Kilocycles

The other day it occurred to us that the work of the program director of a radio station had a good deal in common with that of the ballet master. As we sat before the floodlights of one of our leading motion picture emporiums and watched a bevy of girls, beautifully costumed, running through a set of routines, it struck us that it was all a question of variations. The routines appeared to be the same as on former occasions, but the combinations and settings had changed. So it is with radio.

What are some of the possible classifications, the so-called routines of radio### There is comedy, music, news, drama, education, politics. Of course, each classification can be subdivided. Under comedy you have the monologue, comedy team of two or more, sketch. Music might be divided into symphonic programs, individual instrumentalists, vocalists, opera, chamber music ensembles, light opera and jazz. The variations in the other types of programs are quite obvious.

Rudy Vallee has done a great deal to make the variety show popular. By organizing a half hour or an hour program with a little of everything, one arrives at the variety type so much in vogue now. The master program builder is the one who arrives at novel variations in the combination of the basic program classifications. He adds to this program a bit of local color, a theme, and other background material, which establishes the mood of the program.

LESLIE HOWARD IN KIPLING STORY

One of the truly great stage and screen stars, Leslie Howard, will be featured in a dramatization of Rudyard Kipling’s story, “Without Benefit of Clergy” on a program broadcast from Hollywood over the WJZ network Wednesday, May 23, at 9:30 P. M. Howard is best known for his stage and screen performances in “Berkeley Square,” “Outward Bound” and the “Animal Kingdom.” This is one of his rare appearances befor the microphone and he will be supported by a group of radio and film actors in a half hour broadcast. This series has already presented Clive Brook and Roland Young, and subsequent programs will feature other screen personalities in dramatizations of love stories by well known authors.

H. V. KALTENBORN IN RUSSIA AND POLAND

One of the most successful news commentators on the air, Mr. H. V. Kaltenborn, will leave for an extensive tour of Russia and Poland the middle of next month. Because of his knowledge of Soviet Russia, gained on three previous visits to this vast country, Kaltenborn has been invited to head a group of prominent Americans participating in a tour through the Soviet Union. Kaltenborn will continue his analytical talks on current events of national and international scope direct from the land of the Soviets, and will also have his say before the microphone in a studio in Warsaw. At the conclusion of his tour Mr. Kaltenborn will return to America on August 22 to resume his network broadcasts. Incidentally, it may interest his many listeners to know that H. V. Kaltenborn never reads manuscripts, but extemporizes with the aid of a few notes.

TEN COMMANDMENTS THEME OF SPECIAL PROGRAM

The Religious Reconstruction Committee of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of America has arranged for a program dramatizing the Ten Commandments, to be broadcast over the WABC network on Tuesday, May 22nd, at 2:30 P. M. The program will include the chanting and dramatization of the Decalogue. The precepts given to Moses on Mt. Sinai will be chanted in the ancient Hebrew by a group of ten cantors. Special addresses will be made by Rabbi David de Sola Pool of the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue of New York and Dr. Allen Knight Chalmers, Minister of the Broadway Tabernacle.

“VOICE OF COLUMBIA” STARS GEORGE JESSEL

Another “voice” comes to the air. Since the success of the “Voice of America,” we are to have the addition of the “Voice of Columbia.” A one hour program featuring different guest artists from radio, stage and screen, will be presented in a diversified review every Sunday evening at 8 over the WABC network. George Jessel will get a regular spot as the master of ceremonies in this series of programs. The “Voice of Columbia” will include a 45-piece orchestra, which will not play under any one conductor but under four or five Columbia musical directors on each program. It is hoped, by this contrast, to bring a variety of styles of music during this sixty-minute period. The orchestra leaders who will take their turn conducting the Columbia orchestra are Freddie Rich, Mark Warnow, Howard Barlow, Johnny Green and John Augustine.

AMOS ‘N’ ANDY STILL GOING STRONG

Chas. J. Correll, who is most famous as “Andy,” and Freeman F. Gosden, who is the “Amos” part of the team, have been neglected of late by the critical fraternity. Everybody is beginning to take them for granted after their many years on the air. One wonders if their star is dropping. If we are to judge by a recent extended vaudeville tour during the past eight months, in theatres from the Atlantic coast to Texas, these two boys are as popular as ever. According to the reports, they have broken all box-office records at theatre after theatre. These boys do quite a strenuous job, for in addition to covering the circuit they write and produce their own radio shows.

RADIO SHORTS

Rexford Guy Tugwell, assistant secretary of Agriculture, will speak over the WABC network tonight at 11:00 P. M…. Louis I. Harris, former Health Commissioner, will compare public health in the United States and Palestine when he speaks over WBNX this evening at 9:45, under the auspices of the Young People’s League of the United Synagogue of America.

…Sixteen of Broadway’s outstanding composers will play their most popular songs in an hour’s broadcast from Casino de Paree over the WABC network at midnight on Tuesday, May 22nd…. The weekly broadcasts to and from the Byrd Antartic Expedition, which have been heard over the WABC network every Saturday night, will shift to Wednesday evenings at 10 o’clock begining May 30th…. “The Union Assembly” on WEVD Friday at 10:15 P. M., will present Fannie Hurst, author; the Stradivarius String Quartet; Pasquale Amato, famous baritone, accompanied by Giuseppe Bamboschek; and Sigmund Spaeth.