OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22307, 22 January 1938, Page 6

OVER THE AIR

RADIO CAREERS

(By LISTENER.) One of the" most interesting letters I have had for many weeks has come from a young man who, at the time of writing, was awaiting the results of the matriculation examination. By now he will know the best or the worst. However, he will not be damned irretrievably by failure, or set on the way to a pile of doubloons by success. Of course, I am not really concerned with his academic fate, for what attracted me most was his declared intention of breaking into broadcasting somehow. The truth is he sought my advice on the subject. I would like to help him, but what can I do about it? I can say that he writes an attractive letter, and I can say also that he has the good sense to endorse some of my radio ideas, but gratifying as this is to me, it will not necessarily help him much. Acceptance of my heresies could be a severe handicap to a young man who wanted to adopt broadcasting as a career, for I can only repeat that my suggestions do not carry much weight in official quarters. Nevertheless, his appeal does raise a point worth considering. The children of the radio age are growing up. There are boys at school who know the wherefore and the why of wireless; it has become a normal part of their lives, and they are so familiar with it that it cannot make them wide-eyed with wonder. We older ones must still marvel a little at the strange devices which enable man to trap all kinds of sounds wandering in the ether. I am, for example, old enough to marvel at the fact that the bawling of a regimental ser-geant-major in Whitehall on Armistice Day can be heard almost simultaneously in my house. But this is nothing to the young who have not known life without radio. It is natural enough, therefore, that some at least of these should be looking to radio as a means of earning a living. Has the National Broadcasting Service yet thought of a way in which this eager and promising material might be used? Radio already has become part of our national life, and it shall certainly grow to be an increasingly larger part as time goes on. The people [of New Zealand maintain the Dominion's radio system, and as there are now 271,000 licence-holders, it seems fair to suggest that openings should be made in the National Broadcasting Service for the children of the people. I have to admit that my ideas on this subject are somewhat shadowy, but at the same time I can make the following suggestion without harnessing myself to folly. The National Broadcasting Service might conduct tests at the main stations for the purpose of finding one youth or girl in each centre who would be worth providing with a radio career. I feel that a better service would be done through this than is done by the Wheresmummers in their stunts. After all, New Zealand is not much better off for having found an imitation of Deanna Durbin, or even a home-grown Marx brother; but on the other hand something of practical value would be done if the National Broadcasting Service offered careers to young New Zealanders. "Give the children of the radio age a chance," would be my slogan for this campaign. He Wants to Bead

Jerhaps I could mention in passing that the ambition of the correspondent whose letters started my mind working on this subject is to become a radio reader. He wrote hopefully of the possible adoption of my suggestion for broadcast readings, and in doing so he said a few things worth setting on record.

You mentioned as one of the authors who should go on the air, W. W Jacobs, and I heartily applaud this, for he is a great favourite of mine I think, too, that O- Henry would be an excellent choice for readings, and "Q" —but there are hundreds of them. Not only the short story, but essays I think should be very presentable when read by someone who has a pleasing voice and the correct power of expression. For instance, "Alpha of the Plough,' E. V. Lucas, J. B. Priestley, and A. C. Benson. The Government controls a great influence over the minds of radio listeners, and I am convinced that this influence is not being used to the best advantage. The public taste in literature could be raised far above its present level, and without the public knowing it was happening. Many people cannot afford, or have no inclination, to buy good books. Instead, they pick up trash and are content to read it, but they listen to radio and I'm sure that if they heard some of the fine poetry or the stories already mentioned, which are not too far above their heads, and read by someone who understands what they are reading, then they would want to hear more of that kind of material over the air.

Most of that I feel to be true, but I would like to repeat that I have not mass uplift in. mind when I suggest broadcast readings. I am certain that these readings would be good entertainment, and if Professor Shelley were not Director of Broadcasting, and I had a say m these things, I would give him a long-term reading engagement. As a reader he gets into the skm of the text.. It should be possible to find others with that gift. Mr Douglas Cresswell

To my shame I have to admit that I heard Mr Douglas Cresswell speak from 3YA on Tuesday evening for the first time. Mr Cresswell has been on the air fairly often, but by unhappy conspiracies of fate I have always missed him before. On Tuesday he was speaking on "Timber," and it is plain that he has a touch of radio genius. He has evolved a technique of his own, and I don't think any talker so far has walked into the 3YA studio with a better idea of what he wanted to do There was a pleasing informality in his style and he did create thp illusion that he was merely chatting to a small audience. The interpolation of music into his script was a most effective device. I felt almost hopeful for the future of New Zealand radio talkers after I had heard Mr Cresswell. The trouble, of course, is that few speakers would take such care as Mr Cresswell did, nor can they be expected to do so when the financial return is small. The preparation of a good radio talk script entails many hours of thought and labour. One

PROGRAMMES AND COMMENT

BROADCASTING

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMMES

would be paid better in a Public Works camp for expending the same amount of energy. While on the subject of talks, I must mention one which is scheduled for next week. Professor von Zedlitz, who is, by the way, one of the most effective radio speakers in the country, will be on the air from 2YA next Thursday with an eyewitness account of the Dreyfus trial. Professor von Zedlitz attended the trial, I am told, as the corresponded'- of an English newspaper. Even those who are now talk-shy should overcome their distaste for once and give 20 minutes of their time to Wellington on this evening. Mr Cresswell, too, will be broadcasting from 3YA again on Tuesday, his subject this time being "The Harvest."

Promising Items There are two other items scheduled for the coming week which should be worth the attention of listeners. The first is a National Broadcasting Service production of Noel Coward's "Hay Fever," which will be on the air from Wellington on Wednesday evening, and the other is a Chopin recital by Madame Betts-Vincent, which is to come from ?" A on the same evening. A Modern Programme

SUNDAY

I would like to thank the programme organiser at 4YA for an excellent hour or two last Thursday, lie had arranged a programme of classical and symphonic music by contemporary British composers. The classification may a.-pear somewhat odd, but the programme itself was not. However, it would have been even more satisfactory if intelligent notes about the composers had been provided. (There's no nasty knock here, for the programme was not annotated at all.) First, we had Vaughan Williams's "London Symphony" and then "The Wasps" overture, which was followed by the beautiful Fantasia on "Green Leaves." What'l was most grateful for was William Walton's "Facade" Suite. I had not heard this before, but I shall hear it again whenever I have the chance. In my ignorance I did not know that young Mr Walton, who stands in music somewhere about the level Mr Thomas Fanoccupies in the ear-thickening industry, could do things like that. It was a revelation of beauty. A companion piece to this was "Crown Imperial," a Coronation March. It would have given listeners another glimpse of Walton's powers. The programme was rounded off with a bracket of Peter Warlock's songs and a "Polonaise" by Arthur Bliss. England has never been better off for native composers than she is at the present time. There should be more programmes of this kind so that New Zealand listeners can be made increasingly aware of this pleasant fact.

3VA, CHKISTCHUBCH (720 Kilocycles) 7.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Running commentary on the National Surf Life Saving Championships at New Brighton. 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signal. Kecordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2.0 p.m.: Recordings. Surf Life Saving Championships at New Brighton. 2.30: p.m.: Official Opening of the Government Settlement by Mr K. J. Howard. MJP. 3.30: Sports results. 4.0: Time signal. 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Cousin Nessie. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: Rebroadcast 2YA, Official news and British Official Wireless news. 7.10: News. 7.30: Time signal. 8.0: Chimes. Recordings: Debroy Somers Band, "Sons of the Brave" (Bidgood). 8.5: "Westward Hoi" Episode 41. 8.18: Peter Dawson (bass-baritone), (a) "Red, White, and Blue;" (b) "So It Goes On" (Noel Gay). 8.24: Al Bollington (organ), "Medley of Serenades." 8.30: The Twilight Serenades (vocal), "South Sea island Medley" No. 1. 8.36: Recording. Alfredo Campoll and his Orchestra, (a) "Parade of the Pirates" (Bratton); (b) "Under the Balcony" (Heykens). 8.42: Cara and Arnaldo in songs and duets, (a) "Ay-Ay-Ay" (Freire); (b) "La Danza" (Rossini); (c) "O Sole Mto" (Di Capua). 8.52: Recording. London Theatre Orchestra, "A Country Girl" Selection (Monckton). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Reg. Paddl in pianoforte novelties, (a) "Desert Song" (Romberg); (b) "Two Hearts in Waltz Time" (Stolz); (c) "Merry Widow" Waltz (Lehar); (d) "One Night of Love" (Schertzinger). 9.12: George Titchener (comedian), "Jonathan Jay" (Clifford Grey). 9.17: Recording. Albert Sandler and his Orchestra, "Play It Again" (Brodsky): "Will You Remember" (Romberg). 9.23: Cara and Arnaldo in popular songs and duets, (a) "I Give My Heart," (b) "If I Am Dreaming" (Millocker Mackeben): (c) "Only a Rose" (Friml). 9.33: Recording. London PianoAccordion Band, (a) "A Beautiful Lady in Blue" (Coots); (b) "When Budapest Was Young" (Milos). 9.39: Reg Paddi in pianoforte novelties, (a) "Feather in Her Tyrolean Hat" (Mills); (b) "The Girl on the Police Gazette" (Berlin). 9.46: George Titchener (comedian), "That's Another Scottish Story" (Flanagan). 9.54: Recording. The Alfredo Campoli Grand Orchestra, "The Eric Coates Parade" (Coates). 10.0: Sports summary. 10.15: Dance music.

3YL, CHRISTCHURCH (1200 Kilocycles) 5.0 p.m.: Recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Symphonic programme. 10.0: Favourite entertainers.

IYA, AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles) 3.15 to 4.30 p.m.: Sports results. 5.0: Children's session. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: Official news and British Official Wireless news. (Rebroadcast from 2YA.) 7.10 tapprox.): News, 8.0: Concert programme, featuring Sasha Berliner's Continental Ensemble. Aileen Warren (piano). 8.14: Madge Taylor (soprano). 8.26: Recording, Yovanovitch Bratza (violin). 8.34: Edgar Middleton (baritone). 8.46: Recordings. Edward O'Henry (organ). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Sasha Berliner's Continental Ensemble. 9.35: Recordings. Roy Smeck Serenaders (Hawaiian instrumental). 9.41: The Hill Billies. 9.47: Raymond Baird (saxophone). 9.53: Les Allen Canadian Bachelors, "Musical Comedy Requests." 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. IYX, AUCKLAND (880 Kilocycles) 7.0 p.m.: After-dinner music. 8.0: Gems from Modern Musical Comedies. 8.45: Modern dance music. 9.30: Variety. 10.0: Music of the sea. 2YA, WELLINGTON (570 Kilocycles) 6.50 a.m.: Weather report for aviators. 7.0: Breakfas-t session. 10.0: Weather report for aviators. Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals. 12 noon: Running commentary on the events of the final day of the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting. (Relayed from Trentham.) I Announcer- Mr D. Gulney. 1.0 p.m.: Weather report for aviators; week-end weather report, and frost forecast for Canterbury and Otago. 3.0: Sports results. 4.0: Time signal. Sports results. 5.0: Children's session. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: Official news and British Official Wireless news. (Rebroadcast by the national stations.) 7.10 (approx.): News. 7.30: Time signals. 8.0: Millicent O'Grady (soprano). Recordings: New Mayfair Orchestra. 8.10: A recital by Millicent O'Grady (soprano). 8.25: Recordings. Reginald Dixon (organ). 8.31: Norman Long, entertainer, at the piano. 8 34: Roy Smeck and his Hawaiian Serenaders. 8.37: The Light Opera Company. 8.45: Charlie Kunz (piano). 8.51: The Two Leslies (Leslie Sarony and Leslie Holmes. : comedy vocal) 8.54: Billy Cotton and his I Band 90: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Dance programme. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance programme.

2YC, WELLINGTON (840 Kilocycles) 5 0 nm.: Light music. 7.0: After-dinner music 8.0: Classical programme. 9.0: popular recordings. 10.0: Music and humour.

4YA, DUNEDIN (790 Kilocycles) 330 p.m.: Sports results. 4.0: Weather report and frost forecast. 4.45; Sports Tesults. 5.0: Children's session. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: Official news and British Official Wireless news. (Rebroadcast from 2YA ) 7.10 (approx.); News. 8.0: Chimes. A light orchestral and ballad concert. 4YA Concert Orchestra, conducted by James Dixon. 8.14: Anne White (soprano). 8 20: The Orchestra. 8.29: R. Duerdon (baritone). 8.38: The Orchestra. 8.44: Anne White (soprano). 8.51: The Orchestra. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Dance music. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music.

4YO, DUNEDIN (1140 Kilocycles) 5 0 p.m.: Recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: "These Were Hits." 8.28: "Snapshots." 9.0: "Over She Goes" Selection. 9.8: Max Miller sings. 9.14: Band programme 10.0: Comedy and music. DAVENTRY, ENGLAND GSO, 16.88 metres; GSO, 19.76 metres; GSB, 31.55 metres; GSD, 25.53 metres. 815 p.m.: Big Ben. "London Log." 8 25: Popular Orchestral Concert. The B B C. Empire Orchestra; leader, Leonard Hirsch: conducted by Clifton Helliwell. Gaby Valle (soprano). 9.15: "All Kinds of People—2: Thirty-two Years a Butler." A talk by Charles W. Cooper. 9.30: Recital by Peter Dawson (bass-baritone). 10.0: The news and announcements. 10.25: Close down.

3YA, CHRISTCHURCH 9 0 a.m.: Recordings. 10.30: Results of National Surf Life Saving Championships. 11.0: Relay of morning service from Holy Trinity Church, Avonside. Preacher: Rev. W. J. Hands. Organist and choirmaster: Mr Peter Thompson. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Recordings. 3.0: Piano and Orchestral Symphony by d'lndy; played by Marguerite Long and the Colonne Symphony Orchestra. 3.24: Recordings. 4.0: Time signals. 5.30: Children's song service, conducted by Rev. H. S. Kings and the children of the Methodist Sunday school. 6.15: Recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening service from Rugby Street Methodist Church. Preacher: Rev. H. S. Kings. Organist: Mrs W. Hutchens. Choirmaster: Mr Will Hutchens, Mus. Bac. 8.15: Recordings. 8 JO: Recording: Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra, "Der Freischutz" Overture (Weber). 8.40: Lawrence Tibett (baritone recital), (a) "On the Road to Mandalav" (Kipling. Speaks); (b) "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes" (Calcott); (c) "Goin" Home" (Fisher). The 83. C. Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Edward Elgar, "The Kingdom" (Prelude, Op. 51) (Elgar). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: "Victoriana, No. 2: Woman Proposes."

3YL, CHRISTCHURCH 6.0 pjn.: Recordings. 8.30: "Life in Vienna"—Orchestral Potpourri. 8.48: Two songs by Emmy Bettendorf. 8.55: Mark Hambourg (pianist). 9.0: Serge Krish instrumental Septet 9.7: "Galileo." 9.37: Airs on an organ. 9.47: "Love Me Forever" Memories. 9.56: Sarabande, by Corelli.

IYA, AUCKLAND 3.30 p.m.: The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. 3.42: Recordings. 6.0: Children's song service. 7.0: Evening service, relayed from Beresford Street Congregational Church. 8.15: Recordings. 8.30: Concert programme, featuring Sascha Berliners Continental Ensemble. 9.5: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: A recorded presentation of the Opera, "II Trovatore," by Verdi.

IYX, AUCKLAND 6.0 p.m.: Recordings. 8.30: Panzera (baritone), and Cortot (piano). 8.54: Wanda Ladowska (harpsichord). 9.5: "Theatre Memories." 9.22: Medley from Spain and Italy. 9.40: "Sandy, the Detective." 9.46: Variations on "Tiger Rag." 9.52: A "Sleep" Fantasie.

2YA, WELLINGTON 9.0 a.m.: Recordings. 10.0: Weather report for aviators. 11.0: Relay of mass from St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Organist: Mrs G. Aldridge. Choirmaster: Mr L. McCarthy. 1.0 p.m.: Weather report for aviators. Dinner music. 2.0: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 (Beethoven), played by Josef Szigeti and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Bruno Walter. 2.40 (approx.): Recordings. 4.0: Time signals. 6.0: Children's song service, conducted by Uncle William, assisted by the children from Webb Street Methodist Church. 7.0: Relay of evening service from St. Peter's Anglican Church. Preacher: Ven. Archdeacon Bullock. Organist and choirmaster: Mr S. B. Short. 8.15: (approx): Recordings. 8.30: The 2YA Concert Orchestra, conducted by Leon de Mauny. 8.34: A recital by Barbara Lane (English soprano), with orchestral accompaniment. 8.46: A piano recital by Charles Martin, Mus. Bac. 9.2: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: A recital by Sydney Mac Ewan (Scottish tenor). 9.25: The Orchestra. 9.35: A recital by Cuthbert Matthews (English baritone). 9.50: Barbara Lane (soprano), and Cuthbert Matthews (baritone), vocal duet with orchestral accompaniment. 9.54: The Orchestra. 2YC, WELLINGTON 6.0 p.m.: Recordings. 8.30: Symphonic programme.

4YA, DUNEDIN 2.30 pjn.: Famous German Folk Songs (second series), sung by Richard Tauber (tenor). 2.45: Recordings. 5.30: Children's song service. 6.15: Recordings. 6.30: Relay of evening service from St. Paul's Anglican Church. 7.45: Recordings. 8.30: Excerpts from "The Flying Dutchman. Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Clemens Schmalstich. 8.38: The Grand Irmler Choir. 8.42: Francis Russell (tenor). 8.50: Chorus and Orchestra of the State Opera House, Berlin. 8.53: Emmy Bettendorf (soprano). ,9.1: Weather report and station notices. 9.6: Symphony Orchestra of Paris, conducted by Elie Cohen. 914; Essie Ackland (contralto). 9.18: The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Ormandy. 9.26: Miriam Licette (soprano). 9.34: Gerhard Husch (baritone). 9.40: The State Opera Orchestra, Berlin, conducted by Erich Kleiber. 9.48: Lotte Lehmann (soprano). 9 54: Koloman V. Pataky (tenor). 9.58: The Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra. 4YO, DUNEDIN 6 0 p.m.: Recordings. 8.30: At Ciro's Club with Ambrose's Orchestra. 8.39: Vivian Ellis (piano). 8.51: Kurt Engel (xvlophone). 9.0: "Richelieu, Cardinal or King?" Episode 1. 9.34: The Comedy Harmonists. 9.40: Medley of serenades. 9.46: "Just a Memory." OVERSEAS RECEPTION NOTES

(Supplied by the New Zealand DX | Radio Association.) Following are some of the schedules of the main Cuban stations now operating:_COCO relays CMCF, 6010 kilo-! cycles, 49.92 metres, 1500 watts, 12.55 p.m. to 5 p.m., P.O. Box 98, Havana; COCD, relays CMCD, 6130 kilocycles, 48.92 metres, 1500 watts, 3 a.m. to 4 p.m., P.O. Box 2294, Havana; COCH, relays CMK, 9428 kilocycles, 31.80 metres, 3500 watts, 12.30 a.m. to 5 pm., slogan, "de la General Electric Company of Cuba"; COCQ relays CMQ, 9750 kilocycles, 30.76 metres, 4000 watts, 11.55 to 6 p.m.; COCX, relays CMK, 11,430 kilocycles, 26.23 metres, 2000 watts, 11.55 to 6 p.m.; COBZ relays CMBZ, 9030 kilocycles, 33.32 metres, 1500 watts, 12.42 to 5.10 a.m., slogan, "Radio Salas"; COBC, relays CMBC, 9363 kilocycles, 32.04 metres, 1500 watts, 11.55 p.m. to 5.30 am., P.O. Box 132, Havana; COCW relays CMW, 6330 kilocycles, 47 metres, 200 watts, 11.55 to 6 p.m., P.O. Box 130, Havana; COCM relays CMCM, 9775 kilocycles, 31 metres, 1000 watts, 1 a.m. to 5 p.m., P.O. Box 33, Havana, slogan, "Radio Columbia."

MELHUISH and CO. Readjust youi Radio in your own home. 3s 6d; Lyttelton. 5s 6d. Use "Phone 41-508. 6541