Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14
"(1rallafrl

~ UR pianist was to 60 on ut the
broadcasting studio at o'clock
In the evening. He was dis
~ tinguished artist, making his
radio debut, and he had an
ncunced his number as an event OF
great Importance.
We had heard that he had rather
gusty and uncertain temperament and
had assigned a member Of the staff to
get him to the studio on time and
Standby In case he should suddenly
demand smelling salts or a T-bone
steak--artistic vagaries which you learn
to anticipate in this business.
He arrived at 20 minutes to 8. We
were vastly relieved, for we saw, at
glance, that he had not been seized
with the buck fever, which, oftener than
not, hits artists when they first see a
microphone. 1t was big evening. with
all the machinery and temperaments
involved keyed up to high pitch and
! everything clicking along smoothly but
tensely in a tight schedule. Nothing
had ever made us so happy as to see
our ace performer walk right up to the
microphone and give 1t cold. insult
ing look, as much as to say, mo small
piece Of tin like you is going to get my
goat"
While he was a pint-sized man, he
had Napoleonic, way about him which
was most reassuring. There was no
doubs but that, on the stroke Of 8, he
would step up to the piano, and, with
out slly preliminary agonies, fill the air
with beautiful music. I have guessed
wrong on quite few things in my life,
but I never made wilder guess than
this.
Picks From Piano Flock.
Our artist suddenly gave the piano a
surprised and resentful look, a look
which seemed to convey the idea that
somebody had dragged In something ex-
tremely offensive He beckoned imperi-
ousiy to an attendant and said some
thing which must have been extremely
emphatic. ! was at the mike, filling in
moments gap in the program, with
watch in my hand, noting that IT was
then is minutes to 8.
When saw the attendant dash out
Of the studio, little beads Of perspira-
ton began to pop out of my forehead.
1t was toss-up whether the signor had
demanded ice cream or monkey
wrench. I was wrong on both g,iesses
In moment the emergency squad APP
peared. rolling In another piano. They
keep quite flock of pianos in the
studio, all on rubber wheels, so they
can be rolled around silently, like tea
tables. The pianist's hands went up
with gesture of despair. This piano
was apparently more hopeless than he
other.
For five minutes pianos shuttled in
and out like trains at the Grand Gen.
trail. I remembered the clown con-
struction boss in the old Hippodrome,
making the boys put something here
and then there and then take it away
Finally, with a snort of disgust, the
pianist accepted one of the pianos
Again was relieved, and again was
mistaken.
He sat down on the stool and jumped
up as If he had sat on a tack. He
waved for an attendant. In a mo-
ment a chair had replaced the stool.
Again the signor was filed with con-
tempt There were chairs and chairs
and more chairs. Goldilocks, trying out
the bears furniture, was a good
picker, compared to this chap. Finally,
he nodded his approval Of one Of the
vice presidents Office chairs.
Bring In Stock Of Cushions.
That's over" thought, but I was
wrong again. There was demand for
cushion. BY this time, the standing
army Of pages had been called tut.