The Radio Listener

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 13

The Radio Listener

Programme Comment. The excellent J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company is etill touring the Dominion’s “legitimates”; and the powers that be, with commendable enterprise, are still availing themselves of the presence in the country of such actors and actresses for studio presentations. Last Sunday they were al 3YA in the ever-popular “Mr. Pim Passes By,” of A. A. Milne. Madam Florence Austral and Mr. John Amadio are proving immensely popular with listeners, this week from IYA. Madam’s programme of Russian songs on Saturday looks extremely interesting, as also does that of the fine Dutch baritone, Sydney de Vries, on the same evening. Last Saturday a third “Grown Up Children’s Hour” by Will Bishop and Company was heard from 2YA. It seems that one must either like these “Eight O’clock Revues” immensely or dislike them equally; but Mr. Bishop's “fan mail” Is large and is representative of both camps. His next revue on August 8 will be right up to standard, including a tenor soloist new to Wellington listeners and novelty numbers by “The Rhythm Sisters.”

“Things to Come.” On Monday evening 2YA will broadcast the last of the series of eight 8.8. C. recorded talks on “The Conquest of the Air." This talk is entitled “The Shape of Things to Come,” and consists of a collection of experiences and comments

by aviators or directors of aviation , in various countries. The pilot of the German airship Hindenburg opens the discussion. A Russian aviator who has climbed 47,000 feet into the stratosphere recounts his experiences in Russian, and the English commentator gives a translation. An American tells how he ascended 72,000 feel in a balloon. A French statesman talks of the peril of war in the air, and the Director of Civil Aviation in England describes the progress of commercial flying. Floating Broadcasting Station. A programme from an interesting broadcasting station was heard well in Christchurch on Saturday night. The station was 9MI, on board the motorvessel Kanimbla. The programme was announced as coming from the “only floating broadcasting station in the British Empire—perhaps in the world.” A short programme of recordings was given, and the woman announcer made this more interesting by giving brief descriptions of some of the artists heard. She also thanked New Zealand listeners for reporting on the station’s transmissions, and said that there would be a special programme for New Zealand on a date to be announced later. The station was operating on the 40-metre band, and signed off at 11 p.m. New Zealand- time.