ARRIVAL OP RADIO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 13

ARRIVAL OP RADIO.

REFLECTIONS Of- BROWN. :

ART. ARTISTS AND OTHERS,

MASS MUSIC PRODUCTION. Brown very rudely expressed strong displeasure at most of the items which proceeded from his friend's loud speaker. Now, if Brown's friend had assembled the same talent in' his own house Brown doubtless would have beamed most falsely, after every item and murmured, "Thank you," in tho usual inane fashion—even t \ when the young person recited. Brown is not consistent.

But it seems that Brown is inclined to lose liis Sense of proportion when it comes to wireless.

"Of course, I am for it," he remarked, in tones between melancholy and tamper. "The family will insist upon it quite soon. It is becoming a sign of respectability to have a wire festooned from the big treo to a pole lashed on to the chimney. The thing is. 'done' and naturally I shall be compelled by the constant drooping method —you know it—to instal apparatus to further destroy the peace of the street. My oms consolation is that it will drown tho deep-voiced speaker across the way." Brown's friend sought to ascertain his objection to accepting gladly this offering of modern science. Spate of Entertainment. "Laddie," said he—he has been using the term "laddie" quite a lot since ho spent an evening with some stage laddies —"I bow in gratitude to science and to microphones and beams and such things, but I fail to see why wireless should, be used to supply an eternal spate of entertainment through tho atmosphere of this suffering world. And not only this wcjld. Who knows but what it is causing great distress of mind to the Martians and the inhabitants of Venus? You don't know. This world may be an obnoxious neighbour to the other planets. Its wireless mania may be spoiling their ether. . "However, what I want to say is this: The average wireless set is within rsiach of eight or ten entertainments every evening. It follows that when there is mass production of the art of music there is going to be the same effect as mass production of the dramatic art of which Hollywood is the supreme example. Can't be done, laddie, without destroyinjr essential standards and without' breeding boredom among the satiated listeners. "Now, if radio people had six silent nights and for the seventh spent six tim|s the cost of one concert, there would be soma satisfaction about having a set.

"You have been kind enough to cut off two-thirds of to-night's items, but don't you see the' danger 1 Take the young person who recites. A mani in his exasperation, may listen and listen just to find out what the world is coming to and in consequence he may lie awake half the night gnashing his teeth. Also, with others, excepting, of course, the select little band of the chosen; "I'm inclined to think that radicH—and. I am hot specially referring to IQZ or H2G4—is multiplying the number of people who insist upon being heard in the guise of entertainers. Can't understand the urge. Any amount of people do better when they sing in the bathroom or croon softly when they are barberinj; the lawn or whistle when they are polishing their boots. Now that is nature's general idea. She wants us all to ho tunefully happy—every man his own minstrel, so to speak—with occasional concerts by the most expert. Not an eternal concert mostly tenth rate. Cheering the Performer. "Did I ever tell you about Claud? 1 sometimes sit with Claud at 'Fourths' and regimental reunions and meetings of the society for the promotion of good feeling. After every song or turn he claps like anything, and if I do noii lie> hisses savagely in my ear, 'Clap hands, you stiff. Do you want to spoil the> poor beggar's eveningHe means the performer. Ho feels under an obligsitioii to give pleasure to every performer, good., bad and indifferent. Thus the entertainer is being entertained and raado happy and enabled to go home and tell his wile what a success he had had.; You see the analogy. " When I was a boy they always had a few songs during our little country, dances and there was inevitably some-, one's visitor who volunteered to sing,.There was the merry widow, I remember,who got up to sing, and someone vamped for her on the ancient piano. She sanjc 'Jock 0' Hazeldean,' but to the tune of 'The Girl I Left Behind Me' or, 'Bonny Doon' or something of the sort.Of course, we clapped. We had to please the lady. No one laughed. In those days manners were bettor. Then there wai; the ancient mariner, who, about 2 a.m., de- - cided that he must sing "The Death of Nelson,' and the blacksmith's wife, who had a shot at 'The 'McGregor's Gathering,' although she did not know th« words,.

"We must forgive the amateur volunteer, but radio is becoming a sorfc_ ei! training ground for people with aspirations 'to become professional entertainers, and it's hard on the listeners, whoso silence must be supposed to give support. Elocution and the Spoken Word. "Thanks very much. Yes, soda. As to reciting, I admit I am prejudiced, have been prejudiced against it ever tjinc<> as a boy of nine was made to recite at a Band of Hope concert. I maintain that- the purpose of teaching and practising elocution is not t-o entertain, but to educate. But is it doing any good ? tho council and the boards. Are member:; 'elocuting' at all? Not a bit. There ia no oratory now and if some public speaker did try it on there would ba cynical cheers and ironical laughter.'* Brown's friend tried to display tha other iside of the picture. He spokft earnestly about cultural influences and purple patches and divir.e inspirations:. After a little pause he asked Brown what he thought of Dashofsky's Prelude in 35 Flat, \Vhich had been broadcast that night. Brown look animated, but said he did not know the owner, the horse or what flat was referred to. So, you see. They-came back to wireless. "What sort of set do you recommend me to get asked Brown.

"For the local station only or for the Southern Hemisphere?" "The Southern Hemisphere, of course." replied Brown. "Nothing like having as many concerts on tap as possible."