Evening star., 1937-05-30

sails and meet the offensive OF tho
Hollywood menace"
Spltalny, troubled in mind over
the state OF affairs has been fighting
stirring battle to induce the pro-
ducers OF drama to restore music to its
rightful place in the theatrical sun,
He launched his move with broad.
sloe TO drama critics, who suddenly
began to wonder in their daily COLI
umns II incidental music wouldn't be
a great aid to any play. From that
point, other conductors and the gen
eral public took up the cudges, and
now no day passes without a discus.
sion IN the press about the matter.
Interest was heightened when the
Federal Theater in New York an
nounced the production of play in
which each speech was to be set to
music. For the time being a truce
mas been declared, while all hands
watch intently the outcome of the
governmental venture. The consensus
is that music would revitalize tbs
tneater and that it would be tre-
mendous boon to the musical profess
sion. 1t remains merely to convince
producers of the desirability of in
curing the additional expense. Spi-
Calny, meanwhile, has been definitely
marked for place in the profes.
sion's hall Of fame for his efforts.
{ CARLTON KADELL belongs to the
select ranks of announcers who
also are skilled dramatic actors. Be.
fore he entered radio he played for
several years in stock companies. A
native of Danville, Ill, he regards
Norfolk, Nebr., as his home town.
He's 80 years old, s feet l inch tall,
weighs l55 pounds. Has brown eyes
and hair, and ruddy complexion.
First entered radio in 1881 over the
independent station VIVID in Chi
cago. Now announces the Twin
Stars program and is noted in the
film colony as a shrewd business man.
AS an avocation, he purchases small
homes, rebuilds and sells them.
TRUDY WOOD, versatile young
California soprano, has been en-
gageu as featured vocalist with
Johnny Green and his orchestra in
the new musical series that will re.
place the Fred Astaire-C Charlie But.
/ terWorth programs for the Summer,
beginning June s.
The new assignment clumaxes the
Cinderella career of the red-halred
songstress, who stepped out of
radio chorus last Fall 10 sing duet
roles with Fred Astaire in the fa-
nous stars long-term microphone
series. Her voice and her adaptable
acting proved perfect complement 20
/ Astare in the abbreviated musical
comedy sketches featured on the pro-
grams
/ Trudy was born in San Francisco.
( September %, 1916. Her father was
an editor. The family moved TO New.
! York for a short time then returned
West to Los Angeles, where she has
! lived ever since. The young star took
up singing seriously rather recently
After being graduated from Beverly
Hills High School, she won a vocal
/ contest and contract to sing at an
! exclusive night club in the film colony.
! Then she took top honors in another
contest and for nearly two years
| toured with dance bands before re-
turning to Hollywood last Summer.
Fred Astaire was recruiting a new
mixed chorus for his forthcoming
N. B. c.. series. Trudy sought an
addition and was engaged.
Her comely appearance has made
| Trudy the subject Of numerous screen
offers, but following her break" on
| the Astaire series, she decided to defer
a film career in favor Of the micro
phone for the present
! WALLER CASSEL, baritone on the
Rubinoff programs from Holly
wood, is a native of Council Bluffs.
Iowa, and q years old. He was taking
a pre-dental course at Creighton Uni
versity in Omaha, when he met and
married his wife, professional singer.
Mrs. Cassel persuaded him to drop
dentistry and substitute vocalizing
as a career. Walter came to New York
in 1894, clicked" in his first audi
ton and has been an established radio
singer since that time.