Evening star., 1937-08-08

"Mr. Hamlet Of Broadway" with Eddie
Foy, and The Silver Star" with Ade-
line Genee Later she broadened her
experience through work with stock
companies in Cleveland, Salem, Lynn.
Reading, Utica and Denver, rs well
as through touring as member Of
the road company presenting Sin
ners."
That sought-after FIRST big chance"
came to Helen Menken when she was
offered the role OF Blanche Amory in
Maj. Pendennis." which starred John
Drew. Next came the important as
signment Of Virginia Embry in Par
lor. Bed Room and Bath" With her
talents in demand. Miss Menken scored
her FIRST great triumph as Miss Fair
child in the popular Three Wise
Fools" Diane, in Seventh Heaven"
pushed her up another notch on the
theater's ladder, brought her London
engagement. Returning to New York
she was starred in "Con9ai" The In
finite Shoeblack,' Rock Me. Julia" 4"
Saint Wench." Her principal laurels
In recent years have come from i'm
preSSive performances in Zoe Atkins
Pulitzer Prize winner. The Old Maid" ="
and in Maxwell Anderson's success,
Mary Of Scotland in which she
played Queen Elizabeth.
Yes. 1t is the same Helen Menken
who has been achieving increasing
radio popularity rs Brenda Cummings
in the serial dana Her Second Hus-
band"
JACQUES RENARD Is An outstand-
ing example Of the type OF Or
chestra leader who has built . life
around q motif OF musical study and
appreciation. The son Of = musically-
trail roots were founded in Kiev. Russia
he moved with them at an early age
to Boston. Mass. where his father
founded an importing business dealing
chiefly In Italian commodities
Scarcely before Jacques could wrap
his chubby hands around a base ball
bat, his doting mother thrust a vio-
lin into his hands with the instruc-
tions he learn to play the instrument
or else. From that time forward.
neither money or moral suAsion was
lacking to promote his musical edu-
cation. He proved to be . musical
prodigy, for he was doing solo work
while still a young school boy, and
was devoted to his violin.
Between attending school and aid
ing in the familys commercial enter
prises. Renard studied music under the
capable direction Of Jacques HOFFMAN.
and. at the age Of Is. he secured an
engagement to tour South America as
violinist for the famous dancer Ann
Pavlowa. After the South American
tour. followed several more years OF
intensive study under two great Bos-
ton Symphony concertmeSters and
offers to play regularly with both con-
cert and popular dance combinations.
At this point. he decided on plotting
iness with pleasure. he opened 3 sup
per club In the Hub City known as
The Cocoanut Grove. He followed
this with the Club Mayfair from
which he made his first broadcast. He
has been An airwave feature ever since.
After his fourth broadcast from the
Mayfair. he was signed to a CONNER
cial program. and since that time has
been heard Is maestro on many Of the
most important commercial features in
radio.
Besides his orchestral activities he
has written two numbers that have
found popularity, "Caressing You"
and Just Call on Me-
A 8 CONCEIVED by Ray Block. the
= Swing Fourteen have nexi-
bility Of tonal qualities and 4 variety
Of different groupings that permit
them to present every type Of COM
position from I'm = Monastery Gar
den" to the swingiest Of the current
swing" selections. To provide further
variety. Ray has originated such COM
binations from the group as "The
Three Harmonics" and the Eight
Stout Hearted Men," besides having
the additional advantage OF featuring
such duet combinations as Frances
Adair and Glenn Cross. who also are
highlighted as vocalists with Floyd
Sherman.
Part and parcel Of the Fourteen