Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20

"Graharn

L Is TWO minutes 10 d. we nave a
studio full of temperamental art
lists, including great Metropolitan
Il diva, ready to start with very
special program. The monitor in
his glass booth is as alert as terrier
at a rat hole. The millions of little
wires behind the control panel seem to
be Quivering with excitement, like the
nerves of the participants. There is a
delicate and intricate network of me-
chanical and human concerns. 1t must
function perfect.
The telephone rings.
Listen! We got big party on at
Higgins Hall, over here in Blue Ridge.
We want you to lay us down some red
hot jazz. We gotta do lot of hoofing
tonight, and this Higgins piano is a
washout.. We got a receiver hook-up
with the candy store on the ground
floor. We're all set for big night and
We want you boys to do your stun.
Threads Among the Gold and we'll get
in on it. Then we want What?
You got program to put on? Listen!
Maybe you didn't get me. I'm former
Alderman McTurk. Me and the mayor
are regular buddies. Just like that!
We amt trying to cadge any Of your
music. Just shoot me the bill and
charge me by the yard or however 1t
Is you fix it, All we want you birds to
do Is to start raSslin' that old bull
fiddle We ,gntta-step. What? Now,
listen"
Performance FIawless..
Much as we'd like we just can't listen
any longer 1t is about one-half of
minute to 8 o'clock, and What's
this new excitement? The prima donna
seems about to swoon. A thousand pos
sibilities leap into our minds. Is her
husband dead? Has she been seized
with appendicitis? One of the hostesses
supplies the answer by returning from
a cloakroom and handing something
to the prima donna which instantly
puff. The girls all had powder puffs,
but only her own would do. There had
been a mad chase. Could one sing the
"Erl Koenig" with a shiny nose? One
certainly could not. The danger is past.
The prima donna steps to the micro
phone and puts on flawlesS perform
ance.
In concert singing and one thing or
another / have been back stage quite a
lot, and I find the back stage of radio
even more exciting than that of the
theater. There is an uncanny quality
in this projection Of a song from a
Soundproof room out into millions of
homes. which, veteran as I am in this
business, always gives me something
like creepy feeling between the Shout
der blades. Peering through the thick
glass of the inclosed mezzanine above
there are usually half dozen impaSsive
faces. These visitors may be hearing
the song from loud speaker outside
the studio, but somehow they seem to
be ghostly faces looking in from another
world.
The face of the monitor through the
glass booth also seems cold and immo-
bile, and the technicianS and engineers
also have this same look. In theater
one finds every one catching the mood
of performance and applause swellS
out spontaneously, The lack of ap-
plause in a radio studio also gives one
| a queer, let-down feeling. I recall one
artist making her first appearance be-
| fore the microphone who was so nerv-
! cusly upset by the absence of applause
| that she was unable to give an encore,
although the telephone was bringing in
demands that she sing again.
Wide Range Of Stars.
suppose the radio studios of the
National Broadcasting Co. bring to-
gethcr from time to time the most
! widely assorted lot of distinguished per-
sons who ever engage in the same enter
prise or meet at the same place. There
are divas, prima donnas, ingeaues
preachers, explorers, artists. lecturers
actors, dramatiSts. vaudevillians, ora
tors, statesmen, Senators, saxophone
wizards-in fact, opponents of every art
| or profession who have gained fame
] know of no other business or institu-
ton which herds together such an as
Semblage as this.
Most of these are sensible persons
who have won their place by hard work
and intelligence. and after they get
over their first nervousness they acquire
an easy, professional radio manner
which keeps things running along
smoothly. Sometimes. however, We
bump into a big load of temperament
like all other impresarios, or we find
some important person, cast somewhat
in the consular mold. who is impatient
OF the various requirements and re-