Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-26
CHAINS WILL Use
FAR WEST TALENT
Broadcasters Arrange to
] Garry Programs From
/ Growing Movie Colony.
By MARTIN CoDEL

LOS ANGELES, Calf, June &c.
Chain broadcasting is gradually assum-
ing an Eastward course that promises
to bring more and more radio pro-
grams from the American far West tc
the rest of the country. Many Western
programs embracing the talent in the
growing colony of artists lured here
by the talking movies or the vaunted
climate, are to be offered soon to the
radio listeners of the land.
Not only the formation of new
national chain in the West, but the
plans of the two existing NATIONWIDE
chains, indicate recognition of the fact
that many programs must hereafter
originate out here, particularly in the
studios along the Pacific Coast. Holly
wood alone, having attracted so many
of Broadway's stage stars, is now claim
ing to be second only to Broadway as
the amusement center of the United
States.
The Columbia broadcasting systems
afflliation with Paramount already has
led to an announcement that regular
weekly hour of Paramount talking pic
ture talent will be carried on the Ma
tional network. The National Broad
casting Co. has a Pacific Coast chain
which it can use to originate programs
for Middle West and Eastern consump-
ton. Two such programs are now
staged in San Francisco each week.
xxx May Be Key Station.
Columbia will soon have to find new
station outlets for Western broadcast
ing. In view of the organization OF the
American Broadcasting Co. chain, now
extending as far East as Chicago and
aspiring to broadcast on national
scale, the Linden group will end its
affiliation with Columbia at the end
of this year. Sam Pickford, Columbia S
vice president, who was here several
weeks ago, has lined up new members
of the chain and it is not unlikely
that KNX, which is on the Paramount
lot at Hollywood, will be the Western
kew station here for Columbia next year.
Program preferences and predilec-
tions of Western and Eastern audiences
are much the same, in the opinion OF
DIR. Ralph Power, radio critic for the
Los Angeles Times. Though the East
NAV be the East and the West a land
of people peculiar unto themselves, the
/, twain do meet via the radio. according
to DR., Power. What the national
! chains should do, he argues, Is obtain
the best talent in the country, regard
less of where it may be temporarily or
permanently domiciled.
Chain broadcasting," said DR.. Power,
sshas evolved into a mere switchboard
proposition, 1t is an annoyance to US
in the West when the national radio
chains force down our threats, or rather
our ears. music from the East that Is
often dull and mediocre. Sometimes
such inferior programs consist OF JAZZ
or operate stars who are second-rate
by comparison with those broadcast
from some of our local studios.
Excellent Western Talent.
"Dance programs, for example, are
about the same wherever they originate,
SO that the chains program sponsors
ought to pick them up from the pest
hands. wherever they may be. This Is
being done to some extent, as In the
case of Paul Whitman's Orchestra,
whose tour across country and present
sojourn here has been followed by q
chain announcer and microphone all
the way.
sThe amount of excellent talent here
Is tremendous" continued DR.. Power.
sAad one doesn't have TO be q Cali
fornia booster to say that the Nations
listeners ought to get the beneht or IL
without staying up late OF nights TO
dial-yery often fruitlessly-@for' long
distance reception. 1t Is good omen
that Portland's splendid symphony has
been broadcast nationally and that San
Francisco is sending out an afternoon
svnphony once q week. The Holly
wood bowl programs, known as Sym
phonies Under the Stars" ought to be
heard farther and wider, and our con-
cert artists are among the worlds best.
''For the jazz taste, there Is no doubt
that such hours as the Vitaphone
covers have been among the most popu-
lar on the air. More such programs
with the vaudeville stars available mere
could be offered"
(Copyright, 1929. by North American News
paper Alliance.)