The Big Broadcast on the Big Screen

By Rich Conaty

I haven't seen the film "The Big Broadcast" in more than thirty years. Thirty-two, at least, since seeing it inspired me to appropriate the title when I launched my show on WFUV in January 1973.

On Thursday, July 7, I'm going to have the pleasure of introducing "The Big Broadcast," "International House" and a short film starring Jack Benny at NYC's Film Forum (www.filmforum.org). This is part of their summertime series, "Paramount Before the Code." On Sunday, July 2, I'll be devoting part of my "Big Broadcast" to the songs and stars of these charming movies.

We sometimes marvel at how quickly new technologies, from VCRs to PCs to iPods, find such lightning-fast acceptance, moving from novelty to necessity in the blink of an eye. Radio's rise, though maybe not quite as meteoric, was still impressive. Like the personal computer, radio began in the realm of hobbyists, then to local broadcasting and, finally, network broadcasting in under a decade. And, like talking pictures, which took off around the same time, it created its own stars.

In October 1932, Paramount released "The Big Broadcast," a wedding of the motion picture and broadcast media. Stuart Erwin plays a Texas oil millionaire who buys a bankrupt radio station, and a radio network, then launches it with an all-star "Big Broadcast" - all to win a woman's heart. Ain't love grand? Erwin was the nominal star, but the picture made a movie star of Bing Crosby, who in less than two years had gone from band singer to CBS Radio crooner. In 1930, as one of three "Rhythm Boys," Crosby appeared in "The King of Jazz." The guy was a natural right from the start. As good as his partners may have been, your attention is drawn to this unassuming baritone. To me, it says there was a fair amount of Bing Crosby in "Bing Crosby."

But what's cool about "The Big Broadcast" is the chance to see so many other stars of early 1930s radio: Kate Smith, the Boswell Sisters, the Mills Brothers and "The Street Singer" Arthur Tracy, as well as their tuxedo-clad announcers. These sequences were filmed in Paramount's Astoria studios, so there's no interaction with the West Coast cast, but that gives their numbers an almost video-like quality. George Burns and Gracie Allen have prominent parts in the film, with much of the dialogue reflecting their radio patter. Cab Calloway's role seems to have been done in California, too. He's the leader of the studio orchestra in the opening sequence, and, later in the film, introduces the undeniably druggy, "Kickin' the Gong Around."

Cab is seen doing "Reefer Man" in "International House," which also features Burns and Allen and Stu Erwin. In fact, the film was originally going to be called "The Big Broadcast of 1933." W.C. Fields is the star. The plot involves a bidding war on a new invention, the "Radioscope" - in other words, television! That justifies the appearances of Calloway, Rudy Vallee and "Baby" Rose Marie - who was maybe nine when she belted "My Bluebird's Singing the Blues," before she grew into Rose Marie, Sally Rogers on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

I've never seen the Jack Benny short, "A Broadway Romeo." It's from 1931, so it pre-dates the launch of his radio career. Benny was pretty big as a monologist in vaudeville and on Broadway, and this film came out around the time he was in "Earl Carroll's Vanities." But it's fairly certain the character won't be too far removed from the Benny we know. Like Crosby, there's a lot of Jack Benny in "Jack Benny."

As you might imagine, the survival rate for 70+ year old movies is not high. Happily, "Baby" Rose Marie is still out there, as recently as the 2004 "Dick Van Dyke Show" reunion. Radio fame can be fleeting, but Rudy Vallee was huge in the medium into the 1940s. He was in the Broadway and film versions of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," and toured with the show for years. Kate Smith made plenty of TV appearances throughout the 1960s and 70s, including the "Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" and "Tony Orlando & Dawn." George Burns seemed to be everywhere as he snuck up on his 100th birthday. Cab Calloway, who never stopped working, has had a memorable spot, revisiting "Minnie the Moocher" in 1980's "Blues Brothers" movie. The Mills Brothers worked steadily throughout the late 1970s. Bing's last Christmas special aired after his death in October 1977. His "Little Drummer Boy" duet with David Bowie still pops up annually.

I had a pretty good batting average meeting stars from "The Big Broadcast." My parents took me to see the Mills Brothers as a high school graduation gift in 1972. Though I never met him, I did see Bing perform at the Uris Theatre. I got loaded with Cab Calloway following an interview in his White Plains home. Arthur Tracy sang "I Love You Truly" at my wedding to "Manhattan Mary" in October 1995. And I interviewed the surviving Boswell Sisters, Connee and Vet. One Sunday in late November 1973, I picked up the phone and heard Connee's unmistakable voice singing "Happy Birthday" to me! She even made it swing.

Thursday, July 7, Rich Conaty hosts the 7:25pm showing of "The Big Broadcast," "International House" and a short film starring Jack Benny at:
The Film Forum
209 West Houston St., New York
212-727-8110

Tune in to The Big Broadcast on WFUV Sunday, July 2 from 8pm-Midnight for a show highlighting the songs and stars of these movies.