Chapter Eighteen
IN RADIO CITY
The page ushered them into the studio and the first person they saw wasCurt Newsom, the tall cowboy star who had also had a part in "Kings ofthe Air."
Curt hastened to greet them.
"When did you get in?" he asked.
"This morning," replied Janet. "My, but it's good to see you again. Ididn't know you were going to be in this promotional unit."
The cowboy flushed and grinned somewhat sheepishly.
"Well, to tell the truth, I've always wanted to try broadcasting alittle and I finally pestered the general manager out on the coast untilhe sent me along and ordered them to give me a part. Come on and meetthe director of this unit."
Curt led them over to a small group where a rather slender, dark-hairedman was speaking. He turned to face them as they approached and Janetnoted that he wore unusually thick glasses, indicating that his eyeswere in need of heavy correction.
"This is Mr. Ben Adolphi," said Curt, by way of introduction. "Mr.Adolphi has been assigned by the World Broadcasting Company to handlethis promotion work."
He introduced each of the girls to the radio director and Mr. Adolphismiled pleasantly.
"I shall get at your parts presently," he said. "Please be seated."
They found comfortable chairs at one side of the studio and Janetenjoyed the opportunity to look around the room for it was here thatthey would put on their radio show. The ceiling was high and evidentlycovered with a cloth which absorbed sound readily. The walls were alsocovered with a cloth of heavy texture and the carpet on the floor feltan inch thick.
At the rear of the room was a low platform which might be used for anorchestra and to the left, through a heavy plate glass window, was thecontrol room where the engineers regulated the volume of the program andfed it out on the air. Near the door was a desk with a microphone on itfor the announcer, and beyond that was a tall steel stand with severalmicrophones, attached to adjustable arms, on it. These could be placedin any portion of the room to pick up the program to the best advantage.
Mr. Adolphi joined them within a few minutes. He carried a handful ofscript with him and handed one section to Janet and another to Helen.
"You understand that this company is comparatively small when you thinkof the one used in the production of the picture?" he reminded them. "Itwill be necessary for you to take several parts, but all of them will beminor roles since I understand neither of you have had any experiencein broadcasting."
The girls nodded their understanding, and the director plunged on.
"We are going to give only the high spots of the film story over theair, but in addition we are going to weave in some of the actual dramaand the thrills attached to the shooting of the picture--some of thebehind-the-scenes incidents. Understand?"
Again they nodded.
"We have not been able to get all of this material that we desired andMr. Newsom has informed me that you have a fair ability at writing."
This was aimed at Janet and she replied promptly.
"I enjoy writing," she said, "but the question of ability hasn't beenvery well determined yet."
"But you sold a script for film purposes only recently," pressed thedirector.
"Yes, that's true, but I think it was more luck than anything else."
"Be that as it may, I'd like you to write some of the intimate andunusual things that go on in the production of such a picture. Get inall of the thrilling material possible. Get me?"
"I think so," replied Janet, recalling the vivid hours that had markedthe production work on "Kings of the Air" when the company was out inthe desert and she had been kidnaped.
"Then take the rest of the day off and try to get some of the materialinto my hands tomorrow morning. We'll have it whipped into shape by thestudio continuity writers, for this program goes on the air day aftertomorrow."
"I'll do my best, Mr. Adolphi," promised Janet, and the director hurriedaway to give further instructions to others in the company.
Helen looked at Janet admiringly.
"Well, you certainly get yourself into all kinds of work," she smiled."Now you'll have to go back to the hotel room and pound away on a rentedtypewriter while I go down and see a show in the Music Hall."
"Oh, don't do that," begged Janet, who was anxious to see the interiorof the world's largest theater. "Wait another day until I can go withyou. There'll be plenty for you to see in New York beside the MusicHall."
"All right," agreed Helen. "We'll plan on that for tomorrow afternoon."
As they left the studio they bumped into a slender, dark-haired girl whowas hurrying in.
"Clumsy fools," Janet heard the other girl murmur as she went on andJanet's face flushed for it had been as much the other's fault as theirown.
They dropped down to the street level in the elevator and Janet startedback for the hotel while Helen walked toward Fifth avenue to enjoy awindow shopping tour along the exclusive shops that had made the avenuefamous throughout the world.
Janet Hardy in Radio City Page 18