HE BUILT THE HOUSE OF PETER MACGREGOR

New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 172, 9 October 1942, Page 5

HE BUILT THE HOUSE OF PETER

MACGREGOR

But Leading U.S. Radio Writer and Producer Has A New Job Now

EFORE meeting Dr. Kimbell S. Sant, author and producer of The House of Peter MacGregor, Academy Award, and many other well-known radio features, you must rid yourself of all preconceived notions of Hollywood author-producers. Dr. Sant is not worldly-wise, does not smoke cigars, and appears to prefer listening to talking. He is at present in the uniform of the U.S. Navy, and was a recent visitor to our shores. He has quick brown eyes behind rimless glasses, a diffident manner, and a lot of enthusiasm for the job he’s doing at present. "How are the C, P. MacGregor Studios getting on without you?" we asked, impressed by the long list of Sant features that had been reeled off for our benefit prior to the interview. "I guess they’re managing all right. There’s only one indispensable man in the U.S.A., and that’s President Roosevelt!" Dr. Sant is finding his work in the navy one of the most interesting experi-

ences of an interesting life. "I’m meeting people from all over the world, and it’s a great education." "Are you writing scripts for the boys to perform on board?" we wanted to know. "No," replied Dr. Sant. "I haven't thought about it. I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to write scripts. At present I’m a Pharmacist Mate Third Class" (he displayed his stripe), and I’m concentrating on my hospital work. I once did a medical course, and I’m finding my knowledge very useful-I’m now chief surgical technician on the ship." It's a "Tough Job" Script-writing is a tough job, according to Dr. Sant. "Ninety-nine per cent hard work and one per cent inspiration, and no 40-hour week, either." But it’s work he enjoys. He spoke with enthusiasm of the new MacGregor feature Hollywood Radio Theatre, which is at present in production, and which features stars such as Anita Louise, Sir Cedric. Hardwicke, Edna Best and Mary Astor. Like Academy Award, it is a series of self-contained comedy dramas, and without hesitation, Dr. Sant proclaimed it "the best thing we’ve ever done." Radio in the U.S.A. is now 100 per cent geared to war, says Dr. Sant. It’s taking Very seriously its job of keeping up U.S. morale. There are, of course, features dealing directly with the war, such as This is War!, but even the features intended purely as entertainment are being used to make listeners warconscious. And a great deal is done to provide radio entertainment for troops overseas. Command Performance is one such feature. A homesick Connecticut soldier who wants to hear a Connecticut train whistle has only to write to the sponsors of Command Performance which can be heard, when weather condition permit, in the ZB’s Sunday evening American Hour

« » Film Stars in Radio We expressed surprise that so many well-known film stars consented to take part in radio dramas. "Generally speaking," said Dr. Sant, ‘the better the stars, the more enthusiastic they are about it. The thing they like about radio drama is that it’s all acting. It’s the sort of thing that demands hard work and good solid ability-you

can’t get away with shoddy acting just because you’ve got the right kind of curves." "Yet it seems rather a pity that the right kind of curve should be wasted," we remarked. "Surely radio should give a chance to people with good voices and good acting ability minus appearance?" But Dr. Sant suggested that after all, we should look to the future and television, and that anyway, it made things pleasanter for the producer. And contrary to general opinion, film stars were not as a whole temperamental or inclined to satisfy their own whims at the expense of the show. And they knew the meaning of hard work. "Tickled Pink" Dr. Sant is, in. his own language, "tickled pink" that so many New Zealanders should be familiar with his radio productions. Several people to whom he has been introduced had hailed him as the author of The House of Peter MacGregor. And the other day when putting through a telephone call he had difficulty in making the girl at the switchboard hear his name, until he said, "You know, The House of Peter MacGregor." But even then, his call took some time to go through, as 14 people in the office insisted upon speaking to him. Dr. Sant’s home is in Beverley Hills, a "very expensive place to live.’ Dr. Sant commented. But in Hollywood if you aim to be someone, you have to live as if you thought you were. But in spite of the advantages of being in a position to observe such world-famous figures as Myrna Loy (who, by the way, has too many freckles), Dr. Sant says that after the war he hopes to come and settle in New Zealand. "Why?" we asked, wondering if Dr. Sant could possibly have been attracted by our earthquakes. "Because these are my kind of people and this is my kind of country," said Dr., Sant. "I feel at home here." "But what about your wife?" we asked. "How will she like the idea?" "That’s all right", said Dr. Sant. "She’s a swell person. She always wants to do what I want to do." So much, we thought for all this talk about Hollywood marriages. "And, of course," said Dr. Sant, "I > want to do what she wants to oO. We went away with the impression that Dr, Sant, too, was a swell person,