Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30
"Grahan

THE other day I saw a newspaper
picture of Roark Bradford. the man.
who rewrote the old Bible stories into
Negro sermons and delighted the book
lsh and couple of other worlds, and
in it he looked just as sacred as he did
the first time he ever broadcast, some
thing more than year ago Apparently
it Is as much of an ordeal for him to
face camera as 1t is to confront a
microphone. Bradfords first book, "Old
Man Adam and His Chillun," had Just
come out, and we arranged to have him
read some selections from it one after
noon.
The author, who once was the city
editor of New Orleans newspaper, and
who had gone through some rather
thrilling experiences as an Army officer
in Panama during the war, looked a
little nervous when he arrived at the
studios, and lot more so as his turn
to go before the mike approached.
Bradford has stubborn jaw, so he set
1t and announced he was ready to 90 on,
I happened to be watching through the
control booth window, and Bradford's
back was toward me as the announcer
on duty sat him down at a table and
pushed the mike over to him. With
Bradford'S very first words, it was obvi-
Gus that he'd have preferred to be back
New Orleans. He stumbled along for a
few minutes, and then he seemed to get
the swing of the thing, and he went
along in great shape to the finish, right
on the dot of his allotted time. But
when it was over and Bradford came
into the booth the engineer remarked
that he didn't remember that story in
the book. You're burned tootin' you
don't" remarked Bradford THAT
to-
at that mean-faced microphone dinguS
got me so nervous got all mixed up
trying to read it. So I happened to
think Of story, and closed my eyes
anC let her slither. But let me tell you
this: The next person that gets me in
front of that thing has got to be good"
Several persons must have been good,
for we had Bradford on the air three
times more before he left New York for
New Orleans again. I hope he comes
back soon; I'd like to hear more Of his
stories And I'd also like to see him
matched against Floyd Gibbons in a
yarn-spinning contest. They are both
born story-tellers.
Not a PIayer-PianO.
The other day an announcer and a
program executive stepped into an ap-
parently vacant studio, but from piano
in the corner the strains of Chopins
Minute Waltz" were issuing. What
the Sam Hill! exclaimed the program
man, There aren't supposed to be any
player-pianoS around the studios!" Be
fore he could investigate, surprised
and somewhat aggrieved face appeared
| above the piano. Whats that You said
| about this sounding like a player
piano." the owner of the face de-
manded. And he had a right to be
annoyed, for the hidden player was
I none other than Alexander Brailowsky,
the Russian pianist, known throughout
the concert world for his interpreta-
tions Of Chopin. He was holding a re-
hearsal for a program all by himself
Explanations and apologies followed,
but the program mans error was I'M
| derstandable. Much of the time when
Brailowsky is playing he bends so far
forward that his face is only two or
three inches above his flying fingers.
You can't see him at all from the other
end Of the piano. Incidentally, when
Brailowsky played over the air that
! night he was as much at ease as If he
had been on the concert platform, al
though he had broadcast only a few
times previously. He won't broadcast
in Europe-his home is in Paris-until
the stations there are much improved
He believes that justice is done to de-
I cent artistry on the air only in America.
He speaks good English, which he
learned making concert tours OF
America; prefers his own cooking to any
he can get anywhere in the world, and
! despises outburstS of temperament, call