Evening star., 1931-12-09
Folks Behind
The Microphone
BY THE RADIO EDITOR.

AY WINTERS, youthful radio
- announcer, grew up In radio!
Like all small boys, he had va
| 4 rious ideas about his chosen
life work. Then came radio
coincident with his working life. Last
year he achieved an ambition cherished
since 1928-to be an announcer at ".
| B. c. studios.
! He was born at Menomonie, Wis,
| July IL, 1903, but the family moved to
| Eau Claire, where Ray attended school.
| During the war he lived at Portsmouth,
Va, where his father was stationed.
The first big thrill Of Winters life
was being one of the 500 boys chosen
| to visit Europe for the first Boy Souts'
world jamboree, in 1920. The trip
lasted three months. through England,
| France and Belgium.
Up to the time he finished high school
Ray expected to be a scientific farmer.
He passed a Summer in Yellowstone
National Park, working, then hired out
to farmer near Chippewa Falls for o
dollar week, board and room thrown
in. Farming was not the fun he an
ticipated and he was secretly relieved
when he lost his job.
In 1927 opportunity opened door.
While singing over Station WTAR in
Norfolk, Va, Ray was pressed into ae-
ton as announcer for the relief pro-
gram during the Mississippi flood. He
sometimes stood on his feet at the
microphone and 10 hours day. The
strong response to his appeals marked
the turning point OF his career. he
became manager and chief announcer
of the station.
From Norfolk he went in 1928 to be
chief announcer on Station KRLA at
Little Rock, Ark. But he wanted to go
to Hollywood, and did voice doubling
for the actors when the talkles were
first introduced Hollywood soon vetoed
ali doubling, and he became chief an
nouncer of Station KFI in Los Angeles,
now on the N, B. C. network. From the
West he went to New York last Janu-
ary.
TOR two hours and half Saturday
i radio will turn It's facilities over to
honoring Marconi, wireless pioneer.
That date marks the 30tl anniversary
of the first spanning of the Atlantic by
a wireless signal, and in honor OF the
occasion N. B. c. has made arrange
ments TO present a program from TO
$40 O'Clock originating in l6 countries.
II k* *
TN keeping with these days OF inter-
/ national broadcasts a program spon-
sor is going to London for his dance
music next Tuesday night. The orches-
ira will comprise Jack Hylton's musi-
clans, with Walter Winchell acting as
master of ceremonies from this side
An American orchestra also will have a
part in the program.
X II y 4
EDDIE CANToR's present movie
IL making schedule fixes his final
Sunday broadcast January 10.
Rosa Ponselle received telegram OF
congratulation after her broadcast Sun
| day from Gen. John j. Pershing.
| Adele Starr, singer of popular and semi
| classical songs, has signed a contract
to appear with the Gypsies in their
| Monday and Thursday night periods on
N. B. G. John Holbrook, winner
Of the announcers' dictioa award, Is
| shifting his working hours from the
afternoon to the choicer programs at
| night. Chicago's carnival of ma
tions, with representatives Of 81 coun-
tries participating, Is to be broadcast
| Saturday night. Z Seth Parker's
theatrical tour has been extended four
| weeks.