RADIO PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 92, 18 March 1936, Page 3

RADIO PROGRAMMES

Radio programmes for to-night are as follow:

IYA AUCKLAND (461.3 metres; 650 kilocycles).—s.o: Children’s session. 6.0: Dinner music. 8.0: Chamber music, fcauring Vincent Aspc'y, violinist, and Owen Jensen, pianist. 9.0: Weather. 9.5: Talk, D'Arey Cresswell, “Old English Ballads.” 9.20: 8.8. C. recorded programme, “West End Cabaret.” 10.45: Music, mirth, and melody. 11.0: Close.

IYX ’AUCKLAND (340.7 metres; 880 kilocycles).—s.o: Selected musical programme. 6.0: Close. 7.0: After dinner programme. 10.0: Close. 2YA WELLINGTON (526.0 metres; 570 kilocycles).—s.o: Children’s sesion. 6.0: Dinner music. 8.0: Records. 8.40: Talk, Dr Guy IT. Scholeficld. 0.8. E.. “World Affairs.” 9.0: Weather. 9.5: “Liquid Eire,” a dramatic play. 9.29: Records. 9.36: A dramatic play. “Geoffrey of Anjou.” 10.0: Dance music. 11.*: Close.

2YC WELLINGTON (356.9 moires: 840 kilocycles).—s.o: Light music.' 6.0: Close. 7.0: After dinner music. 8.0: Operatic favourites. 8.30: Recital programme. 9.30: Symphonic programme. 10.0: Close. 3YA CHRISTCHURCH (416.4 metres; 720 kilocycles).—s.o: Children's session, 6.0: Dinner music. 8.0: Orchoetra, “A Alidsum--1110- Night’s Dream.” 8.13: Records. 8.40: Leo Chorniavsky (violinist), ’with Orchestra. A 7 inlin Concerto. 9.0: Weather. 9.5: Talk: National rontnbutions 'to civilisation series: Dr Jainr.s High!, C..V1.G., ALA., “Germany.” 9.20: Records. 10.0: Music, mirth, and melody. 11.0: Close.

3.VL OliniSTf 'TIURCTT (250 moires. 1200 kilocycles).—s.o: Light musical programme. 6.0: close. 7.0: After dinner music. 8.0: Alternative concert programme. 10.0: (lose. 4YA DUNEDIN (379.5 metres; 790 kilocycles).—s.o: Children's session. 6.0: Dinner music. 8.0: Chimes. “Music at Your Fireside.” featuring “La, Maisoii Grise.” “Spring Song.” 8.17: -'Advanced Rians,” a further episode in the lives of a .lanancee hoiiseboy and his employer. 8.32: “The Voice of the People: Prior the Great.”-8.40: Talk by Dr _ Morris N. Watt, “Aloments with the Microscope.” 9.0: Woathci;. 9.5: A thriller, “The Case of the Death-Laden Fog,” introducing Inspector Scot I, of Scotland Yard. 9.45: Quarter of an hour on the Railway Station. 10.0: Dance music. 11.0: Close.

4YO DUNEDIN (263 metres; 1400 kilocycles).—s.o: Light musical session. 6.0: Close clown. 7.0: After dinner music. 8.0: Alternative concert programme. 10.0: Close. 2/.E PALAIERSTON NORTH (312.3 metres; 960 kilocycles).—6.3o: Children’s session. 7.30: Early musical session. 8.0: Relay of 2YA.

2EC SYDNEY (492 metres', 610 kilocycles).—B.o: A national programme, from tiie Sydney Town Hall: Symphony Concert by The New South Wales Symphony Or-ebet-tra. conducted by Dr Edgar L. Bainton. Assisi ing artist: Browning Mummery, tenor. 10.10: National talk. “Some -Modern Studies ill Psychology,” Professor J. A. Gunn. B.Se., AJ.A.. Pli.D., “ T Iho I'livht From Reality.” 10.40: Interlude. 11.0: Dance music. 11.30: Close. 2BL SYDNEY (405.4 metres; 740 kilocycles).—B.o: 8.8. G. recording, “Love Needs A Waltz.” 9.0: Programme by National Military Band. 10.30: Close.

E AUTRE SHORT-WAVE STATION. TRANSMISSION I. 6.15 io 8.15: GSB (31.55 m) and GSN (25.38 m). 6.15 a. 111.: Big Ben. “Caravanserai.” 7.15: Pianoforte recital by Norman Eraser. 7.40: Talk, “The Conquest of the Air. 8.0: News. 8.15: Close. Note. —Now Zealand summer time is Iwo hours ahead of Eastern Australian time and twelve hours ahead of Greenwich moan time.

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS

“THE PLAY’S THE THING.” (By “Microphone.”) Since the earliest days of photography it has been accepted as axiomatic (though with many “mental reservations” in not a few cases) that “the camera never lies.” Not .altogether can the same quality he ascribed to the microphone, for while it may be devastatingly efficient in the handling of a mediocre voice, it also possesses the ability to so enhance qualities that tliev change beyond recognition. Briefly stated, here lies the secret of successful broadcasting of plays; in fact “things are not what .they seem,” but the qualities they have assumed render them vastly attractive. The visitor to Australia cannot fail to . he impressed not so much by the popularity accorded the casual, overpublicised production, but the welcome given serials, which may run for a few nights, weeks, or even months. They hold so large a place in the esteem of the public that there is to-day hardly a station that does not feature at least one of the type. The Broadcasting Commission is in no wav behind in this regard. On May 33 the first instalment of “Khyber” was presented from 2BL. It continued for months, and was succeeded by “.Khyber—And Beyond,” wlr’eh commenced on November 22 and lias continued each (Monday night, till last Monday the 10th episode was presented, with no sign of the end yet. “Microphone” had the interesting experience of witnessing the broadcasting of the 13th episode a few weeks ago. As in America, England, and most countries where radio flourishes permission is obtainable to witness studio productions.. Li the chief stations overseas (and particularly in America) great glass-enclosed studios are used, large audiences be-

ing accommodated on the opposite side of the glass from the performers. This practice also obtains elsewhere, and, it is understood, in some Australian capitals, but not so in Sydney. A few minutes before eight the possessor of the studio or general pass is admitted into the studio where the play takes place. The 2BL plays studio is housed in ,the old building which the commission lias occupied for years—so old in fact that the windows rattled an accompaniment in the breeze till they were closed. Three microphones are already in position.

and the station is relaying a national talk from Melbourne. At 7.55 the talk ceases and the announcer presents a news resume, his voice not altogether similar to that which emerges from the loudspeaker (despite “high fidelity” research). On this occasion be deserts his desk and takes his place at a .microphone in the body of the studio, reading the news from typed sheets, the wliole time watching the clock and graduating the news items to suit. 1 o the minute the chimes of the G.P.O. clock are failed in, and it is time for the night session. The seven players have arrived, but one or two more news items are broadcast to enable last-minute preparations to be made. Mr Lawrence Cecil (the producer) is already at (he control panel with the engineer, and commences the recorded theme music ior the introduction while the announcement is made. The studio warning sign flashes, and the slu’d io is on the air. In much-pub-licised productions the players are robed for (be part, but not here. (Miss Nniieve Stewart (daughter ol the great actress. Nellie Stewart, and in private life All's Alavne Lyuton) .wears an evening (rock and wrap—no makeup to enable her to obtain “atmosphere” for the role of Zwani, the arch-priestess. She. and all the placers including Miss Hilda Scurr (“AKyra Deeming’'), must depend on their voices to convey I heir thrills and suspense. Beg. Hawthorne, Arthur Greenaway, Ronald Morse, and other well-known personalities. have thenwork at their fingertips, though they exchange a good-natured smile ot “anger” when a slip occurs in the effects—probably not noticed over the air. The stronghold is raided and from the vestibule the booming of a big drum and the “growls’ of three or four men tell the audience that “thousands" of natives are in pursuit. The fort cannot he held and Ronald Morse jumps heavily on a j carefully prepared fruit case, _ which the microphone reproduces with an awesome crackle find crash. r l lve lie.ro seizes an armoured car the hanging of the door in haste is reproduced from a small door in a frame on a table. But tragedy lurks—and an aeroplane is hit -by bullets; whilif Ronald Morse dexterously plies a stick on a chair to produce the tattoo ot Rad Reg Hawthorne manipulates a bundle of cellophane to emulate the mad rush of the flames. It js a roarin'' blaze of fire when the microphone RTailed out, the theme music comes in. and the audience is reminded that it has heard episode 13. Already some of the place's have left the studio, their work’done. It is not deception —it is a display of remarkable ingenuity which creates the requisite atmosphere for a thrilling play, capturin'' the imagination of thousands. The 8.8. C. has spent hundreds of pounds in producing recordings ol simulated sounds for such productions : almost every station possesses a sound library; it'rests with, the players so to impart the correct inflexion that the story lives. . . But it is nevertheless very interesting to witness the technique. AROUND THE STATIONS.

On 31.55 metres WTNK (formerly .AATXAZ). the relay station of AVBZA., has been heard at excellent strength. Oil 31.48 metres AY2XAE was heard last Ttiesday ‘with'a boxing relay from Madison Square Gardens on the occasion of the Golden Glove Tourney. Hie speedy a.ll noun coin Gilts were a revelation.

German stations make interesting listening these days. On Sunday night the customary long news bulletin was cut rigorously to last barely three minutes—Germany had not then replied to the League—and the hand programme of military music from Hamburg was resumed. However, there was a great deal of talk in German. Radio Coioniale, Paris, in its news bulletins, is introducing a greater amount of proFrench view.

The following table of overseas transmissions (N.Z. time) may bo of interest. —4.45 a.m. DJC (49.8 m) and DJD (25.49 m), Berlin; 5.30 a.m., GSB (31.55 m), GSD (25.53 m), GSL (49.15 m), London; 9.20 a.m., GSB (31.55 m), GSD (25.53 m). GSC (31.31 m), London; 6.15 p.m., GSB (31.55 m), GSN (25.38 m); 7.15, Radio Coloniale, Paris (25.23 m); 8.50, DJN (31.45 m), DJB (19.74 m), Berlin ; 11 p.m., GSJ (13.93 m), GSD (25.53 m), London; midnight, Radio Coloniale (19.68 m); 1.5 a.m., DJN (31.45 m), DJB (19.74 m), DJA (31.38 m), Berlin; 1.15 a.m., 2RO (25.4 m), Rome. W. H. Pierey, a short-wave radio listener of South Invercargill, New Zealand, has won the electric study lamp offered to the person logging the December 22 “Melody Master” radio programme on station W2XAE, from the farthest distance from Schenectady. South Invercargill is 9,340 statute miles from W2XAF. Mrs L. R. Ryrt, of Terang. Australia, won an electric lamp in a previous YV2XA F long-distance contest held last October. L. Anderson, of Timaru, and Miss Marjorie Joll, of Auckland, were Mr .Piercy’s nearest contestants in the contest just closed. Radio engineer Edward Noguera, of station HJU, at Buenaventure, on the Pacific Coast of Colombia, South America, and Mr S. P. Savage, of HJIABB, Barranquilla. on the Caribbean Coast of the same country, were introduced to one another during a recent experimental triangular radio contact with short-wave station W2XAF, in Schenectady. When Mr Savage talked to W2XAF his conversation was put on the station’s transmitter and Mr Nogu-j era, tuned to 31.48 metres, heard him. I When tlie HJU engineer • talked to Schenectady his voice also went out over' W2XAF, and Mr Savage, tuned to the station, was introduced to his brother engineer on the Pacific Coast. A new station, VKZ. Rnbual, New Guinea, was heard in Wellington between 10.30 and 11 o’clock on Sunday evening (New Zealand time), transmitting records. The announcer stated that it was the station’s first transmission and that it was operating on j 21.9 metres. I With Miss Gladys Moncrieff back 1 from New Zealand. the Australian ' Broadcasting Commission has launched a brilliant season of musical comedy. The following dates have been selected for the broadcasts:—“The Merry Widow.” March 20, 2BL ; “The Waltz Dream.” March 25, 2FC; repeat, March 30, 2FC; “Ma Mie Rosette,” April 8. 2FC. The remainder of the dates will be announced later. The commission announces a series of eight symphony concerts at the Sydney Town Hall beginning to-night. There will he one public concert each month from March to October. The New South State Symphony Orchestra of seventy players, in which will be incoroorated i the newly-constituted A.B.C. (Sydney) Symphony Orchestra, of 45 players, will perform.