The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-07
THE DEMOCRATS WEEKLY RADIO REVIEW MicrOphOne UnlOcks Stage Doors And Movie Gates For Young Stars
NezgcOn1erS tOFan1e Got
 Start OnAiY
BY NORMAN SIEGEL NEA Service Staff Correspondent

D I NOkNMAIN S1CUEA
 NEA Service StaR Correspondent
 New York. Oct. 2 - The micro phone has replaced the grease box as the "teething ring" for a new generation of actors who are being nursed to theatrical Stardom in . radio studio rather than the back stage dressing room of years gone by.
 Remember the six urchins who helped make Dead End" a stage and screen success? Three of those youngsters, Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan and Huntz Hall, made their professional debuts not through the stage door of Dead End" but on NEG programs di- rected by Madge Tucker-"mother'' to most radio juveniles. Billy, Bob- by and Huntz received their trair- ing in ''The Lady Next Door" and "Children's Hour" broadcasts.
 And they are but three of sev- eral dozen talented youngsters who cut their professional teeth in the NEG Junior Radio school, which was founded by Miss Tucker. When she started the school 10 years ago, Miss Tucker announced over the air that additions would be held for children with radio aspirations.
 Tt has never been necessary to repeat that announcement" she told us during the proud recol- lection of her brood. Immediate ly, tots from two and half years to more mature hopefuls of 18 stormed the studios and have continued to do SO ever since.
 There never seems to be a scarcity of applicants, especially little girls. If every little girl isn't 8 born actress, at least she or her mother thinks she is. Boys, as a rule, would rather play base ball than rehearse. But, strangely enough, it is the boys who have greater chance to succeed. They are much more in demand, &C., cording to Miss Tucker.
 Most of the radio youngsters who have become successful do not come from theatrical families, the records reveal. Billy and Bobby Mauch, the talented twins who starred together in the movie, "The Prince and the Pauper," are the children of wholesome, mid- western mother. She brought them to NEG for an addition about four years ago. And Miss Tucker had them on the air until they went to Hollywood when Billy was cast in the part of An thony Adverse as a boy.
 Billy Halop, one of the Dead End" youngsters, joined Miss Fuckers radio troupe, along with his sister, Florence, when he was six. His addition consisted of singing, Carefully on Footsteps Stealing" from H. M. s. Pima fore" He doesn't sing anymore and has probably forgotten all of the words, but Miss Tucker says she will always associate the song with Billy.
 Other NEG Junior Radio School graduates who have appeared on Broadway in recent hits are Betty Wragge, who also had a role in the stage version of Dead End";; Edward Ryan, who played in "Salnt Joan; Jeanne Dante in Gall It a Day.; Charita Bauer in "The Wc- men" and Claire Howard in Wing less Victory"
 Many of Miss Fuckers young sters and the juvenile group over at Columbia directed by Dorothy Gordon have also achieved recog- hilton in radio on numerous pro- grams. They are a talented 10: and are kept busy. The little Bil- lies and Betties of today's radio programs may be the Katharine Cornells and Leslie Towards of tomorow's stage and screen shows.
 Fred Allen Starts
 Work on Movie
 - Along the Hollywood Boulevard sector - Fred Allen and Portland Hoffa have started working in Sally, Irene and Mary" their goth Century-Fox flicker.
 Lum and Abner, those clever lads from Pine Ridge, are in for a flock of guest broadcasts this season.
 Jack Benny is seen on the bou- levard these days behind the wheel of @ motorcar that would dwarf a torpedo boat.
 May Robson, who's not too old to steal movie, Is to be featured in Q new radio script series,, Lady of Millions" over Columbia's Holly wood station, XIX.
 The Show Boat program, which will be replaced on the air by the new M-G-M movie feature in Mo- vember, is only going into drydock temporarily. The Capt. Henry show has 8 good chance of being revived shortly after 1t goes off the air.
 Eight Weeks Is Old
 Age for Song Hits
 Eight weeks seems to be the life span of @ song hit these days, &C.,
 2SS--WTIC--H -HartfOrd-.1O4 P; N.
 4:15-The Guiding Light.
 4:S0-The Story of Mary Marlin.
 4:45-The Road of Life.
 6:00-Golden. Melodies.