Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
Behind the Microphone
BY THE RADIO EDITOR.

in upon the British press.
lust who is to control radio and
concert appearances Of some
artists has started a battle of
statements.
The rival broadcasting chains,
National and Columbia, both of
whom have effected conSolida-
tions of artists booking agencies,
apparently are to carry their keen
competition of the air lanes fur
Their into the entertainment field.
Columbia joined seven concert
bureaus into the Columbia Con-
certS Corporation, announcing the
consolidation December IL. Last
Wednesday National said its art
lists service, "by arrangement
with the RCA-Victor Company, as
sumes charge Of booking all art
lists and organizations making rec
ords for this company" and an
nounced it had acquired an ex-
tenSive interest in civic concert
service.
This rejoinder came from the
rival camp: 1.-The Columbia Con-
certS Corporation wishes to point
out that a number of important
artists listed in published stories
Of a merger concerning the N. B.
G. artists service are under direc-
ton of divisions of the Columbia
Concerts Corporation, which man
age these artists radio and con-
cert appearances. These artists
are connected with the Victor
Company only for recording pur-
poses"
The statement went on to list
the artists, among whom are Gal
h-Curci, Schipa, Rosa Ponselle
and Mischa Elman.
\ II
SUCH is the drawing power of
radio stars that seats for "a
Night With Seth Parker and
Homer Rodeheaver" have practi-
cally been sold out two weeks in
advance Of their appearance Feb
ruary Is in performance at Con-
stitution Hall for the benefit Of
the Central Union Mission.
Without any enlistment OF
committees, the mere knowledge
that these two personalities, who
draw thousands of Washington
radio fans, resulted in an almost
unprecedented rush for tickets.
Mrs. John s. Bennett, who en-
gagged them on behalf of the mis-
sion's Women'S Guild, reported
yesterday that only a handful of
seats remained. Seth Parker, who
is Phillips H. Lord away from the
microphone, will make this event
his first personal appearance in
Washington.
+ +
T INMISTAKABLY marked for
outstanding success in the
field of radio entertainment, Rob-
ert Merchant, youthful croOner,
has acquired a following through
his work over the microphone Of
Station WJSV that outranks those
of many well known artists ap-
pearing on chain hook-upS.
On the air less than two years,
the young Alexandrian already is
one Of the more popular vocaliStS
singing and playing; over stations
in the Capital area and has re-
ceived more than 100000 fan let
tiers during his brief radio career.
Bob, who is heard with his Tip
pie each Monday, Wednesday and
Friday from to 4 pm, set a new
record for WJSV entertainers re-
Gently when he received ], 400 fan
letters in three days, an achieve
ment equaled by few chain artists.
He has come to be known by the
sobriquet of the Grooming Trou-
bador."
Sixty-five Whoopee Clubs have
been organized by Bob'S admirers
in the District, Virginia, Mary
land, West Virginia, Pennsylvania
and Delaware and meet thrice
weekly to hear their idols WHO'D
pee Hour" broadcast over. WJSV.
Each club boasts a membership OF
20 or more.
The Whoopee Club movement
was started by a group Of Prince
Georges County, Md, girls, who
gathered each Monday, WedneS-
day and Friday afternoon to listen
to Merchants songs and Triple
selections, and quickly spread
through the adjoining States
when the announcement of its Or
ganization was made over WJSV.
WITH George AkerSon due to sit
in the councils of the Column
bia BroadcaSting System, which is
half owned by the Paramount mo-