk to the altar in March . . . Rosemary Lane, of the lovely Lane The best action shot we ever saw of Lanny Ross. The scene is New York State's swank Lake Placid. I Sisters, is being squired by Bob Allen, of Colonel Hal Kemp's orchestra. The Row is busy picking a bride for Jimmy Wallington, widower once and divorce once in two times at the altar. Jean Rogers is frequently described as his heart interest . . . Barry McKinley and Sally Clarke, the ex-Mrs. Eddie Buzzell, are very, very congenial . . .Eugene Ormandy, conductor1 of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra who has succeeded Dr. Leopold Stokowski with the famous Philadelphia Orchestra, is married to ihe