Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13
! NOE upon a time a wisdom
ridden sage delivered the
\ announcement that "r1l

pronouncement that "all
that glitters is not gold. !"
Time and an endless chain of
happenings proved him to be as
right as a Lindbergh- driven air
plane. That same element, time,
and an equally endless chain of
events also have proved the truth
of the bromide that "all that's
black isn't dirty"
To prove the latter statement
just try to find a professional
villain, when he isn't paid for
being nefarious. Those who laugh
eerily, and chuckle gloatingly into
the microphone cease to be like
that when the days work is over.
A recent survey Of the private
lives of radios outstanding
''heavieS" revealed them to be
just ordinary human beings. with
the ordinary human beings loves.
fears, likes, diSlikes and thoughts.
About the worst thing discovered
ABOUT the entire group was that
one is passionately fond Of garlic.
Instead Of sitting up nights
striving to think of ways of put
ting the lily white hero in bad
situations, the microphone vii
lalnS may rush from the studios
to game of chess or to play with
the baby at home.
For instance, take Harry
Humphrey, who plays the brute
Fragioni in the Mysterious
House serial. Undoubtedly, as he
says, "the mildest pirate who ever
slit a throat" Humphrey can
sound tougher through a radio
loud speaker than possibly any
other professional heavy"
Humphrey spends his time away
from the studios writing plays
and playing bridge and chess at
his home in Flushing, N. Y. A
canary bird awakenS Humphrey
and his wife each morning and
brings music throughout the day
into their childleSs home.
Harvey Hays, Prof. Montegle
in Mystery House, doesn't even
run true to form as a radio viii
lain. Hays is as we'll known for
his role of the lovable "Old
Pioneer" Of Empire Builders, as
he is for the villainous character
Montegle. Hays Is noted in radio
chiefly for his sneering Montegle
laugh.
A song was once written about
clown who laughed when his
heart was breaking, but no one
ever gives the villain credit for
having any feelings to mask be-
meath his role of deviltry. Yet,
less than an hour after the weird
tones of "Dr. Flu Manchu" had
ceased to echo through millions
of homes during the Golfers
radio hour, Walter Soldering was
told that his daughter had been
fatally injured in an automobile
accident. Soldering had played the
role Of DR.. Flu Manchu. The
following week he was before the
microphone as usual and the vii
famous schemes of the Chinese
character were portrayed with the
actors usual vigor. But away
from the microphone this prince
Of radio villains is just another
family man, who spends his spare
time in his work shop.
***
ALL'S quiet now on the Wash
ington radio front. Just be-
fore the removal of it's quarters
to the National Press Building,
the Federal Radio Commission
suspended formal meetings until
September 2. This means that no
major changes in broadcasting
may be expected during July and
August.
Chairman Saltzman and Com
miSSionerS Robinson and Sykes
have left the city on vacation or
business trips. Commissioners
Lafount and Starbuck will remain
in Washington during July.
Under an order passed by the
commission the commissioners re-
naming in Washington may
render routine decisions subject
to ratification by majority of
their colleagues.
Chairman Saltzman left on a
motoring and camping
trip, during which he proposes,
as he says, to forget all about
kilocycleS and watts and hetero-
dyneS and cleared channels" He
refused to divulge his destina-
ton. He will return about Aug
uSt l. Judge Robinson has gone
to his Summer home, Adeland,
near Grafton, w. Va, for the
month of July.
Judge Sykes has left for the
Pacific Coast, where he will hold
hearings in Seattle on the appli-
cation of Station KOMO for the
wave length now used by KJR,
and in Los Angeles on the short
wave application of the Federal
State Marketing Service of Sac
ramento, the Harbor Tug g. Barge
Co. of Alameda, the Wilmington
Transportation Co. of Whining
ton, KHR Of Santa Barbara, KGJE
OF Santa Maria, KGH of Santa
Cruz Island and the Merritt
Chapman & Scott Corporation of
San Pedro.
Commissioner Starbuck expects
to leave Washington in August
for an airplane trip to the West,
flying out via the Southern route
and returning by the Northern
route, during which he will study
the operations of the newly in
augurated aviation radio plan.
Commissioner Lefount's plans are
indefinite; he will remain here
during July and possibly also
throughout August. forsaking his
usual trip to his zone of far West
ern States.
When the commission resumes
hearings and meetings in Sep
TENDER it will face a crowded
schedule. Not only the problem of
duplicating some of the cleared