OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21940, 14 November 1936, Page 9

OVER THE AIR

AN OUTSIDER LISTENS IN

LISTENERS 1 *** tekin * Of the weight off «y own shoulders bytotro- • * yott *° M* Randolph Cressy. «oeoJ our■ race week mtm, Mr aSS com St**! * round is a lon« dlstajaee from How away does not standw Tf av^ d Possible misundermust be mentioned that Sest no Proprietorial inin the sheep country just menHe is a musterer by profesand curiously enough, he does absolutely on sheep mustering. He musters money, too, eXCellent Purple of giving toetf two nms off the chain in each Week happens to be one ffrioos of relaxation, ana. when I met him somewhere about ® Iwt Wednesday, he was 02 vaguely—and a trifle in-distinctly—-about taking an air trip i° Poland and Buenos Aires. I can do jt, sure I can do it,” he announced assertively. “Since way *u° t* 1 ® war I always followed «|® CUflOTd horses. And what a time h ? l l . thia week backing Sir Charles! I began with a fiver last Saturday on Trench Fight; went through mat day collecting all the time and doubling up. Somehow I missed Monday. I slept through the day thinkmg it was Tuesday night, but I got to Riccarton all right .to-day. Crikey—rve never had so much ready cash' in my life before.” He stopped the recital for a moment and his eyes were fixed with startling mtentness on the Cathedral spire. "Don’t they know it’s come loose? he asked. "Look how it sways in the wind.” Possibly he was right, but I could not observe abnormal movement. "Yes,” he went on. “I want to see Finland and I want to see Buenos Aires. I saw Paris one night when I was in France. You can’t beat a bit of travel.” A Pleasant Evening However, the story of my encounter with Mr Cressy must .be trimmed to essentials. He did not, seem to wint to see Christchurch on Wednesday night. The final decision was that we should spend the evening together in front of the fire; have a happy time with the radio, our pipes, and anything else that occurred to Mr Cressy as being appropriate accompaniment to such modest entertainment. Although there is slight risk that 1 may be charged with priggishness in doing so, nevertheless, rmust say that an hour or so with Mr Cressy convinced me that he was one of those who would be a fit subject for the loudly predicted attempts at cultural development by radio.

We were listening to 3YA. I knew the voice that was coming through. I had heard it before in repertory plays; in public lectures, and at the Society for Imperial Culture. How many times I had heard it before does not matter. Anyway, my previous pleasure bad not been shared by Mr Cressy . “Who’s talking?” he asked tersely. “Professor Shelley,” I replied. “Who’s he?” asked Mr Cressy, “and what’s he talking about?”

"Dear me,” 1 replied, “Don't you know he’s the new Director of Broadcasting? and he’s talking about drama." '“Well, I don’t like it," declared Mr Creasy. “What do we want to hear 'About drama in Cup Week for? Mind ye**; got nothing against the theatre, and I wouldn’t be here with you If Bland Holt or Julius Knight was on again.” “It don’t make sense to_ me," he added after some thought. “You’ll know much more about these things next year. Mr Cressy,” I said. “That’s if you listen to the radio regularly.” • “Of course I listen regularly in the hut at night,” he replied. “Do you think we spend all our time reading and playing euchre?" We were held sombrely by this discourse on the early nineteenth century theatre. Suddenly Mr Cressy showed signs of animated approval. “Now he’s talking sense," said Mr Cressy enthusiastically. “He’s said something about cutting the cackle and coming to the ’osses. That’s the stuff—come to the ’osses, everybody should be at the ’osses this week. Hear, hear. Professor.” I listened more intently. Mr Cressy was right. The Director of Broadcasting repeated a phrase. He was explaining the origin of “Cut the cackle and come to the ’Ssses." A Song Attracts A little later my guest was attracted by a song coming from IYA. “That sounds fair enough," he said, with guarded approval. “What is it?” “That," I replied, “is Heinrich Schlusnus singing ‘Song to Spring,’ by Hugo Wolf.” “Say that singer’s name again,” he demanded. “It makes you sound as if you had been backing Sir Charles Clifford instead of me.” Hall an hour later we were back at ‘Auckland. Mr D’Arcy Cresswell, in discussing the sonnets of England, had something to say about the English poets from earliest times up to our own day. His view was that Tennyson, Swinburne, and a few others had but the White sugar on top of the pie of English poetry. (The simile is Mr CresswelTa.) “The things they call poets in London now are files craving on top of the sugar," said Mr Cresswell. ‘ “Who’s that?” asked Mr Cressy. “That,” I replied, “is Mr D’Arcy Cresswell, one of New Zealand’s poets.” m “But he don’t seem to like poets,” said Mr Cressy. “If another musterer spoke about my mustering like D’Arcy speaks about other poets’ poeting, I’d hand him one that he wouldn’t forget for a long time.” “You wouldn’t understand, Mr Cressy,” I said defensively, “because poets are different.” “Don’t I know,” he replied. “We had a poet up in our hut once. He wrote poems all over the wall. They were clever, but you couldn’t say much about’them. They weren’t the sort o £ poetry you’d see in books.” Somehow, we thought we’d had quite enniigh improvement for one night. Some Wrestling Mr Cressy’s eyes brightened for the first time at the announcer's descriptions of the efforts of Signor Savoldi and Mr George to dismember each other. It sounded like a rack-side account of unpleasant transactions in a medieval torture chamber, but Mr Cressy was thoroughly appreciative. “What do professors, poets, and people like that come butting into radio for? I’m all for wrestling ar.i racing and a bit of football, but all the same I think it does a man good to listen to the church broadcasts on Sunday night Drama he caWa it, and not one word about Bland Holt. Crikey, if you ask me, professors don t khow everything." This was Mr Cressy’s last effort at prolonged speech. A basovoice, somew hat unfittingly, sang “Ever Lighter Grows My Slumber." It seemed the wrong kind of song for a deep bass, and it was certainly inappropriate for Mr Cressy, whose slumber showed marked signs of becoming anything not wake lor nearly two hours. A broadcast of the memorial

IYA, AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles)

2YA, WELLINGTON (570 Kilocycles)

programmes and comment

service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall roused him. At the bawled word of command from a Guards’ SergeantMajor he sprang to attention. “Crikey,” he said, “I’ve been dreaming the war was over.” Mr Leatherlungs in Whitehall will never know that his “Shim” was obeyed on the other side of the world. BROADCASTING TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES STA, CHRISTCHURCH (720 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.; Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 11.0: Tine signals from the Dominion Observatory. 11.2: Selected recordings. 12.30 p.m. (approx.): Relay from Riccarton of. the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting. 1.0: Week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.30: Sports results. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 4.30: Sports results, 5.0: Children’s hour, conducted by Stalky and Company. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 8.0: Chimes. Presentation of 8.8. C. recorded programme, "Monsieur Beaucaire.” Adapted for broadcasting from Booth Tarklngton's novel, and the light opera libretto by Frederick Lonsdale, by Cordon McConnell. Lyrics by Adrian Ross and the music by Andre Messager. Monsieur Beaucaire's songs are sung by Mark Raphael. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. Rebroadcast from IYA, Auckland of running commentary on the professional wrestling match—McCready v. George. 10.0: Sports summary, 10.10: Dance music. Alternative station, 3VL, 1200 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0; After-dinner music. 8.0: “Modern and Ultra-modern Masterpieces." 9.18: Sefton Daily (In piano novelties). 9.27; The Chatterboxes (in an original patter sketch). 9.36: Recording; Olive Groves and Frank Titterton (vocal duets). 9.42: Sefton Daly (In piano novelties). 9.47: The Chatterboxes (in a patter sketch and song). 9.56; Recording: Alfredo Campoli and the Dorchester Hotel Orchestra.

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 12 noon; Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: District week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.15 and 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s session, conducted by Cinderella. 6.0: Dinner music. '7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Talk, the gardening expert. 8.0: Concert programme. Joan Dowding (piano). 8.15; The National Four (vocal quartet). 8.30: Recording: Yehudi Menuhin (violin). 8.45: Bertha Rawlinson (contralto). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5; “Zoo Holiday,’’ a light entertainment The book is by Elsie and Doris Waters and Ashley Sterne. Produced by Charles Brewer. (A 8.8. C. recorded programme.) 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music (recorded). Alternative station, IYX, 880 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: “Che Spice of Life,” a variety programme. 9.0; “You Will Remember Vienna.” a continuity programme. .10.0; Popular potpourri, light entertainment.

•7.0 to 0.0 am.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 11.15: Talk, prepared by the Home Science Tutorial Section of Otago University, “Savoury Tea Dishes.” .12 noon: Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: Special weather forecast for week-end. 2.0: Light musical programme. 3.0: Sports results. 3.30: Special weather forecast for farmers and frost forecast for Canterbury and Otago. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. Sports results. 5.0: Children’s hour, conducted by Uncle Jasper. 6.0; Dinner music. - 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 7.40: Talk, “Health Stamps Campaign." 8.0: Chimes. Popular programme, featuring “Kirlmanae,” in a recital of Maori songs, and Theo Walters and his Personality Band. The Hamilton Dickson String Octet. 8.5; “Klrimanae” (soprano) in a recital of Maori songs. 8.20: The Hamilton Dickson String Octet. 8.23; Kurt Engel (xylophone) with orchestra. 8.30: Theo Walters and his Personality Band present, "Variety in Rhythm." 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5; Oldtime dance music by Les. Walker and his Oldtlmers’ Dance Orchestra (relayed from St. John Ambulance Hall). 10.0; Sports summary. 10.10; Recorded old-time dance programme from the studio. 10.30: Further old-time dance music by Les. Walker and His Oldtimer's Dance Orchestra. Alternative station, 2YC, 840 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0; After-dinner music. 8.0: Two-feature recital. 9.0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 10.0; Thirty minutes of bright recordings. 4YA, DUNEDIN (790 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.; Breakfast session. 10.0; Selected recordings. 10.15; Devotional service. 12 noon: Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: District week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.30: Sports results. 4.45: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s ses- ’ sion, conducted by Aunt Anita and Cousin Molly. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News I and reports, 8.0: Chimes. A light orchestral and ballad concert. 4YA Concert Orchestra, conducted by Gil Dech. 8.12: Mrs J. W. Allen (contralto). 8.18: The Orchestra. "The Shoe” Ballet. 8.33: W. E. Snow (baritone). 8,42: The Orchestra. 8.50: Mrs J. W. Allan (contralto). 8.56: The Orchestra. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Dance music. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: “Dance Tunes from the Talkies,” featuring Fred Astaire. Alternative station. 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m. :'Selected recordings. 7.0; After-dinner music. 8.0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 9.0: Band programme, with dramatic, humorous and instrumental interludes, featuring at 9.U, dramatic superstition. ‘Tf You See ,& Pm and Pick it Up, it will Bring You Good Luck.” 10.0; Comedy and light music. DAVENTBY, ENGLAND GSB. 31.55 metres: GSO, 19.76 metres. (New Zealand summer time.) i 8.6 p.m.: Big Ben. The 8.8. C. Dance Orchestra, directed by Henry Hall. 8.40: “Sea Power—No. 6," a talk by the Rt. Hon. Sir Samuel Hoare, First Lord of the Admiralty. 9.0: Variety. 9.10: “A Nest of Singing Birds,” English poets on English birds. An anthology compiled by A. Desmond Hawkins. Production by John Pudney. 9.30; Light orchestral music. 9.40: The news and announcements. 10.0; Close down. SUNDAY 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of the morning meeting from the Salvation Army Citadel. Speaker: Adjutant Chandler. Bandmaster N. Goffin. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals ' from the Dominion Observatory. 5.30: Children’s song service. 6.15: Selected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening service from Christ’s College Chapel. Preacher, Rev. O. W. Williams: organist and choirmaster, Mr R. H. O’Donel Davis. 8.30; Recordings: London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Malcolm Sargent, “Di Ballo” Overture (Sullivan). 8.40; Kirsten Flagstad (soprano). 8.43; London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Landon Ronald, 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Talk; Hon. R. Semple, Minister for Transport, "Safety on the Highway.” 9.25: Recordings: Richard Tauber (tenor). 9.33: London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Leo Blech. Alternative station, 3YL. 6 p.m.; Musical programme. 8.30: Miscellaneous band programme. with popular interludes. IYA, AUCKLAND 9.0 ajn.: Selected recordings. 11.0; Morning service, relayed from the Mount Eden Congregational Church. Preacher: Rev: Frank de Lisle. Organist: Miss Ella Postles. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.36: Recordings: Symphony in D Minor (Cesar Franck). Presented by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski. 4.14: Selected recordings. 6.0: Children’s song service. 7.0: Evening service, relayed from the Pitt street Methodist Church. Preacher: Rev. E. T. Olds. Organist: Mr Albert Bryant. 8.15 (approx.): Selected recordings. 8.30; Concert by the Auckland Municipal sand, relayed from Albert Park. Conductor: Mr T. J. O’Connor. Alternative station, IYX. 6 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8,30: «honlc programme. 9.0: “Music of em Europe.”

2YA. WELLINGTON 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay o 1 morning service from St. Thomas’s Anglican Church. Preacher; Rev. C. V. Rooke. Organist and choirmaster, Mr Eric Froggart. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Half an hour of Scottish recordings, "Scottish Song and Story." 2.30: Selected recordings. 3.0: Relay of recital from National War Memorial Carillon. 3.15: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 6.0: Children’s song service. 7.0: Relay of evening service from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Preacher; Rev. Brian Kilroy. M.A. Organist and choirmaster. Mr Prank Thomas. 8.15 (approx.): Selected recordings. 8.30: A miscellaneous operatic programme. 8.40: A recital of French opera by Mrs J. A. Rankin (mezzo-soprano). 8.52: Polydor Great Symphony Orchestra, "Lakme” Fantasia (Delibes, Tavan). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Irene Scharrer (piano). 9.11: An operatic recital by R. J. Laurenson (halftone). 9.23: London Symphony Orchestra. 9.31: Georges Thill (tenor). 9.39: Luben Wladigeroff (violin). 9.45: Theodor Chaliapin (bass). 9.53; Orchestra of the Concerts Colonne. Paris, "Le Coq d’Or" selection (“The Golden Cockerel”) (Rimsky. Korsakov). Alternative station, 2YC. 6 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Band programme," with vocal and instrumental interludes. 4YA, DUNEDIN 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from Trinity Methodist Church. Preacher: Rev. C. H. Olds. Choirmaster; Mf H. R. Wilson. Organist: Miss £. Hartley. 1 p.m.; Dinner music 2.0: Selected recordings. 2.30: Artur Schnabel (piano). 2.45: Selected recordings. 5.30: Children’s song service. 6.15: Selected recordings. 6.45: Relay of evening service from the Salvation Army Citadel. Preacher: Adjutant Mahafße. Conductor; Mr A. Millard. 8.0; Selected recordings. 8.30: "Madame Butterfly" (recorded). An opera in two acts by Giacomo Puccini. Alternative station, 4YO. 6 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: "The Tang of the Sea.” A seascape cameo. 9.0; Six light musical recitals. DAVENTRY. ENGLAND GSO, 19.78 metres; GSB. 31.55 m'etres. (New Zealand summer time.) 8.0 p.m.: Big Ben Great English Prose. Beading; " On the use of Masterpieces,"

from "On the Art of Reading," by Sir Arthur' Quiller-Couch. 8.16: The Luton Band; conductor, Albert Coupe* Overlure, Napoleon (Bllton). Cornet Solo, Lizzie (solist. Joe Smith) (Hartmann). Waltz Medley, The Charm of the Waltz (arr. Winter). Gavotte (Mignon) (Thomas). Selection, The Yeomen of the Guard (Sullivan. Valse Caprice, Bal masque (Fletcher). 9.0: Weekly Newsletter, Sports summary and announcements. 9.25; Bells, and an Empire Service, from St. Paul’s Cathedral. London. Order of Service: Introductory Anthem, O Hearken Thou unto the Voice (English). Hymn, Blessed are the Pure in Heart (A. and M., 261). Psalm 1. Hymn, He Wants not Friends buf Hath Thy Love (E.H., 401, vv. 1. 4, 5,6). Anthem, There is an Old Belief (Parry). Address by the Rev. Canon F. R. Barry, D. 5.0., Canon of Westminster. Hymn, For All the Saints (E.H., 641, omit vv. 4 and 5). 10.15: Close down. OVERSEA RECEPTION NOTES (Supplied by the New Zealand DX Radio Association.) Broadcast reception has been marred by heavy atmospherics during the week in Christchurch, signals being better at 10 p.m. J{ew stations how operating are:—VUA, Allahabad, Central India, 1071 kilocycles, 150 watts; VUU, Dehra Dun, India, 1333 kilo* cycles. 100 watts; XHHL, Shanghai, China, 1090 kilocycles, 10Q watts; KEBC, Abilene, Texes, 1420 kilocycles, 100 watts; XEP, Juarez, Mexico, 1160 kilocycles, 500 watts. Stations on new frequencies arc:—4WK, Warwick, 1860 kilocycles, SO watts; BMA, Mildura, 1380 kilocycles, 100 watts; 4VL. Charleville, 1130 kilocycles, 50 Watts; 4MK, Mackay, 1080 kilocycles, 100 watts: 3YB. Warrnambool, 1210 kilocycles, 50 watts; ZDU, Dubbo, 660 kilocycles, 100 watts, all Australia: XEPN, Piedras Near as, Mexico, .730 kilocycles, 50,000 watts. •' ■ ' ’ ,' " ' 1