By popular request, we print the picture of Betty Jane and Virginia Holman, 17 and 19 year-old daughters of Mrs. Jane Holman of 142a East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, who were chosen recently by Paul Whiteman during his appearance in St. Louis, as the first of his “finds” in his nation-wide search for radio talent.
The Holman Sisters have won wide distinction through their broadcasts over KMOX as a piano team.
The selection, coming after the “Jazz King” had listened to nearly five hundred applicants, entitled the sisters to personal appearances with the Whiteman Orchestra during its theater engagement in Cincinnati a week ago and a place on the Pontiac program over the National Broadcasting Company’s hookup last Friday night.
Whiteman expressed himself as delighted with the success of his first contest. “From my experiences in St. Louis,” he said, “I firmly believe that we shall discover some real radio headliners during our talent search, which will be conducted in each of the cities where I play during my vaudeville tour.
“I was amazed at the great amount of talent uncovered in St. Louis. While many of the contestants were not ready for network programs, there were several who, with a little training, could compete successfully for places on the major broadcasts.”
The Holman Sisters are to have further auditions later in the studios of NBC in Chicago.
(Originally published in Radio and Entertainment 1/23/32).