Evening star., 1935-08-04
By Peter Dixon.

u That was last Monday night,
when she was heard in a very good
production of "Bunty Pulls the
Strings" first Of the Radio Theater
offerings on a Columbia network. So
again l can write about her:
What this writer is most pleased to
report is that definite steps are being
taken to present Helen Hayes in a
regular series Of air shows. The ma
terial, which Miss Hayes properly con-
siders of first importance, has her ap-
proval. Other matters, such as casting
and direction, have been discussed
The important details of when and
where have yet to be made public
Aside from great personal prejudice
in favor Of Miss Hayes as an actress,
1 think it is mighty important to radio
as a whole to have her as a star in a
regular series. With the possible ex-
ception Of Mary Pickford, radio has
offered no dramatic performers of the
| first rank in regular weekly features.
1t Is true that almost all of the great
names Of the theater have broadcast,
but none Of them has become a part
of the radio scene nor have they
stayed long enough in the studios tn
affect radio drama noticeably.
can't imagine Helen Hayes using
mediocre material or submitting to
slipshod, unSkilled direction. She will
demand and get the best directors, the
best supporting cast and the best plays
| available. Which is as it should be.
An audience of between S and 10 mil
lions of listeners is considerable of
an audience, and that is a reasonable
estimate of an audience for any coast
forecast broadcast featuring a real
performer.
Such an audience certainly rates
the best available talent and material.
A Broadway play in the average New
York theater would have to run eight
| performances a week for almost 10
| years to reach the same audience a
big radio program reaches in one
night-which is something to think
about, isn't it, Miss Hayes?
COL. LEMUEL @. STOOPNAGLE
and Beatrice Lille went to a
newsreel theater on Broadway to-
/ gether recently, but nobody made a
stenographic record Of their COM
ments, so that's been lost to poSterity,
doggonit . Wish Alfredo Brito and
his rhumba orchestra, now at the
Versailles, in Manhattan, were on the
| air again. Rhumba music with a
! lot-oh, an awful lot-of uh-huh!
An N. B. c. announcer used what
sounded like a very, very dirty Span
ish expression during recent after
noon broadcast. Smokers were audible
from, the orchestra, but I don't think
he knew what his expression sounded
like The 200 600 Moonlight
Will Doo-oo" song is fun to listen to,
but it'll probably be such a hit well
get powerful tired of it Frank
Luther has made more than 1000
| phonograph records in the past five
/ years. This was during his spare
time, since he appeared on some
1900 radio programs and transcript
tionS in the same five years .. Hey
wood Broun reported to lose five
pounds every day he broadcasts. He's
on WOR these hot nights A radio
version of Jumbo" the Billy Rose
musical production, is being offered
to sponsors. The music is by Rodgers
and Hart, which is considerable Of q
recommendation Gertrude Berg
has turned down an offer to do her
House of Glass" programs on Brit
ish network.
Reggie Childs, heretofore N. B. c.,
may be heard on c. B. S. with his
band this Fall. Heard Dan Healey's
| Opportunity Program for chorus
girls on WNEW Friday night. Amaz-
ingly good talent. One girl with
voice like Annette Hanshaw, only
the girls sounded like a radio direc-
tors idea of what chorus girl would
sound like. And Laura Tuck, now a
featured performer in Healey's Broad
way Club, is youngster who is going
to 60 places. The Craig Mcdonnell
offspring turned out to be another
potential baritone like his pappy.
Carl Hoff, the French Casino band
leader, is doing the arrangements for
three other Manhattan orchestras. d.
Johnny Green's Friday night Oil pro-
gram can be ranked among the best
of the Summer air shows. Virginia
Verrill's diction is a grand example
of what can be done If the singer
tries.
"TF I we're only allowed one pet
pseve, wouldn't hesitate to select
that female movie chatterer on the
Hollywood Hotel program. I am all
wrong, of course, for did not the an
nouncer introduce her as "the first
lady of Hollywood. Dick Powell, OF
the same program, developing into q
very smooth radio personality. John
ny Johnstone takes his band into the
Commodore Hotel in October. The
name of the movie in which James
Melton will be featured is City Of
Make Believe" an intriguing title. d.
ONeills due back on the air in late
August or early September. Vincent
Lopez and his band still touring the
South. Last reported in a cave in
Tennessee. They used to make hkker
in those Tennessee caves. Now they
are night clubs.
Boo Grant and his band, which
will be increased to IA men, will
broadcast from the Savoy Plaza this
Fall Wallace Beery in Light
ming" the next Radio Theater pro-
duction,. ought to be worth hear
ing C. B. s. Monday night at
9. Dick Himber is busy these days.
Makes photograph records all morn
ing, plays four shows a day at the
Capitol and on Fridays he has a
broadcast Listen to "Stovers VS..
Anti-Stovers" on N. B. C.-WEAF
Monday night august 81 at 1890.
The work of william Garland, 2l-
year-old page boy at N. B. c.
A candy maker had an idea OF put
ting O Kate Smith chocolate bar on
| the market. But Kate said no
| At NJ asrk6 Az