Evening star., 1928-12-14
VARY PREPARATION
FOR GOING ON AIR.
Artists Prefer Own Methods
of Getting Ready for
Big Program.

The best way to prepare for a big
broadcast program, according to radio
q stars, is to prepare. All agree there
must be some kind of preparation. but
no two, it seems, can agree on the same
kind 1t varies all the way from a
contralto who admits she puts herself
in the proper frame of mind by polish
ing her grandmother's silver to a come
dienne who attends department store
bargain sales
Another woman, also a contralto, says
she has never done a good job before
the microphone unless she has been
rushed to death all day long and ar
rives for her final rehearsal almost too
tired to talk The days sense of ex-
citement comes back to her when she
begins to sing, and she says she is able
to put much more color in her work
Some, of course, put in the day in
short practice periods and in resting,
but all agree that a certain amount of
common sense is by far the best prepa-
ration for any big task. For example,
few radio stars, even the instrumental
lists, eat heavy meals before going on
the air, and most of them make it a
point to have a good, long sleep the
night before.
One of the most regular schedules is
that followed by JeSsica Dragonette,
N. B. c. soprano. On the day she is to
appear in a Philco hour, Miss Dragon
ette spends two hours in the morning
vocaliZing Later in the day she takes
a long walk alone, and tries not to
think of anything besides what is go
ing on around her She rrhearses two
hours with the rest of the cast, then
rests an hour and goes on the air. With
a light dinner she is likely to have
few raw carrots
Carlin Prepares Carefully.
Phillips Carlin. assistant Eastern pro-
nram director of the N. B. c., is also
master of ceremonies for the Palmolive
hour, and prepares for it as carefully
as do the rest of the artists. Carlin,
besides being careful about his diet and
making sure to be well rested, always
shaves and soakS his face in cold water
before going on the air. He says it
makes him feel fresh and alert.
The theater prepares Harold Sanford
for some of the biggest programs which
he directs through the N. B. C. When he
knows he has an unusually difficult job
of conducting to do in the evening, he
eeeks out a comedy, if 1t happens to be
matinee day. On the other days of the
week, If he needs relaxation he is likely
to drop into a neighborhood movie the
ater. In any case. however, he avoids
musical comedies, for there he cannot
forget his music. And he likes to have
some one tell him an amusing story just
rs he enters the studios.
If she had her way Vaughn De Leath
would like to take a long nap in the
afternoon before going on the air; she
never has time, she says. Usually she
has engagements to make records on
the days she broadcasts, and arrives at
the N B. c. studios just in time to be-
gin rehearsal It doesn't seem to make
any difference in her work, she says.
for she never feels tired until after she
Is home.
Colin O'MOre Takes to Gym.
Colin o'More keeps pretty much to
himself on the day of big program
and comes to the studio only in time
for the final rehearsal On the day
before, however ne goes to a gymna-
Sium. takes a long workout, steam
bath and a massage. He does very lit
Gle practicing before he sings, just
enough to loosen his voice. On the
other days he practices regularly and
goes to a gymnasium three or four
times a week.
Sewing is Marjorie Horizons relaxa-
ton. She has a great deal of energy,
and when she is resting mentally she
likes to do things with her hands. She
sews before most of her programs, and
there is nothing she likes better than
to alter an evening gown. She thinks
about her programs a great deal. but
she never worries or becomes nervous as
long as she has a needle handy.
Jane, who broadcasts every weekday
afternoon through the N. B. c. system,
is a very temperamental young lady
After rehearsal, just before they go on
the air, jolly Bill has to buy her an ice
cream cone. Bill missed once and had
to promise two cones and lollipop-
q green one with face on it-before
Jane was in any frame Of mind to face
q microphone.