LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS
Old Vienna Versus the 'New Order' on WNYC
"This one-time shot on the anniversary of Hitler's march into Austria turned out to be a poignant, nostalgic musical and dramatic potpourri of deeply moving quality. It resolved itself into an outpouring of affection for America in which a group of talented Austrian refugees have found a home. Austrian folk music songs mingled with classics and original lyrics set to U.S. melodies satirizing Schickelgruber registered equally well. One of the best in latter category was a jingle set to the tune of Pepsi-Cola musical spots. Franz Schubert's Military March interpolated with 'Sieg Heils' is a bit which could well be used in cabaret and vaudeville shows.
"Willy Trenk, with engaging accent, came through the mike as a topnotch entertainer for whom there should be a spot in niteries. He was formerly program producer and director at the municipal station in Vienna. Potent dramatic skit, with Joseph Schildkraut, Lee J. Cobb and 10-year-old Ronni Liss, pictured a meeting of Beethoven and Franz Schubert in Central Park with Schubert pointing out to the youngster the similarities between Vienna and New York, that 'Vienna's lilacs bloom again in Central Park and the Hudson is as blue as the Danube.' Distinguished vocalists included Hertha Glatz, alto at the Met, Kurt Baum, Met tenor, and Emanuel List. Amsterdam String Ensemble was under the direction of Paul Breisach, Met conductor."
Source: A radio review in Variety, March 18, 1942, p. 36. This WNYC program aired March 15, 1942 from 6 to 6:45 PM. Also in the cast were: Elizabeth Schumann, Robert Stolz, Robert Goldsand, Harold Maresch, Paul Peter Fuchs and Irwin Strauss.
ANOTHER WNYC 'FIRST' REVEALED!
"The Brooklyn Mark Strand Theater offered an innovation to Brooklyn theatergoers last week with the first actual radio studio settings that have been presented on the stage of any theater. The interior of a radio studio, carefully designed and artistically furnished with the drapings and the soundproof settings necessary to deaden the sound in the studio, showed radio fans who have never before seen the interior of a studio the exact conditions. Edward L. Hyman, who devised the settings, presented the entire corps of artists who appear on WNYC each Sunday night. A microphone on the stage picked up the singing and playing and carried it to those listening in on WNYC…
"Among the artists who appeared in the stage incident entitled, 'In Our Broadcasting Studio,' were Estelle Carey, soprano; Tom Williams, baritone; Frank Banta, pianist; Edna Berhans, sorprano; Rosalie Erck, contralto; Sascha Kindler, violinist; Robert Thrane, cellist; Harry Breuer, xylophonist; Ruth Watson, soprano; Richard Bartlett, tenor; Louis Dornay, tenor; Charlotte Bergh, coloratura soprano; and Carlo Berreti, baritone."
Source: "Broadcast Studio on Strand Stage," The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 22, 1925, pg. C9.
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