What's on the air (Nov 1929-Feb 1931)

Page 4 WHAT'S ON THE AIR ^h<? i^f&r;/ * {loams THURSDAY: clear and cold; the kind of night that makes "Beside an Open Fireplace" the right theme song. Opened the evening's eavesdropping with Amos 'n' Andy— WLW. Never miss 'em. The family wouldn't stand for that anyway. Are these boys still going strong? Might as well ask if the sun's going to show up to-morrow morning, gram from Prince Ali Bendo. and just as many laughs. Andy had a telePlenty of "stops" Any funny men who get giggles out of that are better than just good. The "Nation's Station" followed up with one of these preserved programs (for posterity?) dolled up as an electrical transcription. Don't take to 'em. The ear won't O. K. 1922 tone quality. A simple twist of the wrist and WKRC hooked up with Columbia. Well — Willie and Eugene Howard! Thought there was something familiar about 'em. Pretty amusing, too, if just in spots. Funny, isn't it, how tried and true gags, that go over with a bang in the theatre, topple out of the loud-speaker with a dull, sickening thud sometimes? Compare with Amos 'n' Andy. In their wake came heavy advertising bombardment. Fast dial work to find cover. Gave the old set the gun. Ah, ha! Sounds like a good night to lure 'em in. It ought to be. WSUN inviting all and sundry to spend the evening dancing and eating at a Florida supper club. Sorry. Like to. But couldn't make it, even with Capt. Frank Hawkes. Stayed long enough, though, to hear a mighty good soprano and pianist — not doing dance tunes either. On to WAIU and another embalmed program. Major somebody or other telling how he bumped off a flock of Germans during the war. Maybe it was interesting then. But killing Germans isn't fashionable now, unless they try crossing in front of your bumper. Street-car passing by; kicking up even more " ^ (Jester interference than usual. Heaven is a place where street-cars don't bother radio. Electrical interference, too, just to show the trolley crowd hasn't a monopoly. Back to WLW while the storm subsides. Hotel dance band playing "Japanese Sandman," one of the tunes that made Paul Whiteman famous back in 1920, and still a good one. Slick waltz next, but somebody who should be sticking to his instrument singing the chorus. Interference letting up. Edged along to WBAP, putting out the one and only Rudy. Got to hand it to him for knowing what he does best, but must say a couple of numbers is about enough. Too much of the same thing. Wrong sex, perhaps. About to start cruising when Fort Worth deserted Rudy at the half for a local program. (Thousands of fair hands twirling dials madly?) Replacement turned out to be an orchestra with plenty of accordions doing Italian numbers; different and pleasing. Then a sketch; not so hot, and sponsor ax to grind. No station announcement. Ducked. KWKH selling pecan-trees. Phonograph record, followed by studio visitors talking to folks back home. Great kick for them and the home folks. But what about the rest of us? Through impenetrable forest of howls till WBRC struggled in under a man-sized load of squeal. And what it brought! A long ballyhoo for a bank and few words for the Community Chest. Seems something like that's happened before, though. Ambled along to KDKA in time to hear the last of Rolfe's Lucky Strike program. Rather funny to hear the last of it. Seems like one of his programs is always on the air. Listener demand, they say. Oh, yes? Must be comforting to be as sure about everything as Ed Thorgerson sounds. Remembered Frank Simon's Armco Band on WLW. Hustled back to 700 K. C. and "Stars and Stripes Forever." When better marches are written— But they won't be. "Estrellita" too. More