Variety (November 1924)

VARIETT ItADIO'S NEW ADVERTISiNG STDNT; BUT "ROUND THE SHOPS" A DUD Lots of G>iiunercialism Heard in Air During One viv^ETening-^WHN Claims All of It* $75 Cabarets ^Are Best—Shoe Company Paying—WJZ Plugs Restaurant with Band SWB th« atald WJZ SMina to ' "'iutT« auccumbcd to tb* free ad- ^Turtlalns buff. In th« radio review iTrULur nlffht of some thr^ hours f-KlfVXt before Variety's receiver, the ^4iCBlfled Radio Corporation of ^'America station In heralding the \ Bavarln Ensemble, a string orchea- '^tn, put In a ■'plus" for the Cafe I^Carmrln on Pershtns square (so an- Bounced) that almost rivaled N. T. G.'a tMtld ether plusslns fw the various "radio cabaret accounts" the Lioew station has on its boolcs. I>esplte the derogatory comment on this sort of advertising, it is almost pardonable, all Ui^PCS con- sidered. It stands to reason radio entertainment cannot be dispensed gratis in the manner It is without some sort of recompense . for the broadcasting artists. With WJZ, which Is operated on an educational, non-commerclU li- cense, the Radio Corp. secure* its returns from the sale of radio ap- paratus with the broadcasting sta- tion maintained chiefly as a medium to foster the interest in radio. It Is obrlov that WJZ, which has been opW^tlng these . lany months with- out any actual outlay for talent, must give the artist or artists who doluite his or their service borne "Mink" for their gratU services. ^ The least they can do is to plug the band and Its place of employment. Th«.WHN Method WHN (the liOew station), whicll Is operated by amusement intereats, aeem to bave taken it on itseu to exploit everybody else in the show ^. business. N. T. O. .flatters and puffs ' and praises various cafes and bail- ro9ms. althougK It is a laugh In the Ifcannrr ip which each cabaret or dance hall is lauded as the senith and the ultra-ultr^ In the field. AU for 7fi bucks a week (or more for others, tailors or .InstaJlment houses). At ^^, It's a gi»at break for the places,. The evening started with the tag •nd of Joseph Knecht's pleasant dinner musie direct from the Rose Room of the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria Via WBAV. This superlative con- cert orchestra broadcasts from tAx to 7.S0 nightly. * The end of the Hotel Alamao orchestra's music was also caught, a pleasing planb and violin solo duet of "Rose- Harle." rrom WGBS (Olmbel Brothers' new station). Kat Martin and his Til Say She Is" orchestra were also concluding an hour of dance music. Martin's orchestra dishes out some palatable dance tunes above the ordinary. Thi« band Is a favorite with the radio public and among the contenders in a re- cent daily paper's radio popularity contest. N. T. Q. and Richman Sddle Eakins' orchestra from the Club Richman (cabaret) had Harry Richman announcing and clowning. Rlohman has caught much of the N. T. O. style et radio gaggins, something he denies, but probably explained by his consistent broad- casting last spring from this sta- tion. Richman built quite a fol- lowing through his radiocasting. As head of a club bearing his name. Richman did not forget to men- tion the street address of his cafe. Kon* the less Elkins plays good 'dance nuslc. He evidenced it Fri- day nIghL "Will Tou Remember," among the new songs rendered. Is 'a hit possibility by the bye. Shoe (^n«pany ^lufl Ad The dull polioe alarms over, the Municipal sution, WNTC, hit its •trlde with Florence Steele, con- tralto, rendering a cycle ef songa Vrom WEAF, a frankly "commer- cial'' atatien, a children's story was ^ing recited by Blanche Elizabeth Wade as part of the O. R. Kinney ■hoe Company's contribution to the tianlM'i radio entertainment. The ° Strlag Savarin Ensemble was broad- '' — ■tlnf from WJZ simultaneously. ^' Harry Ash and His Royal Novel- ty Orchestra, from WNTC, spilt up fta program in two parts, plenHlng J, eonaiatentlr. WBAF had the Mosart c^^*iAHm> Quartat, followed by some more standard and dance music by the B. Fischer Astor CoCTee House orchestra. The band did a cycle of southern melodies i(ith dance music topping ofC the evening and con- cluding the WEAF program for the night The band is one of the best radio dance orchestras In the field and has a happy manner of reviving favorite fox trots in medley with the newer offerings. Prinoeton 8fr-Yale 46 From WJZ, the Joint concert of the Tale-Princeton Glee Club, was broadcast In Its entirety direct from Alexander Hall. Princeton* Univer- sity. Princeton monopolized half the program with Tale concluding. The Princeton singers numbered 80 agalaat Tale's *i. Princeton's con- cert orchestra closed the first half of the evening's entertainment WJT had the Academy of Po- litical Seience banquet in the air direct from the Hotel Astor trfim 8:^5 to 10:15. with addressee Ly Thomas W. Lamont. Walter T. I.ay- ton and Roland W. Boyden, as part of the festivities. It is safe to state that-this part of the radio bill was not unanimously tuned In on. WHN resumed with Dan Greg- ory's oreheetra direct from the Crystal Palace ballroom. N. T. O. plugged the fact this was a great hideaway to learn how to hoof properly and among his other nifties, was Identifying the Gregory band as "Z4 punks." It's a corking dance band and explains its acquisition by Victor as a new recording unit. The Tale Banjo Club was picking out the* "American Patrol" and "Stars and Stripes" vU'WJZ. (Misa) Vaughn De Leath, the "original radio girl" made her farewell radio appearance from WNTC that night owing to a resumal et the "I^ugh Clown Laugh" (Belaaco production) tour, of which show Mies I>e Leath (s a riiemt>er. She is one of the first of the radio tutors and evi- denced It anew with her song cycle.. New Radio Ad Stunt • WHN was trying out a new ad- vertising stunt, a tour of the fash- ion shops under Mme. Belle's direc- tion with a number of places rang- ing from 67th street to pop priced 6th avenue mentioned and plugged, including the addresses. This num- ber was a dud and immediately tuned out. Lillian Pearl who sang some pop ditties from WHN ' waa met by N. T. O.'s opening sally. "What Have Tou Got a Wedding Ring on Forr Ben Bemle's Hotel Roosevelt Or- chestra concluded frotat WMTC. Abel. LONG RANGE WAVE Cl«va«and's I^SO-Watt Motion Washington, Nov. It Cleveland gets the flrst l,CDO-watt broadcasting station, announced the Department of Commerce on Friday last The Wlllard Storage Battery C?ompany of that city having applied for and been grarted an Increase from 1,000 to 1,S00 watts. The li- cense Is granted along the lines of th3 recjint. agreement here, namely, should 'the long wave length inter- fere with other stations the license can be revoked at a moment's no- tice by the government Other applications have been r«- cei''ed from San Francisco, New Tork and Elgin, III. Officials of the department expressed the belief that tho now commonly known 500-watt station will give way to the 1,600- watt plane enlimly. The depart- m«.nt does not believe that, though the range of the stations is being lncr<>ased, there will be any inter- ference; they are, however, in this connection, protecting thennselveF with restricting each long range lieense to an experimental one. [t is also seen by the i tB'. als here that soon the number of -broad- ca.4tin9 stations in the country \fiU t>f> cut to possibly two or three, and these widely separated. These same oflKcials believe that the great- est advancemi?nt yet recorded for radio is this long ran^e broadcast- ing. CHICACO SHOW WsdiMstfay, November !•, 1M4> '^'^T^rr V; '.».. Ttmrnm twida tk« tMUto wlda fleaelns la radio tUnfbkm wltkla twa yaara. The owk aaaikat Uat IvpMa ««lte a i«0r«MBtatJo« «( laoorparataA radio apparatua aakara «a4 doalara. laka cheap oil atodca. aoverai; at laaat. «ro kaowa to haT* llatod arbitrarily. Raoaatly oao radio atook waa placed on the curb at |20 a share, although the company'* aaseta are eatlmated at only $t a-share. Another stock In tho radio group la quoted at tlB, but reported havlns aaaets of only St cents per shara. Four men on the Inside of the first- named deal are said to have cleaned up $2(0,000 each. There are. however, son« ra- dio stocks with highly promis- ing prospects. One manufac- turer turning out one-tube seta claims to have orders consum- ing his entire weekly output of SOO receiving sets until the tall of 1»S. SOUTH AFRICAN RAMO^ EARLY SmUGGLES Complaints by Listeners In and Station Capa ToWn. S. A..'Oet'lt. Tho local broadoastlns atatloa haa commenced oi>eratlon with th* 4>astime most popular with racalvliiia seta la btc demaad. •' ^ '£^ Complalnta regularly hata hitik made concerning the i»oor quality at transmission and against the tarn* aerial programs. The llstenere-in blame the sta« tlon, while the broadcaaters return the compliment aa ttie fault beln« due to amateurish handling of tha Chicago, Nov. 18. The third annual Chicago Radio Show opens today in the Coliseum and will contlnne Until Sunday. In the management, James F. Kerr and "Sport" Hermann, the show has a duo out to beat the recent New Tork Radio Show which they also promoted, Radio X>bbers and dealers have the show to themselves until 1 p. m.. when the public is admitted. The new announcers' contest irHI be held tomorro night for the pur- pose of uncovering unknown an- nouncing talent Several of the ne^ middle western broadcasting sta- tions will enjuy the nervlces of the winners. The amateur announcers will be Judged by a special commlt- teo of radlo-audltlon experts, -who will award. 1100 cash to the four best. FRENCH GOVT WANTS RADIO CONTE^Uyp) Alarmed at Market Quo- tations and Political Speeches r ONLY CANADIAN ARTISTS TO USE NEW STATTON Moncton. Can., Nov. It. Only Canadian artists, orchestras and bands will broadcast from what Is considered the most important radio- station yet opened In (pan- ada. This station, known efflclally as CNRA, broadcasting Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p. m., has been opened here by the Canadian National Railways, with W. A. McKee, mu- sical director. The railroad heads plan to estab- lish radio connection with Great Britain as well ax eastern Canada and New England and the eastern states. 3-Tulc Set Results With Much Cost Saving E;[;ponent8 of" three tube receiv- ing sets, equipped with efficient colla, are claiming better results than can be gotten with five and six-tube sets. Increased sensitive- ness aimed for by the increased number of tubes does not appear to enhance selectivity. Under ordinary atmospheric con- ditions It Is claimed distance as far west as Chicago and as far south as Miami may be received via the loud speaker on three tube sets. The cost of such sets ■Is only one- fourth that of the high powered apparatus, besides «i(hlch there Is a saving In electric Juice. The same A and B batteries are used In the three tuber*. Newer Ove-tube sets are being wired for power from electric light socketsr doing away with batteries. (3©od results at-e doubted In the trade, however, because of the hum that accompanies alternating cur- rent, which Is the power usually employed for domestic use. Paris, Nov. 10. It Is estimated there are three radio sets for every 100 homes in France and the government here, concerned at the Increasing popu- larity of news and propaganda dis- tribution by wireless, is taking steps to place all apparatus tmder state control. The subjects broadcasted which alarm the officials are financial quo- tations, market prteea of commodi- ties tending to increase the cost of living, and political speecbee. A special branch of the detective department was created last Sept- ember to handle broadcasting ques- tiona. and it is proposed to place radio Instruments under the control of that division. CONCERtMENANDRADiO In this rush to obtain publicity via radio, concert men have turned their attention to it. The biggest drawback from tha concert angle is that the appear* ance of big singer, musician or art« Ist by way of the air mitlgatoa against business in the hails whea the personal debut is made. Programs lately are offering many concert artists. . ■;■*» Musical Comedy on Mt With Amateurs and Music "The Isle of Sunshine," a musical comedy written by Prof. Tamea FIthlan, of Brown Unlveroity. win be broadcast Nov. 10 firom WORt Gordon Crisp's music will 'be ren« dered by Howard Gee, Beatrice Ter- Bush, James Waddell, Attdrow Jaelc and a chorus ot eight,.. 'The performers are membera of the Forest Hills Dramatic Society. An orchestra of 12, a dlvlalon of tha Foreet Hills Symphony Orchestra* will accompany. Mills on Radio Irving Mills of Jack Mills, 'intu made hia radio debut Saturday night from WHN. Mills sang threa "blues" numbers of his own com^ poaltion and was well received. TO RADIO OLD PLAT "The Parish Priest.' the old Dan- iel Sully play, will b« presented by the WOT Players, sihenectady, Friday night. Plov. 28. A matinee will be given Nov. 25 from Station WGY of the playlet "A Trick of the Tra<le.' , SPECIAL RADIO UCENSE SETS PRECEDENT FOR HOTE BAND Music Body Grants Unusual Permit on Weekly Basis for Yearly Fee—American Society Had Turned Down Other Similar License Applications Previously •«"« Powerful Station In Syracuse Syra'cuse. N. T., Nov. 18. 8j racuse is to open Its first powi 'f'll radio station when WBfL star T' 'rn«iday. " .' •--. - RADIO EXPO. AT MIHNEAPOLIS Minneapolis, ^'(^v. .18. A radio exposition will be held here the last #eiek in 14o\-emb(ir. The show \*m be stage<) In the West Hotel by the Northwest Radio Trades Association. ■< «** >'>'"i'^ ' Chicago,' Nov. 18. The American Society of Com- posers, Authors and Publishers has established a precedent in the casO of the local Congress Hotel and Station KTW. the Westlnghouse Electric Co.'s broadcasting station here. A special license permits the hotel's band to radiocast via KTW seven hours weekly for a perlqd of one year and an annual Ilcenae fee of tl.OOO. The un usualness of this Is that KTW Is an unlicensed radio station and the only one now in Chicago using tax-free numl>ers and being barred frbm performing the copy- righted songs controlled by the A. S. C. A. P. The precedent is further unusual In that the American Society has turned down similar Ilpenses to previoas applicants In New Tork, RUch aA the Rendezvous' cafe, the Roaeland balh-obm, the Mark Strand thea{re,' Cinderella bklhroom and others, wh*' offered to pay special Ihcense fees foi^'their owh broA<l- cAstln; periods throliirfa WJ2, the Ittldrp Coi'poritlon 'ftf 'Atn^rlb*** un-' licensed station in New Tork, and a KTW ally. The reason previously offered by the American Society was an ex- pression of the fear that In tima the burden of defraying the license fees might be shunted onto the re- spective orchestra leaders and not borne by the theatres or cafes or ballrooms or any of the institutions that would be actually benefltlns from the broadcasting. In the ease of the Congress hotel, a high class institution, tha A. S. C. A. P. exercised its direc- tion because of the circumstances. The American Society could In- crease Its Incon(»e considerably from these special dispensatloas to ap- plicants who desired the use of an unlicensed station for a limited number of hours weekly, but is de- sirous rather of licensing the sta- tions direct. In the case of W^Z, the total of the number of applicants In New Tork would probably more than equal the license fee which would r^rmtt the station an unlimited use of the a!.' S.'s catalog,' s6 It Is not a que^ltlon ther^rore ot ceveiiue from