Mareh 1930

0:: . oq" 0 .d ~- a ~ ".. ''\'

In This Issue: Frank Moulan Stage vs Radio The SO S from Chinatown "Uncle Don" Carney Ca roline Andrews ~ Mme. Galli-Curci The Two Troupers

A nd Other Features RADIO STARS from the Studios of

DONALD MCGILL LUCIEN R UT;\IAN Baritoll e Tell or WOR- WEAF W'EAF- W OR A lIlcricall OPera Co 111 pa ll )'

WALTER I{IESEWETTER 33 West 67th Street N ew York

Telephone: T rafalgar 8063

BROWNIE PEE BLES

J\[c :;::; u-So /)ra 110 Ca ll adiall Natio ll al ADELE VASA Railu'a),s MAR y SILVEIRA Coloratura Sojml/IO \VOR- WEAF L)'ric Coloratura Sopra ll o \\7 ABC-WEAF-WOR AlIlericall O J) cr(/ Co 111 /)(/ 1/), WOR-WABC AlIlericall OJ)('ra COll1jW Il )' America ll OJ)('rll Co 111 jWIl )' © Cl B 637!H; I2A()IU /' FOR q:'HE LlSq:'E 'NER

Volume I Number 4 . March, 1930

CONTENTS

On the Cover: Caroline Andrews ...... By Gaspano Ricca. Alma Kitchell ...... (Photograph) 2 Trying To Be Funny Not As Much Fun as It Might Seem. . . By Frank M01dan 3 Frank Moulan ...... (Photograph) A Gypsy Call ...... By Alice Remsen , Radio Gives Actress Greater Thrill Than Does Stage ...... Georgia Backus 7 Cathedral of Underworld Sends SOS From Chinatown ...... By Allen Haglund 10 Trees Need Not Walk the Earth ...... '.' ...... By David Ross 12 Radio Revives Public's Interest in Old-Time Minstrel Show ...... By Al Bernard 13 Don Carney is "Uncle" to More Than 300,000 Children ...... By DavM Casem 15 "Sponsori tis" .. An011. 16 At Home on the High " Cs"...... (Photograph) 17 Mr. Average Fan Answers Some of His Critics ...... By Average Fan 18 Sound Effects Made to Order for Radio Programs ...... By H erbert Devins 20 In Memoriam: A Tribute to Col. C. T. Davis...... By Bertha Brainerd 23 Personalities-Pert and Pertinent . . . (Photogrtlph) 25 Interest in Grand Opera Fast Waning Says Mme. Galli Curci By Willie Perceval-M011-ger 26 Acting a New Side Line, Oscar Writes Girl Friend Margy . . .. By P. H. W. Dixon 27 The Two Troupers Delve Into Dark Past . By Marcella Shields f5 H elene Hardin 29 Evening Stars Program an Interesting Experiment in Good Will By Donald Witb)'comb 31 Editorials 32 Soprano Modulator, Radio's Latest Wonder. . By I. B. Hansom 33 Static from the Studios...... 34 Listener's Forum 35 Rudy Vallee and Jessica Dragonette Lauded in Prize Letters ...... _ . 36 Ether Etchings 37 Program Notes 39 Lessons in Loveliness...... By Nell Vi nick 41 Radio in the Home . . By M rs. A. M. G01ldiss 42 Milady's Fashions ...... By Marie Blizard 44 The Big Ten-Best Selling Popular Songs of the Month . .. 46

Bruce Gray, Editor Contributing Editors: Allen Haglpnd H. Raymond Preston Mrs. Julian Heath Walter H. Preston Willie Perceval-Monger K. Trenholm Published m onthly p~ RADIO REVUE, I NC:. Si..,< H a rrison St,reet , N ewT Yor k. N . Y ., T elephone: \\' a lker 2677·2678; Upt own Office : R?om 121~, H otel Kmck erbocker, 120 \\ est 4ath Street , N ew "1 ork, N. "1 ., H . R aymond P reston. President; B en ja m in F. R owland, Vlce.Preslde'?t ; \Valter H. Prest on, Secreta ry and Treasurer; George Q. B urkett, Advert ising M a nager. M a nuscripts an d photo. graphs sub!"ltted for pu b li~ a ti ? n must be accompanied by su fficient post age if their r eturn is desir ed. Adver tising rates will be gladly furl1lshed upon applica tIOn. Second Class En~r y P endn g at P os.t Offi,?e. Kew York , X . Y . Copyright, 1930, by R adio Revue, Inc. v Ail rights resen·ed. Pnnted III U. S. A . • Subscription Prices: United States, $ 2; Canada, $ 2.50; Foreign, $ 3; Single Copies, 25c

'. 2 RADIO REVUE

Rouses Early Morning Music Lovers

Alma Kitchell, Who Sings So Sweetly on Sunday Morning ProgramsJ 8 to 9

T HIS charming NBC contra lto delights those who tune in on the NBC fold over a year ago. Early in her career she studied the Sunday SymphQllette with her rich renditions of only the to become a concert pianiste, but experts, upon hearing her beau­ best music. She was born in Superior, Michigan, and first studied tiful voice, urged her to turn to singing, proving that experts are a t the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and, la ter, under the often correct. She is also featured on Dr. Cadman's hour and d irection of her husband, Cha rles Kitchell, in New York. She sings with the National Grand Opera Company, the Salon Singers c ame to radio by way of concert a n d oratorica l work, a nd joined and a number of other programs. MARCH, 1930 3 Trying ·to be FUNNY Not as Much FUN As It Might Seem

I wasn't born funny. It was thrust on me. After a few appearances with the Young Apollo Club, a meeting was called to decide whether I should continue to sing. The upshot was that I was unani­ mously elect~d official come- dian of the group.

If I had my choice of allY role, out of the 242 librettos I am supposed to know, I'd choose that of Jack Point, the HII1'ri1 &- Ewing strollin g jester in Gilbert alld Frank MOlllan Sulli l'an's "T he Y oe111el1 of Comedian, National Ligbt Opera the Guard". That role has Com pany, NBC. everything in it - comedy, philosophy, traged)'.

By FRANK MOULAN

OMETIMES it is fun to be funny. Always it is a that. The girls wore tights. Ah, the good old days! pleasure to be human. But to become reminiscent But, since Peggy Joyce has done her memoirs and we can S about the parts one has played in a lifetime behind probably expect a volume from Helen Mayes's baby al­ the footlights at first thought would seem to be a task not most any week, here goes. to be taken too lightly. First of all let me issue what the lawyers -call a dis­ Reminiscences, somehow, have always been associated in claimer in regard to certain questions asked by young my mind with old age. Why didn't they say "Well, old journalists. I was never starred in a production with timer, do us a bit of history about the stage of your day Jenny Lind. Neither was I that unsung celebrity who . .. the stage that is unknown to us moderns"? I could do carried Mrs. Whiffen on the stage at the tender age of six that, too, for I belong to that rapidly dwindling group of months-Mrs. Whiffen I mean. I may be an old-timer, veterans who saw the original production of "The Black but I never write letters to the papers begging for the re­ Crook". That was when I first wore long trousers. I turn of hoop-skirts. I still regard the abolition of short had to wear them in order to buy a ticket. A great show, skirts as the major catastrophe of 1929, regardless of the 4 RADIO REVUE nse to fame of that well known phrase " more margin." spent on the payroll of Henry Savage. Appearing alter­ nately in New York, Chicago and St. Louis, I sang III a First Contralto, Then Baritone different opera or operetta every week for the entire six years. T he fact that I was born is so obvious that it is scarcely I was very flattered when I was offered the chance to worth mentioning. The fact that I was actually born in sing the role of Figaro in "The Barber of Seville". Of New York may be considered news in some circles-that course, there was a stipulation. I had one week to learn is, if Greenwich Village can be considered New York. the role. It was months later before I learned that all In t hose days I was a contralto, but other available singers had turned down you can't beat biology, so it was in­ the same opportunity because they did evitable that I should develop into a not think a week's study was enough. baritone. This transition took place George Ade wrote "The Sultan of virtually over a week-end, much to the Sulu" and made immortal the line "It astonishment of all my associates. is no time for mirth or laughter, the Before my voice changed, my career cold, dark dawn of the morning after". had already started. When I was ten The line is usually credited to Lord years old I joined the Young Apollo Byron. I was in that show for two Club, a musical group that sang in years and enjoyed the rest, because Mr. t own halls and fire houses in communi­ Ade did not rewrite the production t ies inexpensively distant from New every week. York City. I also sang in choirs, among Some years later I thought I had dis­ them the boys' choir of Trinity chapel. covered an ideal job. Klaw . & Er­ Now is as good a time as any to con­ langer were producing American ver­ f ess that I wasn't born funny. It was sions of British pantomimes. "There", thrust upon me. After a few appear­ thought I, "is my chance to show them ances with the Young Apollo Club, a that a funny voice is not my only meeting was called to decide whether asset". I was mistaken. Pantomime Brother Moulan should continue to proved to be another word that didn't sing. The upshot of the meeting was mean anything, for there were lines to that I was elected, without one dis­ read and songs to sing. senting vote, official comedian of the Then Charles Frohman produced a group. You can' t imagine how funny . series of musical productions and I was that was! kept busy in them. Just when I had With my first whiskers came the re­ decided to retire, someone got the idea alization that life was real and life was of revivals of the old light opera ea rnest and the stage was not all gold. classics and I had to start all over I decided to become a business man. again. The managers figured it would Even in those days the show business. be good advertising to produce an old wasn' t what it had been. I tried the operetta with a member of the original cloak and suit business, but my an­ cast thrown in as a sort of museum­ cestry was against me from the start. piece attractIOn. For a while I w as a first-class bundle In the meantime, both the radio and wrapper, but finally decided there the movies had been invented and de­ wasn't much future in that business. veloped. Roxy demonstrated that I tried this and that with mediocre suc­ Mr. MOlt/ail ill tbe title role of there's nothing like a little opera to Cess and finally awoke one morning " Tbe Sultall of Sulu" . lighten up an otherwise heavy program and discovered that I was back in the originating in Hollywood, and that show business, playing parts for the meant more ~ork. Then ,came the Na­ Calhoun Opera Company. tional Broadcasting Company and its weekly presentation The Calhoun troupe was " on the road" . Its particular of light operas. I tried radio and discovered Utopia. I road covered the then very wild and woolly west between was actually paid to sing roles I had learned . . . and the Chicago and San Francisco. It was in Prescott, Arizona, radio people had no objection to my taking a peek at the that I ·began to f ully apprecia te the comparative security script in case I missed a line. enjoyed by a first-class bundle wrapper. I meditated be­ hind an old iron stove ... God bless that old iron stove Comedy Falls Fail in Radio . . . while a group of iriate A rizo nians shot holes through the scenery and such members of the compan y as care­ Radio, however, does limit a comedian. There's not a lessly wandered into range. chance in the world to get a laugh out of a good comedy f all and, after I tried it a few times, I discovered that it Had Served Apprenticeship was just so much useless effort and was really worrying the radio production m an, who thought I was too old. I left the Calhoun company shortly after t hat expe­ It was during my first year with Roxy that I almost rience. I felt that I had served my apprenticeship, as I achieved fame as a song writer. It happened this way: had done everything from si nging in the chorus to si nging A certain publisher ·cornered me and asked me to write leading roles in heavy operas. T he next six years were a lyric. MARCH, 1930 ;

Franl( Moulan NBC Comedian as Figaro in "The Barber of Seville" 6 RADIO REVUE

"Roxy is a big name", he said. " Almost on a par with One of Year's Best Stories 'mammy' and 'Tennessee'. I want you to do me a lyric for a song about Roxy". ONE of the b~s~, stories ~f the year has received quite a It looked like a big chance to me. I worked hard on lot of publICIty, but IS so unusual that it will bear that lyric. It had everything in it except a reference to further repetition. It concerns Fred Meinholtz, manager June night, moonlight and you. I took it over to the of the radio department of the New York Times. Mr. publisher. He read it carefully. Meinholtz is stationed regularly at "It's a very fine lyric, Mr. his home in Bellaire, L. 1., where he Moulan", he said. "A very fine has a powerful receiving set with lyric. But I'm sorry-we can't which he picks up the mess'ages use it. It's entirely too clean". sent out by Commander Richard I really should say something Byrd's South Pole Expedition in about the current brand of 'musical Li ttle America. comedies as compared with the It happened some time ago that good old days. But I haven't had F. T. Birchall, acting managing t ime to see one in two years, so editor of the Times, wanted to get what's the use? Folks are paying in touch with Mr. Meinholtz, but $7.70 to see them. They must be could not do so because Mr. Mein­ good holtz's home telephone was being Someone suggested that I men­ used by some other member of the tion the part I'd rather play than family. Mr. Meinholtz was busy any other. Out of the 242 libret­ receiving a story from the South tos I am supposed to know-if you Pole. don't believe I do, Come around With characteristic newspaper some day and we'll play a game enterprise, Mr. ' Birchall, who was called 'libretto' that I invented­ extremely anxious to talk to Mr. it's hard to pick the best. How­ Meinholtz, conceived the idea of ever, if I had to playa benefit and getting in touch with him by way had my choice of any role, the one of the South Pole. He issued the Mr. Moulan as Gaspard in rrThe Chimes of I'd gladly play, because I like it, is necessary orders and a message was Nor11landy" that of Jack Point, the strolling sent to Little America. Inside of a jester in the Gilbert and Sullivan few minutes Mr. Meinholtz was " The Y oemen of the Guard". That role has everything in surprised to get the following message, which broke in on it-comedy, philosophy, tragedy. It doesn't depend on its the running story he was receiving: "Your office is trying funny lines for its appeal, and if you don't think a part to get you on the 'phone. Please hang up the receiver." like that is a relief to a comedian, just try being funny for The remarkable thing is that this message went 18,000 thirty consecutive years. miles to the South Pole and back in less than five minutes.

A GyPSY CALL

(Inspired by t he A . and P. GYPsies 0 11 \Y' EAF) By ALlCE REMSEN

o cO l1l e with 11Ie aud 111)' carat/au, My waudering abode; A ud leave the stones of the city Fo r the 11Ire of au opm road; For the ruddy glow of a cam I) fire That shiues thro ll gh the scented dltsk, Bidding YOll live a roving life In jJlace of the worn-ollt hilS!?. Of hide -boulld, grim co u ueu tioll , That stifles the so ltl withill And Slllothers the hol)e of freedom With the blare of a cit y's din. A cloud of dust behind yow, Bef ore you an unk1101IJll land, T wo la ughing eyes beside you, And around you a gypsy band. a come w ith 111 e and my caravan My w andering abode, A nd leave the stones of the city Fo r the lure of an open road. MARCH, 1930 7 Radio Gives Actress THRILL Than Does Stage

In Broadcasting, your Audience is the En­ tire Coul1try and each Listener is Actually as Close to You as is the Little Microphol1e into which you speak. It's more intimate, more thrilling than the stage

In the Theatre, you Step on the Stage and Face your Audience. If they like you, they let y01t know about it Slrin and, if they don't Georgia Backus like you, well there's no d01/bt about that either

By GEORGIA BACKUS

Editor's Note-Miss Backus is the leading OU want a story about me? Oh, but that's not fair. actress in Arabesque, the Henry and George I'm supposed to write about other people. That's program, From Dusty Pages, Romantic Alt­ Y why I'm with the Columbia Broadcasting System. cestors and many Philco and Graybar pro­ You want to know whether I like the stage, movies or grams, in addition to many special broadcasts radio best? Well, I'm with radio. Isn't that the best In the directing field the Women's A via­ indication? tion Hour and the Civic Repertory Theatre What parts have I played? Say, listen, why not let me presentations come under her guidance. tell you about some of the programs that we have on. the With Don Clark, she writes and directs air? That's much more interesting. For instance ... Front Dusty Pages and Romantic Ancestors. Yes, I have several hobbies. I'm crazy about dogs and And all by herself ( as if she had nothing else to do) Miss Backus does the continuity horses, I love to swim, and trout fishing is right up my for Ward's Tip-Top Program, lit a Russialt stream. I adore traveling. I'm a sort of vagabond, I Village, Al'ozmd the Samovar, Gypsy Camp, suppose that's why I sign my poems with the name Aztecs, French Trio and timely script acts. r "Gypsy". But I'm most interested in radio and the people 8 RADIO REVUE in it. like arrangement, and each of you has heard it develop Yes, I started on the stage. My family were in the into the interesting thing it now is. Where it will go theatre so I came by it naturally. It isn't particularly from here no one ~nows, but that will be interesting, too. interesting to know that I've played stock in Columbus, I find radio particularly fascinating because of the peo­ ohio, my home town, and in Schenectady and Brooklyn, ple connected with it. I don't mean only the people be- N. Y.; Grand Rapids hind the microphones, but the audiences at the and Lansing, Mich.; other end of the wireless. In the theatre you Baltimore; Skowhegan, step on the stage and face your audience, Me., and . where else. which wants to be entertained. If they like I've done · as many as you, they let you know it and, if they don't eight shows a week, in­ like you-well, there's no doubt about that cluding S h a kespeare either. and Uncle Tom's Cab- But in radio, your audience can't tell you at In. the time whether they like your program or I've carried scenery not. It's only when you get their letters that from one station to you find out what they think of you and your another during a stage program. But, if you think they don't let hands' strike. I've you know whether they like you or not, then slept all night, or as you should read some of the letters. much of it as possi ble, After you get over the first strained feel­ in a .cold, dirty " de­ ing of talking into a little black object, called pot" when train con­ a microphone, you begin to get a bigger thrill nections didn't con­ than on the stage, for yo ~ realize that your nect. I ' v e jumped audience is the entire ·country and that each into a part on a half one is as dose to you as the little black object hour's notice, at the into which you're talking. It's more intimate. illness of the regular It's more thrilling. actor. I've played with temperament a I st ars, Arabesque Wins Acclaim and liked it; I've play­ ed in a tent show, and A year ago, Yolande Langworthy came to liked it; I've played on several of us with an idea for a program com­ Broadway, and liked it; bining music and drama. This program was but now I'm in radio called Arabesque, and so we got together and -and, well~I love it. Miss Backus, with Frallk K1light , ill a put it: on our local station, only one station for When I was in the scelle from tt Arabesque" that first show. Due to the beauty and in- theatre, I found fate spiration of Miss Langworthy, the author, and sticking a pen in my hand, telling me -to write. I pushed the art of David Ross, Reyonalds Evans and Frank Knight, the pen away, determined to be an actress, until suddenly this program has come to be one of the outstanding hours there appeared out of the st at ic- radio. I gave in, and on the air. Now it is on nearly every station on the Co­ settled down to write about people that I knew, about lumbia chain. That gives a fairly good idea of the re­ hoboing through the mountains of West Virginia and action of the radio audience. Kentucky, about job hunting on Speaking of several of the Broadway, about Hollywood and the people in Arabesque, brings up movies, about almost anything, in something about which I want fact. And then, a perverse fate put to talk. I'm going to give parts in front of me, and said "Now away a few of the family se­ act". crets of Columbia. David Then, when I am all set to act Ross, in addition to having a other parts and write about other peo­ voice of unusual beauty, is a ple, you ask me to write about me, so writer of no small note. His here goes. poems contain the same beauti­ ful rhythm and colorful quality Where Is Radio Going? that you have heard in his read­ ings. Life has always been very interest­ Incidentally, Frank Knight is ing for me-no, that's no good. one of the finest actors on the That's no way to start a talk. I air today. I ought to know, I know-I'll start with the time, a little play with him in Arabesque. over a year ago, when I was taken The music of A rabesque is into the Columbia Broadcasting Sys­ furnished by Emery Deutsch tem. and his musicians. I have been Each of you has watched, or heard, especially interes ted in this rather, radio emerging from its first Gypsy group, for when Emery squeaky noises, issuing from a box- As She AjJPears ill the Nit Wit HOllr first came to Columbia wi th an MARCH, 1930 9 idea for a Gypsy camp program, it was turned over to me, recognize yourself. perhaps because of my vagabond tendencies. We have And some day I'm going to write the story of C olum­ followed the Gypsies all over the world through music. bia, if you'd like to hear it. The story of each one and When Emery tucks his violin up under his chin and starts how he came to be interested in radio, the singers, the an­ caressing it,-well, you're sitting beside the camp fire nouncers, the musicians, the operators, the directors, watching the stars overhead through the trees the production men, of a forest of melody. Goodness, that sounds the hostesses who greet like a continuity writer, doesn't it? you when you come to That's what I am, though, a continuity see the studio and make w riter. Ask Don Clark, he;s the director of you feel that you are continuity and he's a good judge. Doesn't he always welcome at Co­ let me work with him on some of our drama­ lumbia. tiza tions ? You've probably heard some of our sketches, the dramatizations of King Arthur Likes Comedy and and the knights of the Round Table; the series Tragedy of legends taken from all the stories of the world, which w e've called Fr011t Dust y Pages ; I could take up more and some of the special script acts that are of your time, but­ sent out over the air. Incidentally, he's a what's that? Do I like young man from whom more will be heard tragedy or comedy some day, and I don't mean only when he's best? Well, I play taking the air. There is a charm in his w rit­ Myra in Arabesque and ing that is unusual, but you doubtless know that 's tragedy; anQ I that. play Aphrodite Godiva in Brad Brow n's N it Staff Writes Musical Comedy Wits, and that 's com­ edy, and I like each In fact, I think there's something unusu al one. Somehow I h ave about everyone at Columbia, from the people a feeling that people who are heard over the ether waves to the boys like to laugh, but that in the control room who send out the pro­ they also like to cry, grams. Some of these boys, in addition to so I guess a little of being versed in the technical end of the busi­ both is the bes t w ay. ness, compose poetry. Some write music and Scene fro111 a 1110~ ' ie in which Somet im es I'm sure I'm some play various musical instruments. In Miss Backus appeared a comedian, but then, fact, several weeks ago, I put on a musical when I think a pro­ comedy which was written entirely by people of the staff. gram hasn't gotten over- you should see how tragic I can Some of the selections were composed by one of the girls be. in the stenographic department, and some by the artists. T here are a lot more people about whom I want to tell There's no need to tell you of the ability of such people you ; for instance: T ed Husing, t he best sports announcer as Channon Collinge, Freddie Rich, Claude MacA rthur, in the world. H e can tell you about the dullest game in the Minnie Blauman or those who are already known to you, world and make you think it's t he whole world series I'm just telling you a bit about and the championship basketball and some of the folks who aren't football games rolled into one; Don heard over the air, but who are Ball, the announcer, who m akes a none the less important. ukulele sorry it didn' t meet him be­ And then there are the 'ac­ fore it went to H awaii ; D ale Wim­ tors in our dramatic sketches. brow who sings, plays, dances and Each one is capable and inter­ writes; D ave Elman , the writer, who esting to work with. Each one can fi nd more interesting things on has a different way of getting Broadway to write about than even into a part, as we say, and it ~ s Broadway knows are there; Jan fascinating to study the indi­ Schimek , who knows all about every­ vidual methods and know how thing in the encyclopedia and, if he to work with the various people. doesn 't , he has to find out, because That brings me to the way in he's our research m an; the boys in the which a dramatic sketch is done. publicity department who supply you Yes, that's my business, and I with information about the people in love it. That's why I love peo­ whom you are interested, but who ple, because each person that I never write about themselves. Now, meet gives me a different story there's an idea. I know you'd like to which I will sometime write. hear about some of them one of these Some day you may find your­ days. selves or your letters in a play With so many people here, all of or a story, and maybe you'll R eady for a horseback ride (Contiuued on page 41) 10 RADIO REVUE Cathedral of the Underworld Sounds SOS -from CHINATOWN

By ALLEN HAGLUND

York. The walls, once hung with Chinese tapestry and tinsel, somehow retain a part of their Oriental atmos­ phere, despi te the fact that passages of Scripture and re­ ligious slogans are plastered over the white paint that covers the scent-soaked walls. Grooves have been worn " Bisbop" T0111 Noo1lan in Action in the benches by long years of usage. Before it was leased to the Rescue Society, the building was one of the most notorious gambling joints in China­ town. In the basement, which Tom Noonan regally refers to as the Blue and Gold Room, the Society serves its coffee OWN in dirty Doyers Street, in the heart of the and meals to the destitute hordes that seek help; this D Chinatown of New York, every Sunday afternoon room was once a miserable opium den, run by "Bridgie" Tom Noonan sounds ~ an SOS for the sinking Webber, who, with "Bald Jack" Rose, turned State's evi­ souls of the underworld. As if to a ship in distress, the dence against Lieutenant Becker and the four gunmen radio brings almost instant response, a~d no more potent who died in the electric chair for the murder of the proof of the power of broadcasting can be found than in gambler, Rosenthal. the help his Res.cue Society receives from radio listeners in the great work it is doing for the Bowery bums and the Cannot Accommodate Crowds city's unfortunates. Almost everyone, it seems, has heard the program that Every Sunday afternoon finds the upper room filled, the good "Bishop", as the hobos call him, presents over mostly with those who have come from all over the city the air each week. Sta- to see Tom Noonan make tions WMCA, WCAM, his radio appeal. Some WDRC, WDEL and nine hundred crowd into WOKO broadcast his the Mission at three-thirty message, so that it is heard each Sunday, but three over the whole eastern thousand to four thousand coast, and letters received would attend if space from the far West and would permit. At other even from foreign coun­ times during the week, the tries indicate that, as the Mission is open as a haven "Bishop" says in his cheer­ of welcome and rest for ful drawl, "the whole the grim army of tattered, world is listening in". torn and bruised. The Chinatown Mission Over the entrance IS a operates in what was for sign: "Stop! If you many years an old Chinese haven't a friend in the theatre at 5 and 7 Doyers world you can find one Street. It is a quaint and here". Every evening at spooky relic of old New In tbe Heart of Cbinatown in New York City ten o'clock a service is. MARCH, 1930 11

held, and the ragged outcasts push their way over Tom's At the age of seventeen he became an inmate of Sing hospitable doorstep. Hymns are sung, and good cheer is Sing, charged with burglary. The time he spent there was dispensed, but the "Bishop" makes it a point not to cram passed in profitable meditation. A clever Irish lad, he religion down their throats. Young and old, white and heeded the advice of a well-wisher. The work he is doing black, all creeds and all nationalities are treated alike, and now is, as he himself says, "an expression of gratitude In it is utterly true that those who seek help and ,consola­ practical form for what was done for me years ago". tion at the "Bishop's" door never encounter the stiff pat­ ronage usually met with at the hands of organized Tom Is a Friend to All benevolence. He preaches the gospel of Christ only to those who are willing to he;r. Tom is a hale-fellow-well-met, just as cheerful and At the end of the service, the bread line forms. Each friendly with every slinking figure that goes by as he is man is doled out his share-and no questions asked. For before the microphone, and this pleasant and powerful many, jobs are found, others get clothing, some are sent personality has given him and his Chinatown Mission the to hospitals, and Tom can furnish actual proof that a success that both now enjoy. His penchant for the harm­ great number-an amazing number-have been restored less wise-crack, the heart-rending tale, the appropriate to the right path. adjective and the dramatic thrust has made his Sunday The Rescue Society, Inc., was founded some twenty-six radio appeal the very heart of the Rescue Society's organi­ years ago. Chinatown was a dive in those days. It was a zation. scene of killings, This 1 s the thefts and drug third year they addiction, and in­ have been on the c red i b I e vice air. Broadcasting flourished like the the service was prover b i a I bay Tom Noonan's tree. It was then idea; he k new t hat a small he could please group of earnest the radio audience people descended and achieve re­ into the district sults by putting with the avowed on a program of in te n t ion 0 f real human inter­ cleaning this sink est that was still of iniquity. religious 1 nit s form. Moves to Larger It takes money Quarters to put over the great work he is The pro posi­ SOllls ill Pawll-Tbe Famolls Bread Line doing, and it is tion started as his t r e mendous one of personal work, but soon the organization took shape. popularity on the air that is bringing in sufficient funds It first leased a room that had been used as an opium joint to carryon. Most of the Society's receipts are donated by in 15 Doyers Street, and in several years expanded and radio listeners who, hearing his appeal over the air, send took in 17 Doyers Street. But its growth was so rapid in their contributions. At least half of the $60,000 taken that it soon became necessary to seek still larger quarters, in by the Society last year was received in this manner, and the present location at 5 and 7 was leased for a long but it is probably true that as much more came in as an period of years. indirect result of the great popularity he has achieved Eleven years after its formation, just a quarter of a cen­ through his broadcasting. tury ago, Tom Noonan joined the organization and has The power of his radio appeal is amazing. Tom utters been working diligently and with great effect ever since. a plea for assistance from his radio audience and, within He is now its secretary and superintendent. five minutes, he is in position to announce over the air Tom is no spring chicken, but he is as spry and nimble that this appeal has been answered. He receives, on an as any radio listener could picture him; long and lean, average, eleven hundred letters a week, many of them immaculately dressed, he has a tremendous supply of vital­ pleading for assistance, others giving assistance. ity. He himself is a product of the miserable surround­ ings in which he works. He was born in North Second Fills Needs of Unfortunates Street in the Williams burgh section of Brooklyn. He has known the poverty and degradation of the Bowery dis­ Only last month an old lady in New Jersey wrote him trict ever since infancy. He never knew his mother and to say that she had broken her ear-trumpet and could no has only a dim recollection of his father. All he can recall longer hear his program. Within a few moments he was of his early days are the squalor and hard knocks he ex­ able to announce that an ear-trumpet had been donated perienced; with that flare for fine-sounding phrases, Tom by a listener in Poughkeepsie. In this way last year, he says of himself he was "suckled on the sour milk of the was able to furnish to the needy twenty-one wheelchairs, world that lives within the shadow of the law". The ten loudspeakers, one express wagon, three Persian cats, as gutters were his home, and anything he could purloin was many canaries, a score of crutches and artificial limbs, his food. several tricycles, one bicycle, a cuckoo clock and a parrot, 12 RADIO REVUE among other things. often announced over the air the receipt of a message

He has also been able to locate mlssIllg persons III this saying that a new-born baby had just been named "Tom way and to .conduct a sort of matrimonial bureau. Once Noonan". a poor farmer in Long Island telephoned him that the There are no more engaging broadcasts than the China­ wind had blown down his barn door, and the "Bishop" town Mission, the "Cathedral of the Underworld", as he was able to announce on calls it. There is nothing that same Sunday after­ else like it on the air. Tom noon that the barn door has a fine dramatic in­ would be replaced by an­ stinct and he knows that, other as a gift of a more if he is to carryon his fortunate and altruistic good work, he must make listener-in. his hour and a half on the If any firemen, police­ air an entertaining one. men 0 .( street cleaners He often gets well-known need and deserve a raise, artists to assist him. Van the good "Bishop" be­ and Schenck have done comes their most enthusi­ their act for him, and astic spokesman. A few Nora Bayes, that popular weeks ago he made a plea comedienne of better days, for the better treatment sang her last song on his of janitors, and the jani­ platform. Each Sunday tors rose in a body and he presents one of his con­ thanked him for his help. verts, and some of the It was oniy a month or most amazing tales of two ago that he received ruin, romance and re­ a request, through the demption are unfolded. chaplain at Sing Sing, There is always a back­ from one of the inmates T be R escue Society Mis siol1 011 Doyel's Street ground of good music of the Death House that furnished by the Hackel­ two songs be sung. One was an Episcopal hymn, the other Berge Trio and the Aida Brass Quartet. Recently Tom a ballad "Somewhere a Voice is Calling". The condemned W'alsh, brother of the old White Sox pitcher, has been a man had been given the privilege to listen in on the Sun­ most acceptable soloist. day afternoon program before he died. Tom complied Tom Noonan blends together the various elements of with the request and received a wire of thanks from the mirth, music, religion, fine-sounding phrases and human prisoner. kindness and shoots the product through the air. And he The ladies make a big hero of Tom Noonan. He is a is pretty nearly right when he says "The whole world is great jollier, and the fair se~ enjoy his banter. He has listening in".

TREES"NEED NOT WALK THE EARTH By DAVID ROSS CBS A llnouncer Trees need not walk the earth For beauty or for bread; Beauty will ccme to them where they stand. Here in these quiet groves Is no pride of ancestry: A bircb may wear no less tbe morning than an oak; H ere are no heirlooms save those of loveliness In which each three is kingly in its beritage of grace; Here is but beauty's wisdom, I n which all trees are wise. Trees need not walk the earth For beauty or for bread, Beauty will come to them I n the sunlight In the rainbOUJ In the lilac-haunted rain, And bread will come to them as beauty came: In the sunlight In tbe rainbow In tbe rain. MARCH, 1930 13 Radio Revives Public's Interest • in Old-Time Minstrel Show

Tbe Millstrels ill Actioll. III tbe foregroulld: Harold Sanford, conductor. III tile ring, le ft to rigbt: Paul "Tambo" Dumont, end man; Steele Jamison, tellor; Harold Bra ncb, tenor; William Sbelley, illterlocutor; Harry DOllagby, bass; Darl Betl:mzalllz, baritone; Ai "Bones" BeTlla rd, ell d man. Left rear: Carsoll R obison. Rigllt rear: Curt Peterson, announcer .

By AL BERNARD

ANY things have happened since Dewey fought in the Dutch Masters Minstrels, the first radio minstrel Spain back in 1898. We have seen the advent of show to be broadcast weekly over the NBC chain. M the movies, the radio and the talkies. Their in­ " Lasses" White, one of t he most famous of them all, re­ vasion of the amusement field gradually crowded out the cently was escorted through the N BC studios. He was old time professional minstrel show. Nationally known keenly interested and it is likely that he will soon be a artists, like Primrose and West, Dockstader, Fields, Havi­ radio recruit. land and O'Brien, were shunted to the sidelines and soon Nowhere was there a group of performers more de­ forgotten. Once they passed out of the picture, they had voted to their medium than were the old minstrel players. no successors. Minstrel shows of today are confined mostly Year after year Fields and Neal O'Brien took their shows to amateur performers of local entertainment. But now from coast to coast. Gradually they lost their hold on the radio has earned the eternal gratitude of the old minstrel public. Finally they died. Sugar Foot, the famous end troupers by reviving their forte from a certain grave and man, died of a broken heart. Others dejectedly went into winning for it public popularity that it never had in its one-act vaudeville minstrels, a poor substitute for the real most glamorous days. thing. A few turned to radio, then in its very first days, Many of the old minstrel stars are now working in front believing that it could restore their medium to public of the microphones since one by one the traveling minstrel favor again. I was one of these. shows gave up the- ghost in the _face of empty. houses ,and I find that- adapting the__ minstrel show for radio has public indifference. Paul Dumont and I are the end men strengthened it. I believe the chief cause of the final 14 RADIO REVUE demise of the minstrels on the stage was their great length. to both young and old, preserving at the same time the Three hours of the same sort of entertainment proved too atmosphere of the old-time minstrel show. Mr. Dumont, long. It was all .right while there was no competition. who is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., came to radio after a But, once the movies and the girlie-girlie shows came along, varied Career as stenographer, secretary, salesman, sales it was just a matter of time before the minstrels died. manager, professional singer and community song leader. The radio minstrels compress the best of the old stage He served with several stations before joining the NBC shows and discard the things that are not so good. You ranks. have a few good ballads by the tenor with chorus, a few wise-cracks by ,the end men and a few comic songs. Add Difficult to Find Old Songs a rag or two by the band, and you have a good show. I've trouped with the best of 'em and there's nothing My specialty is singing "coon" songs'that are at least 21 in the life. But just the same, I'd like to go out with a years old. That's why I do ditties like Bill Bailey, Ain't show again. You have no idea the pleasure there is in Dat a Shame and I Guess I'll Have To Telegraph My putting on one of those long coats, a silk hat, and parad­ Baby. Many times I have great difficulty in finding the ing around through the streets behind a band. songs I want for future programs. Sometimes a par­ And there's a lot of fun. The people always liked us ticular song is out of print. On other occasions I manage so well they sometimes took part in the show. Once I to locate one after hunting all over the city for a week. played a little town in Mississippi where an old farmer Several times, when I had about decided to give up decided I wasn't blacked up right and he kept telling me looking for a certain song, somebody sent me an old faded about it. Right through the show copy with a request that I sing it he sat in the fourth row, talking on one of the programs. There about my make-up. He inter­ were a few other cases when the rupted, but we all had a lot of fun. only way I could get certain songs Sometimes it's tough, just as bad was to have photostat prints made as it can be. It's bad in the win­ of the copyright copies held at the ter when you have nothing but Library of Congress in Washing­ cold water to wash the burnt cork ton, D. C. The ballad singers and off your face. Many times I have the quartet also experience diffi­ come to my dressing room and culties of a similar nature. found my bucket of water frozen. The fact that we confine our­ I had to take a hammer, break the selves to old time songs is, I believe, ice and then wash off the cork. It one reason why we can present a was pretty bad, but you have no first class show. We select noth­ idea how good I felt when I was ing but the hits of the past and, if through. N o, sir! There's noth­ they took the public's fancy in the ing as refreshing as ice cold water old days, the chances are that III zero weather. they'll repeat today. They have been tried and found worthy. One Public Likes Clean might make up a minstrel show En tertainmen t with a dozen present-day numbers and I do not believe it would please But, to get back to our story, 25 per cent of the radio audience. the following built up by the A l B('rnard and Paul Dumont, End Mell We work harder at rehearsals Dutch Masters Minstrels proves than we do at the show. But the again that the public welcomes any form of clean enter­ actual broadcasting is easier, because we have in Harold tainment that possesses real merit. Up to the present it Sanford, the musical director, a man who will not stop is safe to say that our minstrel show has been heard and rehearsing until every member knows his part perfectly. enjoyed by more people throughout the country than any So we have found that the quickest way to get through other minstrel show that ever appeared before the public. our rehearsals is to settle down to :business from the outset The proof of this is in the thousands of letters that have and learn what is assigned to us. Then again, we don't been received from radio fans in all parts of the country. want any slips to mar our broadcast, because we usually Our Dutch Masters' Minstrel group is really a minstrel have an audience at every program of 50 to 100 guests, stock company. The members must rehearse and present in addition to our vast unseen audience. a new show every week. But that is all part of a show­ man's life. One of the best features of our radio show is All Artists of Reputation that it has revived interest in first-class minstrel shows. Old timers get a real thrill out of hearing the old-time Every member of our company is a professional artist songs. of reputation. Harold Sanford, our' musical director, The Dutch Masters unit is the first to stay on the air formerly was first violinist, conductor and manager of for an entire year and the first to build up a national Victor Herbert's orchestras. A native of Northampton, reputation. Contracts have been signed for 1930 and the Mass., he is a direct descendant of the William Cullen same group will be heard on W]Z every Saturday evening Bryant family. He has played with the New York Phil­ at 9:30. harmonic an'd Metropolitan Opera House Orchestras. In Paul Dumont, who arranges the programs, is a veteran recent years he has figured prominently in NBC programs. trouper. He endeavors to present shows that will appeal (Continued all page 45) MARCH, 1930 15

• DONCARNEY 1S to More Than 300,000 Children

By DAVID CASEM

ROM a Michigan apple cart to a Packard built to his own specifications is a jump that very few F radio entertainers negotiate. And it wasn't an easy one for Don Carney, who is Mayor Luke Higgins DOll Camey in WaR'S Main Street Sketches every Tuesday night and the same station's "Uncle Don" every other night, excepting Saturday. Mr. Carney is an "Uncle" to more than 300,000 children who belong to his club. All of them had to per­ lives in the Bronx. A year ago she fell and cut her elbow form a good deed in order to qualify for membership. on a piece of glass. The arm became badly infected and Very often he is the court of last resort for parents an operation was necessary to prevent amputation. The who are at their wit's ends to ,c orrect faults in their off­ result of the operation was such as to leave the little girl's spring. The shock of hearing their names over the air is arm stiff. The surgeon said she would regain the use of it usually very efficacious. Carney, however, is very careful if she would bend it constantly. not to hurt the youngsters' pride and his "bawling out" Every time it was bent, however, she almost fainted is done by means of innuendo and parallels. from excruciating pain. The arm became stiffer. Finally It isn't unus'ual for him to ask a child the reason that they appealed to Uncle Don to talk with her over the air. he or she doesn't eat his oatmeal; he will warn a child not The stage was set. Don described an imaginary case that to scratch chicken pox because doing so will leave scars; paralleled the little girl's and he said that the arm got to be he will praise an adolescent for turning in a good school all right after a short time. Then he mentioned the little report card and for all manner of things. And the re­ girl's name. a,ction is tremendous. "You know, honey," he said, "that if you'll bend your "May,be you think those youngsters are not a gra teful arm it will get well, too. Uncle Don is coming up to lot," he remarked to the writer. They send me all manner see you just as soon as you can touch your shoulder with of things. One will send me a piece of birthday cake. your hand." Fathers will give them cigars to mail. In fact, I've re­ In exactly three weeks the miracle was accomplished. ceived everything that the postal rules permit in the mails. The child is completely cured. She still talks about sitting "I do my utmost to mention as many as I can in the on Uncle Don's lap. period assigned to me, but it would take upwards of three There are scores of such cases. In fact, most of his hours to do the job right. As it is, I take care of those spare time, little as it happens to be, is spent at some who are ill and those cases which need special attention." youngster's bedside. Sometimes it will be in a tenement in New York's Ghetto. Again he will be seen playing Helps Girl With Injured Arm horse in an exclusive Park A venue mansion. They all look alike to him. "And," said he, "I like to accommodate One of the best examples of why parents are fond of them all." Don Carney is contained in the case of a little girl who Carney's desk looks like the receiving department of a 16 RADIO REVUE warehouse. T he writer ha ~ seen him wilt under the Hard Luck Still Dogs Him avalanche of mail that sweeps over him. They deliver his In a year's time, he became assistant superintendent of mail in sacks. Letters have come to him from every state the yard with a salary of $10,000. In that capacity he in the Union, from many foreign countries and in twenty­ had charge of the 'construction of thirty torpedo boat one differen t languages. destroyers and several transports during the war days. When he ge ts the time to read the letters is a mystery Hard luck continued to dog him. Everybody "lost to his friends and even more so when it is considered that out" when the shipping slump occurred in the post-war he writes all his own continuity, in addition to such big days. "Yet I was lucky enough to get on as an extra on features as Main Stree t every Tuesday night. That alone the D. W. Griffith lot. Later he gave me a part in runs f orty-odd t ypewritten pages. 'America'. " Uncle D on" was born in St. Joseph, Mich., in the heart "Mr. Griffith had a radio set. It was a good one and the of the peninsula's fruit belt and directly across the lake thing more or less intrigued me. A few days later I was from Chicago. During his high school days he picked up passing the Hotel McAlpin and I went into the studio piano playing by ear and this same ear has served him so where I asked for an audition. They gave me a job as an well that he has never felt the need of taking any lessons. announcer! After I learned microphone technique I was Once is all he needs to hear a melody. drafted by WaR. The rest you know." Not long ago, Mr. Carney went over the Keith circuit His first entertaining was in Chicago, where he played as a headliner, drawing $1,000 a week. He is in constant in a nickelodeon for six or seven hours daily and usually demand for personal appearances and at none of them has without res t periods. "That w as good muscle practice," the audience failed to demonstrate its enthusiasm. he laughed. Later he went into vaudeville which brought There is considerable jealousy in the ranks of profes­ him to N ew York. sional entertainers, but there is none so far as he is con­ On the same tour he became enamored of Louisiana cerned. He is absolutely without affectation in any form. and having saved a little money, bought a small plantation No one around the station has ever seen him without the down there. Then he worked in a lumber yard to get smile that has made him famous. He. has a cheery word money enough to pay for a farm, only to run it into bank­ for everyone. ruptcy. A fter that the soil had no further charms for Carney has three hobbies. These are his big Packard, Carney. h:s summer place on Wonder Lake in the Ramapo Moun­ Vaudeville conditions were bad when he returned to tains and shooting at frogs. Notice the "at". He has New York. Hundreds of entertainers were without never been known to hit any and, were it not for his work. " I just had to eat," he said, "so I took a job in a sharpshooting friends, he would have to buy the frogs' shipyard for thirty cents an hour." legs needed to prepare his favorite dish.

... - , , " SPONSORITIS

( By a Radio A rtist who cbooses to be called Ano1l.)

D ame nature has a rrfu1l11 Y" 'Way No use to try to save the 'Wreck Of spoiling our enjoym ent Or propbecy disaster, For everyone wbo lives today For he who sig1ls tbe migbty cbeck Has bis or her a1111O y m e1lt; Is boss a1ld lord a1ld master; A nd each disease beneatb tbe sun W be1l there's a program spoiled or botcbed, Has diff're1lt germ s to bite llS It's m01ley bags wbo figbt 1IS, Now R A DIO's developed O1l e­ Witb beavy bearts w e've stood a1ld watched Tbey call it rrSPON SORITIS". Tbe spread of SPONSORITIS.

It's thrivi1l g like a beal tby w eed What man wbo's making patent mops Or fungus 1lewly grafted, Or coffee or c011fectiol1s . A nd merce1laries so w the seed Would let US go into bis shops Wherever so und is w afted Alld start to give directions? T be artists rave tben grow morose Y et he-Oh, let 1IS kneel and pray! Because of laryngitis, A1ld, Mister Fa1l, please write us; And rr fa1ls" then get a st rongrr dose We're fellow-sufferers today Of this same SPONSORITIS. FrOl1Z chro1lic rrSPONSORITIS." MARCH, 1930 17

At Home on the H 19· h "C 's "

o matter how turbulent the ether N waves, these gentlemen go the even tenor of their way, as only good tenors do. Pictured below are ten or so tenor soloists with real (tchecks" appeal. NINO MARTINI AMES MELTON (left) (right) who came J top tenor of the Rev­ from Italy last July af­ elers, is featured soloist ter great success in on Friday evenings at opera, is hea rd f req uen t­ nine on the NBC chain. lyon Columbia programs.

LEWIS JAMES (right) M A URI C E TYLER well .. known soloist (left) comes from and recording artist, the sunny South and sings wi th the Revelers sings with the Armchair and is featured on Mas- Quartet and on other ter l'.fusicians, NBC. fine NBC programs.

F RAN K L Y N BAUR (left) excl usive so­ THEO ALBAN (right) loist on the Voice of sings with B. A. Firestone program, Mon­ Rolfe and his orchestra day nights, appeared in on Saturday nights at the Ziegfeld Follies sev­ ten. You will recognize eral seasons ago and is his voice in the iiI ting a prominent recording signature song CtLucky artist. He was with the Day," which opens and Revelers in the early closes the program. days.

OE WHITE (left) was J skyrocketed to fame a few years ago as the my s t e rio u s uSilver Masked Tenor." He is now an NBC star.

HENRY SHOPE (left) OLIVER SMITH one of that rare spe­ (right) for many cies of real top tenors, months was featured on sings with the New the NBC as the "Gypsy Yorkers Quartet, Ram­ Tenor." He was one of hlers Trio, Davey Quar­ the original memhers of tet and wi th the Salon the Evening in Paris Singers, NBC. Original­ group and is now ap­ ly from Pennsylvania, he pearing regularly as so­ was OD the stage for a loist on the Jack Frost while and then turned program. A boy prodigy, radio, with great he has continued his ca­ reer with marked success. 18 RADIO REVUE

• AVERAG-E FAN

.-J MORE rrLOW BROW" REACTIONS One of my pet abominations is the rrSt. Louis Blue," which is played quite frequently ANSWERS these days. Your magazine could do a lot of good by choking or otherwise disposing of the aver­ age singers with the dance orchestras. I still think that Jimmy Walker has one Some Of His of the best speaki1tg voices on the air. rrBuck" O'Neill describes a pl'ize fight like no one else can. In your prize contest for favorite radio artists I would like to cast one vote for the Collier Hour girl. CRITICS So far I have never been able to become greatly enthused over grand opera. Early Sunday afternoon I listen religiously to the National Light Opera hour over W JZ. By AVERAGE FAN Then, too, I love the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, especially rrThe Mikado.';

UDGING from the comments, unfavorable and other­ like that kind of music-even though you do hear an wise-generally otherwise-received concerning my awful lot of it-much better than I do symphony or­ J ideas of radio programs in the December isssue of chestras, string trios or string quartets. RADIO REVUE, your editor apparently erred gravely in dubbing me "Average Fan", If some of my critics had Raps Singers With Dance Bands their way, I would be classified as a moron or some­ thing equally as unpleasant, Personally, I know that quite While on the sU'bject of pet abominations, your maga­ a few people agreed with me but so far I have been able zine could do a lot of good by choking or otherwise dis­ to discover no one who was willing to break into print in posing of the average singers with the dance orchestras. defense of my avowed liking for jazz. These are generally males-saxophone players or drummers There seems to be something in the very word "jazz" -seemingly picked hecause they have no semblance of a that makes some people break out in a rash. When it is voice. This appears to be the case even with the best mentioned they throw up their hands in holy horror and orchestras like Paul Whiteman's, Ben Bernie's, Guy Lom­ say they hate it; that it is loud, noisy and unrythmic; bardo's and others. If they must have men to sing, why that it is blatant, glaring and offensive and a few other not pick men who have some qualifications for the job? things too numerous to mention. There are so many good singers As far as that goes, there are cer­ heard over the air that to be com­ tain types of so-called jazz to pelled to listen to some of the so­ which I object just as strenuously called singers with orchestras is as do some of your readers. For heart-breaking. instance, one of my pet abomina­ I read with a great deal of in­ tions-and I have a number-is the terest and amusement the letter in St. Louis Blues, an old tune that is last month's issue from L. G. Cur­ played quite frequently these days. rin, of Newport, R. I., the home of In the same category are the Tiger the idle rich. Was it Mr., Mrs. or Rag, Beale Street Blues and others Miss Currin? There's no way of of the same ilk. telling, excepting by the general When I say I like jazz I might tone of the letter. Judging by the modify this by saying that I mean "timidly" it mUst ,be a woman and the tuneful kind, the kind that by the statement "I was born in makes your feet move and makes .the wrong generation," she must you want to dance-if time and be a maiden lady, possibly a blase age would permit. Popular music society woman. She says she dif­ is generally considered to be jazz, fers with me "violently" but, after or jazzy. : If it isn't, the dance or­ reading over her letter, all I can chestqs soon make it that way. discover is. that .she doesn,'t.like jazz Without shame I confess that I Lew Wbite, One of my Favorite Organists or our own Mayor Jimmie Walker. MARCH, 1930 19

Despite the "lady's" objections to Mr. Walker, I still crooner just one step above the ape and one step lower think he has one of the best speaking voices on the air. I than the missing link. That's the proper place for him­ have never heard him any other way, but I did listen to or her, for that matter. him over the air during the recent mayoralty campaign and Sometimes I think my taste in music cannot be so ter- he so far outshone any of the other speakers that their ribly .bad, even though I abhor symphonies and such. I efforts seemed inane. greatly enjoy Jesse Crawford, Lew Mr. Walker is at his White or Fred Feibel, on the organ; best at a testimonial Jack Cohen, Ohman and Arden and the dinner. That's where Piano Twins on the piano; Sam Herman he shines most bril­ and Harry Breuer, on the xylophone; the liantly. Revelers and the Armchair quartets, Olive Palmer, Jessica Dragonette, Eliza­ Likes CCthe Man beth Lennox, Countess Albani and Heien from Cook's" Kane, though I will admit that the latter is not in the same class with the others, To my list of ex­ so far as voice is concerned. cellent s pea kin g Some exception has been taken to the voices over the air fact that in my likes and dislikes I did -omitting the an­ not say anything about the various nouncers - let me sketches, dramatic or otherwise which I give you a few of liked and disliked. I get quite a kick my other favorites. out of the Jones family anq their There is Malcolm troubles here and abroad. Their expe­ LaPrade, the Man riences away from Onyx, Pa., especially from Cook's. He Aunt Letty's romantic love affairs, paints s u c h vivid cause me much amusement. Durant's word pictures that Heroes of the World; Caliope and Miss one can aIm 0 s t Kath'rine; the Penrod sketches; Empire imagine one sees the A Scene from Arabesque, a CBS feature Builders; "An Evening in Paris"; Gray­ places he describes. bar's "Mr. and Mrs."; True Detective Then there is "Uncle John" Gambling of WOR. Any Mysteries; Arabesque and the "Cub Reporter", are a few man who can start at 6:45 A. M. and show the pep he of my favorites. I always enjoyed " The Gossipers" and does deserves a lot of credit. Rabbi Stephen Wise has a was sorry to see them taken off. There may be others, marvelously res:::nant voice. I cannot always agree with but these are all I can think of at present. Alfred McCann's ideas, but his voice comes over clearly. I notice you offer a prize for our favorite radio artists. Possibly it is another evidence of lowbrowism-if there I am not seeking a prize or entering the contest, but would is such a word-but I can get more enjoyment out of lis­ like to cast one vote for the Collier Hour girl. I never tening to "Buck" O'Neill, giving a blow-by­ miss her. I have blow description of a prize fight than I can often won d ered out of listening to a marvelous and, to me, ex­ who she i s but tremely tiresome symphony, even if it is de­ ha ve never heard scribed by Walter Damrosch. I can remem­ either her name or ber years ago of being taken, as a special treat, anything abo u t to the initial performance of a symphony by her. There is a the Philharmonic, led, I believe, by Mr. Dam­ spontanei t y and rosch. The people went into raptures. I was gayety about her unutterably bored and slept through most of work that intrigue it. "Buck" O'Neill describes a prize fight like me. You will no one else can. I don't go to fights, but I probably get a lot will tune into him at any time. He has a breezy of votes for other way of telling you what is going on that is artists, but I want vastly superior to any other man I have ever to put in a word heard. for the ColI i e r Possibly I should feel flattered at the atten­ Girl. Can't you tion paid to my humble opinions by John give us her picture Skinner in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. He or tell us some­ said he liked my frankness, but he did not thing about her? "like my likes". He finds Amos 'n Andy very Expects to Be tiresome and writhes under the unnatural Main Disappointed Street Sketches. I realize that they are exag­ The J011es Family. Standing: Aunt Letty and gerated, but just the same I find them funny. Some of these Mrs. Jones (played by Dora Matthews and He dbjects to crooners. That's one dislike Adeli11a Thomasson.) Jeffersol1 Jones (Robert Sunday nights I that we have in common. In Collier's Hour McBride) is seated, and completing the group am going to crash Sunday night, January 10, Professor Butts, are Genny (Helen Bergavoy) , and Jim (Curtis (Continued on hunting for the missing link, placed the radio Arnall) page 48) 20 RADIO REVUE Sound Effects Made to Order for Radio Programs

Station Laboratories Furnish Any.. • I I thing from Hurricane to a Pin .. Drop II • By HERBERT DEVINS

HE noisiest spot in the world is not Times Square. Rustling palm fronds and the cries of wheeling gulls help Neither is it in a boiler factory, in spite of ,popular to create an actual sensation of tropical heat. T tradition. It's a little room high above Fifth Ave­ "Are you fond of riding?" Mr. Rainey asks. Being nue, New York, close to the busy studios of the National assured that you are, he next wants to know under what Broadcasting Company. This is the sound laboratory, conditions. where every sound eff~t for the coast-to-coast radio pro­ "It makes a big difference, you see. Look here, in this grams on NBC networks is born. I t looks quiet and or­ box. Our royal stables. These cocoanut shells and derly enough at first glance, but on its shelves are more plungers-any sort of horse you prefer. A nice, quiet assorted noises than can be found anywhere else in the mount-so? Clump, clump, clump. Or a more spirited world. steed, like this dancing Thunderstorms and fellow? Clickety click, hurricanes lie carelessly click. The last? All in one corner, side by right. Here we go, side with the Zoom of then. Watch. an airplane and the "We'll start right drone of Summer lll­ off up this cobbled sects. One shelf is de­ street toward the open voted to the echoes of fields. See how these disaster, fro m the shells on the stone slab breaking of a window give the hollow ring of to a train wreck. shod hooves on cobble­ If the visitor has a stones? Here's smooth colorful imagination, pavement for a change, entering this mysteri­ just by holding the ous room IS a more shells different 1 y In thrilling e x per ience your hands. N ow we than midnight in Fin­ come to softer ground." gal's Cave or the Hall And he s win g s his of the Mountain King. shells to a box of earth If a careless elbow lying con ve niently merely hap pen s to , nearby. brush a strange con­ I ' Or perhaps he'll take ,Waiting for tbe signal to start tbe "battle". traption hung on the you back through his­ I, doorknob, the affair tory and let you watch gives fqrth the sound of booming surf along a rocky loading of the animals into Noah's Ark. For, tumbled coast. A bellowing fog horn hangs from a nail nearby; along his shelves are the voices of every known creature next to it is the brazen clang of a bell-buoy marking the under the heavens. reef; last, the hoarse voice of an ocean liner far out at sea­ and the illusion is complete. A Strange Collection of Sounds

A Passport to the World And a strange, laughable menagerie it is. Fierce jungle cats and tawny lions hobnob with cows and sheep, without Sitting quietly in this room for a half-hour with ever showing the £,aintest signs of appl!tite. Trilling William S. Rainey, NBC production manager, is to obtain canaries and screaming parakeets lie quietly among a pile a magic passport to every corner of the world. In his of cats' purrs and meows. Buried somewhere in the heap practiced hands the booming surf becomes the lazy wash of carnivorous voices is the long-drawn wail of a new­ of sun-flecked waves on a pebbly beach in the South Seas. born infan t. MARCH, 1930 21

\ 1/ / / /

--rf.(e LION ROAR S

Proving tbat tbings are not really wbat tbey seem over tbe air.

The fiercest roars hang on separate pegs along the wall. it gives an effect of unreality when magnified to the degree That big one at the last, which is a real old whiskey-keg that radio " boosts" all sounds. One such case was the with pierced drumhead and resined cord, is the same "lion" crackling of underbrush. Snapping actual twigs near the that roared from the screen in the first showing of motion microphone sounded like rifle shots, so some substitute pictures brought back by Theodore Roosevelt from the had to be found. Today the laboratory boasts the widest "River of Doubt"-that fantastic stream that was sup­ assortment of underbrush and tangled jungle vines to be posed to flow u ph il1. found anywhere-in fact, the same shelf boasts a whole Many are the amusing devices developed here by the primeval forest of rustling leaves and swaying boughs. NBC to fool the sensitive microphone. So sharp are its It's commonly called a whiskbroom. ears that, in many cases, the actual sound cannot be used; . The thunder-drum is a terrifying instrument. Over a 22 RADIO REVUE

SOl/lid Laboratories More Thrillillg Thall Fillgal's Cave. framework of resonant wood six feet square is stretched Judson Has Sound Effects Table a cowhide. The usual sheet of tin couldn't fool the micro­ By Dorothy Conway phone, which only emphasized its futile metallic rattle. The special thunder-drum had to be built, in order to The Judson Radio Corporation has also made a great create satisfactory rumbling echoes. study of sound effects. One look at the contrivance rigged There's a whole row of assorted drums and tom-toms for up by A. W. Nichols, its sound effects man, would con­ various effects. The newest use, perhaps, is the complete vince anyone of the seriousness of the profession. The table "airdrome" mounted on one board three feet square. Elec­ controlling all the sounds was built by Mr. Nichols, and tric motors whirl leather strips against different drum­ it took him nine months of steady work, with each day heads at varying speeds, from the slow sputter of warm­ averaging from ten to fourteen hours. The effects on this ing motors to the high-pitched drone of the take-off. The table comprise: chimes, heavily muffled crash, thunder .. garage" is only two feet square. On this .board is sheet, train effect, riveting machine, motorcyde, machin­ mounted an assortment of auto horns to represent different ery, aeroplanes, heavy motor exhaust for fire trucks, cars. There is even a siren to help the excitement of fire scenes. motorcycle and auto races, two fire truck sirens, trolley In the development of wind effects, however, perhaps car with bells and exhaust, rumble wagon, metal crash the greatest strides have been made. Nearly everyone is effect, wind machine, he,avy ratchet, rapid-fire machine familiar with the common "wind-machine," a revolving gun for firing 500 shots per minute, glass crash, revolver drum of laths swishing against a canvas strip. The faster or rifle machine, rain and ocean effect. the drum is whirled, the higher the wind shrieks. But it gives only one artificial note. Today, however, the NBC Lar ge Assortment of Sounds wind machine is hard to describe. Perhaps the only part that matters is the megaphone that comes out of one end, The left side wall has whistles of all sorts; train, ocean through which the sound emerges. Behind this mega­ liner, police, cuckoo, cow bawl, toy horns, sirens and ex­ phone, somewhere in its complicated interior, is a whole haust. On the top are bear growls, lion roars, imitation of series of wind-whistles-all specially tuned so thi t, when dogs, sea lions, monkeys, elephants and pig squeals. The sounded together, they produce the ghostly discords be­ right side wall is for door bells, buzzers, wireless, tele­ hind the principal note that everyone hears in actual wind graph instrument, telephones, auto horns, fight trip gong noises. Actors who work with this machine say that the and signal gong. There is also a horse effect, anvil, buzz studio temperatures seem to drop thirty degrees the mo­ motor', gear machine, sand wheel, door slam, ticking of old­ ment it begins, and that it is so realistic they find them­ fashioned clock, nose blower, slap stick, castanets, tam- selves shivering before their script requires it. (Con tillued on page 44) MAR C H, 193 0 23

IN MEMORIAM ....

A Tribute to

COLONEL C. T. DAVIS

By BERTHA BRAINARD Colonel C. T. Davis in his best knolUn Eastern Program Director, N. B. C. role "Old Man Donaldson"

ADIO sustained a loss that cannot be re­ with him with a gentle "now, let's try it again" R placed when Colonel C. T. Davis died. His than other directors obtain wi th hour after hour part In the building of radio broadcasting of stiff rehearsal. was an important one-how important only we, who have been close to broadcasting since its Never Mentioned His Pain laborious birth, can appreciate. His role was that of a gentleman adventurer. He would attempt For sheer courage I have yet to meet his equal. things on the air of which no one else had I t is not generally known, but Colonel Davis thought, and what he did was accomplished with virtually died at work. People closely associated good taste and a sincere appreciation of artistry. wi th him knew that during the last two mon ths Many phases of our present technique in dra­ of his life he lived twenty-four-hour days of matic presentation were originated by Colonel pain. They did not learn that from him, for he Davis. He had the vision of an artist and the never mentioned it. energy to recreate his vision into something that I recall the last time I saw him, a few days was usable. In the archives of broadcasting are before his death. He stood erect before my desk, many programs, still remembered, talked about his face white and drawn and with little beads and used as models, that were his creations. of perspira tion on his forehead. I knew he was Among them may be remembered "Old Man suffering, for there was every evidence of it, ex­ Donaldson," "Jack and Dorothy," and "Don cept his own admission of the fact. He never Amaizo." made that admission. Instead, he smiled, and He had a precious sense of humor that light­ what a pathetic smile it was to anyone who re­ ened even his most serious efforts and it was a membered him when he was well and strong­ delight to work on a program with him. bowed his quaint, courteous bow and walked out Colonel Davis was a sportsman and a gentle­ of the office. man. I do not believe any greater tribute can be He walked out of the world that way, smiling, paid him. He had tact and diplomacy and could courteous and undaunted, thinking of others and obtain more actual results from actors working of the job he had to do, rather than of himself. 24 RADIO REVUE • Personalit leS Presenting Popular Performers

pHI L Spitalny, at right, and his harmonizing duo, the Paul sis­ ters, delight listen­ ers at 11 :30 each Tuesday evening with their lively son g sand music. They br 0 a d cas t over NBC sta­ tions fro m Hotel Penn­ sylvania i n New Yo r k . The P a I m Beach suit is, the ref 0 ret somewhat ccnfusing,

A BOVE, Nathaniel Shilkret, the famous NBC conductor) one of America's most distinguished musicians. He has a flare for the rousing crescen- / do that ends with a thun- tym-

. HERE are Rosaline Greene and Alfred Shirley, who a ct those thrilling and bea u­ tif ull y execu ted scenes of famous love stories, heard over the National's network on Friday evenings at 8 :45. course, It's Vincent Here we see them as Madame OF Pompadour and her kingly Lopez, directlng his lover, Lou!s XV, in a short snappy orchestra at WJZ. sketch of regal romance and For sprightliness and pep court intrigue. hear him play one or the other of his piano sclec­ a/legrissimo.

IN the circle is Will Os­ borne, who originated that new style of m i c r 0 ph onc technique, pop .. ularly, or un .. pop u I a r I y, called "croon­ ing". Will sings over the Colum­ bia chain every evening at 11 and, Heaven help us, we can't tell him from R u d y Val lee, He stoutly denies he is an imi­ tator of' the great Rudy; at any rate, he's almost as popu­ lar with the ladies, and his jazz band is twice as good.

, FRANK BLACK, pictured at the THIS group is just as musical as it looks. They piano, just abO'Ut makes the Rev­ are the popular Utica Jubilee Singers, here elers the great quartet that they are. presented in a scene from their new talking pic­ His arrangements and accompaniment ture. So great had their popularity become as a re- 1 are, without doubt, the snappiest on suit of their air programs, that they were offered a 1 the air, so the experts tell us. contract to go into the moving and sound pictures. MARCH, 1930 25 ert and Pertinent Plenty of Pep tn their Programs

SURE enough, the dis- tinguished looking gen t1eman behind the microphone is S. Parkes Cadman, dynamic Doc­ tor of Divinity. Al­ though his s uhjec tis, of ~ecessi ty, sober, there IS no hour on the air more chockful of pep and personali ty than his Sunday afternoon program. His magnificent flow of language and ideas is one of the wonders of the radio age, and his fan mail makes the letter car­ riers bow­ legged.

N0 more real personality is to be found a mong the air waves than Walter D a mrosch, NBC's famous con­ ductor. The kiddies, for instance, wouldn't miss his Friday morning h 0 u r ..

1 I. IT'S not all blood and thunder in the Empire Builders program, h eard on Monday nights at 10:30 over the NBC chain. Here is Harvey Hayes (the Old Pioneer) telling Virgina Gardiner that all is well with the world. It looks as if he's right.

THE .zentleman with the overgrown ukulele is Jo- seph Rodgers, tenor and director of that lively hour, the «(South Sea Islanders," heard every Sunday night at 11: 15 over the National chain. Rodgers was born and educated in Hawaii. Conseq uentiy, the cos­ tume and the guitar are more than becoming to him.

THE sour, hard- bitten, old gen­ tleman in the ei r­ cle is none other than Arthur Allen, the widely known radio actor, i n the dress and external characteristics of a Dickens character. He is heard on Tuesdays at 7 : 3 0 over WEAF and the NBC chain tn those exciting So­ conyland sketches. Mr. Allen, now a veteran of the mi­ crophone, came to radio after many years on the legit­ imate stage. Ra­ dio'S gain, we say!

RADIO has few more famous or vivacious quar- YOUR search for pep and personali- tets than the Cavaliers, heard over the NBC ty will end when you tune in on chain every Friday evening at eight o'clock. Left Wednesday evenings at .9 :3 0 to the to right they are: John Seagle, baritone; Darrell Columbia chain stations and hear the Woodyard, bass; David _ Buttolph, pianist-director; cute little, clever little Glenn sisters, back: Robert . Stevens and Leo O'Rourke, tenors. Ruth and Beatrice: 26 RADIO REVUE

• I nterest ln Grand Opera Fast Waning Says MME. Galli-Curci

By WILLIE PERCEVAL-MONGER

The public and the artists alike feel that it is a little old­ fashioned. " M me. Amelita Galli-Curci Happily Married to Artist

"I am modernistic in my tastes. I like innovations in music and I am old-fashioned only in marriage. In that MELITA GALLI-CURCI, whose voice has attracted fine institution I believe in constancy and I attribute my A the music-loving public. since her debut with the happiness in marriage to the fact that I married an artist, Chicago Opera Company in 1916, has left the but one who is not following my line of work. various diamond and golden horseshoes of the Chicago and "I do not Care much for modern opera. The modern Metropolitan Opera houses, but before boarding the composers do not even seem able to write anything to French liner lie de France she paused a moment, in the equal the older operatic compositions, hecause such music studios of the National Broadcasting Company, to sign is not in our temperament in this mechanical age." Bertha Brainard's pet piano at 711 Fifth A venue and to "We have no time for contemplation or for thought," express her opinions on a number of subjects. the diva declared, "and creative work demands both of "I heartily approve of radio," said the vivacious prima these things. donna, in the manner of one telling the truth, rather than Continuing-in the face of urgent protests from Bertha one who was just "saying nice things". "It has brought Brainard that the little piano-lid was still unsigned-the me some happiness and a much greater audience than I famous prima donna declared her liking for jazz, especially even dreamed of in my first days in opera. for dancing. Jazz was properly rated by the American "Tomorrow I sail on the Ife de France for Europe, for people. It has a definite place in the scheme of music, a little recreation and rest. I have had a busy season and just as caricature has its place in art. "We need more I need a little sea air. I thought the radio would be an fun and freshness," she said, "in this dreary game of life." ideal way of saying 'Farewell' to all my audiences in "In filling my engagement at WEAF I was only keep­ America a t once." ing step with the times. When I leave this radio station " I am coming back, and I shall sing :1gain for the radio. I will go straight to my first Europea n concert tour, al­ But when I do I shall miss the friendly faces, the rustle though I was born in Milan and heard my first applause of the programs, and (pardon me, won't you?) the warm in Italy. I will sing in eight countries, Next Summer I applause". hope to spend in the Catskills, and in the Fall I hope to On leaving the scene of her greatest triumphs, the return to the British I~les. A trip of five months' dura­ Met ropolitan O pera House, Madame Galli-Curci did not tion to the Antipodes will follow." speak in too glowing t erms of grand opera. "Opera does not conform to modern musical needs", she said. " It is a Becomes an American Citizen very old-fashioned entertainment, very pompous and slow. The opera, after all, is not such a high style of music. In 1921 Madame Galli-Curci took out her first papers Worse than that , people throughout the entire world, par­ of American citizenship and married Homer Samuels who ticularly the Italians, are losing interest in grand opera. (Col1tillued 011 jJage 47) MARCH, 1930 27 Acting A New Sideline OSCAR Writes Girl Frien~ MARGY

As Preserved for the World By P. H. W. DIXON

EAR MARGY:- Mar g y ... but It looks like your boy friend is going to be a you needn't worry D success, Margy. I have only been an attashay of about her. She's too the National Broadcasting Company for less than three tall for me anyway. OSCAR months and already I am an actor. Of course, Mar'gy, I Well, I went to The Page Boy did intend to make my radio debyoo as a tenor but I guess rehearsal and Mr. you can't always start at the top ... note. That's a joke, Knight gave me Margy. So I have started up the ladder to success as an my s c rip t. A actor and someday I probably will amount to something script, Margy, is the professional name for the part you and be a singer. read. Just to show you what the part is I am going to Of course, Margy, I am still a page. Acting with me write it in right here. You see, in this show I was play­ is just a sideline. The show business is all shot to pieces ing the part of 'a messenger boy and I was supposoo to and anyone is foolish to be an actor except as a sideline. deliver a telegram to Harvey Hays, who is the Old Pioneer Even us good actors like to know that our income is in the program. It went like this: certain. ME: Telegram for you, sir: I want to tell you how I HAYS: Thank you, bud! became an actor, Margy. I ME: Thank you, sir. was discovered by Raymond Now, of course, on paper Knight, who is a pretty good that doesn't look like an im­ guy for a production man and portant role but it really is, has a reputation for finding Margy. You see this telegram real talent. One day when I was very important to the had just finished hunting for a plot,and if I hadn't delivered bull fiddle that had been mis­ it there wouldn't have been laid, Mr. Knight stopped me any story at all. on the thirteenth floor and Well, we rehearsed our parts asked me if I wanted to act. for quite a while and then Mr. I told him I had not consid­ Eddie Bierstadt ... he's a sort ered :it seriously but that if of writer ... suggested that I Harvey Hays was sick or any­ wasn't putting the proper in­ thing I would be glad to help flection on my last speech. him out. He said Harvey was "Listen, Oscar," he said. all o.k. but he needed some­ " Say 'thank you, sir' as if he body to support Harvey in an had just given you a quarter Empire Builders program. And tip". I said I would be glad to help I tried it but he wasn't sat­ him out and he told me to isfied. Finally he told Mr. come to rehearsal at four Hays to really give me a quar­ o'clock. Which I did. ter wh~ch he did. Then he That was when I met Vir­ "Then they took the quarter back. The show said my "thank you" w as just ginia Gardiner. She's pretty, business is li~e that, Margy" swell. But they took the 28 RADIO REVUE

quarter back. The show business is like that, Margy. Young started talking and the actors started looking for Rehearsing for a radio play isn't as hard as rehearsing the parts. Pretty soon we were right in the middle of for a legitimate play, Margy, because you don't have to the sketch and I knew that at any moment now I would memorize your speeches. You read them from a sheet of have to go into my big scene. I tell you, Margy, it was an paper ... but if you sound like you read them you aren't awe-inspInng moment. Then Mr. Bierstadt gave me a any good, so I guess radio acting requires special ability shove toward the microphone and I realized the time had like I seem to have. come for me to speak. So I stepped up and I said: "Telegram for you, sir!" Sound of Train Pulling In I hope you heard me, Margy ... I would hate to think that you had missed my first spoken words to twenty After the rehearsals on speeches they have sound ef­ million listeners. Then Harvey Hays looked at me en­ fect rehearsals. These are very interesting. When you couragingly and said: listen to the Empire Builders program, Margy, you think "Thank you, bud", and he handed me a quarter which you hear a Great Northern train pulling into a station. I put in my pocket. In fact, it sounds so much like a train that they say a So I said to Mr. Hays: fellow who had a radio in his "Thank you, Slr, and I automobile tried to beat it to meant it, Margy, because I a grade crossing one night. was so glad my scene was But it really isn't a train. finally over. It was a terrific Harry Edison, who is one of strain to be under. our best percussionists-a per­ cussionist, Margy, is a trap May Play Character Parts drummer who makes more than $100 a w eek-is respon­ Well, things went along sible for the train noise. He pretty well from then on and has a big container filled with everyone worked hard and compressed air and that makes after the program was off the the steam sound . . . and he air Mr. Knight and Mr. Bier­ has a lot of little trucks run­ stadt both told me I had done ning around a circular track a very professional job and which sound like train wheels that they hoped to use me rolling and he makes the again whenever there were "swish-swish" sound on a any telegrams to be delivered. drum and when the micro­ I may decide to specialize in phone picks up all these dif­ character parts like that, ferent noises it sounds just like Margy. a train in the control room. That's about all there is to Then there is an orchestra, report, Margy. I think, per­ too, Margy, which is led by haps, I will be able to have Andy Sannella. Andy is quite you come to New York pretty a sheik, Margy, and looks like soon as when I get to be an what the well-dressed man important actor I will insist will wear at all times. that I name my own leading Anyway, we all got in the lady. And you know, Margy, big studio and rehearsed our rr[ felt kind of pale and wobbly" who my leading lady will be. speeches and the orchestra re­ Just as you are my leading hearsed and they tried out all the sound effects and Bob lady in our own life drama so you will be in my profes- MacGimsey whistled and pretty soon Mr. Knight and Mr. sional career. Bierstadt finally agreed that maybe it wasn't such a bad That's all tonight, Margy ... I am very tired account show after all, and we were all ready to go on the air. the strain I have been under. So we went out and got some supper and relaxed until By the way, Margy ... if you happen to be near the it was .time to go on the air. Yoakum Herald office, you might tell them about me. It would make a swell story for them. The headline could Tensest Moment of His Life be "Home Town Boy Makes Good." Goodnight, Margy, and love and kisses. As you know, Margy, I have lived through some tense YOUR OSCAR. moments in my life such as the time your father asked P. S.-I am sending this special deli very. Mr. Hays for­ me what my intentions were, if any, but the tensest mo­ got to ask me for the quarter. ment of all was just before I went on the air for the first .. - time. It was very quiet in the studio because John Young, Hudson County Radio Show the announcer, had warned us we were almost on the air. A successful radio show was held from February 10th I felt kind of pale and wobbly but Mr. Knight came over to 16th in the Armory Radio Salon, Jersey City, by the and patted me on the back and told me that ten million Hudson County Radio Dealers, Inc. The list of artists listeners were expecting me to make good. Which I did. what volunteered their services would be a veritable Then the train started and the orchestra started and "Who's Who" of radio. MARCH, 1930 29 The Two TROUPERS Delve Into Dark Past

Marcella Shields and Helene Handin ·11 "Authorize" Joint Statement of Facts II·

Scel1e-A sitting room pulling all three dollar words on me. Put a square Place-New York City around you and you'd be a crossword puzzle:-- I Time-3 :30 P. M. didn't know, since we have become authoresses, but Setting-a chair, a table, a telephone and-Miss Handin. what they might ask us to "authorize" about almost ('Phone rings) anything. HELENE-Hello-Hello-yes--Oh, hello, Marcella-­ HELENE-Oh, yeah?-Say, does it take much practice to where are you-in the lobby?-Oh, well, come on up. be as dumb as you are? Just because we've written our ('phone clicks.) own sketches for the radio and been lucky with them, MARCELLA-(Knock 011 door) Helene!--Helene! don't think we are capable of writing something like HELENE--Come in.- the History of the Oh, hello, Marcella, U. S. in 500 words­ late again, or should that's Mr. Coolidge's I say-as usual? You job.--Besides YOll know, they ought to couldn't limit YOut­ call you "The late self to 500 words­ Miss Shields." or 5,000 for that MARCELLA-Well now, matter. "Boss Lady," please 1 MARCELLA-Say, listen, don't start on me Helene-are we go­ again-I know I'm ing to write an argu­ late but I've been re­ ment or an inter­ hearsing >at NBC.-I view? ... just got through and -\. HELENE - \Vell, it's I've got to rush supposed to be an in­ right back to do terview-but who is "Miniature Theatre" to do the interview­ and-- / ing-that's the ques­ HELENE-Well, I can't tion before the house help what you've got at present? to do up there, but MARCELLA - Wei I , you've got some re­ look, Helene - we'll hearsing to do right take turns-you ask here - with pencil me some questions and paper. So park and I'll answer them, "Tbey want us to prepare all article-llot 011 tbe Einstein you r s elf in tha t T beory eitber /" says H elelle. and then I'll ask you chair and put on -go ahead. your thinking cap- HELENE - Okay. - if any. I just had a 'phone call from RADIO R EVUE and Well, now, Miss Shields, will you please give me a little they want us to prepare an article for them-now ain't information about yourself, such as-where born and tha t something? if so-why?-present occupation and do you belong to MARCELLA-What about?-Us?-"The Two Troupers?" any unions? (laugb) HELENE-Of course, "Dizzy."-What did you think they MARCELLA-Well, to begin with-I was born in New wanted? A dissertation on the Einstein Theory? Or York City,- and my parents were crazy about me­ a treatise on the outcome of Limitation of Arms Parley HELENE-Did you say crazy? in London? MARCELLA-If that's intended for a wise crack you can MARCELLA-Oh, well--you needn't be so "snooty"-- keep it. But to get back to my career-I went to

• 30 RADIO REVUE

school in New York too and I'm a c~medienenne and MARCELLA-Somepin IS right-but just what, I haven't I'm five feet tall and weigh 108 lbs. and I have light found out yet. hair and blue eyes and I sing and I dance and-- HELENE-Aw, no~, Girl Friend! MARCELLA-(Giggle) Say, listen-isn't it my turn to Started ((Emoting" at Age of Four ask questions now? You better get in a little about yourself, or I'll be crowding you completely out. HELENE-Yeah-yeah-yeah-I know that litany and HELENE-Not while I'm conscious, "Stark Love." All people who have heard us on the air certainly know it right-here goes. I was born at an early age in Fair­ too-they have heard it enough. You know you should field, Ill., as was also Senator Borah. have it put to music--I can almost hear it in my MARCELLA-That's a help! What does that make him? sleep. Now that that's over-when did you start HELENE-Prime Minister of Congress, Will Rogers says. "emoting? " -But keep still-you had your inning, I now have the MARCELLA-I was only four years old, when my mother floor. I made my debut at two years of age speaking a thought I showed signs piece at a Presbyterian of becoming a second strawberry festival in Ethel Barrymore - so I Fairfield. Then my fam­ s tar ted playing child ily migrated to Utah, parts, and did I have where I was educated some swell ones? and, after graduating HELENE-Yeah-well, just from high school, I what? taught country school at MARCELLA-I played in the the age of sixteen. original production of MARCELLA - Oh, my - Maeterlinck's "Blue Bird" weren't you smart? I and with De Wolfe Hop­ can't imagine you a per m "Hop 0' My country school teacher­ Thumb"-- but, then, I never saw a HELENE-Yes-and the n country school teacher -and then- because I was born and MARCELLA - Quit clown­ bred here in little old ing-this is serious.-Oh, New York. yes-then I played the HELENE-As you said be­ little girl in "A Fool fore. I really got my There Was" and gangs of start, dramatically speak­ others, including " Jimmy ing, in Salt Lake City, Valentine"-"Mrs. Wiggs where I sang in high of the Cabbage Patch"­ school and acted in home " Salomy Jane" and-- dramatic shows. Finally HELENE - That's enough I was discovered by a about your childhood, I manager who offered me don't think the fans a job in his company, so want to hear any more I trouped to New York. details about your past -the goal of every am­ life. What happened bi tious would-be actress. after you grew up? Or MARCELLA - And w hat "No." says Marcella, putting a blollde strand in did you? place, "I'm 110t one of tbose girls woo raves and happened then? You be­ MARCELLA-Well, I went tears IJer IJair abottt Rudy." gin to in terest me, into vaudeville until I strangely. grew up enough to play HELENE-Oh, hush! Then mgenues. I went into musical stock as prima donna and later was HELENE- "How high is up?" You only got up to sixty prima donna of several musical shows. After that I inches. went on the road in vaudeville with Sandey and Sawyer MARCELLA-Well, that was enough to get me into a musi­ and later was with "The Dove", the Willard Mack show cal comedy. I was comedienne with "Helen of Troy, that Belasco produced. My last production was "The N. Y."-then ingenue prima donna with the Gallagher Scarlet Fox." and Shean show. Then back to comedienne with "Rose MARCELLA-I'll bet that was a thrill, working for Bel­ Marie"-and, oh! how I loved that show and that part. asco! HELENE-Very interesting, Miss Shields-and then, what? HELENE-It sure was. I hated to leave his management. I had my own act in vaudeville, a comedy sketch writ­ Played Dixie Dugan in ((Show Girl" ten by Mr. and Mrs. Willard Mack. Then I went to my beloved California with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." MARCELLA-Then I met Mr. Whyte of the Eveready MARCELLA-What do you mean "beloved." I thought you Hour and was engaged to play Dixie Dugan in "Show were a Utah and Ill. fan. Girl"-and THEN-I-MET-YOU! HELENE-Oh-But Cal. is my real love--I'm as dippy HELENE-And that was sometbing . (Continued on page 46)

... MARCH, 1930 31 EVENING STARS Program an Interesting Experiment

• In Good Will

By DONALD WITHYCOMB

VERY Wednesday afternoon, millions of listeners throughout the United States and Canada welcome E the familiar melodious strains of the Evening Star aria from Wagner's immortal opera "Tannhauser". This is the theme song that announces that the Eveni1lg Star's program is on the air. This signature does not merely mark the opening of just another program, to be presented from the N. B. C. stu­ dios. It has another significance. It implies that, as a member of a large, international family, one of its asso­ DOllald Witb)'co11lb ciated stations is to be honored by having an entire program Sl alion Relalions Deparlmt nl , N BC dedicated to it and to the territory it serves with the finest radio program available. The underlying purpose of this particular weekly feature is a desire on the part of the National Broadcasting Com­ pany to honor each of its associated stations w~ich are The radio audience has heard the Governor of Alabama, vitally important to this widespread organization. The the presidents of several chambers of commerce, and many Evening Star's program has made it possible during the other notable personages tell the story of how the asso­ past ten months, for each station associated with the NBC ciated station endeavors faithfully to serve its own terri­ to send its own story out over the transmitters of over tory. Many of the stations accepted the invitation to thirty stations from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky send to the NBC's New York studios their chief announc­ Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Dominion er, as well as a guest conductor, with vocal and instru­ of Canada. mental artists who are well-known and loved by their local radio audiences. Unique Good-Will Feature To the Evenillg Star's program each week, Ludwig Lau­ rier, the distinguished conductor of the Slumber Hour, and From the standpoints of information, interest and en­ his augmented concert orchestra, have added color and tertainment it may be stated that the Evenillg Star's pro­ interest in the rendition of works of the great masters. gram is the most unique type of weekly good-will feature The Eti ellillg Star's program was a successful experiment. that has so far been attempted in the field of broadcasting. Newspaper and magazine articles, as well as thousands of It has not been duplicated on the air up to the time of enthusiastic letters, confirm this statement. writing. Any experiment in the field of public relations and good As its name implies, famous microphone personalities, will is usually both interesting and beneficial to all con­ usually heard only during the evening hours, have been cerned. Radio broadcasting, as it is now developed, has presented to the vast afternoon audiences during this series. placed before all of those who are intimately connected In addition to the short, but highly interesting announce­ with this industry a limitless opportunity to build up and ments which each station has made during its particular preserve that feeling of international good will which is at dedication program, guest artists and speakers from all once an inspired labor and the greatest obstacle to misun­ parts of the country have participated on many occasions. derstandings and possible wars. 32 RADIO REVUE

we can see, the radio has filled, rather than emptied, the five typical churches visited. Editorials It is true that there was in each case a live priest-in­ cumbent imbued with the power to hold his people, backed .... by culture and a certain amount of personality, beautiful music supplied by a first-class organ, a competent choir The Radio Infant Grows ably led by a skilled musician-organist, often reinforced with some instruments of the string family, a few brasses, ADIO broadcasting has been called "the fastest and occasionally a harp. The ordered service was evident­ R growing industry." Here is what happened to the ly rehearsed and housed in an imposing and dignified struc­ Nation al Broadcasting Company during 1929, accord­ ture, but there were no vacant seats. in g to the annual report of M. H. Aylesworth, presi­ May we not claim that the radio has created in the den t of. the company, submitted to the Advisory Council hearts of people a desire to participate in these great serv­ of t he organization recently. ices of the church, just as it has brought many thousands Fourteen stations were added to the national network, of them to the radio studios where they can join, not including one C anadian station. The network now lil­ only in the weekly religious services, but also in the ar­ eludes 7 3 stations. tistic and commercial broadcasts? Gross revenue of the N BC in 1929 totalled more than We do not wish to be flippant on a serious subject, but $1 5,000,000. There were no profits. the day cannot be far off when tickets for church services Fifty-f our hundred miles of w ire were added to the -now subject to distribution b y application for special N BC Syst em, bringing the total to 32,500 miles of wire services-will have to be purchased on the sidewalk from lines. speculators, just like those for the first-class theatres. And More than one million letters from listeners were re- on this great day we believe that radio will properly be ceived in t he year. able to claim its share of the credit: The personnel of the N BC w as increased from 55 8 to 9 17 in 1929. - .. Sixt y hours of programs a week were added t o the regular schedule of broadcasts from the key stations of The Interfering Client t he net work. ANY times, w ithout thinking, a listener will severely The President of the U nited States spoke thirteen times M criticize a broadcasting station for putting a certain over a nat ional net work. There were t wenty-seven ad­ t ype of prog ram on the air. The particular program prob­ d resses by cabinet members, twenty-eight senators were ably m erits the criticism, but, in most instances where the heard and t welve members of the lower h ouse m ade ad­ program is commercially sponsored, the blame should not d resses. be placed at the broadcasting station's , door. Virtually t he entire populat ion of the United States Unfortunately, the radio seems to have fallen into the can be en tertained or informed by one program in the sam e category as the newspaper, in that the average busi­ same hour. . ness m en, no matter what his line may be, firmly believes .... that he can stage a radio program or run a newspaper . better than the people who have spent the better part of a Radio and Religion lifetime in perfecting their t alents and abilioies along H ROU G H O UT the land here and t here has occa­ these lines. T sionally arisen t he sad wail that the radio is empty­ The.average business man is certain that he knows what ing t he church, because a lot of devout people now h ave " the public w ants" . He bases his opinion most of the time the m eans of taking t heir religion along with a cheerin g on h is ow n personal likes and dislikes, or on those of his cu p of coffee, or som et hing like that , from t he depths of w ife or relatives. If his company is in any way interested a favorite armchair. Even this comfortable picture does in r adio broadcasting, he immediately starts to play with not seem able to dispel the gloom that has set tled u pon t his attract ive, but expensive toy, radio. H e has very t he small but u nsuccessful church . Like most clouds, this definite views as to w hat constitutes a good radio program one has a real silver lining, and and he proceeds to carry out w e do not refer to the silver these ideas. t hat is put into the collection The large broadcasting sta­ plate . . tions and chains are all equipped A su rvey of five famous to originate, write, cast, rehearse churches in New York reveals and produce practically any the as tonishing-to most of us kind of a radio program for a -fact t hat it is difficult to find client. Then, too, many of the a place in any church on regu­ advertising agencies have cre­ lar ser vice days, and particularly ated special departments to han­ on Su ndays. Further astonish­ dle r adio broadcasting for cli­ m ent may be provideq in the ents w ho wish to include this proven fact that a lot of nice n ew m edium of advertising in people, unable to find seats, are their general pian of magazine. c ontent to st and at the back of newspaper, billboard, direct-by­ these churches. T here may be mail and other advertising. reasons for this but, so far as H el/o, fo lk s! Dis figh t sure was a cinch. (Turn to page 45) MARCH, 1930 33 SOPRANO MODULATOR Radio's Latest Wonder

Newest Invention Disposes o.f One of ·11 Industry's Most Difficult Problems II·

By I. B. HANSOM .lIanager of P la Jl ts, Orchestratiolls and Racketeering National Broadcast, JIg System

after five years of vast expenditures and countless experi­ JEDITOR'S NOTE-News of this latest de-"-. ments, I have developed a sc ientific solution of the soprano velopment in radio science is likely to set I problem. It is a device that I call the Soprano Modula tor, the musical world agog. I. B. Hansom has which m ay be attac hed to any microphone, but which again stepped into the breach; in fact, he has I actually put his foot into it, with the an­ works most efficiently on the recently developed left ­ nouncement (exclusively in Radio Revue) of handed mike (see J anuary issue of RADIO R E VUE ) . his soprano modulator, which he describes , ,here in his own peculiar style. (' Based on Indifferentiality

T he whole principle of the new devic e, which is so com­ OSTcomplex of all the many problems connected pact that you can take it home in a t axicab, is indifferent ­ with radio broadcasting has been what to do with uality, and so f ar has the new device been developed that M soprano. A simple solu- its capacity for peak icono­ tion, arrived at early in the clasms is practically nil. history of radio, was to inocu­ Within t wo weeks it is ex­ late all sopranos with the pec ted that ever y microphone germs of laryngitis, but this , . in the Natural Broadcas ting was found to be impractical, System studios will be equip­ because the sopranos, accus­ ped with the Soprano Modula- tomed since childhood to ad­ tor- in fac t , both of them. versity, not only became as T herefore, it is fi tting that a insensible to the germs as they brief des cription of t he new are to insults, but actually device be given. made pets of the little couriers To the casual fi re inspec tor of destruction. - or to just a visiting fire man it The forces of na ture thus resembles a soup can. Prefer­ failed those who were doing ably a can that has held chick­ their best for the new art of en gumbo. (N ote to business radio broadcasting. Although offi ce : If you can sell an ad to many other solutions were of­ the Camel Soup Corporation, fered, the problem remained in you can refer to it as Camel's status quo, so to speak. It Chicken Gumbo). But be­ was, to state it simply: what neath ,these simple outlines is shall we do about sopranos? concealed a complicated mech- An interesting problem of a amsm. like nature is faced in New I t was discovered tha t a coil Jersey, and has to do with mos­ from a 1915 model Ford func­ quitos. tioned perfectly in this device. Five years ago the soprano Its pitch coefficient proved t o I ~ problem was turned over to .~ be equivocable, and its dy­ my department of the Natural "Take back that set y01l sold me! All it can get is namic potentiality was X -ZX Broadcasting System. Finally, static and wprollosl" (Turn to pa ge 45 ) 34 RADIO REVUE

Tti~

The popular radio team of Macy as the orchestra began the second chorus. the neUl evelling dress rule. Tbe opera and Smalle, which has been reunit­ It all happened in less time than it takes Ulas Beetboven's "Pidelio" and, outside to tell and San Lanin, the director, did ed, returned to. t,he air via WOR in not even realize that another singer was in the lobby, Ulas a gentleman in a flan­ a new program which runs every performing. However, Walter did. In nel shirt a11d red necktie yelling, Ulitb Tuesday night from 7:30 t,o 8. Both all his five years of radio work he says true commercial vigor: are pioneers on the air. Macy's he cannot recall ever having experienced "Here y'are! Get tbat book of tbe first microphone appearance dates such a "gone" feeling. By the time he big show fPiddley-Ob.' Here y'are! De had finished that one chorus he was in back to 1922. a cold perspiration and his knees were correct book of fPiddley-Ob'." Macy has been a vaudeville head­ bea ting a tattoo that vied with the bass liner for fifteen years. In radio, he drum. However, all's well that ends well, created and played the role of but next time Walter says he'll let Sam Harold Branch, NBC tenor, who Lanin sing the choruses himself. Hank Simmons in Hank Simmons's is kept pret,ty busy these days, was Show Boat. He played the princi­ discussing everything in particular pal comedian with the Columbia and nothing in general, with a Light Opera Company in the re­ friend the other day. ((Yes," com­ vivals of Gilbert and Sullivan and mented the friend, Uit's a tough other light operas. Mr. Smalle has life you lead." Harold agreed, and been a Victor recording artist for added, quite casually, mind you, eighteen years and is still making ((With me life is just one darn sing discs for the same concern. He was The clever children of the B-A -R -N after another." originally' with the famous Revel­ Theatre, on WEAF every Saturday, re­ lers. One of his biggest hits was cently staged a "broadcasting hour", his arrangement of uDinah," which including the great mystery drama: T brmtgb tbe eyes of a ffmike" placed contained an original humming ac­ "How Many Raisins are There in a in tbe Lincoln M1tseum, the one-time companiment. He has been con­ Raisin Cake?" or "How Father has boarding-bouse in Ulbicb Abrahal1i Lin­ nected with many important hours Changed". Howard Merrill, one of colll died, tbe CBS took its listeners on on the air, and has toured Europe the juvenile stars of the show, delivered a Ulord-picture tmtr of inspection of for two years with the Revellers. the immortal line: "You can't have too tbis natiollal sbrine as a part of its The team is known as Keen Mara­ many raisins in a cake when you're Li11coln's birthday program. In Wash­ thons. raisin' a family!" There was immedi­ ingtoll this historic feature Ulas broad­ ate talk in th~ treasurer's office of a cast by Stati011 WMAL. raisin his salary, of course! Listeners Ulere conducted througb Alfred Sbirley, before be became fa­ tbe 1IIltsett111 by a mall Ulho has devoted moltS on tbe radio, Ulas quite a familiar. 1110st of bis life to a study of Lincoln. figure on tbe legitimate stage. One Walter Kolomuko can get mad! The He is Lewis G. Reynolds, Cltstodian of night he Ulas playing in a Roul1Ianian leader of Hawaiian ense~ble appearing in the 11luseum. Mr. Reynold's fatber and tragedy in a New York theatre. Mak­ WOR's Mid-Pacific hour on Monday nights, motber Ulere at Pord's Theatre Priday ing bis entrance a little late, be became stood on the sidelines during a rehearsal evening, April 14, 1865, the night of recently, listening to an argument on the excited and lapsed into a ricb Lanca­ Lincoln's assassi1lation. sbire dialect tbat upset all tbe Rou11Ia­ influence of a country's music on its in­ habitants. nian traditions Ulitbin hearing. "Take Hawaii, for instance," said one, "the reason for the laziness of the people is the dreamy, langorous strains tha t they 'plunk' on their guitars and ukuleles." He got no farther. "Who told you Hawaiians are lazy?" demanded Walter, who, although he has been in the United States for many years, is a native Hawaiian. When no answer was forthcoming, he went on with consid­ erable spirit: It happened, swears a certain press Often a person does things on the spur "It is true that much of our music is agent, in one of our metropolitan broad­ of the moment that he would not even dreamy, but there is just as much that has casting studios. Ray Sinnott, announcer, t hink of doing-if he had time to think. swift rythm. Try to keep pace with our in a burst of pessimism had contracted to Such was the case one night recently with dancers some time and see how lazy they take out a brand new insurance policy. Walter Preston, baritone of the trio that are!" sings on the Ingram Shavers program. The The company doctor had arrived, and was hour had started. The orchestra had investigating Mr. Sinnott's diaphragm with played the first chorus. The soloist was various interesting instruments. supposed to si ng the second chorus. Walter LeUlis Lane, j)ianist and comj,oser of He finally drew forth from his black bag a stethoscope and put it to the an­ looked around a nd suddenly realized that tbe NBC music library, like 1110st 11lU­ nouncer's heart. Adjusting one end to his the soloist was not there, althouoh his sicians, sj)ends all bis spare time listen­ music was. So without thinking twice, ears, the doctor groped hither and thither Walter grabbed the piece of music, which ing to music. The otber evening be at­ across the Sinnott body in quest of medi­ he had never before seen or heard, rushed tended the opera at tbe Metropolitan, cal information. It looked like something to the microphone and sta reed singing, just all dressed up like an a1lnOll11Cer under (Continued on page 38) MARCH, 1930 35

Fine Salesman for Broadcasting are all splendid. There is no question but that you are publishing the de luxe radio magazine. Perhaps you'd be interested to know that your magazine -Phillips H. Lord ("Seth Parker"), New York. is very popular with the public; in fact, it is classed at this early date as the

Calls ((Big Ten" Best f'eature ((The Perfect Radio Magazine" Please enter my subscription to RADIO REVUE for two years. Here's hoping you never discontinue the best fea­ Found at last-the perfect radio magazine for the ave­ ture in the magazine-The Big Ten, Best Selling Popular rage listener. And I think that is the classification in Songs of the Month. It's Great !-H. F., Buffalo. which I belong, having been a rabid radio ·fan for nearly seven years. It is not like most other ra­ dio magazines, whose publishers have over­ Wants Mountainville and Nit Wits burdened their columns with technical ar­ ticles to the extent that you must hunt Your January issue proved my first the news that is really of interest to the reading of RADIO REVUE to be a pleasure. listener. RADIO R EVUE is the one maga­ In response to your editorial, asking for zine that you can read from cover to suggestions as to what your readers would cover and appreciate. As a matter of fact, like to see in your magazine, I would like I would feel as though I had missed some­ to see Yolande Langworthy's picture in thing if I did not do this. So, kindly ac­ one of your issues in the near future. Per­ cept my congratulations and best wishes haps you would run a story on Mountain- for the continued success and enter my ville Sketches, too. Miss Langworthy's ~ name on your subscription list, for which writings are wonderful and her voice has I enclose check. that rich warmth that I have not heard in any other artist. I could not find your magazine here, but a friend who Maybe the Nit Wits will come in for a write-up soon. I knows of my keen interest in radio sent me the first two sincerely hope so.-M. W.O., Brooklyn, N. Y. copies from the city. I was especially pleased with the [The Nit Wit Hour was featured in the February issue publicity given to Rudy Vallee and, if I had not received and Miss Langworthy's picture, together with a story on my first copy too late, I would have entered the contest. the Mountainville Sketches, will appear in next issue.-Ed.] But I am going to enter this new one and expect to mail my entry tomorrow. In connection with the subject of "Radio's Greatest Personality," may I say that I thought Seeing Owners of Radio Voices the prize letters were very good. Mr. Hansen deserves I was about to write and ask if a radio magazine for the special congratulations. Most of all, I enjoyed Dale Wim­ listener had ever been thought of and, if not, why not, brow's lines. Let us hear more from the Bard of Broadway. when I ran across the January issue of RADIO REVUE. I am His lines on any subject should be entertaining. enclosing check for $2 and would like my subscription In the article by Mr. Fussy Fan, why does he say one ante-dated to include the first numbers of the publication, thing and then a little later contradict himself? For ex­ if this is possible. Of course, the thing of greatest interest ample, he says he derived real thrills from Roxy's Gang to fans is seeing the owners of the radio voices. I, there­ and then numbers Roxy among his pet aversions. How .fore, hope for lots of good photographs. Just at present does he arrive at this conclusion when Roxy is a large part Amos 'n' Andy, the Sieberling Singers, Caroline Andrews, of every Gang program. Then he does not care about Alma Kitchell and Arcadie Birkenholz are the ones in "wise-cracking announcers" and yet picks several as whom I am most interested.-G. E. M., Woodbridge, Conn. favorites who are, or have been, noted for their wise re­ marks. I heartily agree with his selection of the greatest staff of announcers ever assembled, having known or, rather, heard of them even before the time he mentions. Thank You, Seth Parker! They comprised the Four Horsemen of W]Y before this I have just finished reading RADIO REVUE with a great station gave way to W]Z and WEAF. I do not wish to deal of pleasure. The paper, type, make-up and material (Continued 011 page 36) 36 RADIO REVUE R udy Vallee and Jessica Dragonette Lauded zn Prize Letters

Winners for January ERE are announced the prize First Prize-Margaret H. Heinz, uses all his cleverness to do so. Rudy makes no effort-he doesn't even know awards for the best letters Buffalo. what it's all about, but he accom­ H on the subject of "Who is plishes the same result out of his Second Prize-Frances M. Poist, My Favorite Radio Artist-and Hanover, Pa. sheer naivete. He knows we like to be sung to, and so he sings to us. Why?" There are two lists of Honorable Mention-L. A. Con­ Women feel this inherent decency and winners, one for January and the nors, Cynwyd, Pa.; Oscar Janis, character of the boy, and love him other for February. The contest New York. for it. With the exception of one other, who must remain nameless, I was extended to allow some of our would rather listen to Rudy than to readers extra. time to complete Winners for February any other personality on the air or their letters, but prizes are being First Prize-Margaret M. Lukes, screen, in spite of the fact that as a Philadel phia. real singer he simply isn't-and awarded for both months, accord­ there's a hundred million others like ing to when the individual entry Second Prize-Pearl M. Thomp­ me. was received, ten dollars for first son, South Bend, Ind. It's not much of an undertaking to choice and five' dollars for second. Honorable Mention-Jean S. W. say wherein lies the reason for Rudy's Barnes, White Plains, N. Y.; appeal, but to tell why he is so uni­ True to early indications, Rudy versally set upon and scorned by the Vallee and Jessica Dragonette led Mrs. Blair N. Reiley, East Lans­ men is a different proposition. I downe, Pa.; Carrie E. Nichols, the van, Rudy for January and shall have to leave this vital point New Britain, Conn.; Marjorie L. for further discussion by someone Miss Dragonette for February., Goetschius, Manchester, N. H.; who is better at explaining the vag­ Lack of space prevents us from Kathleen O'Rourke, Manches­ aries of the male sex than am I. printing all the letters, but we offer ter, N. H. In the meantime, as long as we here the first prize letters for both have Rudy and as long as he has us, what do we care what the men think? January and Fehrua.ry. They're only jealous anyway. But, you know, "Fifty million women Call't be wrong!"-Margaret January First Priz e Letter H. Heinz, Buffalo. THE appeal of Rudy Vallee, its cause and effect, constitutes the most burning question of the day. What matter wars and rumors of war, the matter of tariff reform, whether this Jessica Dragonette is my favorite radio artist. I approach v ast country of ours be wet or dry, so long' as a national prob­ Miss Dragonette's hour on the air as I imagine I might have lem of such gravity and scope presents itself to our puzzled walked up the red-carpeted stairs of the opera house years minds? And the worst of it is that, even if a referendum a.go to hear Jenny Lind. were held and a vote taken to determine the reason for his Why is she my favorite radio artist? popularity, the question of what to do about it would still be 1. Because her nightingale voice does all the noblest things unsolved. for me that music can do for man. Rudy is beloved alike by matron and maid. To the flapper 2. Because I have an intense admiration for her as the he represents the hero of her dreams. The matron, while complete artist. listening to Rudy croon, lives over again the days of her own 3. Because her personality comes so clearly to me over the courtship. Personally, I do not believe the question of age air, that after she is finished I always imagine her unseen audi­ enters into the matter at all. His voice is age-less and age­ ence dragging her carriage over a road of stars. old, and the embodiment of all the romantic longings of all May I enter my vote for Miss Dragonette in the popularity women-be they sixteen or sixty. contest ?-Margaret M. Lukes, Philadelphia, Pa. Sometimes I think that his looks, or the fact that he is a y oung man of good breeding and antecedents have, like the flowers that bloom in the spring, nothing to do with the case. Again, I reach the conclusion that these attributes are of very Listeners' Forum material aid to him in holding his popularity. It is probably a fact that this vivid personality of his, which is so intense (Continued from page 35) t hat it comes right through the microphone and gets up in your lap, would not be nearly so pronounced were it not for t his background of breeding which no one who has it can avoid find fault, though, because I really did enjoy it all. I guess evideBcing to some degree. there would be plenty with which ,to find fault in my But he may be handsome, young, boyish; he may play the ideas along, some lines if I were to put these ideas in print. saxophone in a manner to bring envy to the heart of the Angel G abriel himself, but the greatest lure of Rudy for me lies in The feature entitled Static from the Studios is of special h is singing. His voice in itself is nothing to brag about­ interest. Keep it up! p leasant enoug h , but not more so that dozens of others­ Another thing to be commended is the quality of the slig htly-no, more than slightly-decidedly nasal, but none the less fascina ting. What then, is it which causes us "hysterical reproduction of your photographs and the legibility of the w omen" as we a re termed, to hang on his every note? And type, something rare in publications of this price. echo answers, w h a t? T he solution of this problem lies in the fact that he is a I am not particular in my news about the radio artists, clever youngster-he knows how to use that voice. He knows so long as it is news. And, taking it all in all, I think that every woman likes to feel that he is singing just to her­ RADIO REVU E gives it better than .. any other magazine I and 50 he sings to every woman as an individual. The sophisti­ cated m an understands how to bring women to his feet and can name.-F. P., Hanover, Pa. MARCH, 1930 37

((Many Radio Artists Untrained" Pilots Artists' Destinies

HE following artists, well-known to radio audiences, EORGE ENGLES, vice-president of the National T owe their training to Eleanor MacLellan, of distin­ G Broadcasting Company, itl charge of artists and pro­ guished musical history: Betsy Ayres, Gladys Rice, Evelyn grams, is one of the youngest and newest vice-presidents Herbert, Peggy Wood, Dan Beddoe, Dorothy Stone, Paula at 711 Fifth A venue. By reason of his comparatively long Stone, Nydia D'Arnell and Marguerite Ringo, the latter experience with orchestras, ,conductors, prima donnas, sec­ now appearing with great suocess in Italian opera houses. onda donnas, and great artists, he can tell you a little bit Eleanor MacLellan has been teaching in N ew York for ahead of time just what these ladies and gentlemen are go­ the past twenty-five years, and holds a position unique ing to do. If they are suffering from indigestion or tem­ among vocal teachers of this city. She has applied her perament and refuse to do anything, George can tell you method to the creation of radio artists since the inception that, too. of b r 0 adcasting. Here is his brief, She says: but s p e c t acular "I can point to history. He was all my artists and born 1 nth e s e their engagements United States, in with pride. With­ the city of Albany, out exception they capital of New are all working, York State. His and getting paid age does not mat­ for their work. I ter. To our knowl­ believe an artist is edge he has been happier paying for twenty-one for the lessons in this way past ten years and, than by using bor­ when tim e and rowed or donated work permit, he money. Indepen­ ea ts very well. dence is a long step His first con­ toward art i s tic tacts with orches­ Milroy happiness. tras and artists Eleanor MacLellan George Ellgles "The t r 0 u ble d ate b ac k to 1909 , with about one-half of the artists now before the micro­ when he had charge of the New York Symphony Orches­ phone is: first, they are without sufficient musical training tra under the direction of Dr. Walter Damrosch, and later and, secondly, they are without adequate radio experience. with such distinguished guest conductors as Bruno Walter, Why should the great radio broadcasting systems take in Albert Coates and Otto Klemperer. The following emi­ untrained artists and then have to teach them how to nent artists have been led around this country by George speak or sing? and, when they have left the country, they have invariably "When a railroad engineer takes charge of a heavily­ carried with them a little spending money: Paderewski, loaded train, just as when a ship's captain takes command, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Jascha Heifetz, Marion Tal­ he knows what he has to do. He has had training and ley, Paul Kochanski and many others of established repu­ experience in these matters. Why should not a concert tation and recognized ability. singer or a speaker, facing the microphone, know his busi­ George Engles first came to the radio business in May, ness, the arts of singing and speaking, the art of poise, a 1928. In the short space of ten months he was trans­ few languages, and have a refined a,ccent, pleasing to the ferred from the post of manager of the National Brold­ great air audiences? casting Company's Artists' Bureau to that of vice-presi­ "I am afraid part of the fault lies in the great desire to dent in charge of Artists and Program, as we have Slid. make money without training at all, just as a few un­ From this dizzy eminence George beams benignly down trained musicians have made money. But with the present­ upon a company of nearly a thousand persons, some of day competition, how long will they last? If their names whom may be numbered among his old friends in the appear on programs five years from now, I will be greatly treacherous but fascinating music game. surprised. " George plays a fair game of hand-ball, but dire threats Eleanor MacLellan's studios are quite near Central Park prevent us from mentioning the reason for this strenuous West and they are'the center of many a bright musical exercise. Suffi,ce it to say that it provides him with much entertainment. She is a gracious hostess as well as a sound healthy enjoyment and offers him relaxation from the teacher. vigorous strain of his pressing musical activities. 38 RADIO REVUE

J TATIC Tti~ JTU()IUJ (Con tilllied from page 34) tually are. He recalled to them the last ural, if you were near where was decidedly wrong with the announcer's occasion on which he had seen them in there were horses you would cardiac apparatus, for the doctor was mov­ person. That was several years ago at not think of a human voice ing the business end of the stethoscope as the Radio Manufacturers' Ass'n show being able to perform such a though it were the dial of a recelvmg set. Finally the radio-minded Mr. Sinnott in New York, when they came un­ feat. Possibly this feat would could stand it no longer. heralded from Chicago to appear as work in the Farm and Home "Let's see what's on at WMCA," he sug­ "Sam and Henry." "Say," commented Hour." g ested. Mr. Correll, "we sure were frightened on that occasion. We were just about Alfred J. McCosker, director of scared stiff." WOR, and Mrs. McCosker, left recent­ ly for a West Indies cruise on the Hol­ land-American steamship Vollendam. Alma Kitchell, NBC contralto, is They will be gone for three weeks, receiving a wide response to the stopping at Port Au Prince, Jamaica, program she sings on Sunday morn­ Colon, in the Panama Canal Zone, Ha­ ings. Recently the Mayor of Palm vana and Nassau. During his absence, Beach wrote and asked her the com­ A. A. Cormier will be in charge of the poser of the very technical number station. Mr. Cormier is Mr. McCos­ she had sung, called ~~The Anchor ker's assistant and is also in charge of Song." Alma finally discovered Tbe Syll'allia Foresters Quartet is di­ the sales division of the station. that he referred to a song entitled rected by Roy Close, wbicb, one wag ~~ Vainka," by Whishaw. Alma bas re11larked, is no doubt responsible wrote him to the effect that his mis­ for tbeir "close" barmony. George F. Johnson, president of the understanding of the title was due Endicott-Johnson Corporation, of Endicott, to poor diction on somebody's part N. Y., which recently began a year's and, inasmuch as the title was not Bobby Reinhart, master of ceremonies broadcasting over WOR and the other mentioned in the text of the song, for the Checker Cabbies program over members of the Quality Group of stations, WOR, has given more youngsters a chance WLW, Cincinnati and WMAQ, Chicago, she disclaimed the responsibility. to appear on the air, than any man on is so satisfied with the work of the artists Broadway. Bobby is a lways looking for on the program that he has granted them talent, and every Thursday, when the membership in the "Industrial Democracy," "Cabbies" broadcast, you'll hear a new which heretofore has been the exclusive voice, in addition to the old standbys, privilege of the workers. Raymond Knigbt recently staged il1 Johnny Buss and Phil Brae. Everyone, Colonel J. W. O'Mahoney, who is in bis "Cuckoo Hour", Station Ku-Ku, from blues singer to opera student comes charge' of Endicott-Johnson's broadcasting, to Bobby for an audition, and he gives them read the telegram which conveyed the (NBC) a burlesque on Ligbt-beaded. a chance if they have anything at all to news of Eugene Ormandy, his orchestra H011sekeeping, tbe complete absence of offer. and other artists at a recent rehearsal and Daily Stock Quotations, tbe Voice of "You never can tell," ' says Bobby smil­ the subsequent cheering nearly disrupted Excelsior, tbe great mystery drama: ingly, by way of explanation. "Fanny studio activities. Membership in the "Industrial Democ- "Wbo was Bebind Grandfatber's Grand­ Brice peddled papers down by the sub­ way, and Rosie Ponzillo didn't seem like (COil tinued 011 page 40) fatber Clock?" or Sa~'ed by Eastern much when she warbled ditties in Cafe Dayligbt Saving Time, and a fake foot­ Mellone, back in New Haven. Today, ball matcb between tbe Alaska U ni­ Fanny is a headliner, and Rosie Ponzillo is versity Walrzzses and tbe Florida Col­ Rosa Ponselle, of Metropolitan fame. Why lege Lemon Pickers. It was excellenl not give the kids a hand?" fooling. .STI

Romances ill Biograpby-WMCA-Sat­ urday, 5:30 P.M. Terse talks on the Yesterday and Today ill Medicine- ~ rfI-- .. ~it \ characters of the great, by David St. WLW-Wednesday, 7 P.M. Series ~e$2 .. ~\ ' Pauline. of talks on modern prevention and I ~/I f1.(Ms:::'\ trea tment of disease as contrasted ! . if~~"~ ~ ACO Entertaillers-WMCA-Monday, \ with old methods, presented by Uni- 'I ~~~' 9:30 P.M. Devoted exclusively to ., . . h J ~ tI versity of Cmcmnatl, Wit co-opera- t ~ ~ '" I Negro music, played by Negro mu­ tion of Academy of Medicine of Cin- sicians, under the guidance of Moe \~ ""1\$~ ~. Gale, white entrepreneur of Harlem cinn"i. hi entertainments. . l-< ",/ • • . ."~ 1 ..... - ....,-\~'~..\ .4,~"'\,: ' East of Cairo-WEAF-Wednesday, , ..... - .:~':~- ~~. ~ The search for novel, unusual ,~O · "")lpV) . 8:30 P.M. New adventure series, and entertaining broadcasts is one ~ 11...1 r.l.'-',I.-/ telling the exploi ts of two young that ttgrays" the hair of program- c.. American soldiers of fortune. Writ­ mers of ail stations. In the few 'WItowan.t.lacts ten by Raymond Scudder, with mu­ years of radio's evolution nearly sical background directed by Sven everything adaptable to broadcast- , on the JobslUlilJ Von Hallberg. ing has been used. Instruments of Old King Cole Stories-WEAF-Mon­ all types, singly and in groups have nnnn ID.. RADIO day, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fri­ found their place before one micro- .,,,~,., day, 5 P.M. Tales, songs and riddles You \\;ll find tbe true pi~tm:e or ~adio's many phone or anoth er. opportunities for a good Job 10 :t¥s h?<>k. H~re for the kiddies, with George Mitchell For the first time in WOR's his- are some of your Opporturutles ill Radio. Broadcasting Stations use engineers, o~rators. as Old King Cole. Sponsored by tory, however, it presented a ttplec- station maI4:.gers, and pay $1,800 to $;),000 a year. R adio Manufacturers emplox testers, Rex Cole, Inc., 265 Fourth Avenue, trum" orchestra recently for forty- inspectors, foremen, engin~rs. ser~-Ice men, New York, N. Y. buyers and manal?ers for .Jobs paymg np to five minutes, under the listing 0 f $15.000 a year. Shipping Companiesyse hun- Play of tlJe Montb-WABC-Fort­ dreds of operators, give them ~orId Wide travel ttThe Serenaders," with Wi11 iam and $85 to $~OO a month besides. nightly, on Tuesday, 6:45 P.M. Out­ Edward Foster, as director. Radio Dealers and Jobbers (there are over standing personalities of the stage 35,000) are continually on tbe lookout for good service men. salesmen, buyers, managers a.nd presented in connection with a play pay $30 to $100 a week for good men. Talking l'IIO\'ies pay as mucb as $75 to $.200 a week to selected for each program. A pall was cast over tbe second per­ men witb Radio training. BesIdes there are opportunities almost everywbere f?r yo~ to AP preciatioll of Poetry in You tb­ formance of Cesare Sodero's O1Vn grand have a spare time or full time RadIO busmess WABC-Tuesday, 3:45 P.M. Series opera, r'Ombre Russe," recently, U'ben of your own-to be your own boss. I am showing hundreds ewry year how to make of talks by Harry Webb Farrington it was leamed tbat Moe RielJ, one of tbe much more money in Radio tb3~ tbey co.!.ll~ make in their old jobs. J. A. \ ' augbn, 3.1;) to children. violinists in tIle NBC orclJestra, bad died S Kingshigbway, St. Louis, M o., jumped fro~ $35 to $100 a week . E. E. Winborne, 1414 ". El1dicott-Jobnson Hour-WOR, \X7LW just before tbe dress relJearsal. His deatb 48tb St., 1'iorfolk, Ya., seldom m ak~ under $100 a week now . .My book pro,'es It. Yo.u and WMAQ-Sunday, 8 P.M. Sym­ was attributed to a beart attack, super­ needn't give up yoU! j ob to learn. All I ask IS phony orchestra and symphonic jazz induced by acute indigestion. Wbile Mr. some of your spare tune. I will sbow you ten jobs that you can do for band, under direction of Eugene Or­ Ricb bad not lon g been in the orchestra extra money tbe day you enroll. Througbout your course I'll sbow you additional plans tbat mandy, the Boys' Club Quartet and IJe IJad made many friends The rat/Jer &re making $200 to $1,000 a year for bundred.s of students while taking my course. G. \\. "Happy Dan" Laster, oldest em­ som bre setting of Mr. Sodero's opera Page, l\"oel Block Garage, N.asbvj)\e.. Tenn., ployee, in point of service, of Endi­ sened as an appropriate eulogy. made $935 in hi& spare time while studyIng. cott-Johnson firm, who will provide l\1 y 6~page book tells you where tbe good Radio jobs are, ",hat tbey p~y, bow to get one. human element in program. II tells you ahout my reVIsed and enlarged R adio course of o\'er 50 Lesson, Books, ov~r:j,O Know Y01lr United States-WEN R and Harry Reser and his Clicquot Service Sbeets giving informatIOn on servlcl,!g different makes of sets, tbe 8 9utfits of Radio W9XF-Thursday, midnight (cen­ Club Eskimos, an organization made Parts I gh'e for a Home Expenmental ~ra­ tory, my Lifetime Employmen~ ServIce and tral time). Musical travelogue, tell­ nationally famous by radio, are sew­ otber features. Get it. R ead It. Tben yeu ing the world the advantage of liv­ ing additional service stripes on can decide one way or the otber. J. E. SMITH, President ing in the United States. Under di­ their furry garments. The reason National Radio Institute, Dept. OC80 rection of Everett Mitchell, chief an­ is that a new contract between the Wash1nston. D. Co nouncer of WENR. NBC and the Clicquot Club Com­ Works of Sbakespeare-WPCH-Thurs­ pany has been signed and the Es- ' day, 6:20 P.M. Presentations of fa­ kimos will be heard for another mous plays of Bard of A von by Clas ­ year through the NBC System. By sic Radio Players, under direction of way of celebration they were heard Ben S. Mears, actor and playwright. twice in one week. The Eskimos, Each play to be broadcast in three now among the real veterans on the parts, one part a week. air, made their first appearance in Adventures in CitizensIJijr-WEAF­ December, 1925. Now in their fifth lyame ...... Tuesday, 7 P.M. Series of four ex­ year, they have never missed a week Address •...... •... ..•....•••••••...•. perimental programs presented by before the microphone since. City .....•....•...... •.••Stale ...• 40 RADIO REVUE

JTATIC Tti~ JTU()lf)1 (Conti1lued f ro 11l page 38 Dolores Cassinelli, NBC soprano, is of the leading sponsored features, quite upset. Because she's gorgeous racy" means that every artist and mem­ with innumerable sustaining pro­ bers of his or her family will be entitled looking, she has been referred to in a grams on the side. to medical care, with country club and all num/ber of newspapers as a "Spanish other privileges. It is the first time that beauty." She's really Italian. Accord­ radio artists have actually been taken into ing to Miss Cassinelli, she has received the "official family" of any corporation. NBC studiOS, so cool iu tbe sum11ler dozens of letters from Italian friends, tbat they are sometimes called "ice who accuse her of changing her colors. boxes," are comfortably warm tbese "Is must be the Dolores that fools days, according to tbe persons w/JO Futry recovered fr01l1 a tbree montbs' them," she said. "The Cassinelli part work iu tbem. Yet tbe temperature in siege of illness, Jerry Solow rece7ttly re­ is Italian." every studio is constaltt tbe year 'rOtl1td tumed to tbe Solow Soloists on WMCA - 72 degrees. Tbe difference in out­ SZlIlday 11zoming at 11 o'clock. Since side te11l peratures aCCOZlll ts for tbe last October, lUben be u/as first stricken seemillg differeuce ill studio beat, it witb spillal 11leningitis, Jerry bad lain was explailled. 011 a cot at St. Villcent's Hospital. Tbere was a time, just before Cbrist­ mas, wben doctors gaue up all bope of saving bis life. He was placed ill a The largest pipe organ ever built ex­ glass-enclosed room, treated witb oxy­ clusively for radio use has been installed ge 1l , and, zubell be lapsed illto a coma, Harold Sanford was conducting in the studios of. Station WCCO, the a priest was called to administer tbe last ((The Chimes of Normandy" by Minneapolis station of the CBS. It is rites. But Jerry pulled tbrougb. D oc­ a three-manual instrument especially Planquette at the NBC recently. A tors declare tbat tbe tbousands of let­ designed and built for WCCO after chain, to be used in producing a ters receh 'ed frail! radio failS were a four years of experimentation. The sound effect, was slung over a music vital factor ill belpillg tbe youtbful pipes, chests and other equipment oc­ stand. Dorothy Ingling, a singu­ singer bad. to bealtb. cupy two sound insulated rooms at one larly inquiring person, came into end of the studios, while the console is the studio and asked what the chain in the main studio. 'was for. Henry Shope, NBC top tenor, ar­ ((They can't use that here," said rived at the studio the other day, Ellis McDiarmid, well known flu­ somewhat excited as a result of an tist, ((that's a Columbia chain." One of the most dazzling of the encounter with a traffic officer, in hostesses at the NBC's New York which Henry carried off a souvenir studios is Her Highness the Prin­ in the form of a ticket for speeding. When Walter Winchell spoke over cess Sonya Brounova, a Russian He went to a rehearsal and was WABC during the Littmann Program re­ noblewoman. surprised to learn that he had been cently, he related an incident regarding an interview he had with Rudolph Valen­ assigned to sing, as a solo, an old tino a short time before the late star's English song: ((What If I Never death. The subject of their conversation Speed." was a slave bracelet which Valentino wore on his wrist and which was given to him LYRIC /OPRANO by Jean Acker, his first wife. Rudy had said that, although many considered it effeminate to wear such adornments he would always do so because of his great fondness for its giver. Several telephone calls followed Win­ MURIEL chell's broadcast. One was from Jean Acker, who h a ppened to be listening in. She was deeply touched by the words of ~I==~ It IlSON the columnist and thanked him for the tribute he paid to Valentino, who she still Little Barbua Loebrich, of NBC pro­ thinks the finest man she has ever known. duction department, recently volun­ teered to assist in the "mob" required ~ONCERT to cheer the en trance of Napoleon. Merle Johnston, who conducts ()RATORIO When the trumpets announced the ar­ the Ceco COllriel'S program, heard rival of the Emperor Napoleon in regularly over W ABC and the t>PERA~ "Kay" Seymour's "Famous Loves", all CBS' claims the highest record of management the mob cheered as directed: "Hail, any broadcasting artists for ap­ NATIONAL BROADCASTING AND Napoleon, our Emperor" Barbara went pearances on commercial pro grams. CONCERT 8UREAU native American and yelled: "Hail, Co­ During his years years on the air, 711flfTH AVENUE NEW YORK lumbia !" Johnston has played on forty-five MARCH, 1930 41

~~~~~'~J Indelible Lipstick The lips should always be more vivid than the cheeks­ i "LESSONS IN LO:VELINESS" ~ that you know-but they should be of the same tone, and ~ by ~ should match the color in the face perfectly and, since ~ ~ the lips usually have a bit of natural color, it is best to use the same shade of rouge and lipstick. There is a new indelible lipstick (name on request) that ~ lW. y~ ~ is actually and safely indelible, which means that it will ~ Radio Beauty Adviser ~ stay on for hours, no matter how much you talk or eat ~u~ssnsns~~,~sn~,u~,~~S~"~~~{ or drink. It gives the lips a soft, "dewy" appearance--'­ yet not oily, and contains a protective ingredient which Make-up keeps the lips from chapping. One of the pitfalls to avoid in selecting rouge and lip­ AKE-UP is the final aid to facial beauty. It can stick is the "in-between" shades. You are more certain to M make a lovely face look lovelier and it can trans­ get an attractive, natural effect by selecting either light, form a "plain" face into an attractive one. Make-up is medium or dark, according to your own personal color­ no longer used with the mistaken impression that it will ing, and then taking a moment or so to blend in the rouge cover up skin blemishes, but there are very few complex­ evenly-and to apply the lip~tick so that it will emphasize ions that are flawless enough not to need its artful aid, the lips, alluringly, but not obviously "painted". PROVIDED, of course, that make-up is properly selected For the next "Lesson in Loveliness" I will tell you just according to the natural coloring. how each type of features should be rouged-to make a It ,is not safe to be guided by something "for blondes" round full face appear more oval-a thin long face look or "for brunettes" because not all blondes have a fair skin pleasingly rounded-to minimize high cheek bones-so nor do all brunettes have an olive complexion. There is you can practice it before your own mirror. the .f,air brunette type with a much lighter coloring than [Editor's Note--This is the first of a series of ttLes­ a creamy or "Spanish" type of blonde. Then there are the sonsn in Loveliness" by Miss Vinick which will appear red-haired types and the in-between type with light or every month in Radio Revue. For information on dark brown hair and creamy, fair or olive skin. To advise your beauty problems, address Nell Vinick, Beauty you on your personal selection I would have to know the Adviser, in care of Radio Revue, Six Harrison Street, color of your eyes-of your hair~the tone of your com­ New York, N. Y.] plexion-and your age-but here is some general informa­ tion that applies to every woman. Radio Gives Actress Greater Thrill Than Powder Does Stage Powder should always be a trifle deeper than the tone of (Continued from page 9) your skin as a lighter shade emphasizes any lines or whom are individual, can you wonder that I find radio the wrinkles or "hollows" and it is well to remember that most interesting field in the world? Yes, it's because of powder looks darker or deeper in the box or display tube the people and I know yqu all agree with me. That's than it will look on the skin. If powder "flakes" or simply why I'm writing-so that I can put some of these people will not stay on, it is usually an indication of a dry skin into stories and let the rest of you know how interesting and in that event a hit of your nourishing cream, lightly this place is. patted in, then wiped off, will act as a protective film and Do I like working with Miss Le Gallienne and her com­ a perfect powder base. If powder "cakes" or streaks it pany in the Civic Repertory broadcast? I should say I do. usually indicates that your skin is too oily. And don't I played with Eva once, several years ago, and I still think forget to powder your forehead. A shiny forehead is just she's the most remarkable actress in the theatre today. as bad as a shiny nose. It's been great to work with her again. Would the plays I appeared in be of interest? Let's see Rouge -there was The Girl With the Green Eyes-I was she­ Many women are discovering that rouge in cream form In the Next R00111 , East Side, West Side, Shanghai Ges­ gives the skin the most natural effect. Another great ad­ ture and many others. vantage of a good cream rouge is that it will stay on for Yes, I've done movie work, and I hope to do more, at hours without need of renewing. Think of the comfort, some future time, but just at the moment I'm more in­ the added assurance of knowing that you do not con­ terested in radio. It's like a growing child, and I want to stantly have to be dabbing on more rouge every fifteen help it grow. I want to tryout new ideas, to write new minutes or so. stories, to find out what the audiences like, to work out It is important, of course, to select a cream rouge, such new sound effects with our expert, Harry Swan, to adjust as Drezma, which is not too oily or too dry, but just words and music in such a way that you can all see the creamy enough to blend in easily and smoothly. picture of a Russian village or the poetry of the Mexican Unlike a dry rouge-a cream rouge is applied before the desert. powder. If the skin is dry or sensitive to cold weather, And let me say here, if you think your letters don't a tiny bit of nourishing cream gently patted in, then mean a great deal to us here at the studio-well, you're wiped off, makes a perfect base for blending in cream mistaken. I guess there's nothing more to say, so I'll sign rouge. For oily skins-while the skin is still a trifle moist off now. This is Georgia Backus, taking the air over the with astringent. Columbia Broadcasting System. 42 RADIO REVUE

~~~ ~ ~ I2A()If) I~ TIi~ tif)M~ I Edited by Mrs. A. M. Goudiss FOlwdel' and Ma1tager of the Forecast School of Radio Cookery, NBC § I~ ~ ~U~~~~ssuusnn~~

JEDITOR'S NOTE: We deeply regret that\ Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning at /the serious illness of Mrs. Julian Heath "­ 11 to 11.30 Eastern Standard Time, it is my privilege to precludes us from printing her department tell of expert kitchen operations, of foods that build and this month. We are indebted to anot.her attract, and of a work 'that is almost gay. I talk gen­ enthusiast for the home and sane cooking, Mrs. A. M. Goudiss, who has literally stepped erally to women, and to women with families, whose duty into the kitchen for us, although her invi- it is to feed their families right, for their own good and "" tation to housewives is: ((Come Out of the r for the good of their community and country. The ,Kitchen." ( kitchen must be an airy, pleasant, clean and uncluttered Come Out of the Kitchen place to live in for a little while each day, beautifully Good M or n i n g, organized and de- Neighbors: lightfully produc­ It is my belief tive. that the w 0 r s t Too often food thing that could talks are stuffy. happen tot his Too often they are country is that the dictato ria 1. One housewife, with all must eat this and her new freedom, drink that, wheth­ clubs, em ancipa­ er one hates them tions and-if you or not. This food will pardon me­ is good for one; complexes, should that is harmfuL come to ha te the Why? What is the kitchen, for, de­ matter with good, spite the fireside honest, b 0 i led a~d the piano, the onions and cheese heart is where the or a good scram­ Mrs . A . M. GO lldiss. kitchen is, in a real bled egg if you like D/". A. M. G01ldiss. home. them? Jot them Of course, it is down and g i v e equally disastrous that she should be asked to spend whole them another trial. days and half the nights in her kitchen. Too many In my office I preach the pleasant sermon of healthful women, alas! do food, and back not realize that of that office I there is a world have a sun n y outside the kitch­ radio kit chen, en door. Women where good had to come out things are tested, of t he kitchen to cooked and eaten. meet th ~ rest of That is the creed the world but, at of this w h ite­ the sa me time, enamel kitchen, they h a ve t 0 manned bye x­ know it, and rule pert cooks. If you h a ve any it - rna k e it pro b I ems on serve them and cookery and food theirs - instead preparation, you o f be in g its may write to me slaves. I invite in care of the you, I urge you, National Broad- to come out of (Col1tintted 011 the kitchen! Mrs. GO lldiss' Real Radio Kitchen. J;age 48) MARCH, 1930 43 44 RADIO REVUE

the dark or vivid shades are much smarter than pastel tones for blouses worn with the new spring dressmaker suits? And speaking of replacements ... that silk scarfs are much ~~ more dashing than fur scarfs? Did you know that Fashion has the blues daytime and ~ FASHIONS ~ evening? And that French designers have their eye­ brows up to the top of their foreheads and their mouths ~ By MARIE BLIZARD e wide open in astonishment and wonder that blue ... that ~ Radio Authority on Styles ~ lovely bright, light blue they have tried so many times to bring back . . . is suddenly the smartest of the evening ~~"S~~~~s~~"S~~ss~~s2 colors? And that smoky light blue for daytime and bois de rose in flat crepe are grand? DITOR'S NOTE-This is the first of a Did you know that velvet is absolutely out and taffeta series of articles on fashions by Marie is absolutely in? That flat crepe printed with clusters of EBlizard, fashion db'ector of the Columbia flowers is one of ,the smartest fabrics for evening? And Broadcastil1g System. Miss Blizard will be pleased to a11Swer any questions on styles. that tweed is the smartest of the daytime fabrics? Address her in care of Radio Revue, Six Hal'­ And did you know that a band of tulle or chiffon rison Street, New York, N. Y. around your short evening dress makes it look new and smart? And that a touch of lingerie ... ruflles and cuffs NE'S initial article in ~ series on fashions should cover of net or organdie ... a shawl or scarf of flat crepe .. O the basic principles of fashion-lines, colors and fab­ demure bands of pique ... always in snowy white ... rics. Yet each one of these three fundamentals of fashions will make a success of an old dress? is of such interest and importance that it is quite impossi­ Now, it's your turn to ask me questions. And I will ble to cover it in a limited be happy to answer them if you will address me in care space. of this magazine. Besides, much has been said of the "new" fashions, which are now "familiar" Sound Effects Made ta Order for Radio ones. The revolution in the Programs mode was so arresting and its success was so rapid that (Conti1lued fro111 page 22) every fashion writer has bourine, Indian tom-tom, Oriental drum, sand blocks, outdone herself in her ef­ bicycle bells, parking auto, fire-works, cap pistols, baby forts to clear up any doubts cry, ,chain rattle, sleigh bells, real cloth tearing, sword duel, regarding its importance. flies, bee buzz, tin pan crashes, cork pulling, falling trees, I am going to condense handsaw, acetylene torch, ambulance bell, train bell, crow, my facts .. . and put my duck quack, rooster crow, hen <:ackle, cat meow and many information into catechism others. form. , Whenever a script calls for any sound effects, Mr. I am sure you all recog­ Nichols is called upon. The other day some programs nize the fact that long were being recorded in the Judson studios. The script skirts are in (for a few called for the unsheathing of a sword. Mr. Nichols years anyway, regardless of achieved the desired effect by casually donning a pair of public protest) but ... did mail gauntlets and producing a sword attached to his you know that any skirt table, which he simply pulled out of its sheath at the more than four i1lcbes be­ proper moment. For the most part, however, sounds are low the knee for street wear produced by mechanical appliances attached to the table. is as unfashionable as one He merely presses buttons, and the ocean waves begin to four inches above? roll, a tree falls, a board squeaks. All noises are possible You all know that the with his complicated machine. natural waistline is THE Recently William B. Murray received the following waistline. Did you know telegram from Mr. Nichols: "Ruined my ocean waves stop that, if' you are too high­ won't be at studio today." All of which goes to show waisted or too low-waisted, that the business of producing sound on the radio is a you should adjust your belt very sad and serious one. to the most becoming placement as 1lear the normal waist ­ W ABC has acquired an automatic sound-effects machine line as possible? which, by means of pulling ropes and pushing buttons, can produce over thirty different sounds. These range from Two-Piece Costume Is In the mighty roar of thunder and lions to motorboat whistles You all know that the two-piece dress is out. However and ferry-boat sirens. the two-piece costume is in! Did you know that silk The entire machine is housed in a cabinet about the size blouses are smarter than sweaters with woolen skirts? In­ of a modern phonograph. It does not do away with the cidentally, a bright red flat crepe blouse worn with a sound-effects man-it merely makes his life easier, al­ brown tweed skirt or a dark blue fl at crepe blouse worn though he is just as important as ever. It takes one a few with a grey tweed skirt are very chi c. Did you know that days to " get to know the thing". MARCH, 1930 45

Editorials tation in radio at Cleveland before coming to the NBC. He sings leading roles with the National Light Opera (Continued from page 32) Company and does quite a bit of concert work through-: The average client has sense enough to leave the plan­ out the East. ning and production of his radio program to these highly Steele Jamison, second tenor, formerly was soloist in the trained specialists. But quite a few cl~ents apparently are leading church in Pittsburgh. He was one of the early confident that they knoV{ much more about the ,business venturers into broadcasting and has been on the air con­ themselves. These few constitute one of the greatest sistently for the past few years, on NBC programs. menaces that radio broadcasting faces today. Darl Bethmann, baritone, originally came from Pennsyl­ The way it works in this: an advertising agency or one vania. During the past few years he has been heard on of the big chains creates a really original idea for a radio many well known NBC programs, including the National program. By dint of much persuasion they manage to Grand Opera, National Light Opera and Tone Pictures. get a client to agree to sponsor this new series of hours. His specialty is singing German lieder. All goes well until after the first broadcast. Then Mr. Harry Donaghy, our bass, has been broadcasting since Know-It-All, the client, egged on by the opinions, pos­ 1923. He was a member of the Elite Opera Company sibly, of his better half and her bridge club, starts to sug­ and has appeared in a number of stage productions. He gest changes-and suggestions from him are equivalent to has also heen in vaudeville and pictures, and has done a commands, inasmuch as he pays the hills. great deal of phonograph recording with Victor, Columbia, Then follows a h~tic period. First, he says the dra­ Brunswick and other companies. matic sketch in his hour is too old-fashioned. Something Curt Peterson, who announces our program each week, more modern is substituted and then he concludes that was born in Albert Lea, Minn. He was graduated from the sketch might better be omitted entirely. Next he the University of Oregon with the degree of Ba~helor of starts on the music, which had originally been planned Science in 1920, after serving in the World War as a purely as atmosphere for the sketch. The music has been lieutenant of infantry. Before entering the radio field too classical, he says. People want something more lively. Mr. Peterson, a baritone, was a singer and a teacher of So, after as much protest as can safely be made, there is voice at Miss Mason's Castle School for Girls. no course left but to change the music. Next a speaker . - is substituted for the dramatic sketch and then is with­ Soprano Modulator-Radios Latest Wonder drawn after a few weeks, in favor of a male quartet. (Continued from page 33) Now Mr. Know-It-All declares that there is not enough variety, so he adds a soprano or a contralto + W Y QF = A X + I 2 3, drop one, purl one. A crooner to the hour. By this time the original idea has slide rule must be attached to the Modulator as any de­ been mutilated beyond recognition. The listener, who had viation from this equation will change soprano notes to been led by early publicity releases to expect something those of the tenor, and that is another problem. Two entirely unusual in radio programs, cynically concludes carefully tested hetereogenous gaps, one unicellular amoeba that this is "just another progI;:am." The trained special­ and a galvanic thyroid, used with a push-pull circuit, com­ ists throw up their hands in despair at the slaughter of a plete the equipment. really original idea. And even Mr. Know-It-All finally The method in which the Modulator works is quite in­ decides that radio hroadcasting isn't what it should be and teresting. The label is left off the soup can, and the that the listeners don't appreciate "real art" in broadcast­ soprano, seeing it as she sings, becomes hungry for some ing. chicken gumbo soup, which in turn brings out a yearning This crit,icism is not leveled at the entire broadcasting quality that is discouraging to high notes. The yearning business, nor at anyone program, but rather at a condi­ becomes so great that the poor soprano is forced to desist tion that exists in the industry. If a client is willing to from her singing, so-called, and betake herself to the near­ pay a big price for the advertising of his wares, and has est restaurant, where she finds th

The Two Troupers (C0n.tinued from page 30)

THE BIG TEN about it as a native son. MARcELLA-Then, as J. P. McAvoy says, "You're a cli­ mate salesman", huh? Best Selling Popular Songs of the Month HELENE-And how very! Well, now, let me me-we're down to where we met on the Eveready Hour when you NCE again there looms on the horizon a ray of hope played Dixie and I your sister, Nita, in ShOw Girl, by for songs other than theme songs from talking pic· the aforesaid Mr. McAvoy. Now you ask me how I O tures. However, judging from past experience, this condition is likely to be only temporary. Whereas last came to team up with the effervescent Marcella Shields month The Big Ten was composed entirely of theme songs, and -- I say -- "Well -- it was in this wise­ this month there are three songs in the list that are not many people suggested that we should work together theme songs. Then, again, the two leaders, Cryin' for the Carolines and because of the difference in our voices and radio per­ Happy Days Are Here Agaill, became widely popular before sonalities, and that the idea was pleasing to both of they were incorporated and heard in their respective pic­ tures. So, for a while at least, it seems that there is again us, but that you were under contract to Eveready all hope for the good old popular song. winter and I was busy with various radio hours and the During the past month, as compared with the previous "talkies." month, there have been numerous changes in the list. Only four of last month's ten remain. These are I'm a Dreamer; MARCELLA-Will you please let me· say something for a Aren't We All?, If 1 Had a Talking Picture of You, A Little -change-I'm about to burst with pent-up information. Kiss Each Morning and The Chaltt of the Jungle. A number HELENE-Hold everything, Gabby Liz,-let me finish my of new vigorous songs have appeared and many in the offing threaten to break into the charmed circle. part of this interview, will you? MARCELLA-All right-all right-What happened after 1. Cryin' for the Carolines you decided to join forces with the '''charming'' Miss from Spring is Here (Remick Music Corpo­ Shields? ration) HELENE-Well, we first decided that we'd like to present some true-to-life snapshots of the vaudeville world, as 2. Happy Days Are Here Again most people are interested in stage life. We conceived from Chasing Rainbows (Ager, Yellen & the characters and proceeded to write our first sketch, Bornstein) making me the "wise cracking" and slightly "hard 3. I'm a Dreamer; Aren't We All? boiled" vaudevillian and you, the littel dizzy, "Dumb Dora." from Sunny Side Up (De Sylva, Brown & Henderson) MARCELLA-And don't forget, that I kept getting "dumber" and "dumber" with each script. 4. If I Had a Talking Picture of You HELENE-Then, after a number of auditions at NBC The from Sunny Side up (De Sylva, Brown &: Two Troupers were pres~nted to the radio audience in a Henderson) series of half-hour programs with -a jazz band. Our 5. The Chant of the Jungle signature number, "Two Little Girls in Blue" was Gor­ don Whyte's suggestion and we considered it a very from Untamed (Robbins Music Corporation) good one. Well, I guess that buttons that up. 6. Should I? MARCELLA-Yes-just like your over·coat. (Giggle). Well, from Lord Byron of Broadway (Robbins all there is left now is to put in what we have been do­ Music Corporation) ing lately. 7. Congra tula tions HELENE-Oh, yeah !-I know what you're all hot and bothered about-you want me to tell them that you (De Sylva, Brown & Henderson) were on the Fleischmann Hour with Rudy Vallee for 8. A Little Kiss Each Morning several weeks. from The Vagabond Lover (Harms, Inc.) MARCELLA-No--no-I'm not one of those girls who raves and tears her hair about Rudy-hut I do think 9. 'Tain't No Sin he's awfully nice, and-- (Walter Donaldson) HELENE-Yeah-yeah-I know.--Why, you even tried 10. The One I Love Can't be Bothered to put on the dog with me, until Mr. Shilkret used us with Me on the Victor Hour that night that Rudy and all those big stars were on and we had our 'picture taken with (Leo Feist, Inc.) him, and-- MARCELLA-Well, I didn't notice you ' exactly ignoring It will be noticed that we have included the names of the him, Miss Handin, but that's enough about that. I publishers of these songs. If there is any further informa­ tion our readers desire about the popular songs they hear want to get in about my playing "Alice Through the over the radio--who wrote them, who publishes them, where Looking Glass" for Eveready lately and that I'm on the they can be obtained or in wh at pictures they appear, etc.,­ Frances Ingram program ·and The Jameses and-that I RADIO REVUE will gladly answer all such questions. Merely write Popular Song Editor, RADIO REVUE, Six was in a swell new show, the first one of the Miniature Harrison Street, New York, N. Y. Enclose a stamped , self­ Theatre of the Air. addressed envelope if you desire a direct reply. HELENE-That reminds me-I forgot to mention my being featured in the Potier series for Eveready last MARCH, 1930 47

Summer. Well, outside of the fact that I've also been doing various hours, Harbor Lights, etc., I guess there isn't any more to tell. MARCELLA-Aren't you going to tell that you are a SING SANTLY SONGS D. A. R.-you always want to brag about that, it seems. THEy'RE HELENE-Well, why shQuldn't I? It isn't everyone who had ancestors who "fit" in the Revolution. SWEET .. SMART SNAPPY MARCELLA-Oh-ho-give me time and maybe I can dig '~ up a grandmother who came over in the Mayflower. HELENE-Joking aside, MarceHa, I think we'd better cut T bey sat . .. «BESIDE AN OPEN FIRE- this short, don't you? MARCELLA-I think so, Helene, we don't want to tell PLACE" . «SINGIN G A VAGABOND everything we know. SONG". . He said . . . «HONEY HELENE-Yea, verrily.-WeII, let's make our exit laugh­ ingly, by telling them about our domestic accomplish­ SUCKLE ROSE" ... «I'VE GOT A NEW ments, such as our ability to cook-sew-keep house LOVE AFFAIR" . . . «MY FATE IS IN and drive a car-only we haven't any car! And that we both swim and dance and DON'T LIKE BRIDGE YOUR HANDS" Sbe said . .. «I NEVER -and-- DREAMT YOU'D FALL IN LOVE MARCELLA-In fact, we're practically-boy scouts! WITH ME" ... Curtain. AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER Interest in Opera Fast Waning ((SINGING SANTLY SONGS" (Continrud from page 26) (Hey - Hey - Hey!) often accompanies her. By this marriage the star became an American citizen. She recently bought an estate in Palos Verdes, near Los Angeles, and expects to build an American home there. When not on tour, she spends her ~ 755 7th Ave., N. Y. C. winters in California, and the summers in her vacation SANILY BROS • C. Earl Carroll Thea. Budg. home i~ the Catskills, where she likes to dance, play golf, and swim, her preference being in the order named. Her farewell to the Metropolitan Opera House, where she sang the sprightly role of Rosina in The Barber of Seville, tha t boisterous opera by Rossini-and one of her best impersonations-was the signal for a great ovation. CARSON ROBISON Those privileged to witness this last performance were accorded a feast for the eye and ear. Madame Galli­ Curci's costume, topped with a bright red Spanish comb, heartily made a colorful picture. She played the role in a vein of well-conceived and high spirited archness, giving the recommends impression that she is far from "finished" with opera, and that opera sustains a great loss in her present decision. to his Radio The lesson scene in the third act was graced .by the famous "Shadow Song" from Dil1orah, the principal aria friends the of her New York debut in 1916. As an encore, she obliged wi~h "Home, Sweet Home." After singing their appointed homelike roles, the other members of the cast, Giuseppe de Luca, as the zestful SeviIIian barber, Ezio Pinza as Don Basilio; atmosphere Armand Tokatyan as the Count; Pompilio Malatesta as Dr. Bartolo, and Henrietta Wakefield (that most faithful of the of artists), were called upon to carry forward a veritable garden of flowers in baskets and bunches, a very large offering from the Metropolitan Opera Company. More HOTEL applause from the audience, a lot more from her fellow artists, wavings of handkerchiefs, a little speech of fare­ KNICKERBOCKE~ well, and the promise of a return some day, then photo­ graphs unlimited, and more photographs to sign, and so RECOGNIZED RADIO ARTISTS' HEAD­ goodnight. QUARTERS In her farewell appearance at the NBC studios, Madame Galli-Curci was also prevailed upon to sing "Home, Sweet NEW YORK Home". After real applause by the orchestra and the audi­ WEST 45th ST. TIMES SQUARE ence present in the studio the diva was led away to a little JUST EAST OF BROADWAY farewell party. 48 RADIO REVUE

Mr. Average Fan Answers Some of His When it comes to the light operas, that is another story~ Critics so far as I am personally concerned. Every Sunday after­ noon I listen religiously to the National Light Opera hour (Can tillued from page 19) over W]Z. There may be better light opera directors than the gates at W]Z during the Collier Hour and see if she Harold Sanford and better comedians than Frank Moulan. looks anything like what I expect from her speaking voice. If there are, I have in some way or other missed them. If I am afraid I shall be disappointed. If I get a chance to I were asked to name my favorite composer, I would un­ speak to her, which I probably will not, I am going to hesitatingly choose Victor Herbert. That gentleman, if ask her to confine her work to talking and to cut out her you will excuse the seeming vulgarity, was fuller of music singing. I take it for granted that she is the one who than a dog is of fleas. These grand opera addicts may sings, after she appears in a sketch. Posstbly I am wrong swear by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, Leoncavallo and many of and, if so, I want to apologize for even mentioning her those other foreigners . ,but for real singable music there singing. never was, and I fear there never will be, another like Since you have Ibeen kind 'enough to give me the oppor­ Herbert. I have heard nearly everything he ever wrote tunity to inflict my radio likes and dislikes upon a de­ and I simply marvel at the wonderful and continuous fenseless public, there are a few more things I might get flow of melody. And Harold Sanford knows how to bring off my chest and then cease inflicting myself upon you and out the best of them. your readers. I realize that all tenors cannot be Frank Then again, I love the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, espe­ Munns and Franklyn Baurs, but that is no reason why the cially The Mikado. I see W]Z is starting to revive some of radio audience should be tortured by some of the tenors them on the Light Opera Hour. I hope the station keeps who infest the air. Many of them are good, but there are it up and gives us all of them. What I cannot understand quite a few who persist in singing through their noses, is why these broadcasts were cut down from an hour and which is very noticeable over the air. It has always been a half to an hour. I could stand a couple of hours of my understanding that the broadcasting companies hold them at a time. I believe that in this I am an Average auditions and, in that way, select their talent. How some Fan. I enjoy the religious services on Sunday afternoons of these tenors and sopranos ever got by is more than I thoroughly, but at the same time I would like to hear more can understand. of the light opera. I do not like to seem catty or mean So far I have never been able to become greatly en­ but, as far as I am concerned, if the NBC would cut off thused over grand opera. I have lived in New York for about an hour of the Roxy symphony concert on Sunday over a quarter of a century and the only times I ever and add it to the Light Opera Hour, it would greatly visited the Metropolitan Opera House were at the Sunday please this Average Fan and a host of other average fans night popular concerts. Grand opera is simply over my whom I know in the metropolitan area. low brow head. I cannot get any enjoyment out of it, outside of a few well known numbers. Consequently, while the voices in the grand opera performances over Radio in the Home the air are undoubtedly the best that can be secured, they (Continued from page 42) cause me no thrill. casting Company. I can give you many menus and special lists for enter­ tainment-luncheons, and tell you how to make the table look attractive-which is, after all, an important factor. For Your Convenience I welcome letters of inquiry from all my listeners. In order that you do not miss any of the vitally Before I close, let me give you something for the coming warm days, a Spring menu and a special Sunday night interesting features and pictures that will appear in menu. I do this in response to innumerable requests. RADIO REVUE in the months to come, why not let us enter your subscription now? SPRING MENU Spring Salad One Year, $2.00; Two Years, $3.00 ( Romaine, Tomato and Cucumber with French Dressing) Roast Lamb Mint Sauce New Potatoes Parsley Sauce Asparagus Drawn Butter Sauce Hot Dinner Rolls Strawberry Shortcake RADIO REVUE, INC. with Whipped Cream Six Harrison Street Demi-tasse New York, N. Y. SUNDA Y NIGHT SUPPER MENU Gentlemen: Tomato Rarebit on Crackers Please enter my subscription to RADIO REVUE or Shrimp Wiggle on Toast Points Watercress Salad for ...... years. I enclose Dollars in Fig Cream Pie Coffee cash, check, currency to cover. TOM A TO RAREBIT 2 cups grated American % cup stewed, strained Name Cheese tomatoes 2 tablespoons butter 2 eggs, slightly beaten 2 tablespoons flour Ys teaspoon soda Street Number % cup milk salt, mustard, cayenne Cook butter, flour and milk together. Add tomatoes, soda, P. O. State eggs and seasoning. Stir in the cheese, and cook until it is melted and smooth. Serve at once on crackers or toast points. Serves four to six. 01,1m; frU nayk to read The Tragedy of Neglected Gums

Cast of Characters:

Your Dentist andYou rtllll roots and hardtack. People would think I'd suddenly gone mad." YOU: "M)- gums are responsible for this D.D.S . : "No need to change your diet. t-isit, doctor. I'm anxious about them." But you ctln give your gums the stimu­ D.D.s.:"What's the matter?" lation they need. Massage or brush them twice a day when you brush YOU: "IVell, sometimes the),'re tender Ichm your teeth. And one other suggestion: I brllsh my teeth. And once in a while they use Ipa na Tooth Paste. It's a scientific, bleed a little. Bllt m)' teeth seem to be all modern dentifrice, and it contains right. Just how serious is a thing like tbis?" special ingredients that stimulate the D.D.S. :"Probably nothing to bother gums and help pre'-enc infection." about, with a healthy mouth like yours. But, just the same, I" 'e seen * * * people with white and flawl ess teeth A n imaginary dialog? An imaginary get into serious trouble with their "you"? Admittedly, but the action is gums," real. It is dra wn from life- from real YOU: "That's u-hat U'orries me. p"}-orrhea tragedies and near-tragedies enacted -gingivitis-trench mouth-all thoJe hor­ every day in every city of the land! rible-sounding things.' ] list a month ago a And if dentists recommend Ipana, as friend of mine had to hat-e sel'Cn teeth thousands of them do, it is because it is pulled Ollt." good for the gums as " 'ell as fo r the D.D.S.: "Yes, such things can happen. teeth. Under its continual use, th.: Not long ago a patient came to me teeth are gleaming white, t he gums with badly inflamed gums. I x-rayed firm and hea lthy. For Ipana contains them and found the infection had spread zira tol, a recognized hemostatic and so far that eight teeth had to go. Some antiseptic well known to dentists for of them were perfectly sound teeth, its tonic effects upon gum tissue. too." Don't wait for "pink tooth brush" YOU: (After a pallse) "I u'as reading a to appear before you start with Ipana. dentifrice adt'ertiselJle11t .. . about fo od, " The coupon brings you a sample which D.D.S.: "Soft food? Yes, that's to blame will quickly prove Ipana's . pleasant for most of the trouble. You see, our taste and cleaning power. gums get no exercise from the soft, But, to know all of Ipana's good ef­ creamy foods we eat. Circulation lags fects, it is far better to go to your near­ and weak SpotS develop on the gum est druggist and get a large tube. After walls. That's how these troubles begin. you ha ye used its hundred brushings If you li"ed on rough, coarse fare your you will know its benefits to the health gums would hardly need attention." of your gums as well as your teeth.

YOU: .. Bllt, doctor, lean' t take liP a diet of

BRISTOL·MYERS co., Dept. RR-129 73 West Street, New York, N. Y. Kindly send me a trial tube ofIPANA TOOTH PASTE. Enclosed is a two· cent stamp to cover partly the cost of packing and mailing. Name ...... ••... . .•...... Addres! . .... , ...• ...... •....

CiIY ...... Sidle . ••• .. •.• .. •• ,, 1929 ••••• ~.. ~~~~~~~4~~~.~C /1

The Fruit That Made All New York Bite

• "GOLDEN DELICIOUS APPLES"

-And you can't find a New Yorker "in a carload" who " gagged" on his slice of these wonderful yellow apples.

The New York agent will have man~r more trainloads of these mouth-watering apples this Winter. Help him move them as "vell as help yourself to the finest apple that ever grew, by demanding Golden Delicious of fruit dealers wherever you go.

Golden Delicious is the new yellow apple of Supreme size and Superior flavor and zest that was discovered and intro­ duced by

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Carton containing one dozen selected Golden Delicious Apples (which At LOUISIANA, MO. retail at $1. 5 0) will be sent to each new subscriber who sends $2 for a year's subscription to the RADIO REVUE, along with this picture. for Over 113 Years Scanned from the collections of The Library of Congress

AUDIO-VISUAL CONSERVATION at The LIBRARY of CONGRESS

Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation www.loc.gov/avconservation

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