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LET'S NOT BE MATTER OF FACT ABOUT RADIO
Rosemary DeGamp helps Dr. Christian (Jean Hersholt) light up as they relax at rehearsal of CBS's serial "Dr. Christian."
By Jean Hersholt
TX7HEN I WAS a youngster in Copenhagen, Denmark, my father and mother appeared in many ploys at the Royal Theater in that city. Under the stage there was a long dark room fitted with benches. Persons from the Blind Institute were welcome to sit in that room during performances. In that way, they could hear the play and follow its progress almost as well as if they were out in front.
That room and its benches has a direct relationship — in my mind — with radio today.
This is my third season with CBS as Dr. Christian, the country doctor of "River's End," and during these three years I have seldom gone on the air without thinking about those Danish blind persons and the similarity of that stage arrangement to radio.
Back in Copenhagen, I often sat underneath the stage with the unfortunates, and I used to think how nice it would be if it were possible for all of the blind persons in the world to be able to hear plays. By
means of radio, not only the blind, but shut-ins of every description can hear the best in entertainment by simply turning a small dial.
I know that I'm not saying something new, something that most of us don't already realize — but I think we have all developed a matter-of-fact attitude about radio. Today we seldom stop to realize what a boon it has been to mankind, and especially to the unfortunates who cannot afford other entertainment.
That's why I'm taking this opportunity to say what I'm saying — even at the risk of being repetitious.
Of course, radio is a two-way proposition. The public should be grateful for radio. But those in the radio industry should also be appreciative of the listening public because it is they who make the high grade of radio •ntertainment in this country possible.
Radio in the United States is on a much higher plane than in almost any other country, simply because such a large proportion of the population supports it. When
I think that millions of persons listen to our production each week over CBS, it never ceases to amaze me.
That is probably more people than all of the stars on Broadway — before radio became popular — would play to during their entire lifetimes. This one fact alone indicates the tremendous scope of radio and should make us, who are working in the industry realize what an extremely serious responsibility we have toward our listeners.
The trend of programs in the past few years indicates tnat radio IS aware of its responsibility. As merely one person in a vast field of entertainment, I know that we of "Dr. Christian" recognize our duty.
It is a far cry today from those blind friends of mine beneath the stage in the Copenhagen theater. Mental sight has been brought to the many instead of the few.
As long as radio here in the United States continues to be a factor of enlightenment, we all have a strong ally working for our personal welfare.
RADIO VARIETIES
DECEMBER
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