Evening star., 1937-06-27

number OF the ]lsBS8kzllgss|3s4||$$g
theaters which
now form links
in the Warner chain. and, noting the
position which had been assumed by
theater organs. she took up the study
Of that instrument under Lewis At
water, Claude Robson and Deane
Shure Of Washington.
Currently she Is occupied with
nightly recitalettes at the Rialto
Theater organ. and it Is that instru-
ment upon which she performs for
radio audiences, rs well.
MOST listeners know Harry Won
Zell as capable, pleasant
voiced announcer. Actually, he is
one Of the most multi-talented men In
radio. and this Summer, for the first
time In his career, he will be given an
opportunity to concentrate his various
abilities in single series of broadcasts,
He Is being billed as master of cere-
monies of the new Sunday night
c. B. S. variety shows, which will he
on the air for l3 weeks while Phil
Baker vacations In Hollywood. Be-
sides presiding over the programs and
filling the regular announcer m. c. as
signment, Harry will serve in the
following capacities:
(a) Production director. He su-
pervised the Ed Wynn shows during
the Winter and turned in q highly
creditable Job.
tb) Script writer. He wrote a 10
week mystery serial for Stoopnagle
and Budd. 1t was the first time
that the colonel ever consented to
use material other than his own.
(c) Talent scout and talent buyer
His experience in working with the
amateurs and later the professionals
on Fred Aliens show proved him to
be sound Judge of entertainment
values.
I'D Actor. For the past two seasons
he has been one Of the airs most
valuable "stooges." taking regular and
important roles in Phil Bakers and
Aliens sketches.
(e) Occasional singer. Harry got
his start in radio as promising
baritone
Won Zell Is excited. justifiably, about
his Summer job. II he makes good
and his record points to his doing
80, he may take his place in the stal
class permanently. His variety shows
start July 4.
ONE OF the factors contributing tc
the growing popularity Of Johnny
Messner and his orchestra, currently
heard several times weekly over VOL
and the Mutual Broadcasting Sys-
TEN, Is The Professor"
To the boys in the band his name
is Paul, the piano player. but to the
| audience he is introduced as The
Professor" He presents an odd pic
| ture as he winds his way through the
band to the microphone, a toy piano
| tucked under his arm and an infec-
tious smile on his face. The differ,
ence between The Professor" and the
conventional piano player is that hi
stands up to play. whereas the ordi-
nary pianist sits down to an lnstru.
ment 10 times his own weight.
The Professors" piano weighs
pounds and Is played in swing time
with the left hand while his nimble
fingers produce melodies with the
right hand from an eight-octave white
keyboard. In MesSners musical IL
| bro IVY ora ooyoro1 y,,,ro hare u-r;ttar ~.
pecially for The Professors" per
| formances.
Joe LAURIE. Jr., newest comedy
discovery of Rudy Vallee's Variety
| Hour. is the man who has been always
| too busy to be radio comedian. AS a
vaudevillian, author Of vaudeville acts
stage actor, columnist and comedy
script writer, he just hasn't had
time" Right now. however, radio lis
teners like him so much as a comic
that he probably will be comedian
for some weeks.
Joe. who stands l inch over feet
wears a checkered cap and smokes IL
or IS cigars day, was headliner
in vaudeville and q stage star more
than IS years ago. He has made occa-
sional radio appearances in recent
years without taking time out to con-
slider himself radio entertainer. He
did his first broadcast in 1922 over a
Chicago alton. At the time, he was
| starring in stage show, The Cling
ham Girl" and his weekly radio pro-
gram, which advertised the stage
show. was Incidental In subsequent
| vaudeville tours and stage appearances