RADIO TALKS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 9

RADIO TALKS

TO THIS EDITOB OF TIJK PRESS. Sir,—Listening-in to 3YA last evening -I heard a lecturctte by a lady of evident culture, scholastic attainments, and a knowledge of her subject, which dealt chiefly with impressions of an old university town in Germany. I forget the exact title of the talk, bm venture to suggest that it was of interest to a very small percentage of listeners. In any case, any potential enthusiasm on the part of listeners was probably quickly quelled by the pedantic style of the speaker. The lecturette was part of the entertainment session, and it is generally considered that to interest a reasonable number of listeners, the speaker should possess, in some small measure, at any rate, a suitable radio voice and personality, the ability to make the subject generally interesting, and a sense of humour. Such a speaker will make the very most of his subject no matter what it deals with, and I would like to mention in this connexion the very commendable effort of Mr Donald Cowie in his recent talk, entitled "Martin Frobisher. This is not meant as carping criticism. Rather is it an attempt to endorse what you and your radio correspondent, "Ariel," are constantly advocating, viz., the institution of a competent radio talks department to organise and control this important branch of the service.—Yours, etc., C.H.M. February 14, 1935.