Evening star., 1937-02-21

tmlo talent 1reSQ 1rOm tIl6 CldSSe
|oom, accustomed as these hard
poiled auditioners are to the more
polished performances glibly offered
BY the thousands of professional
artists who can be found in key net
work cities. AS result the atmos-
phere Of shrieking attire and hey-hey
tecklesSness allegedly typical of the
campus has been sighted by the net
works except for the immensely pop
ular Saturday afternoon foot ball
spectacles and perhaps an infrequent
pre-game cheering rally.
Now Jack Oakie, chubby movie
comedian, and John Held, jr, drawer
Of college cartoons, are showing slices
from campus life through the micro
phone on Nationwide networks. The
Oakie programs on Columbia Tues
day evenings present the film per-
former as the dean of a phoney COL
lege that has ailments ranging all
the way from budget trouble to an
overdose of belly laughs.
IN CONTRAST to this burlesque of
college life is the attempt of Held
TO give his N. B. Cred network
listeners a highly authentic cross
section of student activities. The
master Of the crayon is fast develop
ing into smooth master of ceremon-
les as he travels from campus to
campus to present a different pro-
gram from a different institution
each Friday at 1890 pm.
So serious is he in his effort to
portray the modern university student
in a fair and favorable manner he
spends several days living on each
campus in advance of programs. This
gives him chance to absorb tradi-
tons and mannerisms and to pick
he best talent among the under
graduate group.
Fred Waring, who with his brother
Tom and baSsoon-voiced Policy Nc
! Clirtock started his Pennsylvanians
back at Penn State shortly after the
World War, has been the main en-
ployer of college atmosphere in net
work programs. For years the Penn
sylvanians have included a typical
college song in nearly every program,
end the famous Waring choral group
has added a glee-club touch to the
setting.
OF COURSE, programmes have run
in college songs and alma mater
chants from time to time, especially
during the foot ball season, but rarely
has campus color been a regular
feature.
Early in the current radio season,
when Fred Allen began to ease the
amateur portion Of his program out
the cellar door, he rounded up smat-
tering of college performers to re-
place the novices. Apparently the idea
Wasn't deemed successful or the choice
of performers was unhappy, because
the Town Hall Tonight supervisor
soon went elsewhere in search OF
artists.
For some seasons an insurance
company, which owns and operates
WSM at Nashville, has staged pro-
grams from colleges during the foot
ball season and has been successful
in getting alumni and students by the
thousands to participate in the pro-
grams. Historic background has
marked these broadcasts, and campus
traditions have been subjected to the
dramatic treatment that radio uses
10 effectively.
Of all programs with a campus
flavor, the Held offerings are richest
in atmosphere. Staged from the
campus itself by college artists, they
are interesting, if occasionally bit
spotty from an artistic standpoint.
Now the network talent scouts are
turning their cynical eyes campusward
in search Of new artists.
MOT all of campus life is cut-up-
ping and pennant- waving, how
ever, and the serious side of these in
stitutions of higher learning is gain
ing a more prominent place on radio
schedules. This phase of college life,
strangely enough, has been used lib
orally by networks and stations despite
its drab appeal as contrasted with the
lighter side, and radio fans have long
been able to acquire liberal educa-