OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 9

OVER THE AIR

MARVELLING ELDERS [By LISTENER] Where radio is concerned, we, the elders of the community, are more happily placed than our children. To the children, radio is not a miracle; they have grown up with it and accept it with as little feeling of wonderment as the average man has for an old pair of boots. In this matter of radio, then, children adopt the attitude of indifference befitting age, while older people have the fresh, marvelling outlook that would be more seemly in the young. I know, for example, that a normal child would not have been much more interested in the last week than he would have been in any of a dozen preceding it, but fcr me these were memorable days. Through radio we have heard history being made. The drama began on Friday. December 11, when New Zealanders heard the new Director of Broadcasting speak for the first time since he took office. The announcement of King Edward's abdication was read by Professor Shelley, who made the sad, formal phrases of ttfe instrument of abdication quiver with life. One did not require much imagination to appreciate that the country was hearing words that had become part of British history as soon as they were written. But history of a still more lively kind was made on the Sunday, when the retiring King delivered his apologia to the world. In a tense voice, he explained to the largest audience one man has ever had, why he decided to resign the greatest throne the world lias ever known, or is ever likely to know. In those minutes a king was speaking words that are likely to last as long as any in the English language. That Edward's sentences, spoken at Windsor Castle, were girdling the earth, would have meant nothing to a child, but to me it was one of the remarkable experiences of my life to hear this voice explaining one of the most momentous decisions any man has had to make in our time. Then the same day came a broadcast of the proclamation of ( King George's accession at St. James s palace For those who know the palace, radio completed the scene. Later, by turning the set on full, it was possible to make rooms in New Zealand vibrate with the explosion of cannon firing the first Royal salute to the new reign in Hyde Park. There are many people who will never be able to accept radio, events like these as commonplaces. About Announcers During the week a correspondent in "The Press" had some unkindly observations to make about announcers at YA stations. He suggested in the first place that an introductory statement such as "This is London calling is Deferable to "Good evening everybody " Personally. I don't think there is anything to choose between .them The more or less standard Good evening" is adequate, and I would like to know what other alternatives there are. Most radio talkers have probably given thought to the question of how fhev should begin and end their addresses "laey must all find, however, that the range is pretty limited andl in any case public speakers have not been able to discover a more effective formal oDening than "Ladies and gentlemen "Of course, it would be possible to introduce exceedingly informal touches, but these w° uld „ de }& ht w S a minority of listeners. On the whole there is scarcelv any ground foivcriticism of YA announcers. It is true that they are not encouraged to give personal flourishes to their work but there is no reason why they should do so Some, of course, are better than, others, and with one possible exception Christchurch has every reason to be satisfied with the announcing from city stations The complaining correspondent said that there seemed to be no rule concerning tha necessary for announcers. The qualifications surely, are simple enough. Tne fi?st requisite is a pleasant voice, and the second must be intelligence. What more is needed? Broadcasting Literature In a Christchurch interview this week Professor Shelley mentioned that he was working on the new programmes that are to be introduced later, and he said that a statement as to what the changes are going to be would probably be made early in. the new year. There is a natural hesitancy in making a further suggestion when the director's mind, no doubt, is already confused by the number of suggestions proffered to him. woweverthere should be room tor one or two others. I feel sure that a large number of listeners would welcome sessions in which readings were given from assorted books. I am not really breaking my resolution to refrain from mention of Eb and Zeb again when I assert that a decent-ly-read story by W. W. Jacobs would not only be more elevating for the masses, but would at the same time be a 22-carat substitute in humour for the appalling rubbish which now masquerades as humour on the Dominions radio programmes. Some of the National Broadcasting Service s announcers could read intelligently, and if the work were too much for them it would be a simple matter to find a few outsiders who could broadcast readings. Light literature would probably serve the purpose best for a beginning, but there is no reason why effective excursions could not be made into writings | of the heavier kind. The British Broadcasting Corporation long ago broadcast finely-selected anthologies, and one of the noblest works of this kind was done by Humbert Wolfe, the poet, in collaboration with others. This anthology was published earlier in the year under the title of "The Pilgrim's Way." The original idea was to illustrate in literature and music the progress of man—"the pilgrim of the world —through the varying moods, which are milestones on the path from the cradle to the grave." That is the purpose as set out in the introduction to the book. Now, for example, let us take "sorrow" as one mood. Mr Wolfe chose a number of poems, and extracts from poems, illustrating what sorrow is. He wrote a prose prologue to them, and good speakers of verse were se. lected. Music was also chosen to make the item complete, and in the case of "sorrow'' the music was a recording of Delius's "In a Summer Garden." This series, widely approved by the public, was run by the British Broadcasting Corporation for two years. I do not suggest that anything quite so elaborate should be done in New Zealand yet, but the germ of an idea is there. In this country there are persons with sufficient taste to make competent selections from the grandest literature in the world, and the ! only mistake to be avoided would be that of leaving the selection to persons of narrowly academic outlook. The first thought, of course, would be to rush off to a Professor of English, but the fact that a man professes English does not mean that he could choose literature in a way to attract people. I know a book salesman in Auckland who has written out in his own hand the passages that have appealed to him in years of discriminating reading. His scrap-book shows a larger humanity, a more intimate appreciation of the fine things in literature than could ever be hoped for. in a selection made on commission by an academic fellow who knows everything about Spenser's prosody and inconsequential things that give pleasure only to the academic mind. Anyway,, there's a programme idea, and in the meantime I do pray that

PROGRAMMES AND COMMENT

some humorous short stories should be broadcast as a substitute for the garbage pseudo-humour which is now the plague spot on New Zealand radio programmes. BROADCASTING TO-DAY'S PROGRAMMES 3YA. CHRISTCHURCH (720 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 11.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 12 noon: Lunch music. 1 p.m.: Week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.0: Ball to ball commentary on second cricket test, England .v. Australia. 3.30: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 4.45: Children's session, conducted by Riddleman. 5.30: Ball to ball commentary on second cricket test. England v. Australia. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Ball to ball commentary on second cricket test, England v. Australia. 8.0: Chimes. Recordings: Orchestre Raymonde. 8.8: Richard Crooks (tenor). 8.14: Kurt Engel (xylophone). 8.20: La Scala Singers, "Memories of Tosti." 8.28: Clapham and Dwyer (humorous sketch). 8.34: Alfredo Campoli' and his Orchestra. 8.40: Joan Cross (soprano). 8.46: Sandy Powell and Co. 8.52: New Mayfair Orchestra. 9.0: Resume of day's play in second cricket test match. 9.10: Weather report and station notices. 9.15: Modern dance programme to music by the J7ailey-Marston Dance Orchestra. (Relayed from the Winter Garden.) 0.38: Commentary on second cricket test match by Mr C. B. Fry, famous English captain. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Resumption of modern dance programme from the Winter Garden. Alternative station. 3YL, 1200 kilocycles. 5 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Symphonic programme. 10.0: "Quips and Quavers," a popular programme. IYA, AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15:-Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 1 p.m.: District week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.0: Rebroadcast ball to ball description of play in the second cricket test, England v. Australia, played at Sydney. 3.30: Selected recordings. 4.30: Sports results. 4.45: Children's hour, conducted by Cinderella. 5.30: Rebroadcast ball to ball description of play in the second cricket test, England v. Australia, played at Sydney. 6.0: Dinner music. 6.30: Talk: The Gardening Expert. 7.0: News and report?. 7.30: Re-' broadcast ball to ball description of the second cricket test, England v. Australia, played at Sydney. 8,0: Concert programme. "The Messiah." Handel's oratorio, presented by the Auckland Choral Society. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music by Lauri Paddi and his Peter Pan Band, relayed from the Peter Pan Cabaret. Alternative station. IYX, 880 kilocycles. 5 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Light popular programme. 9.0: Resume on day's play in the second cricket test. England v. Australia, played at Sydney. 9.10: "Humorists on Parade." A programme featuring popular comediants. with instrumental interludes. 9.38: Rebroadcast commentary by Mr C. B. Fry on day's play in the second cricket test, England v. Australia, played at Sydney. 10.0: Humour and light music. 2YA. WELLINGTON (570 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 12 noon: Lunch music. 1 p.m.: Special week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Light musical programme. 3.0: Bail to ball description of play in the second cricket test match, England v., Australia, at Sydney. 3.30: Special weather forecast for farmers and frost forecast for Canterbury and Otago. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. Sports results. 4.45: Children's hour, conducted by Uncle Jasper. 5.30: Ball to ball description of play in the second cricket test match, England v. Australia, at Sydney. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. Ball to ball description of play in the second cricket test match, Australia v. England, at Sydney. 8.0: Chimes. Popular programme. The 2YA Concert Orchestra, conducted by Leon de Mauny. 8.6: Hldlegarde (light vocal). 8.12: F. J. Woodham (mouth organ). 8.17: Ivy St. Helier (entertainer at the piano). 8.23: The Orchestra. 8.28: The Rocky Mountaineers (vocal), with novelty accompaniment. 8.31: Thomas Bennett (English concertina). 8.36: Mae Questal, the Betty Boop Girl (light vocal). 8.39; F. J. Woodham (mouth organ). 8.44: Al and Bob Harvey (comedy duettists), at their pianos. 8.47: Thomas Bennett (English concertina). 8.52: Les. Allen and his Canadian Bachelors (light vocal with novelty accompaniment). 8.55: The Orchestra. 9.0: Resume of play in the second cricket test match, England v. Australia, at Sydney. 9.10: Weather report and station notices. 9.15: Dance music by Jack Cowdrey's Dance Orchestra (relayed from St. Francis Hall. Hill Street). 9.38: Commentary by Mr C. B. Fry, famous English cricket captain, on play in the second cricket test match, England v. Australia, at Sydney. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Recorded dance programme from the studio. 10.30: Further dance music by Jack Cowdrey and his Dance Band (relayed from St. Francis Hall. Hill Street). Alternative station. 2YC, 840 kilocycles. 5 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Classical recital programme. 9.0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 10.0: Thirty minutes of humour and light music. 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. 2 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.0: Ball to ball description of second day's play in the second cricket test match, England v. Australia, played at Sydney. 3.30: Selected recordings. Sports results. 4.0: Weather forecast and frost forecast. 4.45: Child- ] ren's hour, conducted by Aunt Anita and Cousin Molly. 5.30: Ball to ball description of play in the cricket test match. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and report;. 7.30: Eall to ball description of play in the cricket test match. 8.0: Chimes. A light orchestra and ballad concert. 4YA Concert Orchestra, conducted by Gil Dech, Three Irish Dances (Ansell). 8.10: John T. Leech (tenor), with orchestral accompaniment. 8.16: The Orchestra. 8.24: Anne White (soprano), with orchestral accompaniment. 8.33: The Orchestra. 8.43: John T. Leech (tenor), with orchestral accompaniment. 8.49: The Orchestra, selections from "The Arcadians" (Mockton). 9.0: Resume of the day's play in the cricket test match. 9.10: Weather report and station notices. 9.15: Dance music. 9.38: A commentary on the second day's play of the cricket test match by Mr C. B. Fry, famous English captain. 9.55: Sports summary. 10.15: Dance music. Alternative station. 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 2 p.m.: The Mayoress's Christmas cheer entertainment for children (relay from Town Hall). 5.0: Selected.recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8,0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 9.0: Band programme, with dramatic, humorous and instrumental interludes. 8.23: "The Diamond Studs." One of a series of dramas about famous diamonds. 10.0: Comedy and light music, DAVENTRY, ENGLAND GSO, 19.76 metres; GSB, 31.55 metres. (New Zealand summer time.) 8.0 p.m.:. Big Ben. "Turn Round." A day in the life of. a liner. Devised by S. E. Reynolds and Pascoe Thornton. 8.30: The second cricket test match. Australia v. England. An account of the second day's play by Alan Kippax, from Sydney (in collaboration with the Australian Broadcasting Commission). 8.45: Variety. 9.0: Talk, "Scientists at Work." 9.20: Harold Ramsay at the organ of the Regal Cinema, Kingston-on-Thames. Theme, "Rhapsody in Blue" (Gershwin); Popular Medley. "A Jazz Tune" (Ramsay); Waltz Memories. "Babette" (Horatio NiOhoDs); "In a Little Spanish Town" (Mabel Wayne); "Delilah" (Horatio Nicholls); "Love Nest" (Hirsch); "Ruy Bias" (Mendelssohn). 9.40: The news and announcements. 10.0: Close down. SUNDAY 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from Church of Christ, Moorhouse avenue. Preacher,, Pastor Stuart Stevens, organist, Mrs Pugh, choirmaster, Mr H. E. Ames. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 5.30: Children's song service, conducted by Rev. A. McNeur,

assisted by the children from the St. George's Sunday school. 6.15: Selected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening service from St. Mary's Anglican Church. Preacher, Rev. A. K. Warren, organist and choirmaster, Mr Alfred Worsley. 8.15: Selected recordings. 8.30: Recording: The 8.8. C. Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Adrian Boult, "Coriolan" overture. Op. 62 (Beethoven). 'Cello and pianoforte recital by Hamilton Dickson and Decima Hughson. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Recording: The Minneapolis' Symphony Orchestra. conducted by Eugene Ormandy, eight German dances (Mozart). 9.19: Lillian Hanham (soprano! 9.29: Recording: London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Albert Coates, Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29 (Tschaikowsky). Alternative station, 3YL 3.0 p.m.: Rotary Club's massed bands concert. (Relayed from the hospital gardens.) 6.0: Musical programme. 8.30: A programme by British bands (military and industrial, with vocal and instrumental interludes. IYA, AUCKLAND 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Morning service, relayed from St. Mark's Anglican Church. Preacher, Rev. Percy Houghton, organist, Mr A. Pascoe. 1.0 p.m:. Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordngs. 3.30: Quintet for Oboe and Strings, presented by Leon Goossens (oboe) and the International String Quartet (Arnold Bax). 3.46- Selected recordings. 6.0: Children's song service. 7.0: Evening service, relayed from the Ponsonby Road Church of Christ. Preacher, Pastor E. L. Williams. 8.30: Concert by the Auckland Municipal Band, relayed from Albert Park. Conductor, Mr T. J. O'Connor. Alternative station, IYX. 6.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8.30: French symphonic programme. 2YA, WELLINGTON 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay ot morning service 'from Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church. Preacher, Rev. Arthur Muriel, M.C.. 8.A., organist and choirmaster, Mr T. Foresythe. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Symphony No. 6 in G Major ("Surprise") (Haydn). 2.26: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 6.0: Children's song service, conducted by JJncle William, assisted by the children "of Wadestown Presbyterian Sunday school. 7.0: Relay of evening service from St. Paul's ProCathedral. Preacher, Canon Percival James, organist and choirmaster, Mr Robert Parker, C.M.G. 8.15 (approx.): Selected recordings. 8.30: A programme of French and German opera. The 2YA Concert Orchestra, conducted by Leon de Mauny, "Masaniello" overture (Auber). 8.39: Recordings: M. Franz Kaisin (tenor) and M. Jose Beckmans (pianoforte), "Grand Duo" (Gretry). 8.43: Arnold Foldesy ('cello), "Thais" meditation (Massenet). 8.46: Charles Hackett (tenor). 8.50: The Orchestra, "Werther" selection (Massenet). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: An operatic recital by Sybil Phillips (soprano), with orchestral accompaniment. 9.19: The Orchestra, "Vorspiel" (from "Tristan and Isolde") (Wagner). 9.27: Recordings: Emmi Leisner (contralto). 9.31: G. Thalben Ball (organ). 9.35: Chorus and Orchestra of the State Opera, Berlin. 9.43: Pablo Cassels ('cello). 9.47: Frederick Schorr (baritone). 9.51: The Orchestra, "Tannhauser" selection (Wagner). Alternative station, 2YC. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Band programme with instrumental and dramatic Interludes. 4YA, DUNEDIN 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of service from Knox Presbyterian Church. Preacher, Rev. D. C. Herron, M.A., M.C., organist, Mr C. Roy Spackman. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 2.30: Arthur Schnabel (piano), Sonata in D Major, Op. 28 (Beethoven). 2.54: Selected recordings. 5.30: Children's song service, conducted by Big Brother Bill. 6.15: Selected recordings. 6.30: Relay of evening service from Methodist Central Mission. Preacher, Rev. L. B. Neale, 8.A., F.R.G.S., choirmaster. Mr Mortley Peake, organist, Mr Frank Crawley. 7.45: Selected recordings. 8.30: Complete recorded presentation of "II Trovatore," an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Alternative station, 4YO. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Light musical recital.