Evening star., 1937-07-18

10 Ine mcTlI OF tue plan being put INTO
ira in the universitys chapel hall also
has been scheduled.
In answering the bid for aid in
pioneering the presentation OF popu-
lar music side by side with so-called
serious compositions, Lopez said,
The time is coming when what is
ambiguously termed jazz" and its pres
ent development, the vogue OF swing,
will be heard in operatic form. We
need not look to the operatic COM
posers for such work: several of
them in fact have attempted to write
jazz opera, one OF which even
the Metropolitan Opera produced sew
eral years ago. the Czech composer
Krenek's 'Jonny Spielt Auf.' Within
earshot Of Times Square and Tin Pan
Alley, Krenek's work amused the ex-
perts. 1t had all the pretentiousness
Of the so-called serious school of
music, but I venture to say that it
was not even so historically important
as 'Nola' or Kitten on the Keys
When I say that the time is coming
for jazz opera. 1 mean that we shall
look for this to such men as William
Grant Still, the Jerome Kern of Show
Boat and the Cole Porter of the
Swedish Ballet "
New York University students will be
getting musical training under one
OF the country's foremost exponents
OF popular music. Lopez has devoted
% Of his 38 years to the popular
music field. He is credited with being
the first leader to convert crude jazz
into refined state, was the first to
give a symphonic jazz concert In the
Metropolitan Opera House-this back
in l925-and the first to put an Or
chestra on the air-that in 1921. 1t
strikes one that the study Of popular
music In university should excite
more than little interest. Perhaps
from New York University will come
the composer of a symphony which
could utilize the services of the Ray
mond Scott Quintet with Messrs.
Goodman. Dorsey. Berigan, Waller, ct
al, as soloists. That would be a SYM
phony-or something.
WHAT is an Intelligence Board?"
Well 1t doesn't give intelligence
tests. at least not during working
hours, An intelligence board, one is
informed, is several people named Joe
who work for motion picture produc-
ing companies securing the airwaves
for new light entertainers and dra-
matte players. This securing is evil
dence OF an about-face in the course
taken by performers. No longer Is
big money being offered with complete
freedom by the networks for film
names The air headliners are 60
ing to Hollywood and HOLLYWOOD is
welcoming them with the proverbial
outstretched arms, looking beyond
them for more.
First studio to create a scouting
agency was R-K-O, which snaeged
Patricia Dunlap, Chicago radio head
liner Columbia Pictures was prompt
IN following, establishing discovery
organization functioning without ties
70 the regular film casting department.
Twentieth-Fox grabbed Tyrone Power
from radio ranks and has set dates
Tor tests for more air performers. All
OF the other big ones" are listening
and watching network shows, con-
stantly on the alert for new camera
subjects.
The producers attempted to control
radio appearances on the part of their
contract players by efforts to block
DOCK the performers onto the net
works, compelling sponsors to take the
entire talent array in at group. Pro-
tests on the parts of both sponsors
and artists, killed the idea, however.
Advertising agency executives declare
mat advertisers are willing no longer
TO pay fabulous prices for names"
want adequate material for their
shekes. AS result, far fewer screen
stars are rak1ng IN what has come to
be termed in more polite precincts
gravy coin" for meanineless radio
engagements.
There are numerous indications of
the strengthening hold which is being
acquired on Hollywood by broadcasting
talent. Scanning the list of PLAYERS
under contract to Paramount, one
finds the names Of Jack Benny, Burns
and Allen, Charles Butterworth, Bine
Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Kenny Baker.
Gladys Swarthout. W. c. Fields.
Martha Raye, Fibber MCGEE and
Molly, Niela Goodelle, Andre
Kostalanetz, Judy Canova. Shirley
Ross and numerous lesser lights. Those
in the list who did not spring from
the networks into pictures, neverthe-
less. offered actual entertainment on
their radio series, not the usual insipid
interviews, and have, thereby, widened
their potential film audience. Pictures
did so little for broadcasting in its
earlier days and broadcasting has done
SO much for pictures since it has
reached maturity that there could be
little question as to which would come
out head man."