Radio varieties (Sept 1940-June 1941)

From Stage Boards to Bread Boards! From stage boards to bread boards might seem a broad iump, but it has been no feat for versatile Doris Bich II S DORIS MOORE, home economist and commentator, she points out to women listeners that home baking is easy, simple and economical. Her vivid descriptions of piping hot Parker House rolls fresh from the oven, or cinnamon rolls dripping with hot butter and sugar, both made with fast, granular Maca yeast, have started many a housewife running to the kitchen to surprise her husband with the almost-forgotten rolls "like Mother used to make." As Doris Rich, daughter of the founder of the Boston Women's Symphony orchestra, and a veteran musician while still in her teens, she lived in a trunk or stage dressing room lontil she settled down to radio work in Chicago two years ago. Having a permanent home for the first time in her life, she set out to make it charming, expressive of her personality — the sort of home that every woman with a spark of individuality dreams of. Miss Rich found her self-expression simple — an indulgence in antiques. Her transformation to home economist has not been confined to her role on the air. She has become an expert on breadmaking and hostess whose Italian spaghetti and Chicken Tetrazinni, served in her antique copper Russian milk pan, along with Ital ian breadsticks, are famous in radio circles. Inaugurated last spring as a local test-program, "Songs of a Dreamer" has gone notional, with WLS and a series of stations from coast to coast broadcasting the show. Prime purpose of the program is to accelerate the "back to baking" trend in American homes. Gene Baker, baritone, weaves bits of home-spun philosophy into his poetic narrations, roimds out his songs with a "thought for the day." A musical background fitting each performance is provided by Larry Larsen at the organ. Miss Rich's background in drama and music is more than extensive — it occupies a life time. Her father, Henry H, Rich, had her studying piano at seven years of age, and the flute at nine. He was determined that his daughter should become a musician. At 1 5 she was playing with the Rochester Symphony orchestra. Miss Rich recalls that she was 1 1 years old when she earned her first money — six dollars for a twohour performance on the flute, and which she promptly spent for a front-lace corset. This was because a young lady whose figure she admired had told her that she owed her own splendid curves to such a garment. At seven Doris Rich had a role in a benefit play, and was struck <■ iDoris Rich, home economist known as Doris Moore on the ""Northwestern Yeast Company radio show, "Songs of a Dream er," on WLS, Chicago, and other stations, and expert on Maca breadmaking, demonstrates a test that determines whether bread has properly risen. She presses her finger into the dough. If the dough holds a dent without springing back, it is "ready." Miss Rich uses art antique bread proofing box from colonial days for raising her dough. with stage fever. In spite of parental objections she entered some years later the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, determined to become an actress. That she attained her ambition is obvious in a glance at a record o^her roles in the succeeding years. She was Prudence in "Camille," in both the Jane Cowl and Eva LeGallienne productions; Maria in Jane Cowl's "Twelfth Night"; Clytemnestra in "Electro" with Blanche Yurka. She played Ibsen with LeGollienne on Broodway, and on the road. In "The Constant Wife" she appeared with Ethel Borrymore, and in Broadway productions starring Margaret Anglin, Pot O'Brien and Spencer Trocy. Her lost appearance in Chicogo in the legitimate theater was with the Lunts in "The Taming of the Shrew." For ten years, off and on, she had radio ports in such ploys os "Rich Man's Darling," and "Lorenzo Jones," and for 26 weeks she played over the oir on Ethel Barrymore's series, "Great Ploys." Then two years ogo she settled down to radio permanently as Houseboat Hannah, and subsequently was selected to ploy Doris Moore for Northwestern Yeost Company. She has mode o hobby and a home collecting Early English and American Colonial antiques. Her particular prizes, among o wellbolonced collection that hos caught the eye of more than one antiquarion, include an old linen press, used now as o toble — a spice box which hangs on the woll — on English tea table of 1790, complete with locks — a sailor's sea safe with a tiny, but efficient combinotion lock — o cobbler's bench — o Lozy Susan tea toble — a rosewood music stond — and o small but fine China collection of Edward VIII pieces. Her Russian milk pan is just one of a large collection of antique cooking vessels of bross and copper. The only note from Broadway is o miniature theotricol collboord, tucked owoy in on out-of-the-way comer of her oportment, v^here several old press notices are displayed. Among these ore two about Sarah Bernhardt. RADIO VARIETIES — NOVEMBER Page 19