GREAT WIRELESS SCARE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 97, 19 January 1926, Page 7

GREAT WIRELESS SCARE

imaginative talk by HUMORIST STARTS RUMOURS OF “RED RIOTS IN LONDON” PANIC THROUGHOUT BRITAIN As the result of the broadcasting of a talk by a humorist, who described imaginary Red riots in London, something approaching a panic was caused throughout Britain owing to sensational rumours set afloat by listeners-in who had not heard the preliminary announcement that the story was a fanciful one. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright. London, January 17. The “Weekly Dispatch” says that practically the whole country was seething all night long with sensational rumours of great Red riots in Trafalgar Square and a march of the masses on Whitehall and the destruction of Big Ben. The misunderstanding, which resulted in one of the greatest wireless scares in the history of broadcasting, arose through the defective relaying of an imaginative talk by the humorist, Father Ronald Knox, broadcasting “The Barricades” from the Edinburgh station, which many mistook for an official news bulletin. Extraordinary stories spread like wildfire that a great revolution had commenced, and everybody knew it was true because they heard it officially by wireless. Some even heard the bombing of the Savoy Hotel, which was actually part of the broadcasting company’s realistic stage effects. The "Dispatch” and other newspaper offices were soon inundated with frantic inquiries for further informationThe newspapers impressed the company that the country was genuinely ala l ined, and the company broadcasted an apology, explaining that many listeners had apparently missed the preliminary warning that Father Knox s bulletins were purely fantastic. Critics assert that the company scandalously abused its license. Sydney “Sun” Cable. DANGER OF SUCH ITEMS EMPHASISED PRELIMINARY WARNING NOT HEARD (Rcc. January 18, 7.10 p.m.) London, January 17. Consternation arising out of Father Knox’s fake bulletins continued throughout Sunday. The Broadcasting Company was forced to continue reassuring explanations and apologies. A controversy has arisen concerning the wisdom of broadcasting items likely to be misleading. The company points out that the bulletins were so fantastic that they should not have been misunderstood.

The newspaper “Sketch”. expresses the opinion that the panic was so genuine that the matter cannot be allowed to rest. The company failed to realise that people do not sit with head ’phones clamped to their cars all night long, but pick up the ’phones occasionally, and thereby easily miss the preliminary announcement. The incident shows that everybody does not take ‘the same size in jokes. People now know better than to accept anything as news until they have seen it in print.—Sydney “Sun” Cable. REALISTIC EFFECTS SHOUTINGS OF MOB AND EXPLOSIONS (Rec. January IS, 8.5 p.m.) London, January 18. The ultra original item in Saturday's wireless entertainment from London has resulted in sharp criticism of the British Broadcasting Company. Father Ronald Knox, a well-known Roman Catholic preacher, whose reputation as a wit is equal to that of the well-known Brother Evoe, of “Punch,” delivered a skit, the broadcasting of which professed to describe a Communist revolution in London. Father Knox, speaking as a wireless announcer, described the receipt of news that the Houses of Parliament had been blown up, the National Gallery sacked, and the Savoy Hotel invaded. Hie description was punctuated with shoutings of the mob and noises of explosions, so realistic that many listeners forgot that Father Knox was a humorist and believed that London was reallv in the hands of Communists.

Hundreds of listeners telephoned to London anxiously inquiring for confirmation of the news. Through Sunday there were inquiries from the more remote villages, though the broadcasting company had long stated that the address was a skit.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.