davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1930-01-11
BEL ASCO GAVE
JANE COWI
Al CHANCE

There is, OF course, the
encient story oabout the old
actor who boaSted at his club
about having played with all
the great ones In the palmy
days, but who was forced TO
admit, when pressed for q de-
tailed account of his roles
that he had always been cast
for offstage shouts and muir
raurs." He had never got be-
yond this invisibility.
Sometimes. h owe yer, the
story doesn't end so patheti-
calIy. Sometimes fame and for
tune and public acclaim come
eventually to the humble and
unseen performer Off-stage who
helps to give the illusion that
Just behind the prosceniun1s
arch there Is something other
than bare brick walls and
switcfboardS and stage hands
In overallS.
There was, for instance, q
certain very young actress who
walked on" in ''The Rose Of
the Rancho that CANDY PAN
Drama Of life In the pre-Civil
War California which David
Belasco produced at the Re
public Theates and which In
troduced Frances Starr to star.
dom. She was a very beautiful
young girl and the deep reSor1-
ai1ce Of her voice attracted the
attention Of the gentleman who
was then coming to be referred
TO in the public prints as "the
wizard. "
When he was planning for
Miss Stars next play, Eugene
Walters The Easiest Way"
he sent for the. girl and an
nounced that he was going to
give her two roles in it.
Two distinctly contrasting
roles y he said enevolently.
''It will be q great opportunity
for you. my dear young
woman.
The girl. quivering with ner-
vous excitement, found voice
''I'm not very good at make
up yet" she said timidly.
''Will you have some one help
me?"
Mr.. Belasco smiled and eyed
her carefully as he replied:
It will not be necessary, my
dear. I forgot to mention that
you are not seen. The ladies
ii question are off-stage. Only
their voices are heard
The young girl-weN, blanched
Is what young girls usually do
under such circumstances, ac-
cording to the best short story
technique. Also q furtive tear
or two crept into her dark
eyes.
That's all right" she said
tremulously. Maybe some
thing better will come along.
later"
However, Mr.. BelaSC0 hau
been covertly watching her at
rehearsals from the darkness
of the auditorium and when
the season was over he sent
for her again.
II will have something a lit
tie better for you next season"
he said. Here's a play that
opens in August. The part is
Fannie Perry. It's really not
bad"
He handed her q manuscript
and turned to ring for his sec
retary. Ten minutes later she
was in her apartment coming
the script. Fannie Perry, it
seems was the leading role.
The rest is history and all that
sort Of thing. The play was
"'Is Matrimony a Failure" and
the young girl vast really
can't be concealed any longer
the very Jane Cowl who will
play a very resplendent Broad
way actress in the BarneS-Shel-
don opus named Jenny"
which comes to Polls Theater
for a weeks engagement on
Monday, January 13.
The Washington times., 1930-01-11
TalInadge Bungalow

Miss Talmadge, star of New
York Nights" now playing at
LoeW's Palace, has q portable
bungalow on the studio lot. It
IS fully equipped, even includ-
Ing telephone and radio.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Veterans of Great War

service persons In the organization and
setting up Of the various proposed EN-.
pioyment agencies for the beneft OF
World War veterans, is the subject
of a recommendation made to Secre-
tary of Labor James j. Davis by Wat
son B. Miller, American Legion re-
Mobilization chairman.
The regular monthly meeting OF
Peary Ship will be held at the Soldiers,
Sailors and Marines Club, 1Ol5 l.
street, next Tuesday at pm.
At the last meeting Shipmate c. H.
Crumbaker was elected to the ONCE OF
chaplain and installed. This election
was made necessary by the recent death
of Shipmate F. @. Pauro.
The annual pilgrimage to the tomb
of Admiral Robert E. Peary will be dis
cuSsed at the next meeting. This al
fair Is held annually on April 6.
Kenneth H. Nash Unit, No. 8, met on
Wednesday evening, in the gold room OF
the Hamilton Hotel. After q brief bust
ness meeting, lecture on Social n.y.
giene," Illustrated by moving pictures.
was delivered by DR. Howard Fisher OF
the District Of Columbia Health Depart.
ment. Members from Jane Delano ana
Jacob Jones Posts were guests OF the
unit.
VETERANS 0E FOREIGN WARS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

as II the irnpish personality Of Tarking-
tons popular young character y super
imposing itself on Howard'S-but, At
any rate. here's what happened before
recent "Penrud'' rehearsal: SHOUTS.
glrgles, yelps and whOops, and down
one of the studio corridors rushed
young Jack McCalhon, who plays sam
In the show, followed by Howard
And what q state the latter was In !!
I was not even sure at f1rst that 1t was
Howard. His eyes were nearly popping
out of his head and his cheeks were
pulled to an astonishing size.
Poison Twp" wondered. Hydro
phobia?" Now / was getting warm, for
1t seems that Howard, stepping COM
pletely into "Penrod," had filled his
copious young mouth to bursting from
q water fountain in one OF the studios
and had then rushed at Jack with
sounds of "Ummmmpl Glugp And
Jack, reading his mind accurately. had
taken to his heels with yellS of frenzy
and sprinted to the haven Of group
of Radio Guild actors and actresses
at the end of the hall.
In and out he darted, with many
tuggings and Swingings around the
amazed adults, and after him came the
alert Howard, still burbling in his
cheeks and glaring ahead at Jack In
pop-eyed fashion. Finally Jack took
refuge behind Florence Malone, whose
beautiful voice has made her diStinc-
tive among radio actresses. What on
earth" she began, but Penrod beat
her to it. He aimed at Jack. but missed
him, and Miss Malone got the full
drenching!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Department Comdr. Harvey L. Miller
announces the appointment of Past
Post Comdr. Oscar w. Hollingsworth of
National Capitol Post as department
chief of stan, vice Mai Alexander M
Lochwitzky. Maj. Lochwitzky has been
transferred to the Army Aircraft Serv-
ice at Dayton, Ohio.
Past Department Comdr. Joseph F.
Beattie has been made chairman of the
1880 national encampment committee,
with authority to appoint other men,
bers Of his committee. The function of
this committee will be to contact en-
campment officials at Baltimore.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars will
present an indoor circus at Masonic
Temple, Thirteenth street and New
York avenue, on the evenings Of March
81, April and 2.
A business meeting Of the Overseas
Military Band, Drum and Bugle Corps
was held at Soldiers, Sailors and Ma
rines' Club on Friday evening, at which
meeting steps were taken toward fur
ther increasing the band and toward
arranging for drills In connection with
the military formation of band. The
Overseas Military Band turned out
yesterday evening ut the Willard Hotel
In the opening gesture Of the 1880
poppy drive. The occasion was he an
nual jamboree of he Jewish Broher-
hood and the entire band of ia pieces
took the floor as q surprise number ut
II pm.
The Overseas Drum and Bugle Corps,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
McNAMEE'S QUESTION
BOX.

@. Please tell me who the man is who
used to sing the "Slumber Song" and
what has happened to him?-R. L. Co.
Washington, d. G.
A. Milton j. Cross, the announcer,
still sings the "slumber Song" the
signature of the Slumber Music pro-
gram, about three nights a week, and
he is one of the reasons for the wide
popularity of the hour. Another rea-
son why this feature is such a favorite
may be attributed to its conductor; Lud.
wig Laurier, who personally selects all
the music for the program. The latter
half Of the hour Is particularly sooth-
ing In its musical makeup.
Q. should be interested to know the
real identities of the Nit Wits. Alice
Ball, Baltimore, Md.
A. The writer and producer Of the
show Is Bradford Browne, and you also
hear him In the, role Of "Chief Nit Wit. !"
Harry Swan, announcer, cavorts in the
character Of Prof. r. U. Musclebound" ;
Lizzie Twitch," the cooking expert, Is
played by Yolanda Langworthy, and
"Aphrodite Godiva" by Georgia Backus.
Both these girls are clever character
actresses. Minnie Blauman, accompan-
ist, Is announced as Eczema Succo-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

under Sergt. Maj. William p. winslade
played at the annual dinner Of the
WomenS Overseas Service League,
Thursday evening.
At the last meeting of Potomac
Auxiliary plans were completed for
the st. Patrick's dance to be given
March is at knights Of Columbus Hall,
$40 Tenth street. Plans were laid for
extensive hospital and welfare work,
with MRS. Matte q. Ewing as chairman
OF hospital work and Mrs. Ethel Fowler,
senior vice president, as chairman of
welfare work. Mrs. Margaret jacobson,
District of Columbia chairman for
dime banks for the National Home
fund talked on the work being done
by the auxiliaries.
social meeting will be held by the
auxiliary March Is. Visitors from other
auxiliaries and posts are invited to
these social meetings.
National Capitol Post No. 1877 went
on record as indorsing James @. Yaden
OF Washington for commissioner to I'LL
the vacancy now existing In the United
States civil service
George e. Wallace, who served in
Company A, goth United States In
fantry during the wal, with Spain, and
George H. keenan,, who served as
chief yoeman in the United States
Navy during the war with Germany,
were admitted to membership.
The entertainment committee was
directed to make the arrangements for
the thirtieth birthday anniversary
party, to be held April 8, the ladies'
auxiliary OF National Capitol Post to
participate in the festivities.
largo Aa1anokfava
Front Line and Potomac Posts paid
their annual visit to the post Past Ma
tfonal Quartermaster General Lawson
OF the Department of Massachusetts,
accompanied by James w. Twoney Of
the same department, was present Past
Department Comdr. Beatty, Comdr.
Hooley OF Front Line Post, Comdr. Gar
della and others gave brief talks.
The seventh birthday anniversary of
the local Military Order of the Cootie
will be held March l8. Tickets for
non members, which have been limited
to 100, are being distributed. A pro-
gram OF entertainment is being ar
ranged.
The regular monthly meeting of the
U. S. s. Jacob Jones Post, No. 2, will
be held tomorrow night at the Thomas
Circle Club, 1926 Massachusetts, avenue,
at o'clock. Refreshments will be
served, and it is hoped to have an en-
tertainment
Attention is called to the Braille
class, which meets on the first, third
and when there is one) fifth Tuesdays
OF the month. This night has. been
assigned to the Jacob Jones Post.
Members Of the post are requested TO
attend these meetings.
The post held its card party last
Monday night at the All States Hotel.
The advisory council met Thursday
evening at the home of Comrade Ella
Leech.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

the appreciation which no comedian,
radio or whatnot, can do without.
4 4 y y
,Announcers' Troubles Outlined.
read q great deal about the follow
erS Of various professions being forced
to work under extreme difficulties now
and then. You see little about the
trouble radio announcers encounter.
Usually we never think to talk about
it, inasmuch as the craft has always
accepted these little things as more or
less in the daily course of events. This
is all a sort of prelude, because I'm
going to tell about the only time ever
broadcast from fiat on my back with
people stepping all over me.
When Lindbergh arrived in Wash
ington on the cruiser Memphis. which
had picked him up in France, fresh
from his Paris triumphs, was assigned
to describe the spectacle. I had my
microphone on the dock. A huge crowd
was at my back, held behind police
ropes by q small army of bluecoatS.
remember wondering bit about that
police line. but then decided that II
would hold against anything.
The cruiser slid up to the dock. The
gangplank came down, and Mrs. Evan
geline Lindbergh appeared. She had
boarded bklS CIulScr OelOTe IL QOCkS0.
The crowd cheered wildly and talked
away at my microphone.
When Lindbcrgh Appeared.
A brief pause, then Lindbergh ap-
peared. The crowd went wild. I al
most had to shout to lift my voice
above the roar from behind. Sud-
denly heard a rush, and the next
knew I had been knocked down and the
crowd was swarming over me. Fortu-
nately, 1 graSped the microphone as
fell and despite being nat on my back
I don't think missed a single word.
I can't say it was particularly pleas
ant; but, after all, the radio listeners
have q right to hear about everything
that is going on.
Alwyn Bach, though, has me beaten
on odd positions for announcing. Dur
ing q political convention while he was
announcing for WEI he figured that
the next local announcement he would
have to make wouldn't come along for
half an hour, and decided to take q
bath. But 1t came just after he had
slipped into the water. An engineer
had to hold mike" before him while
AL CROPPED for the soap and announced
to waiting world that the program
was coming through WBZ.
One Type Of Cowboy.
Every now and then I feel like bust
ing up some illusions You might class
it as a dirty trick suppose, but just
can't resist spilling the fact that many
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

fash" Nine. Mocha de Polka" OPP
cratic singer, Is "slung'' BY Lucille
Black. Lord Asncart" and Congress
man Felix O'Beefe" are both portrayed
by Chester Miller. Margaret Peggy
Young. who offers Talks on Interior
Dissertation with Advice to the Love
lorn," as Patience Bumstead, Is In
private life Mrs. Bradford Browne.
@. Does James Melton, the seiber-
| ling tenor, also sing under the name OF
Paul oliver for the Palmolive hour?
And does the Eeiberling Quartet sing
at any other hour?-G. N. w., Niles,
A. James Melton Is the first tenor Of
! the Revelers, who are heard as the
Seiberling Singers and as the quartet
in the Palmolive hour. Jimmie appears
| as soloist only In the Soldering pro-
| grams. Paul Oliver is really Franz
| Mum, vino is heard only in the PALM
olive programs. -----
O. We get Phil Cook, the Aunt Je>
NINA Man, over KFAB at 8 am. CEN
| tral time and over KDKA at am
central time. Does he come on latei
! for Pacific coast stations?-Rev. w. G.
Birmingham, Loup City, Nebr.
A. No; Cook sings only twice each
morning, once for eastern stations and
| an nOuI IhOCE 4Ok ctaAbAOAAc AAA VAAC 4AAAASAS
West. Pacific Coast listeners can't get
| him on this program. I take 1t that
Baby Lois, who sings Phil's II See By
| the Papers" with him, Is your daughter,
/ and I know Phil will be delighted to
hear 1t. I am taking the liberty Of
passing your letter along TO him.
| q. Is there a station near Newark
where amateurs can broadcast
/ Haanr1aaoVR pf1flnavraT TYsrfe1OtAf1 N Il
A. There are very few stations In the
country which do not prefer profession
ais as singers and entertainers, and in
| the New York area, where there are
thousands Of trained singers, the en-
phasis on the professional Is especially
strong. However, II you have good rea-
son to believe that your voice is above
the average, 1t will do no harm to ask
| for an addition at any one OF the sew
eral New York and New Jersey stations.
Almost all Of them hold regular audi
lions, looking for new talent. There Is
no station near New York all Of whose
talent is amateur.
O. Does Rudy Vallee play on other
programs besides the Fleischmann
hour Eleanor Hicks, Lawrence, Kans:
A. Only programs of late dance nnu-
sic, speaking in New York time. You
can catch his programs from his night
club once or twice week. He Is not
regularly scheduled on any other fea-
lures, although he sometimes appears as
| guest artist.
@. Is Pauline Haggard really accom-.
panying herself on the piano when she
sings?-J. J. L., Pass Christian Miss.
A. Yes, Miss Haggard plays well
enough to accompany other singers In
case of necessity, although she is not
studio accompanist. She Is chiefly in
tereSted in her singing.
! (Copyright, 1e30)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

~ the singers Of cowboy and hill-billy
sonrx gather their stun within q few
minutes Of Broadway.
Carson Robson, who has entertained
millions with his songs Of the Southern
mountains, knows his hiil-btllies right
eTIonrh. but most of the songs he sings
ia their particular style are his own
compositions. :,
and a comparative newcomer to the
networks. didn't follow Horace Greeley'S
advice until after he had been q news
paper man In washington, d. c., and
when he went West it was just to visit
his brothers dude ranch, in Arizona.
I confess that since his appearance at
the old WEAF studios just before
Christmas. 1925, had forgotten his
history. and didn't realize White was
the cowboy" to whom had been lis
teninR with every conviction OF reality
until I saw him again In our studios
recently. John sings the old COWBOY
songs Just as they were sung years ago,
when cattle roaned ranges and cowboys
really had to know how to ride, but ne
learned them from the ex-cowboys his
brother hired as atmosphere Tor the
dude ranch.
Has One Outstanding Merit.
Natural or acquired, I don't suppose
1t makes much difference, at that, so
long as the stuff Robson and White
put over Is entertaining. And 1t Ger
tainly is that.
There is a real hill-billy on the air,
though. He is Obed Pickard, the head
of the Pickard family, who sing and
play the music Of the back waters OF
the South just as 1t has been sung and
Y1l0ynA efV1Aa thu DalgOl1nffNY1 and F1rOlos
ably before. Dad" got on the air dowr
at WSM, in Nashville, more or less by
accident, and after he got his whole
family on the air, putting on radio
barn dances, he decided they ought to
take a vacation and motor around the
country. Well, they ended up in New
York, on the networks, and they have
been at 1t ever since, alternating be-
tween New York and Chicago.
Dad" always carries a jewsharp or
two and harmonica in his pocket, and
the rest of the family always have gui-
tars and fiddles handy. dad" will
stage a concert any place. any time, on
little provocation, or. none at all. I've
seen him walk across Fifth avenue
playing the mouth organ, and when
their car broke down in q little Ohio
town when they were on their way East
q few weeks ago dad" and the whole
family staged an impromptu concert in
the railroad station. Dad" told me
that the station master was the most
appreciative audience he ever had-he
got so interested In the music that he
forgot to hang up the mail sack for the
fast train to snatch up on its way
through.
Penrod Maintains Reputation.
That kid, Penrod-Howard Merrill,
you, I Know plays me , role , on the sirL
Florence Malone! I'm not sure how
good the actress sense of humor Is, or
I'd ask her myself. Anyway, 1t seems
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Graham

IRON the earliest days of broad
L. casting, the comedians have been
the one class of entertainers who
II have never been able to dispense
completely with an audience. II
was so when we first httched up mike
that looked like tin can, and II Is true
today, when pick-upS are as ScientinC
as the measurement of Betelguese..
When Ed Wynn made what must
have been his microphone debut
think it was back in 1923-no one, Eo
included. expected there would be any
difficulty about It, He was just to come
to the studios, stand in front OF q micro
phone and tell few funny stories. The
idea was a grand one, but 1t didn't
work out that way.
Suddenly Becomes Confused.
WYNN stepped up to the microphone
when his time came and started on as
II he had been broadcasting all his life
But all of q sudden he began to look
AZ II he had Just come from o banquet
of green apples. The wise cracks began
To falter and Wynn delivered them as
II he felt that he really knew better,
but that some one was standing behind
him with a shotgun and he was TESTIFY
ing Under duress.
Those of us who were watching him
through the window saw him begin 70
turn pale. Big beads Of sweat began TO
roll on his forehead. Finally he waved
his hand to the control man to cut on
the microphone. Those were In the
free and easy days when a couple OF
vacant minutes bothered no one, ano
the control operator complied.
WYNN dashes up to the nearest stan
man he could find, grabbed him by the
lapels and cried, For Coos sake, ge!
somebody to laugh at me! Maybe II
isn't funny, but If 1 can't see somebody
laughing I can't go on"
Laughs Were Provided.
We rounded up everybody around the
studios, hoSteSses, pages, extra engl-
neers and half dozen musicians. Or
ders were to laugh every time Wynn
stopped for breath. Well, 1t worked! ]
don't think have ever seen o performer
change from pure despair to plain
assurance so fast. And don't thinE
I have ever heard Wynn be quite Sc
funny since as he was in the last part
That demand for the appreciativC
laugh still exists. I have seen sucf
mike" veterans as Billy. Jones and
Ernie Hare in rehearsal glance at the
studio engineer to see how he took thai
last Joke If they can arnuse thai
control man, who has heard Severa
thousand radio Jokes, good and bad, the
joke stays in the program. He doesn't
have to laugh, but II the control mar
even smiles Jones and Hare have hat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Recipe for a Graceful Carriage.

The most casual observer travelling
through Portugal viii notice that the
women are generally graceful in their
Carriage, no matter what their social
sphere may be. They are erect and
light on their feet and the explanation
is said to be In the fact that they
carry all their bundles on their heads.
In the villages along the coast the
women carry heavy baskets of fisn upon
their heads, and in the inland cities
they do their marketing and carry their
produce in baskets on their heads, NOV
ing along through crowded streets, as
surefooted as the mule and as graceful
as q swan
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Meetings this week:
Monday - Front Line Post.
Winston Hotel; Front Line Ladies
Auxiliary, Soldiers, Sailors and
Marines Club.
Tuesday--National Capitol Post
and National Capitol Ladies' Aux
Hilary, Pythian Temple.
Wednesday - Columbia Post,
Thomas Circle Club; Overseas
Military Band, Grotto Hall;
Ladies' Drill Team, Hines Junior
High School.
Observation-Disclosures Post and
Potomac Post Ladies' Auxiliary,
Soldiers, Sailors and Marines
Club.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
THE AMERICAN LEGION.
MEETINds THIS WEEK.

ANA&lAA = AANN49 . A4AAg W AA@48s
March 1o--U. s. 8. Jacob Jones
Post, Thomas Circle Club,
1926 Massachusetts, avenue
northwest, pm.
March 10-Lincoln Post, New
Amsterdam Hotel, 2701 Four
tenth street northwest, pm.
March 10-Second Division, 1903
Sixteenth street northwest,
8 pm.
March 11-Victory Post, Wood
mems Hall, 935 Grant place
northwest, 8 pm.
March Thames Reese Europe
Fost, Y. M. G. A., Twelfth
and T streets northwest,
8 pm.
March 13--JameS Z. Walker Post,
Y. M. c. A., Twelfth and T
streets northwest, 8 pm.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

ID. C. Home Economies Association
drug and insecticide administration Of
the Department Of Agriculture, win talk
on the Different Phases of Enforcing
the Pure Food Laws" on Tuesday eve
ming at Q o'clock at the Bureau Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

That the Department Of Labor give
preference to the employment Of .ex-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
McNarnee
Speaking

the appreciation which no comedian,
radio or whatnot, can do without.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Meetings this week:

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
PenrOd Maintains Reputation.

That kid, Penrod-Howard Merrill,
you know, plays the role on the air.
is living up to his reputation. Ask
Florence Malone! I'm not sure how
good the actress sense of humor Is, or
I'd ask her myself. Anyway, 1t seems
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

One Typc OF COWDOy.
Every now and then feel like bust
ing I'D some illusions. You might class
it as dirty trick, I suppose, but just
can't resist spilling the fact that many