Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-23
RADIO STARS SEEK
PRIVATE BOOKINGS
Af Artists Available at Com
missions Ranging From
$3.50 Down.

RADIO ) latest OFFSPRING, the SIlleI
tainer's booking bureau, which we are
told now and then over the air, VIII be
only too glad to arrange a private
entertainment for those willing to pay
for 1t, has set a schedule of prices
which is interesting reading if nothing
else.
Topping the list are the Anglo-Per-
slams the makers of mystic melody,
who ask q modest sum of $3.50 for
single appearance. Next comes the
Davis Saxophone Octet, whose eight
stars will rise promptly at any hour
satisfactory to the customer for a
check of $1,000. These are the two
headliners, the only transient broad
casters III the $1,000 class.
The Ipana Troubad0urs and the La
France Orchestra do not lag far be
hind, however Both are entirely will
ing to further advertise toothpaste
and washing powder for an inconsider-
ate sum of $50 apiece. The popular
A & p. Gypses want only $500 to
privately advance the name and fame
of their parental company. There
after the tariff lessons by easy stages
as follows:
Eveready Mixed Quartet, $50;
E,veready Male Quartet, $3.50; Happi-
ness Boys, $40; Tennesseans Dance
orchestra, $3.50: Gold Dust Twins,
$3.50: Yap'S Hawaiian Orchestra. $3.50,
and the Gloria Trumpeters. $3.50.
In each case the prospective Gus
toner must take into consideration the
fact that he is expected to pay all
expenses incidental to travelling from
New York and return. This probably
includes hotel, railroad and kindred
other disbursements, with a small in
Cidental budget for magazines, chew
ing gum and knickknacks to keep the
entertainers from becoming bored en-
route.
Graham McNamee, who also is not
opposed to accepting afterdlnner
speaking and singing engagements,
may be had for the munificient sum
of $500. The premier radio sports an
nouncer, however, offers the added in
ducement of paying his own expenses.
These after-dinner discourses should
prove lucrative, provided McNamee
does not accept too many invitations
80 speak west of the Mississippi.
A feature of radio entertainment
and education which has received far
100 little attention is the drama. There
is no reason why the classics of dra-
matte literature should not go on the
air just as the finest works of music
HdN6, anu tIItIG - IlO lOSlCdi INd0OIl
why the former should not achieve a
popularity at least approximating that
of the latter.
There has been no real attempt to
place the great dramatic works before
the radio audience. Done properly.
it would mean much for radio as a
whole, and would be of vast benefit
to the thousands of enthusiasts who
want to know good literature but
cannot force themselves to read it.
The radio could give a fine play to
many who cannot afford to see it's re-
Vival. or, as has been said, do not feel
equal to the task of taking it from
the printed page.
Here is an opportunity for far Wis
Toned, intelligent and courageous stu
dio managers to blaze a new trail. and
TO aid in the work of bringing radio
entertainment to a higher and finer
level.
Chicago stations seemed to have a
monopoly on the ether lanes last
night. Every twist of the dial brought
in one Of the Windy City's broad
casters.
WIS devoted a major portion Of its
program to a play-by play description
of the International League hockey
game between Montreal and Chicago.
Listeners who did not hold this sta
ton until the conclusion of the game
might be interested to know that the
Canadians won by a score of to l.
Other Chicago stations which had
no difficulty in getting their signals
into Washington clear and strong
were WSWS, WSBC, WGN, WEBB
and VIVID. The two latter were
linked together until midnight, when
they separated for independent pro-
grams.
Reception during the early evening
was maxred by annoying heterodyne
whistles. Even the signals of such
powerful broadcaSterS as WSAI. Gin.
nnnatt, and WBZ, Springfield, met
with interference until after 1890
o'clock.
The radio Santa Claus of WRC
made his farewell address to the
children of Washington and it's en-
vaFons last night, to the apparent
regret of many parents. There is
no doubt that the cheerful and phil
anthropfc old man will become an
institution at WRC in the future.
He probably has done more than any
other individual to get the children
to bed early and stop such naughty
habits as biting finger nails and
quarreling with their brothers and
sisters. for a temporary period at
least.
Old Santa must have been in a
very humorous mood in his good-by
talk, as 1t was evident that he was
having considerable difficulty in re-
straining himself from tittering in
the microphone. Especially was this
true when he told the little girl in
Ayattsville that he would grant her
request for a doll with two front
teeth.
Mere will be a distinct flavor of
the Christmas atmosphere in the
programs tonight of both WRC and
WMAL. The former stations most
important feature is the annual
Christmas party of the Pennsylvania
Ez1.Acoad which will be broadcast
from the Metropolitan Opera House
in Philadelphia. Gen. w w. After
bury, president of the railroad, will
make a speech and the employees will
sing Christmas carols. The Burleigh
Singers, another WRC attraction,
will sing songs appropriate to the
season.