Variety radio directory (1940)

PROFESSIONAL RECORDS— Continued ROBINSON, RAD (Radburn B.). Baritone (the King's Men). Born Bountiful, Utah, Nov. 11, 1909; h. 6 ft.; w. 170; light brown hair, green eyes; e. Polytechnic High School, Los Angeles; m. Hortense Hatch. In 1929 he joined the King's Men, a group formed by three college students to entertain at club and college affairs. They came to the attention of radio officials, and sang for three years on various Hollywood stations. In 1934 the group joined Paul Whiteman in New York, and appeared on several of his broadcast series, and went with him on tour. Other network engagements, as well as films, followed. (R) Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, 1934 (Kraft-Phenix Cheese, NBC Red); Flying Red Horse Tavern, 1935-36 (Soeony-Vacuum, CBS); Paul Whiteman's Musical Varieties, 1936 (JergensWoodbury, NBC Blue); Gulliver the Traveler, 1936 (Plymouth Motors, NBC Red); Magic Key of RCA, 1936 (Radio Corp. of America, NBC Blue); Town Hall Tonight, 1937 (BristolMyers, NBC Red); Royal Desserts Program, 1937-39 (Standard Brands, NBC Red); Fibber McGee & Molly, 1940 (S. C. Johnson, NBC Red); Rudy Vallee Sealtest Program, 1940 (Sealtest, NBC Red). (F) Paramount (Harry Sherman Productions) (f); shorts. (L) 1929-30. (V) Tours with Paul Whiteman and Rudy Vallee. (PR) RCA Victor, Columbia (Vocalion). ROBISON, CARSON. Head of Western musical and dramatic group (Carson Robison & His Buckaroos). Born Chetopa, Kans., Aug. 4, 1890; h. 5 ft. 11 in.; w. 180; light hair, blue eyes; e. grade school; m. Catherine A. Robison; two children. Patricia Anne, 11, and Robert Arnold, 8. Author of 280 songs, including Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie, Barnacle Bill the Sailor (with Frank Luther), My Blue Ridge Mountain Home, etc. Left home at the age of 15 and took odd jobs singing and playing the guitar and banjo. Served with the American forces in 191718, and following the War continued as a musical performer. In Kansas City, in 1932, he appeared on WDAF where Wendall Hall, the "Red-headed Music Maker" heard him and invited him to New York. He arrived on April 24, 1924, and two days later signed a contract to make hillbilly records for the Victor Talking Machine Co. In 1932, he organized the Buckaroos. (R) Eveready Battery Hour, 1924-28 (National Carbon, NBC Red); Dutch Masters Minstrels. 1928-30 (Dutch Masters Cigars, NBC Blue); Carson Robison & His Buckaroos 1932-33, 1937-40 (Barbasol, NBC Red, 1932, NBC Blue, 1933; E. W. Rose & Co., Mutual, 1937-38; Musterole, NBC Blue, 1938-40); Bar X Ranch, 1933-34 (Health Products, NBC Blue, CBS); Bunkhouse Follies, 1935-36 (Hecker Products, CBS); others, including numerous guest appearances on Maxwell House Coffee, Pacific Coast Borax, Coca-Cola and other programs, 4 years on weekly transcriptions for Oxydol and Fairy Soap in Europe. (F) Fox-British, Pathe Educational Films (f), shorts. (V) London music halls and hotels, 1932, '36, '39. (PR) Various companies, since 1924. ROBSON, WILLIAM N. Writer, director. Born Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 8, 1906; son of William N. Robson, publicist for Paramount, M-G-M and other film companies; e. U. of Pittsburgh and Yale. First radio appearance March 4, 1933, via KHJ, Hollywood. (R) Calling All Cars, 193336 (Rio Grande Oil, CBS); as producer: Sears, Then and Now, 1936 (Sears, Roebuck, CBS), Big Town, 1939-40 (Rinso, CBS); Old Gold Don Ameche, 1940 (P. Lorillard, NBC Red); director of various CBS sustaining shows including Columbia Workshop, Americans All, Immigrants All. (PR) Columbia. ROCKWELL, BOB (Robert B.) Actor, juvenile M.C., interviewer. Born San Francisco, Calif., March 3, 1922; h. 6 ft. lVz in.; w. 180; blonde hair, blue eyes; e. Lowell High School, San Francisco. Son of Pauline Rockwell, actress, singer (stage name, Joy Fabian). Entered radio in 1933 broadcasting the Sunday comic section of the San Francisco Chronicle via KGO. (R) I Want a Divorce, 1937 (S & W Fine Foods, NBC Red); Standard School Broadcast, 1938 (Standard Oil, NBC Blue); Hawthorne House, 1930 (Wesson Oil & Snowdrift, NBC Red); also local and Pacific Coast dramatic shows, 1934-40. (L) Lyceum Players, stock; appearances with mother, 1936. (V) Master of Ceremonies of children's shows; appearances with mother, 1938. ROCKWELL, DOCTOR (George L.). Comedian, writer. Born Providence, R. I., March 19, 1889; h. 5 ft. 9 in.; w. 138; dark hair, grey eyes; e. Providence High School, Columbia University Extension; m. and has three children, G. Lincoln, 22, Robert K., 20, and Priscilla, 18. First began appearing in vaudeville about 1910 and once had a magic turn, but later switched to a gag act; is credited with being the first monologist to remain seated (he used a rocking chair) throughout his entire performonce. Has also appeared in musical comedies and from 1928-34 wrote a feature for the McNaught Syndicate. Made his first radio appear 1028