Rudy Vallee's NBC Questionnaire

The document rests in the files of the press department of the National Broadcasting Company. It is a questionnaire, duplicates of which are submitted to all NBC stars of prominence. The questionnaire was answered by Vallee himself, painstakingly and neatly typed by his own musical fingers. The questions were answered in 1932, after the crooner's marriage.

Name (professional): Rudy Vallee

Nickname (in the studios): Rudy

Addresses: Office 111 West 57th St., phone Cir 7-4680; home 55 Central P West.

Do you have an NBC contract? Yes, with George Engles

Manager: None

Personal press agent: None

Talent (contribution to radio -- what do you do): Direct an orchestra and sing popular songs.

Your current programs: Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, Thursday from 8 to 9 pm Eastern daylight time

Height: 6 feet

Weight: 150 pounds

Complexion: Light

Hair: Brown

Where and when born: Island Pond, Vermont; July 28, 1901

Parents (Who were they? Did their leanings or characteristics have any bearing on your radio success? Were they talented?): Kathryn Lynch Vallee -- amateurishly musical -- sang a bit and played a little violin. Charles Alphonse Vallee -- was musical but never used his ability. Managed a theater as a sideline.

Are other members of your family musically or dramatically inclined? Kathleen Vallee Lenneville (sister) plays piano and organ -- and teaches piano.

Marital status (wife or husband's name): Fay Webb Vallee

Children (names and ages): None

Radio history (first audition): No audition. First broadcast was from Heigh Ho Club in February 1928, directing seven piece orchestra as nightclub broadcast.

First professional engagement (Any special circumstances? Anecdotes? Humorous incidents? Saxophone soloist at Strand Theater, Portland, Maine -- 1921. Had been head usher at same theater only two years previously. Chief electrician in the theater had given me my first alto sax. Rudy Wiedoeft was my idol -- his records showed me solo possibilities and I had begun studying solos assiduously. I had not learned the solo well enough for his appearance, and that nervousness of hands made me skip whole measures. The audience seemed to like it though.

Rudy Vallee in Radio Guide, June 23, 1934

Old Time Radio · Music · Rudy Vallee · Rudy Wiedoeft · Fay Webb · Publicity ·

2020/06/04 · Link