Newspaper boys of The Charlotte Observer yesterday afternoon enjoyed the unusual privilege of hearing a concert by outstanding stars of the Columbia Broadcasting. system—in person, "not a motion picture."
Star musicians of the Columbia system gave an impromptu program in The Observer Town hall for about 200 carrier boys and their parents and friends.
Barbara Maurel, famous singer of the New York studios of the Columbia system and former member of the Philadelphia Civic Opera company, sang a delightful melody that provoked prolonged applause. The popular soloist graciously gave an encore.
Clair Shadwell was in charge of the program, which included numbers by Cliff Carlisle of Kentucky, yodeler and singer of mountain ballads. Fred Kirby of South Carolina, another hill-billy artist, won an ovation with two numbers. Bill Davis and his Cotton Blossoms, a string band of six pieces, played several selections.
A quartet from the Dixie Minstrels, composed of Mr. Shadwell, Ephraim Lee, Slufoot Lochman, and Irvin Setzer, gave a few numbers. The Dixonians quartet of station WBT, composed of Mr. Shadwell, Alfred Garr, Bill Elliott, and John Stevens, sang one song.
Hilarious shouts of mirth burst from the throats of scores of young newspaper boys at the wisecracks and jokes of two blackface comedians, Ephraim Lee and Irvin "Indelible" Setzer.
The artists are in Charlotte for the dedication today of the new 25,000-watt plant of station WBT.