Screenland (Apr-Oct 1930)

for October 19 3 3 59 Here's Lou Holtz with his stooge, Shawowsky. What's the matter, Lou, is Shawowsky pulling an old gag? SO YOU want to know all about Lou Holtz. All right, let's dash up to the Columbia Broadcasting studio. There he is — the chap with the cane; the plumpish lad with him is his stooge, Shawowsky. Lou has a complex about that cane — he never appears on the stage or before the microphone without it. Yes, Holtz always carries his props with him even to the studio. When he imitates a Frenchman he invariably wears a beret ; if he impersonates a woman, he dons a sort of "Gay Nineties" chapeau, and throws a feather boa around his shoulders. It puts him in the spirit of the character. Lou's mother sits in on all his broadcasts — she's his most devoted public. Xow let's meet the man in person. Come on. Lou, step up and say a few words : "Hello, my f r-a-a-nds — so glad to be here — no, that's what they say at movie premieres ! Seriously, though, I like my radio work — and I hope you do, too. It's thrilling to know that your voice can be heard all over the country. But I must break down and confess that the microphone awes me — when I think of the millions of people listening in I get the radio jitters ! Every Friday night is like the opening night of a Broadway show!" (This from a man who has been associated with the theatre for seventeen years ! ) It was Lou who discovered the delightful Lyda Roberti. She was an unknown actress with the Publix circuit. Holtz and Jack Yellen were preparing to produce "You Said It" and they were looking for a "different" comedienne. Lyda was different, all right — she could barely speak English, and she had very little stage experience ; but Lou saw the tremendous possibilities in this Polish girl. Even the agency that booked her asked Holtz if he were insane — imagine taking a chance like that on a Broadway show ! But Lou persisted. Even Lyda, herself, wasn't keen on it. She was getting a nice salary from "Pooblicks," as she called it, so why should she go into a show that might turn out to be a flop? However, "You Said It" was a tremendous suc Lou Holtz, star of many Broadway successes , and now one of the chief radio comedians. What? You didn't recognize Mitzi Green? She's slender, pretty — and very ingenueish. But she's still a grand comedienne. Hot Off the Ether Meet your radio favorites as they really are By Evelyn Ballarine cess. And look at Lyda! Lou can pick 'em ! And here's news ! Lou is one comedian who has no yen to play "Hamlet" or go dramatic on us ! He prefers to dish out the laughs — for which, three cheers ! You'll be amazed when you see Mitzi Green on the screen again. She's tall, slender, pretty — and very ingenue-ish ! She's been delighting the radio listeners with her grand imitations. In a tenweek check-up, Mitzi ran "Buck Rogers," the current radio favorite, a close second in the affections of juvenile listeners. Besides her radio work, Mitzi has been going to school. (P. S. She loves it!) And she has been taking singing and dancing lessons. And she's a contract bridge fiend. Tune in on her "Happy Landings" program, and give yourself a treat. Radio Jottings: Sitting in on a Phil Baker broadcast is more fun than a circus. Phil clowns throughout the program. While the announcer makes his dignified commercial announcement, Phil— smart boy — picks up several packages of the product and exhibits them to his studio audience. If the orchestra is playing a particularly inspiring number Baker and Bottle, his stooge, are apt to break out into the wildest dance you ever saw. Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians broadcast every week from the stage of Carnegie Hall before 3.000 spectators ! Don't be too surprised if Rudy Vallee becomes a movie director ! He has a motion picture camera and equipment and wherever he goes, he totes the camera along. Rudy has some grand stuff — theatre rehearsals, street scenes, and some marvelous country scenes that he filmed at his summer home in Maine. Bab)' Rose Marie has been on the stage since she was two years old. and on the radio since she was three. Baby Rose Marie can learn her song in five or ten minutes.