Evening star., 1935-11-30
HAWKS BECOMES
RADIO FAVOR|TE
Learns Worth of Broad
casting on Rogers Me-
mortal Tour.

TRANK HAWKS, American air
- speed king, has become a great
advocate of the radio. During
IL his recent Nationwide flight
throughout the country, where ne
spoke to thousands in the interests
of the Will Rogers Memorial, HAWKS
said he learned the worth OF broad
casting as a means of reaching larger
audiences.
Hawks, like Rogers, became radio
nersonaIity after succeeding famously
in another phase OF life. Rogers went
to the microphone, where he became
national favorite, from the stage, the
lecture platform, the motion picture,
while Hawks made a great name for
himself as a flyer, driving planes
faster than any man before him. He
broke many speed records, and as he
explained it himself, he said he prob
ably had been selected to help the
Rogers memorial campaign because
of his capacity for flying, and because
of his close friendship for the cowboy
humorist.
Just before he went to the micro
phone in Station WJSV here, to give
his final accounting to the public OF
his 25,O0O-mile flight over the coun-
try, visiting 128 cities. Hawks was
asked where he spoke in most of the
cities.
Il usually took to the radio" Hawks
said. ut reaches so many more peo-
pie than public gatherings. visited
1913 cities, and talked over 126 local
radio stations, all in SO days"
Shows mike" Experience.
When it came time for his broad
cast here. Hawks showed his mike
experience He had just dashed by
plane from New York, rushed through
the business of returning his new
Navy fighting ship which he had used
on his trip to the Navy, with many
thanks, and been whisked by auto
mobile to the radio station. He and
most of the party with him were
virtually out of breath, from the
whirlwind. The flyer seated himself
at the mike, and after an introduc-
ton by Warren Sweeney, announcer,
he looked not at his manuscript, but
through the glass partition into the
control room, as he spoke his first
words. Ladies and gentlemen" in a
firm, quiet voice. His facial express
sion asked a question from the con-
troll room. Apparently he received an
affirmative answer as he nodded, and
turned to his speech, knowing that
his voice was pitched right for the
broadcast.
Submits to Interview.
After his prepared address, lauding
Will Rogers, and asking contributions
to the living memorial now being
created, Hawks submitted to that ter
ror Of the uninitiated but delight Of
the experienced, in radio-an informal
interview.
He was perfectly at ease in answer
ing questions for his radio audience.
When did you last see Will
Rogers?" Sweeney asked him.
II saw him in May" responded
Hawks. Il had just returned from
a South American fight and was re-
turning my plane to a company in
Los Angeles. Will would be upset If
I did not come out to his ranch when
in Los Angeles. He would call me
up at the hotel, and say he was send
ing the old bus for me. He said Fred
Stones boots are in there, and Ill
meet you out in the corral saw
him for two days in May"
Hawks really answered questions
too, pointblank, without a pause.
In answer to Sweeney's questions as
to whether Rogers was an active pilot,
Hawks replied: mo. He knew nothing
about flying. He liked to fly, but did
not know anything about aircraft,
other than what the average layman
would know" He also denied the re-
port that Rogers had a premonition
about the disaster which caused his
death.
When the broadcast was over Ted
Church. manager of WJSV, came into
the studio, and was asked by one Of
the interested group there how it
came through the loudspeaker.
Fine" declared Church. 1T was
splendid"