Evening star., 1926-04-01
STARS OVERCOMING
RADIO PREJUD|CES
Growing Use of Microphone
by Opera Singers and
Theatrical Artists.
By the Associated Press.

Dy tue ASsUCldteQ fTesS.
NEW YORK, April within the
past 16 months Radio, King of Ether
has greatly extended the boundaries
of a vast domain into several terri
tories where support once was lack
ing.
Prominent artists have held ou
the glad hand of welcome and there
is a growing use OF the microphone
by theatrical producers, movie
makers, sport officials and book pub
fishers to arouse public interest il
the results of their labor.
1t was only in January of last year
that John Mccormack, tenor, and
Lucrezia Bori, prima donna of the
Metropolitan Opera Company. sans
in station WEAF to an invisible au
dience estimated at from 10000 tc
5000 900 persons.
Broke Down Barriers.
This marked the first time inter
nationally famous artists broadcas
in America. Before then there was
a decided hesitancy, If not opposition
upon their part toward appearing be
fore the microphone.
a few of the biggest theatrical sue
cesses played to capacity houses that
we're confronted with rows of empty
seats. Persons connected with the
theaters were unanimous in their con
viction that radio largely was re
sponsible.
Radio constitutes the greatest
menace the theater ever faced" vii
liam A. Brady. the producer, then
declared. From Frank Gilmore, eX
ecutive secretary of the Actors
Equity Association, came the wore
that the organization considered radio
a terrible menace to the actor
Since then. however. the changes II
attitude have been many. At Mr.
Brady's Office II was revealed he not
only had bought a radio but that he
no longer considered II menace tC
the theater.
Some Plays Adaptable.
Mr.. Brady feels there are certain
types of plays very adaptable "a
broadcasting," his representative said
"In these instances. he believes the
results obtained through the enter
tainment of radio listeners, interest II
the plays and resulting attendance
at the theater are good. W mere pro
ductions are not suitable for broad
CASTING. ne, VI IOui ~ ~
such presentation"
A willingness TO drop the adjective
terrible" from menace" was eX
dressed by Mr.. Gilmore, who said tht
equity has no opposition to IT'S mem
be,s broadcasting any play in whlcf
they are appearing, providing the9
are given extra reimbursement OF al
eighth of their regular salaries. III
member wants to make persona
appearance before the microphone, M
NAV do so without remuneration i
such IS his desire.
other producers have duplicated Mr.
Prady's broadcasting OF plays. Morrl
Gest. who permitted The Miracle t'
ha sent out through the ether, recent
ly annroved a similar presentation o
"Carmencita and the Soldier. Ih'
Shuberts tried The Student Prince.
on the air and then followed VIII
princess Flavia-
Crosby Gaige, however, said he fel
anything that kept people IN thel
homes during the evening naturalI!
would hurt attendance @t the theate
and added he had noted no increased
attendance in instances where HI
plays had been broadcast.
Stars Making Appearances.
Numerous stage stars are making
personal appearances before the mi
crophone. What has followed as re
suit of broadcasting by McCormacl
and Bori now is an old story. Thi:
wear they repeated their performance
Marion Talley and Mary Lewis. thu
two new American members of thu
Metropolitan, have joined many Others
of their group who have broadcast.
While the Metropolitan has no oh
lection to it's members broadcastins
under certain conditions, representa-
tive said it was not believed that th'
beauty and dramatic power OF a com
nfete opera could be transmitted via
the radio. AS to whether the dial viii
ever find it's way to the metropolitan
stage-that's another question.
Warner Bros. the motion picture
organization, first built a broadcastins
station for it's Western studio anC
then constructed another in New
York. In addition to other features o
these programs, film plays often ar'
broadcast and stars of the compan,
make frequent appearances.
The other movie companies AIS
make use of the microphope and man,
stations have regular feature revieWi
of pictures and news about the play
and stars. Just before the opening o
his last picture in New York recentl,
Douglas Fairbanks gave an interview
at WIZ on a lineup with several othe
stations.
AS another viewpoint on the stu
alton is a report of the United State
Department of Commerce, whicl
says that bad slump in revenu
derived from motion pictures il
Japan is attributed to radio. Pro
ducers in America, however, repor
business as good in this country
and production is going along at
rapid rate.
IL. S. Latham of the Mcmillan Co
publishers, said he believed peopl
turned to the radio primarily 70
music, but added that when the "lit
erary audience has become interested
in radio" increa sed sales of book
and more reading will be the results
After book had been reviewed
over the radio of Western station
the sales at the bookstores the fol
lowing day showed a marked ad
vance, r. r. Bond of Dodd, Mead
Co. reported.
From Scotland comes a dispatcl
to the effect "broadca sting appear
to have increased rather than dimin
iShed the number of book readers.
Virtually all American publishers
have stated they have no fear o
radio.
The games of many base bal
leagues and numerous athletic event.
now are broadcast.
While Miller Huggins, manager o
the New York Yankees, in the rusl
of training season, was not prepare'
to state definitely whether he ia
vored or opposed radio reporting o
games, he said:
"Offhand, l would say that radi'
reporting has not lessened ATTENDANCE
at ball games. 1t was done last yea
and the American League had it
lsbest season"
John j. McGraw. manager OF tn
New York Giants, said: "The Natlona
League has a rule against radioin.
ball games for all but the world Sc
ries, and l am in favor of this rule.
Of 60hfS