The Washington times., 1927-03-26
RADIO SURPRISE
BY SCHENCk


n there is a brOadcasting sta.
ti0n on the American continent,
or the islands contiguous thereto,
that was not heard clearly last
0vening and with volume by any
receiyer-that station was not on
the air! There have been few
nights In radio history when re-
CeptiOn was SO fine and disturb
anCes so few. Interference be.
tween stations was the only tin.
pleasant feature-that, and some
little fading. But on the whole
there has been no night for at
least q year when conditions Were
30 good and distance chaserS
should have had the most prOduc-
tive evening Of the entire season.
With opera stars. concert head
liners, fine orchestras and inter-
nationally famous speakers holding
forth on the wave lengths under
superfine conditions that enabled
every tuner to hear thein--the big
gest thing that happened during
the course OF the evening to our
way of thinking was the accidental
recital of Charles A. Schenck, bari.
tone. at WEAF between 1890 and
1886. A few nights ago John B.
Daniel. Of WRC, told me that
WEAF had In Announcer Schenck
the finest baritone singer In New
York. At 1886 last night Schenck
definitely proved himself to be all
of that and then some, with just
two songs!
The recital was an accident. But
Tor the failure Of Vincent Lopez to
arrive at the WEAF studio in time
to take up the burden of entertain
Ynent where the Anglo Persians
left it radietics WOULD still be un.
informed that Announcer Schenck
il the same person who assumed
Douglas Stanbury's place with the
Roxy gang when the latter made
his opera debut a few seasons ago.
But he is Just that same person.
And he not only has baritone
voice Of the purest quality but a
musical intelligence that is pos
sessed by few singers now doing
concert chores. We hope we'll hear
Schenck as singer more
frequently. He was last evening s
star performer.
AIR FILLED
WITH GREAT STARS
All OF which is making a. very
strong statement because to be q
star on such an evening as was
the last in radio history is to achieve
something, for rarely has radio de-
livered such a group of extraord1-
nary music to loud speakers az 1t
did during the IL hours ending at
midnight last night.
Beginning with the Friday Morn.
ing Musicale at the Cosmos Club
yesterday morning at IL o'clock
there was scarcely an hour when
something unusually fine or un.
usually interesting was not happen
ing in the air. The Marine Band
Orchestra Beethoven concert in the
afternoon was one of the best that
organization has presented during
the season-particularly in the in.
PRODUCTION of Musician Herman d.
Hoffman. violinist.
The evening broadcast started
with an experiment-the presenta-
ton of a tabloid version of Leon
Yours Truly" by the same COM
pany now playing it successfully
in New York. with Gene Buck,
producer. as master Of ceremonies.
A column could be filled with an
analysis Of this effort-because it
showed promise without being en-
tlrely successful as entertainment.
That the technique of the stage
and Of the radio studio are not quite
interchangeable was one Of the
things plainly to be seen. Like.
wise rather careful rehearsal-more
careful than was given his tabs
needed for radio presentation. s
After listening to Floyd Williams,
tenor, and the Burlington Orchestra
and the beginning of an unusually
good concert by the Goldman Band,
We switched to the WIZ chat and
picked up the big event Of the
evening ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, DIAL
vareZ. JeritZa and the Bourbon Or.
chestra performing for the Victor
hour.
WERRENRATH
VICTOR STAR
Reinold WerrenFath is not only
secure in his position as the best
of our concert baritones, but he is
rapidly becoming one Of radios most
important stars. With a marvellous
voice, a singing intelligence that
has made him a world figure in
music, and a radio technique that il
well nigh perfect, his performance
last evening was the. best of the
group of super-stars Of which he
formed one. Nine. d'Alvarez, a Bit
nervous and nlike.shy at first, pro.
vided a group Of contralto songs
with q voice Of the finest quality
and Jeritza-well, Jeritza was just
Jeritza-one Of the most satisfying
operate sopranos Of the day.
The Good Housekeeping dinner at,
the Mayflower Hotel brought the
pure soprano Of Anna Case to the
i a