Radio's Conquest Of Filmdom

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 286, 3 December 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

Radio's Conquest Of Filmdom

Film Page

HOLLYWOOD'S bi gge9t buildr- 1 ,n \- 19 / the . new of Columbia (and I don't mean the Picture company) on Gower and Junset boulevard. The National Broadcasting Company, not to be outdone, is planning an equally large extension of its .present studios, and meanwhile has commandeered every available studio, theatre and broadcasting room in Hollywood.

By--- , Sheilah Graham Copyright 1

All of which means onp tiling -that. Hi s(>ite ..f the sot back to Holl v wood radio |icr|>et rated |,y Mh,. \V,. s t ,i M .V>lam-a ml -K \ e skit with 1),,n Auicche). broadcasts from the Coast will noon rival in importance and immlier those i'l-oiii \pw York anrl Chicago. Practically everyone yon can name in Hollywood -including Mickey Mouse and I >ollll id Duck is doing 'a weeklv chore of ethering. Sunday" is the big diiy for Hollywood radio, with the foflowing headliners brightening the air win en—Kdgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Nelson Kdily. Dorothy Lamoiir. • luck Kenny, Mary |,i\ ingstone, Kenii\' Baker. Andv Devine. Phil Raker. I„ucifle Hull, .leanette Mac Donald. Conrad Nagel antl his guest ntars, Iyrone Power and hi* leading tilin female*. .lean Mersholt, anil new recruit Mickev Mouse.

two big "'introduced '^Master"of ,°" J" <>S(la >' R thorc a choice between i eternonies Ocil B. de Mille—some of Hollywood mardi £ras. featuring them, ( lark liable, Marlenc Dietrich. Charles Jtutterworth, Lanny Ross and Ta'vn7 I-"",hard, Rol.ert »e\v star each week, .Jack Oakie. •?«« -m Tony Martin * ' eK an 1<" k\akarkus, hddie <j. Kobinson J ' and (.'laire Trevor.

Wednesday is another big radio day. with Fred Allen's Town Hall; Warners' ''Hollywood Parade'' with Dick Powell. Priscilla Lane and a batch of the studio's stars; Eddie Cantor. Deanna Dtirbin, Pinky Tomlin and (Jertrude Niiesen with Ol«*on and .Johnson. Thursday V radio children .<ret most of the M.fi.M. contract list on the "fiood News of 1 !♦:«" broadcast. Also Crosby and Hob Burns. Friday and Saturdav yields '"Hollywood Hotel," .lack Haley's Lojx Cabin, with Wendy Barrie, Warren Hull and Virginia Cherrill. There are only three major Hollywood personalities who have not and will not broadcast for commercial sponsors — (Ireta (Ja rlx>, Charles Chaplin and Shirley Temple (whose mother has refused on her behalf, I.VOfIO dollars for one appearance).

Withers' childish—but excited—eyes. Clark Gable's radio fee hovers between .">OOO and 7<NM) dollars per performance. C laudette Colbert. Carole Lombard, (linger Rogers, Myrna Low William Powell, Joan Crawford and all the topranking stars are rewarded with ">ooo dollars for reading manuscripts for approximately 3(1 minutes. (C'aif»K Lombard recently received this sum for only 12 minutes on the air.) Studioconducted radio programmes are not quite as profitable—the M.-C.-M. "Good Xews" broadcast costs the studio 1.">.0(I0 dollars a week to stage, and is "in the red' in spite of the smallish sums awarded the performers. And it is doubtful whether Warners fare better. The in- st popular stars of Hollywood broadcasts. Jack Bennv and Charlie Mc- ( art by. were in the air business before striking the film ]>ot of gold. Benny's record is five years and a half. McCarthy came to the fore, like so many others here. 041 the Rudy Vallee programme in ]<Wti. Don" Ameche is another radio veteran who started at ."*(> dollars a week se\eral years ago on the first nighter show. Radio listeners have j

Radio is no longer considered "pin money" for the stars. It is a substantial form of income, often exceeding that earned before the cameras — as wittier the 40(H) dollars weekly offered Miss Patrick and the 150.000 dollars per annum waved before Jane

been laughing at Burns and Allen for four years now. Cecil B. de Mille has proved he was not merely a whisper that passes in the night—his radio produoership started in June, 1935. and is going stronger than ever. Phil Baker has l>een ethering five years.

Radio newcomers earning plaudits in the nicest way—via the taking up of options—include Eddie G. Robinson, who has scored one of the biggest personal hits of this season; Martha Raye. Charlie Butterworth, .Tack rtdey, and Tyrone Power (he l>egan liis radio career in Chicago two years ago —reading funnies to the kiddies!).

At one time there was a question whether radio helped or ir.irt film personalities. There is no doubt nowadays. For confirmation, isk Deanna Durbin, who owes the liirth of her screen career to her enthusiastic radio audience, or Charlie Butterworth, whose screen popularity was at a standstill until he hit the air waves with Fred Astaire last rear.

That reminds me. There are a handful of Hollywoodites who went, talked and were disillusioned after a joust with the ether—and swear thev are

"through." Mr. Astaire particularly, who found himself in the unhappy position of giving most of his radio earnings to the Government. And Helen Broderick and Victor Moore, who found the stra.in of acquiring fresh "gags'" each week too much for a couple anxious to stay on the right side of a lunatic asvlum.