Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25
ME coming of amos n
Andy" to WRC is due in a
large measure to the per-

large measure to the per-
Sistence of Washington ra-
! dio listeners, who literally Stormed
the station and the sponsors OF
the black face comedians when II
was definitely known that they
were not to be heard locally.
The howl was not so great until
1t was learned that VIDAL In Bal
! timore would not broadcast the
Amos m Andy" sketch regularly
as a result of the order of the
Federal Radio Commission direct
ing that station to share time on
the air with VITO in Hartford.
Conn. VIDAL is picked up regu-
larly in Washington, but VITO
Is absolutely indispensable, and
there was no station to which the
followers of activities of the black
face comedians in Washington
could rely for an uninterrupted
broadcast of their sketch.
Consequently WRC was ap-
pealed to in the most pathetic
fashion to book Amos n Andy
The station could do nothing
without the sanction of the Spon-
sors, the PepSodent Co., for it
alone determined the number OF
stations in the network for its
broadcast. In view of the strong
appeal of the Washington listen =
ers, the company decided to add
WRC to the chain. Although the
feature started two days behind
it's debut on the regular network,
the local listeners L grateful.
amos m Andy" is broadcast
every night, except Tuesday, for
IS minutes = from 10 to 1O.15
o'clock, Eastern standard time.
Their sketch, already we'll known
through the recorded versions
broadcast by VOL, is based on a
conception of a comic strip of the
air.
Freeman Gosden and Charles
Cornell, who play the roles of
Amos n Andy" are the only per-
sons before the microphone in
their broadcast, but q multitude of
characters often alA heard. In
fact, as many as seven or eight
characters take part in the fea-
ture.
Besides the title roles Of the
excitable, sympathetic, kind, young
Amos, impersonated by Gosden,
and the bullying, domineerirg
Andy, by Cornell, the listener
hears such a variety of Negro
characters as the KingfSh. Ruby
Taylor's father, the Swordfish, the
Judge and the policeman-all of
whom Amos n Andy" encounter
in their lively adventures of run
ming the Fresh Air TaXicab Co.,
IncOrpulated, on the streets Of
Harlem.
BY assuming different voices,
speaking every line, Correll and
Gosden are able to impersonate a
whole troupe of blackface min
Strels before the microphone. The
chief contrast, Of course, lies be-
tween the boastful Andy, with a
low voice, and the meek little
Amos. with his thin, piping,
frightened falsetto voice.
To achieve the necessary differ
ence in voices, when playing two
or more parts, they work at vari-
Gus distances from the micro
phone. This requires considerable
agility and quick moving about, IN
addition to their talent. but Amos
n Andy manage it SO perfectly
that it Is difficult for the radio
audience to believe that only two
men are taking part in the
sketches.
The campaign to find the best
idea for a 'one-hour radio pro-
gram, which got under way q few
days ago, is bringing results far
beyond the expectations OF the
Radio Worlds Fair, its sponsors.
Ideas which have been submitted
indicate beyond all doubt that the
American people still have the i'm
agination and vision of the pio-
neer.
The fact that 500 will be
awarded to the person providing
the best idea seems not as impor-
tant to fans generally as the OPP
portunity which the campaign
provides to make constructive sug-
gestionS in quarters closest to in
duStry leaders. And cooperation
of the National Association Of
BroadcasterS with the Radio
Worlds Fair is likewise indicative
Of the value which the radio fra
ternity sees in public Study OF
broadcasting.
L. 8. Baker, managing director
of the National Association of
Broadcasters. was one of the first
to point out the value of the cam
paign. IF every person with a
radio set would contribute his own
personal ideas as to what he sin
cerely believes would make an
outstanding radio program Of one
hours duration, I am sure that
we, in radio, as we'll as the listen
ing public would benefit immeas-
urably," he said.
AS announced, 500 will be paid
the person submitting the best
idea for a. one-hour radio pro-
gram. There are no restrictions
as to the type of program. It IS
hoped to present the winning pro-
gram idea over the air during the
Radio Worlds Fair. September %
to %. Ideas mailed to 1904 Times