Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
( YHILE radio announcers
~ continue to be the sub
" ject of Jokes and comic

WOAAAAA ~ oily PAOSTdIIlS. 80
far no technique of radio presen-
tation has been evolved that elm
mates the announcer, and there
is little likelihood that such a
drastic change in broadcasting
methods ever will be made.
The announcer is the peg on
which the program is hung. When
continuity is written, the first
speeches to go on paper are the
words OF the announcer. The pub
lie depends on him, too. He must
tell them the names of the selec-
tions to be played, what the pro-
gram is about and the other de-
tails impossible to get across in
any other way.
In musical programs the an
nouncer takes the place of the
program notes offered in concert
halls, theaterS and opera houses
In the dramatic production he
not only fills the place held by
the printed program in legitimate
theaterS, but has revived the old
theater narrator, the person who
filled in the gaps between scenes
of the play. In the elaborate
presentations the announcer be-
comes a master of ceremonies.
The medal award by the Ameri-
can Academy of Arts and Letters
for excellence in diction on the
radio, won last year by Milton J.
Cross Of the National Broadcast
ing Co., had its effect on the
status of announcing in radio.
1t Signified the first recognition
given radio as an allied academic
art and served to stimulate an
nouncerS everywhere to improve
and clarity their speech.
That the job of announcer also
is highly regarded by young men
Is indicated in the tremendous
number Of applications received
by the broadcaSting networks for
positions. At the National Broad
casting Co. studios alone it is es-
timated that more than 100 men
and quite a few women-call
every month to take the tests
necessary to qualify as an an
nouncer. In addition, letters by
the score come in asking "How
can become radio announcer?"
X y X
The West Coast, which for years
has startled the world by the i'm
mensity of the salaries paid to
movie stars, is now enlarging it's
high-Salary reputation by enter
ing the big-money radio field. A
new leader in this sphere is Hugh
Barrett DobbS, who has Just
signed contract to conduct a
sponsored program over the Pa
cific Coast network of the Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. for three
years in return for a salary of
more than 100000.
This puts Dobbs among the
leaders in radio. The salary is
even more impressive when it is
considered that he is conducting
a sectional broadcast, whereas
other top-price entertainers work
over national hook-upS.
Rudy Vallee tops the list in the
East. He gets $4,000 a week for
himself and his orchestra on the
FleiSchmann Sunshine hour. Vim
cent Lopez Is said to receive the
same amount weekly. When the
National Broadcastfng Co. bought
Amos n Andy" from WMAQ, 1t
guaranteed these entertainers
$4,000 year, but their salary is
reported to have jumped to $780,
600 a year when they were or
dered on the air twice a night
FRANKLIN Baur, the Firestone ten
| or, is said to write his name on
the back of a $1,000 check every
week, while JeSSica Dragonette
gets more than $700 weekly. Ora
ham McNamee'S salary is report
ed to be in excess of ST 900 a week
The record salary for a single
broadcast, however, is believed to
be held by Sir Harry Lauder, who
received $4,000 for his first Is
minutes on the air. He sang three
songs at $4,000 a song. He then
did. another Is minutes on an
other program, and is believed to
have been paid the same amount
making grand total Of $4,000
for 80 minutes.
%k y X
Reference to "AmoS m Andy
4 1SCdlIS oil ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 0CIlO Out
last week by the National Broad
casting Co. that the most recent
gift received by the popular en-
tertainers was two pairs of elastic
shoe laceS. The laces were sent
by an inventor who sympathiZed
with ANDY" because of his diff
culties in breaking in a new pair
Of shoes.
Dog food and a dog collar, also,
were sent to the entertainers sew
eral days ago with a note that
they were for the recently adopt
ed dog.
Merlin H. Aylesworth, president
of the National BroadcaSting Co.,
incidentally foresees in the sue
cess Of "Amos m Andy" an early
revolution in playwrighting, act
ing and musical composition. In
his annual report, Mr.. AyleSworth
had this to say about the pair:
"The outstanding success of the
two comedians known on the air
as Amos N Andy interests me
keenly, because they are working
in a new art form. They have