IN SCHUBERT'S HONOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20098, 8 November 1928, Page 18

IN SCHUBERT'S HONOUR.

CONCERT ON TUESDAY.

The centenary of the hirtli of Franz Schubert, which falls this year, will lie celebrated at IYA on Tuesday with a special programme of the composer's works.

An introductory talk will be given by Dr. S. Kenuotli I'hillips. 'I he studio orchestra will play the "Unfinished Symphony" and other pieces, including music from "Jlosainunde" and the "Marchc Militdire." The vocal portion of ihe programme will be given by the Savoy Octette. Among the songs chosen are "The Erl-king," "Who is Sylvia?" and "Tlio liiiiden Tree." Sir. Cyril Towscy (piano) and Miss Inn Bosworth (violin) will also contribute, and selections from "Lilac-time" (SchubcrtClutsani), by the 'Majestic Theatre orchestra will bo relayed. Gramophone records will Ive drawn upon for an example of Sohubert's string quartettes Altogether the programme should bo a memorable one. Tlio centenary will bo observed at tlio Dunedin station on Friday, and at tho Wellington and! Cliristchureh stations the following week., AUSTRALIAN LISTENERS. MORE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. More new licences were taken out by owners of ratlfo receivers in New South Wales last month than in any other State of the Commonwealth. For the first time for two years at least there was a decrease (amounting to 63 for the month) in the number of licensed listeners in Queensland. In Victoria there were 142,597 licensed listeners, as compared with 87,622 in New South Wales, but during the past eight, months the increase in tlve number of licences in New South Wales has been more than double that, of Victoria.

The increase for the eight, months was 13.554 in New South Wales, as against 6868 in Victoria. These statistics indicate that "saturation point" is being gradually reached in Victoria, while radio entertainment its becoming more popular in New South "Wales. Another explanation of the increase in licences in this Stato is that during the past six months the radio inspectors have been particularly active in detecting "pirates" who listen in to the entertainment programmes without- paviug a licence -fee for their receiver.

FIRST TELEVISION PLAY. ACTORS SEEN AND HEARD. For the first/ time at Schenectady a fewweeks ago television and ordinary wireless telephony were used together in the presentation of a play. The distance separating the actors and the audience of 30 uewspaper men was actually less thmn 100 feet, for they were merely in different rooms of the flont'l'ill Electric Company's laboratory. Hut, as the experiment was conducted, they were eight miles apart, and might just as well have been 80(5, for the moving pictures of the actors and sounds of their voices were sent out from a sound-proof studio to the broadcasting station WtlY, four miles away, and only seen and heard by the audience as the waves were intercepted on their return journey from there. The piece was " The Queen's Messenger." a playlet written 30 years ago by J. Hartley Manners, and requiring only two characters, which were taken by Mr. Maurice T?anc]all and Miss Tzetta Jewel. Three televisimn transmitters were used. Two wero to record separately the facial expressions of the players, and a third for stage " business," carried out by two assistants, a man and a woman. '1 he three instruments were switched 011 and off in turn by the stage director, as the action of the piece required. Two microphones were also employed. When Miss Jewel was speaking her face appeared in the three inch square aperture of the television receiver, and the movements of her lips, the rolling of her eyes, the turnings of her head were in perfect synchronisation with the words that came from the loud speaker. As soon as Mr Randall took up the dramatic conversation the image of his face rcplaced that, of Miss Jewel's, and whenever mention was made of a revolver, a glass of wine or a dispatch case the third camera was cut. in and the spectators at the receiving end saw either a lady's or a man's hand brandishing the revolver, lifting the wine glass or opening the dispatch case. •

The pictorial part of the broadcast became, in consequence, a succession of close-ups, recognisable hut blurred and flickering, as television images inevitably are at the present stage of the process. Not the least interesting part of tho' affair was the use of theatrical makeup by tha principal actors. Because tho television image is reddish in colour normal methods of make-up were found unsatisfactory and after considerable experimenting the eyelids of the actors were painted a brilliant blue, the lips were heavily coated with carmine and the nostrils were outlined in blue. The skin was shaded a gentle orange and heavily powdered to remove all trace of shine. Although the results were not all that might have been desired the images were noticeably clearer than is the case when no mako-up is used before camera. Dramatically the production was no great success, but it was a most, interesting experiment. NOTES AND COMMENTS. An attempt will be made by 21' C and 2IHi, Sydney, to rebrcadcast the shortwave transmission of the Armistice Day service at the Cenotaph in London. Ihe service is to be held between 9 and 9.30 p.m. on Sunday, Sydney time, or 11 to 11.30 p.m. New Zealand time. 1 lie hour is not the best for short-wavo transmission from Britain to the antipodes. So far as is known, no similar attempt to rebroadcast will be made by any of tho New Zealand stations, but doubtless many amalrairs will endeavour to pick up the service direct, from SSW, Chelmsford. A rather startling discovery, striking af the foundations of the present system o| broadcast jng in America, has been made bv (he .John Wauamaker store, who were tire pioneer broadcasters in Philadelphia. "Investigations made by i» special inquiry among radio listeners dur ing the past two years," runs a stato merit by that firm, "have revealed that broadcasting is not helping the store in general or in an advertising way." The corporation lias accordingly closed down broadcasting station WOO', Philadelphia, which has been "on tin; air" ever since 1922. and it is extremely unlikely that WOO will ever las heard again.

A man in distress rang up 2FC, Sydney, the other day. "What am Ito do?" he asked. "There is a largo swarm of bees in the ga den: I don't want them, and I cannot get rid of them. Can you help me?" The station had no beo expert ori the premises, so sent out a broadcast appeal. Almost instantly the telephone bell rang. "Tell that chap at Kogiirah," said a voice, "to get a kerosene tin and beat it as hard as he can. He'll soon have the bees inside." The suggest ion-old as it was— proved effective, for the station had a note of thanks next day from the unwilling owner of the bees.