Evening star., 1937-07-04

young vaudevillian went on to sue
cess. His name, for the sake of the
record, was Eddie Cantor.
Smalle was also closely associated
with AL Jolson. As Jolson went IN
and up in the entertainment world
Smalle was literally at his side: for
he was Jolson's accompanist as well
as the fellow who made many of Jol-
sons distinctive song ARRANGEMENTS,
All this time, however, Smalles chief
ambition was to arrange songs. As
ne says himself: Whenever l heard
popular song either played or sung.
L always felt instinctively that some
thing could be added, another part.
another development which would
make its rendition more effective"
il. Smalle dropped into a small vaude-
vile theater and heard a group of
singers billed as The Shannon Four"
He liked them so much that he rushed
nacKStage after their performance,
told them that they had marvellous
voices, but simply didn't make the
most OF them. Before he left the
theater Smalle and The Shannon
-Four had signed a contract whereby
ne was to be their coach. arranger,
accompanISt and manager. Their
name was changed to The Revelers
destined to become one of the best
known popular quartets of the radio.
the screen and the stage. With The
RevelerS' Smalle toured all over tho
world until his health broke down
Wlthln two years. however. he was
oack IN the eRtertainment world In A
big way. After directing such WELL
known ensembles as The Leaders"
The ROxyaireS" and other prominent
choral groups, he started the nucleus
OF MS present organization, which he
calls The Smalle Voices" The group
was selected after he had listened
10 hundretS of young singers from
the United States and abroad. Mary
kendel, the lyric soprano. comes from
Denver; Ann Seaton, soprano from
Bloomington, III; Ivy Dale. the con-
tralto. from Manchester, England:
Edward ElllngSon, the tenor star of
The ensemble, originally was Ne
braska geologlSt, Glenn Cross. bari
tone, and Gordon Cross, tenor. BROTH
ers, come from Seattle and Roger
hnne, basso, halls from Ithaca, N. Y.
MEYER ALEXANDER is as busy
as an entire hive of the tradi-
signed for the Summer session of
zany "Oakie College" which will be
under the direction of Dean Benny
Goodman. In addition to directing
his "Swing-time Chorus he will
write arrangements, lyrics and banter
TO tie in with the continuity of the
program. In his hours awav from
the mlcrophone, he will be busy with
motlon-picture musical supervision.
He wasn't always so rushed with
work. however. About wear ard
"a haf ago ne came from Portland.
Greg, TO HOLLYWOOD, a shy and am
oltlous young man. bringing with him
little more than an excellent musi-
ca! background to help him over the
lean days. While waiting for the
all-lmportant break" he made the
acquaintance of Bob Redd and George
Stoll, both of whom were associated
with Tuesday night C. B S. series.
These two friends suggested that
Alexander direct a chorus suitable for
radio. He stopped Just writing" went
TO work. and did what they advised.
He did 1t so well that he was signed
as part of the Oakie College fac
ulty"
He used, and still uses, IL voices.
because he believes that small choruses
establish subtler effects in radio. To
produce the contrast of unusual VOL
ume. he exaggerates effects. using
double forte to give what svingsters
know as the good OIL socko"