Evening star., 1934-08-19

parents and relatives; I mean g
and possibilities from an experie
production man.
"Of course, the radio impresarios
are not infallible, but they are pretty
good judges. I think they are most
merciful when they are brutally
frank. There is nothing more heart
breaking than pursuing the will O.
the wisp Of impossible achievement
My experience is that more than
nine-tenths of those seeking audi
tions are doing just that"
Not at all encouraging, to be sure,
but this gentleman, who prefers to
remain anonymous, has good basis
for what he said. With all of radios
swift and consuming pace. and de-
spite its great demand for new ma
terial, the fact seems to be that by
far the majority of the rank and file
Of the ambitious simply cannot quail
ify as microphone artists. The sup
ply of talent on the networks and in
the stations Is still being met largely
from the stage and concert platform
and from the recognized schools of
music and expression.
Big Names Dominate.
It is true, of course, that the dozen
or so years since broadcasting began
have brought out much material that
radio can claim as its very own, but
radio is still very much dominated by
big names and small ones from the
stage and concert hall.
An example of the paucity of ma
terial among young ambition" was
presented during the last few weeks
when Columbia conducted local
and regional addition eliminations
throughout the United States for q
girl star to play in its new Holly
wood Hotel" series by j. P. McEvoy,
starting in october. Out of some
10000 candidates who went into the
networks 80 or more stations for
additions IL were selected for the
finals in New York. OF the II all
but two or three had had consider
able radio experience, either on local
stations or networks.
The contest was not limited to
amateurs, which raised the cry from
the disqualified and their friends
that it was unfair. But the fact is
that the amateurs had their chance
and most of them simply couldr.<
make the grade. The sponsors of
the show do not intend to let the
show suffer for the mere sake of
elevating an amateur to stardom-
unless that amateur has the stuff. I"
The critical radio audience will
hardly blame them.
Local Talent Out.
Local talent nights on radio stations.
ut which all comers are given an op-
portunity to do what they can before
the microphone, have almost always
proved complete failures and soon had
to be discontinued by the station man
agements. The radio public apparently
wants the finished product, for it will
quickly tune out amateurs. And an
amateurs faults are all the more
glaring via the ether waves.
It is not only the amateur who
suffers before the microphone. Some
of the most successful professionals of
the stage can't make the grade. Where
good looks or a radiant personality on
the stage often compensates for i'm
perfect rendition, no such compensa-
tion exists while radio only has voice
and no eyes Perhaps this condition
viii be altered when television emerges.
Still ambition win have its fling and
the iconoclastic radio scouts" will
lend their ears, for addition periods
are still being conducted by all the
networks and by most of the better
class Of stations In q continual quest
for new talent. For those who want
to break into radio despite the small
chance Of success and in the face Of
its exacting demands, the best advice
is to get additions at their local sta
tions. secure a frank appraisal of
whether they should continue to strive
to make the grade-and then do or
don't. as the case may be.
\
Stations Seek TO End Political DuresS.
CEEING portents Of a complete
~ breakdown Of the clear channel
~ "