Evening star. [volume], May 31, 1936, Page F-3, Image 51

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
COLUMBIA PLANNING TWO KEY STUDIOS IN HOLLYWOOD
' --—---1-♦ -
Each to Seat 300 Persons
And Cost About $175,000
[Arrangements Wait for Federal Approval of
C. B. S. Purchase of Station
KNX for $1,300,000.
By the Radio Editor.
HOLLYWOOD’S own ‘Radio City," established last year when National
Broadcasting Co. built commodious new studios In the heart of
movieland from which to “key” transcontinental programs, will be
augmented within the next few months by that network’s stiff com
petitor—Columbia Broadcasting System.
Preliminary plans have been made by C. B. S. for the building of two
“theater-type” studios, each to seat*;* ——
about 300, at a cost of approximately
$175,000.
That Is in recognition of Holly
^ Wood’s growing importance as a radio
talent center. Or perhaps it is the
other way around, for many radio
stars have been drafted by the movies.
Take Jack Benny, for example.
More than half of his broadcasts
have been from California during the
' last four seasons. And practically all
of the "name" bands get to the “city
of the whispers and shadows" during
the course of a year.
Options on land adjacent to the new
studios of Station KNX, Los Angeles,
have been acquired by C. B. S. The
network has made arrangements to
purchase this station for $1,300,000,
but the sale is subject to approval of
the Federal Communications Com
mission. Until it gets the Federal “go
ahead” Columbia will hold in abeyance
its plan for these new studios.
Simultaneously, it has been learned,
C. B. S. is going to establish Pacific
Coast headquarters in San Francisco,
perhaps with a new vice president in
charge. It has made arrangements
' in that city to lease Station KSFO,
which will become its outlet January
1, 1937, whether or not the F. C. C.
approves the lease arrangement. And
in San Francisco, too, it will have new
studios, planning to invest between
$75,000 and $100,000 in them. But the
main program originating point will
be in Los Angeles, where it will trans
fer a number of its crack program
producers, announcers and staff
artists.
VLfHEN the Texas Centennial Ex
position opens in Dallas, June 6,
a radio impulse will circle the earth In
19 seconds, automatically tripping a
lock which will officially open the
gates.
And following this auspicious “radio
^ opening," this newest of the enter
tainment arts and sciences will be
called upon to carry the story of the
exposition to the length and breadth
of the land. From a $50,000 radio
building on the exposition grounds
will be keyed many programs for the
national networks, for regional net
' works and for independent broad
casting stations in the Southwest
area.
Actually, according to centennial
officials, Dallas will become the radio
hub of the Nation during the centen
nial. Many of the network programs
normally keyed from New York, Chi
cago or Los Angeles, will shift foi
single performances to the Dallas
studio. Many programs featuring
name talent, national bands, soloists
and choirs will be heard in exposi
. tion-origtnated programs throughout
the 176 days of the fair.
On the opening day five transcon
tinental programs will be released
from the fair ground studios, includ
ing an international pick-up in which
speakers from foreign lands will par
ticipate to toast the Lone Star- State
and the six flags that have flown over
her soil in four centuries of history.
Speakers will be heard from Madrid,
Spain, on Spanish rule; from Paris
on French rule; from Mexico City on
Mexican dominance; from Washing
' ton on the Brazos, first capital of the
Texas Republic; from Richmond, Va.,
on Texas’ part in the Confederacy,
and finally from Washington.
Every program broadcast will alsc
be heard by fairgoers over an expan
sive public address system. There
are 20 banks of immense loud speak
ers placed at strategic points through
out the 180-acre exposition park. In
addition there are two main studios,
fully fitted out, and a score of remote
pick-up points from which programs
can be relayed to the main control
for feeding to networks or to stations
or to the public address system. The
public address installation alone cost
$150,000.
A UNIQUE feature of the studios
is the arrangement of an open
court between the wings of the
U-shaped building. More than 500
persons in the court can view the
programs as presented through plate
glass windows. Practically all radio
presentations will be by artists in
full regalia.
Placed at strategic points through
out the 180-acre exposition park are
the 20 reproducing station which carry
the service of the system to all areas.
Singly or in combinations these units
can carry six different programs at
the same time or separate programs
on any one. Thus, each special event
can be furnished with program or
music suitable to the theme of the
event. Important announcements can
be made to cover the entire park
There are two sound trucks to give
additional coverage wherever desired
Programs, both for release to net
works and stations and to the gigantic
public address system, will originate
in three ways—live talent shows from
the studios, live talent shows from re
mote points and a complete library oi
more than 3,000 electrical transcrip
tions. These latter will be used tc
fill in when live talent shows are not
available.
A YEAR or so ago when word came
that England was about to launcl
television in what looked like a bit
way, widespread wails went up ir
this country about the way Americar
scientists were letting the Britisher!
walk away with the visual honors.
Now the picture has changed anc
the electronic scanning race seems t<
be on a sort of catch-as-catch-car
basis, with America seeming able t(
hold its own. In fact, insiders insisi
that this country is well ahead of th<
rest of the world in its television pro
gress. RCA is about to launch tele
vision observation servioe in New Yorl
and British service is scheduled t(
start by mid-Summer.
Latest trouble the British govern
ment televisionists are meeting is i
financial one. Radio in Great Britaii
depends on license fees exacted fron
the public for its support, and it ap
pears that there are slender picking;
for television in the British Broad
casting Corp. budget. Among sugges
tions are the commercializing of tele
vision and the assessment of a "look
ers" tax to finance visual operations.
Adding to the cost of British opera
tion is the fact that television cai
be transmitted only about 20 mile;
from the antenna, with repeater o
relay stations necessary if service i
to reach over the British Isles. Re
ceivers for the visual programs mus
include a big and costly cathode ra;
tube as well as some 30 smaller trbe*
so the cost at first will be no less thai
$250, and probably more.
F. C. C. Is Preparing for Regulation
Of Television, Facsimile Services
Ti EGULATOKY preparations ior tne
opening of vast new fields for
radio development, contemplating the
inauguration of such services as tele
vision and facsimile (still picture)
transmission, have been made by the
Federal Communications Commission.
After a month of study and analy
sis, the F. C. C. Broadcast Division
last week adopted new rules and reg
ulations governing all future opera
tions except those in the regular
broadcast band, on which about 630
broadcasting stations now operate.
Strict new rules allocating particular
brands of W'ave lengths to particular
services were adopted to become effec
tive July 1.
• Today, to the general public, these
rules are of no real consequence, since
they do not affect programing in any
way. or change the assignment of a
single station to which the public at
large listens. But they are destined to
be of great future importance, for they
contemplate the orderly use and de
velopment of these new1 vistas of radio
communications which have been the
goal of scientists in the laboratories
for many years.
Specifically, the F. C. C. allocated
• definite waves in the so-called ultra
high range for television when it
should emerge from the laboratory.
• SHORT WAVE FEATURES
TODAY
MOSCOW—4 p.m.—Review of
the week; questions and answers;
Soviet opinion of world affairs.
RNE, 25 m., 12 meg.
PARIS—5:45 p.m. — Concert
, from Radio Paris. TPA4, 25.6 m.,
11.72 meg.
LONDON—6:52 p.m—Recital
by Sinclair Logan (baritone) and
Edmund Rubbra (pianoforte).
GSP, 19.6 m., 15.31 meg., GSD,
25.5 m., 11.75 meg., GSC 31.3 m.,
9.58 meg.
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands—7
pm.—Special transmission for
Central and South America. PCJ,
31.28 m., 9.59 meg.
BERLIN—7:30 p.m. — “The
world is decked in blossoms”;
Whitsuntide Music and Poetry.
• DJD, 25.4 m„ 11.77 meg.
HALIFAX—8 p.m. — Acadian
Serenade—soloists with orchestra.
CJRO, Winnipeg, 48.7 m., 6.15
meg., CJRX, Winnipeg, 25.6 m.,
11.72 meg.
LONDON—9:17 p.m. — Cam
bridge Heath Salvation Army
Band. GSD 25.5 m., 11,75 meg.,
GSC, 31.3 m., 9.58 meg.
WINNIPEG—11 p.m. — Live,
Laugh and Love. Orchestra with
, * soloists. CJRO, 48.7 m., 6.15 meg.,
CJRX, 25.6 m., 11.72 meg.
\
*
me dozen expcrmrcni/ers wr u
those bands, including the R. C. A
and Philco companies, will be givei
specific assignments. They will b
authorized to superimpose “sound"
broadcasts upon the visual bands, si
that the listener ultimately will ge
pictures with his music or voice.
In addition, iron-clad rules forbid
ding the sale of sponsored program
on visual broadcasts were adopted. Bu
a broadcasting station which this yeai
or next may operate a television sta
tion in conjunction with its regula:
facility, will be permitted to flasl
“trade-marks” or other identity adver
tising in his television picture. Ii
other words, advertising to a limitei
extent will be allowed, but the televi
sion operator won’t be able to charg
for it.
The same sort of regulations agains
commercializing experimental opera
tions are invoked for such services a
facsimile, international broadcasts
designed for reception in foreign coun
tries and ultra-high frequency broad
casting, sometimes called “apex.” Th
latter development is one of the mos
important of the decade in radio. I
has been found that low-power station
operating on frequencies above 25,00'
kilocycles can cover local areas of 1
to 15 miles with fine signal strength
Scouts Television.
^DD to the list of those who say tha
television will supplement rathe
than supplant radio the name of A. C
Hull, radio authority of Australia, wh
has just concluded a world tour an
study of television. Like the author:
ties in this county, Hull, technical ed:
tor of Wireless Weekly of Sydney, d(
dared in a recent international broac
cast to his countrymen from Schenee
tady, N. Y., that they should not e>
pect television to render obsolete pn
ent-day broadcasting.
“Television,” he declared, “will n<
replace radio broadcasting, but wi
supplement it. Undoubtedly it wi
prove a novelty to view from one
armchair athletic, social and polltici
events. Yet the keen concentratio
which the onlooker must pay to th
television screen is tiring after a cei
tain length of time. It is unlike lister
ing to a speech or music, which can t
absorbed with very little or no effoi
Therefore a few hours of ‘looking ii
will be sufficient for the average pei
son.”
New KDKA Aerial.
rPHE world's first regular broadcas
1 ing station, which has been ope:
a ting without a day’s interruptlc
since 1920, will soon sport a new rad
K
Movie Star Shares Spotlight With Radio Artists
Ethel Shutta (left), popular radio singing star, who will be
the guest star on Ben Bernie’s program Tuesday on N. B. C. In
the center is Marlene Dietrich, glamorous Him star, who will be
featured in the Radio Theater’s version of “The Legionnaire and
the Lady” over Columbia tomorrow. Vivian Della Chiesa (right)
is the 21-year-old soprano who is featured on a number of N.
B. C. programs. She came to radio after winning an amateur
contest at the age of 16. But she’s not an amateur now.
I
| CAPITAL’S RADIO PROGRAMS
Sunday, May 31. (coDirUht, i836) Eastern Standard Time.
A.M.| WRC—950k
7 :00 Melody Hour
7:15
7:30
7:45 " "_
~8T00 Mexican Orchestra
8:15
8:30 Concert Ensemble
8:45 " ____
9:00 Sabbath Reveries
9:15 “ “
9:30 This ’n’ That
9:45 Students’ Orchestra
10:0<T News—Music
10:15 Vogues and Vagaries
10:30 Maj. Bowes’ Family
10:45 "__
11:00 Maj. Bowes’ Family
11:15
11:30 Chicago Round Table
11:45 “ “_
WMAL—630k
Coast to Coast
It II
44 M
M 44
S. S. Queen Mary
<i ««
String Quartet
II II
News—Alice Remsen
Peerless Trio
Samovar Serenade
#4 ee
Pageant of Youth
it it
Music Hall on the Air
ee ee
WOL—1,310k
J
S&lutationa
H «
News—Music
Gospel Singer
Jungle Jim
John Ford, lecturer
Music and News
Pianologues_
Watch- Tower—Music
Male Voices
“Washington’s Finest"
U «•
’ Berlin Symphony
•« ii
Church Services
II M
WJSV—1,460k _ A.M.
7:00
7:15
7:30
7:45
At Aunt Susan’s 8:00
■ - 8:15
• * 8:30
- _8:45
Church of the Air 9:00
- “ 9:15
News—Romany Trail 9:30
Songs of the Church 9:45
Day Dreams 10:00
“ “ 10:15
Tabernacle Choir 10:30
“10.45
Tabernacle Choir 11:00
- 11:15
Poetic Strings 11:30
News Exchange11:45
P.M. AFTERNOON PROGRAMS _ *! PM.
12:00 Voice of Experience
12:15
12:30 Harold Nagel's Orch.
I 12:45 “ _
1:00 Invitation to the Dance
i 1:15 Moods and Modes
1:30 Peter Absolute
1:45 “ _
2:00 Anne Jamison
2:15
2:30 Davis Cup Matches
* 2 *5_ “_
3:00 Davis Cup Matches
3:15
3:30 “ “
3:45 M _
4:00 Davis Cup Matches
| 4:15
4:30 Bulletin Board
4:45 Words and Music
. 5:00 Catholic Hour
5:15
5:30 Sundown Revue
. 5:45
Music Hall on the Air
«« •«
Sunday Forum
M 44
Magic Key
4* 44
44 44
44 44
Gilbert Seldes
Cloister Bells
Benno Rabinoff, violinist
44 «4
National Vespers
44 44
Fishface and Figsbottle
44 44
Tom Terris
44 44
A Capella Choir
#4 #4
Tea Time
Canadian Guards Band
South Sea Islanders
44 44
Police Flashes—Music
News Bulletins
Cantor Shapiro
Waltz Themes
Watch Tower—Music
Art Brown, organist
** ••
Salon Music
Church of the Air
M <«
Joe Brown's Kiddies
•« M
Joe Brown's Kiddies
M <1
News—Music
Concert Favorites
Tea Time Tunes
m m
m m
m m
Catholic Radio Hour
M N
« m
Church of the Air 12:00
“ “ 12:15
Lucille Pierce Ferguson 12:30
Cardinal O’Connell_12:45
French Trio 1:00
“ “ . 1:15
Theater of Romance 1:30
St Louis Blues 1:45
Nationals vs. Athletics 2:00
•• “ 2:15
- * 2:30
- - 2:45
Nationals vs. Athletics 3:00
•• •• 8:15
- - 3:30
- - 3:45
Ann Leaf, organist 4:00
“ “ 4:15
Tea Time Tunes 4:30
“_4:45
Hour of Charm 5:00
- “ 5:15
Ed McConnell 5:30
Grace Vitality 5:45
| P.M. _EVENING PROGRAMS__
6:00 Concert Hall of the Air
* 6:15 S. S. Queen Mary
6:30 Fireside Recitals
6:45 Sunset Dreams_
7:00 Bowes’ Amateur Hour
; 7:15
1 7:30 " “
7:45 “ _
8 00 Merry Go Round
8:15
8:30 Album of Familiar Music
8:45 “ _
9:00* Erno Rapee's Orchestra.
, 9:15
9:30
; 9:45 * __
. 10:00 Phil Levant’s Orch.
10:15
, 10:30 Fletcher Henderson’s Or.
, 10:45 “ _
11:00 Duke Ellington’s Orch.
■ 11:15
i 11:30 Carl Ravazza’s Orchestra
; 11:45 “ _
12:00 Sign Off
Jack Benny
«1 41
Ozzie Nelson's Orchestra
•« 44
Evening Album
The Orchestra Pit
Jerry Sears’ Orch.
44 44
Continental Revue
44 44
Walter Wlnchell
Whiteman's Varieties
Whiteman’s Varieties
44 H
Dreams of Long Ago
44 44
News Bulletins
Shandor
S. S. Queen Mary
44 44
Slumber Hour
<« «•
44 44
44 44
Sign Off
Walkathon Reporter
Music—News
Broadway Revue
Treasure Chest
Watch Tower—Music
Eventide Echoes
Bark and Purr
"Five-Star Pinal'*
e« «<
Sunday Concert
Good Will Court
Good Will Court
M M
Gaieties
Rev. E. L. Ford
Lampin'Hour
M 0»
Dance Music
News—Music _
Art Brown's Varieties
M «<
Dance Parade
•< M
Sign Off
S. S. Queen Mary 6:oa
Arch McDonald 6:15
Phil Baker 6:30
“_6:45
Ghost Stories 7:00
“ - 7:15
Senator Vandenberg 7:30
“ 7:45
Sunday Evening Hour 8:00
“ “ 8:15
- - 8:30
“_8*5
S.S. Queen Mary 8:00
- - 9:15
Community Sing 9:30
« «« 9*5
Vincent Traver’s Orch. 10:00
" - 10:15
Old Timer 10:30
Bob Crosby's Orchestra 10:45
Frank Dailey’s Orch. 11:00
“ “ 11:15
Emory Daugherty’s Orch. 11:30
" " ♦_11:45
News Bulletins 13:00
A.m. early programs tomorrow a.m.
I _ i.nn
0. vU
, 6:15
6:30 Gordon Hittenmark
. 6:45 “ _
: 7:00 Gordon Hittenmark
7:15
; 7:30
■ 7:45 - _
s 8:00 Gordon Hlttenmark
> 8:15 “ “
• 8:30
• 8:45 “ _
‘ 9:00 Gordon Hittenmark
; 9:15 Home, Sweet Home
9:30 Air Sweethearts
• 9:45 Today’s Children
! 10:00 David. "Harum
10:15 Metropolitan Echoes
‘ 10:30
10:45 Voice of Experience_
11:00 Happy Jack
t 11:15 Honeyboy and Sassafras
11:30 Girl Alone
11:45 Merry Madcaps
Morning Devotions
Melodies
Cheerio
44
Morning Glories
Wake Up Club
Breakfast Club
44 44
News Bulletins
Home, Sweet Home
Edward MacHugh
Dan and Sylvia
Jack and Loretta
Charles Sears
Walter Blaufuss’ Orch.
<4 44
U. S. Navy Band
44 44
44 44
44 44
Musical Clock
«< «4
<i ««
Art Brown
Art Brown
<1 II
m m
m «
Art Brown _
Jack Barry
Police Flashes—Music
News—Music__
Morning Concert
Merry-Go-Round
•• M
H M
’ Merry-Go-Round
Ladles of the Air
Bud Gilbert
W. P. A. Program
6:15
Ssssh! 6:30
“ 6:45
Sun Dial 7:00
“ 7:15
“ 7:30
“ 7:45
Sun Dial 8:00
“ 8:15
" 8:30
_“8:45
Betty and Bob 8:00
Modem Cinderella 9:15
The Reporter 9:30
Betty Crocker 9:45
The Goldbergs 10:00
Helen Trent 10:16
Just Plain BiU 10:30
Rich Man’s Darling 10:45
Your Happiness 11:0C
Musical Reveries ll:l£
Mary Marlin 11:3C
Sally at the Switchboard 11:45
„ p.M. _AFTERNOON PROGRAMS_RM
3 12:00 Merry-Go-Round
12:15 Contrera’s Orchestra
12:30 Character Building
12:45 “ ** _
1:00 Dress Parade
1:15
1:30 Mary Mason
1:45 " _
3:00 Forever Young
,t 2:15 Ma Perkins
II 2:30 Vic and Bade
II 2:45 The O’Neills_
s 3:00 woman’s Radio Review
d 3:15 “ “
n 3:30 Gene Arnold
e 3:45 The Buccaneers
* 4:00 Let’s”Talk ItTbver
- 4:15
e 4:30 Lee Gordon’s Orchestra
t; 4:45_ “ _
1 5:00” Bulletin Board
’ 5:15
5:30 Chasin’ the Blues
B.S. queen Mary
Curbstone Queries
Farm and Home Hour
44 44
Farm and Home Hour
44 44
Music Guild
44 44
Morton Bowe, tenor
S. S. Queen Mary
44 44
i V.
Josef Hontls’ Orch.
N. B. C. Feature
Back Stage Wife
How to Be Charming
Alice Joy_
Sir Edgar T. Britten
Evening Star Flashes
Singing Lady
Orphan Annie
U. S. Army Band
44 44
Tea Time
Liuncnean concert
News Bulletins
Walkathon Reporter
Dance Music_
Zeke’s Gang
M a*
Music Only
ee aa
Music Only
as aa
If ^wood Brevities
*ws Bulletins__
Brooke Steele's Orch.
Afternoon concert
Vocal Interlude
Dance Time
Today's Winners
ti <4
aa aa
aa aa
Fantastical Facts
aa aa
aa aa
maunee memories is:oi
• “ 12:11
Man in the Street 12:31
Between the Boolcenda 12:41
Afternoon Rhythms l:6i
Happy Hollow 1:1!
Davis Cup Matches 1:3!
_1:4!
Davis Cup Match 3:0<
“ " 2:11
" “ 2:31
" 2:4!
Davis Cup Matches 3:0
" “ 3:1
- “ 3:3
“_3:4
Larry Vincent 4:0
Dorothy Gordon 4:1
Vocals by Verrlll 4:3
Wilderness Road_4:4
The Chicagoans 5:0
“ “ 5:1
News—Rhythms 5:3
a ting system, but that won’t stop Its
> endurance record.
KDKA, Pittsburgh, soon will acquire
n a 710-foot tower to replace its present
i- "flat-top" radiator, and promises in
t 1
creased signal strength with Its £0,000
watts of power. A slender steel mast
having an overall weight of 60 tons
will constitute the new radiating sys
tem, the first tower of Its kind to be
i
erected for broadcast service. At tt
very top of the tower, to be located t
Saxonburg, Pa., will be a powerful re
aviation beacon which will be vislb
for many miles.
t,
Major Features
and Notes
J?RNO RAPEE will conduct the San
Francisco Symphony Orchestra
during its concert over WRC at 9
p.m, Rosa Ponselle will be the soloist.
She wlU sing "Dlvinites du Styx."
Schubert's “Ava Marla,” an aria from
"Carmen" and "Annie Laurie." The
orchestra will feature the prelude to
the first act of Wagner’s ‘‘Lohengrin”
and the “Viennese Waltzes" of Rich
ard Strauss.
Joseph Bentonelll, tenor, will be the
guest soloist with Victor Kolai 's Sym
phony Orchestra on WJSV at 8 He
will sing "Where’er You Walk," by
Handel: ‘‘Salut Demeure,” from Gou
nod's “Faust,” and “Night of Dreams,"
by Wolfe. The orchestral selections
include Elgar’s “Pomp and Circum
stance” and “Nocturne” and “Dance
of the Dwarfs.” from Greig's "Lyric
Suite.”
Jean Sablon, France's microphone
idol, will make his American radio
debut during the “Magic Key” pro
gram on WMAL at 1. Virginia Rea,
soprano; Jan Peeroe, tenor; Sheila
Barrett, personality mimic, and Rich
ard Himber's Orchestra also will con
tribute to the program.
The concluding day of play in the
Davis Cup matches at the German
town Cricket Club between the United
States and Australian teams, to de
termine zone finalists, will be de
scribed over WRC from 2 to 4:30.
“The Republican Calvacade,” fea
turing the high lights of Republican
conventions since the birth of the
party, will be broadcast by WMAL
at. *7-30
Patrick. Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop
of New York, will extend birthday
greetings to Pope Pius XI in a broad
cast over WRC at 5.
WMAL will broadcast a salute tc
the S. S. Queen Mary during the
American Pageant of Youth program
on WMAL at 11 a.m.
Beatrice Hagen, 18-year-old Holly
wood “baby” star of 1936, will oe fea
tured by Paul Whiteman during hij
“Musical Varieties” program on WMAI
at 8:45.
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan
one of the prominent candidates loi
the Republican presidential nomina
tion, will be interviewed by K. V. Kal
tenborn on WJSV at 7:30.
New Radio for Italy.
gECAUSE Bologna is the birthplaci
of the famous radio Inventor, Gug
lielmo Marconi, It has been chosen b;
Fascist radio authorities as the site fo:
a new 50,000-watt broadcasting sta
tion to be erected this year. Senatoi
Marconi has long been high in th<
councils of the Fascist regime.
RENOVIZE . . . your homt
60 month* to oar If desired.
EBERLY’S
SONS
110* K N.W. DISTRICT 655'
Dignify your home. Phone •'Bberly's•'
TONIGHT
Joseph Bentonelli
TENOR
WITH THE
Ford Sunday
Evening Hour
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF
SEVENTY AND MIXED CHORUS
Conducted by
VICTOR KOLAR
8 to 9 O’CLOCK, E. S. T.
WJSV
Coatt-to-Coatt Columbia Network
. . ;l"....,. :: ...v.v.v."**
)
5
3
t TONIGHT
1 6:30 to 7:00
WJSV
*
Old Network Favorites
To Return in New Roles
Joe Penner to Forsake His Duck in Resuming
Air Work October 4 in C. B. S.
Sunday Series.
By Dorothy Mattison.
CHANGE Is In the air—bringing some of your old favorites back to
the networks in roles new to them and their listeners. George
Oivot, lor one, has resumed on the airlines, but steps out in a
master-of-eeremonies port Instead of bearing down on his former
“Greek Ambassador” characterizations. And when Joe Penner gets back to
the microphone around October 4 for a Sunday 6 pm. series on Columbia
Broadcasting System he plans to a
leave his duck at home and give a
good part of the continuity over to
his fellow artists.
All of which is pretty good testi
mony to the theory that—next to
getting hold of an idea—knowing
when to turn loose of that same idea
is the most difficult job with which
the broadcaster is faced. It was a
good idea at the time, all right, when
Jack Pearl introduced the baron to
the air. But it would have been an
equally good idea if Mr. Pearl had
been willing to recognize the fact
that it would have been smart to take
the baron off the air and come back
to radio in a new guise.
you remember that the basic idea
A of the baron's show was the fact
that we all love a lovable liar. That's
what Script-writer Wells made of the
baron on paper, and that’s the idea
on which he sold the sponsor. He
sold him on the idea itself—not on
the comedian—not on the dialect.
You know the rest of the story. He
cabled Pearl, who was abroad; the
show went on the air and clicked
immediately. But you may also re
member that the show folded and
Jack Pearl is seldom heard from these
days—all because the baron refused
to relinquish an idea and give a new
radio formula a trial.
in the Fall, with the sponsor not only
contemplating a shift in networks,
but also mulling over possible return
of some of the comedian's former
hecklers. Mention of Benny’s former
assistants reminds that Frank Parker,
for one, has his vacation plans all
shaken up, what with his new contract
for the Paul Whiteman show, not to
mention a proposition to make a
movie abroad . . . Judy Canova, along
with Sister Anne and Brother Zeke,
also have a regular Whiteman starring
billing . . . Looks right now as if
, Johnny Green would link up with the
new Fred Astaire show next Fall.
rJ'HAT new flour merchant’s stanza
on C. B. S. is taking no chances
—but plans to please the ladies in
one way or another. It bows in to
morrow, presenting those “Betty and
Bob” domestic dramas, a dialogue
and music combine, some church
hymns, some tips to housewives and
a dash of current events, all well
mixed and aired for a whole hour.
The same network has just revamped
its morning series, retaining Grand
Duchess Marie and Ethel Cotton for
the new series, which is to be heard
noontimes with Novelist Lilian Lauf
ertv at the helm.
Larry Vincent, who was pounding
the ivories in Detroit night clubs not
so long ago, has a sprightly new C.
B. S. series . . • Bill Hay is vaca
tioning while Olan Soule does his
announcing job for Amos ‘n* Andy
and, meanwhile, there's a bit of com
petition afoot for the same assignment
when the comedy pair turn around
and head for the coast again June 8
. . . Lou Holtz has signed for his
first commercial series since the
Whiteman broadcasts of last year and
will air all Summer by way of WOR
and the Mutual chain.
John Boles will be the star of a
new radio series from the Pacific
Coast . . . Rosaline Greene Is back
on the radio scene, as M. C. of a
WABC Wednesday night show, which
will likely get a network spot in the
Pall . . . Phil Cook Is due back in
a daytime show for the sponsor who
was presenting James Melton until
the big tenor went to Hollywood . . .
Two years’ absence from radio Is not
the end of the Yacht Club boys, who
very likely will pop back on a big
time program this season.
I
L.S.JULUEN.Iav
144? PSt-N.W. N0.8076
I
uivot, Dy tne way, is directing a
midnight variety show three nights a
week for Columbia out of Chiobgo.
And speaking of new roles, Cecil B.
De MiUe has one. This veteran pro
ducer on the screen turns to radio
production, too, to put on the Radio
Theater dramas, which he gets oS
to a good start tomorrow by teaming
Marlene Dietrich and Clark Gable
together for the first time.
TF, THE last you heard, the villain
was still pursuing your favorite
heroine and you can't seem to find
out whether or not he caught up with
her—more than likely it's because
your radio serial has suddenly
changed networks. “Today’s Chil
dren,” for one, has just hopped over
to N. B. C.’s red network. "Home,
Sweet Home” is now on the blue net
work. And, at the risk of chiming in
with an "I told you so,” “Girl Alone”
gets back on the air tomorrow. You
remember this column suggested that
you voice your protests about the
serial's departure to the network over
which you heard it—and sure enough,
this proves to be another example of
the listeners getting what they want
if they speak up and ask for it. N. B. C.
resumes the story where it left off
early in the month—all because ol
the clamor raised by the dialers.
B. C. Is still toying with the Idea
of letting Claudine Macdonald’s
“Woman’s Radio Review” go commer
cial—when and if a sponsor is found
who is willing to keep the commercial
credits in line with the present dignity
of this air feature. The mistress ol
ceremonies herself is packing up for
three weeks’ vacation around June 20.
Announcer Don Wilson draws a new
role June 28, when he steps into the
starring role of the Jack Benny show
while the comedian himself goes in
for a few weeks’ of movie-making. Up
’til then the show will originate In
Hollywood, but returns to Manhattan
for the late Summer series. Mean
while, Radio Row says the whole
Benny show is due for a shake-up
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