RADIO IN THE HOME ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21273, 29 August 1932, Page 14

RADIO IN THE HOME

ENTERTAINMENTS

BROADCASTS FROM HYA WRESTLING BOUT TO-NIGHT MORE RECORDINGS ARRANGED Recorded items again hulk large in the programmes to be broadcast from IYA this week. They are vastly preferable to mediocre local talent. Description of the wrestling contest between Walker and Mamos will be relayed this evening. Duiing the week there will he talks on "Delhi," "John Galsworthy Plays," "A ! Week-end at Darjeeling," "Architecture and "Ballroom Dancing." The Auckland Commercial Travellers' Male Choir will give its first radio performance on Wednesday evening. Details of the main items are:— To-day.—7.3o p.m., agriculture talk, W. Alexander; 8, Walker-Mamos wrestling match. To-morrow: 7.30 P.m., literary competition, No. 8; 6, recordings; 9.2, Captain K. H. Neill. "Delhi"; 9.22 recordings. Wednesday: 7.30 p.m., session, Rev. W. Constable, "John Galsworthy Plays"; 8. recordings; 8.30, Auckland Commercial Travellers' Male Choir; 8?5 niano Eric Waters; 8.40. Cho.r; 8.45, recordings: 8 48. Choir; as7.record.UKS.9.2. Eliza Campbell. ''A W ® c k' e c ho ir- 9 27. Reeling"; 9.17, recording; 9-20. Choir, v..ii. recording; 9.30. dance music, Thursday. 12 15 P.m . recordings; 12.30 service from St Matthew's; 7.30. fWE A. session. H. A LiDDincott, "Architecture in iown Planning"; 8, recording; 8.9, 80 P r "'? 0, ' J W Jones; 8.19, recording; 8.2-, Piano duet, Mrs. J.W. Jones and Jo:yce 8.27, sketch. "In Old Madrid 8 52 ing- 8.45. contralto. Mrs. E. Dalbeth. 8.52. violin Mrs. E. Armstrong; 8.08. 93, reserved; 9.18. recording; 9.30, sketch. "Boots"; 9.40, recording; 9.46, mozzoRoprano, Mrs. L. Mitchell; 9.52. recording. Friday: 7.30 p.m., sports talk; 8, recordmt,, 8.9, contralto, Doris Moore; B.p, xylophone. Hay Jury; 8.22, recording; 8.25, IYA Cbam- ; ber Orchestra; 5.34. humour. Alan Mctlwain; 8.40. recording; 8.43. Orchestra; 8.49. tenor. J. A. Danish; 8.55. recording; 9.3. Julius Hogben. "Early Ventures in Company Promotion"; 9.18. Orchestra; 9.-. S. Doris Moore; 9.32, recording: 9.35, Alan McElwain; 9.40, ißay Jury; 9.45. recording; 9.48. J. A. Dalclish; 9.53. Orchestra. Saturday: 2.45 p.m.. Rugby from Eden Park; 7.40. W.-E. Prießtley. ' "Ballroom Dancing' : 8. recording; 8.7, soprano, Mrs. J. S. Smith; 8.13, W. Harrison's Melody Boys; 8.20. recording; 8.23, Haydn Murray's Trio; 8.33. bass-baritone. A. Wright; 8.39. recording; 8.42. Trio: 8.46, comio song. Stanley Gay: 8.52. recording; 9.2, G. A. Thomas, "British Sports"; 9.20, Trio; 9.25. Mrs. J. S. Smith: 9.30, recording: 9.36. A. Wright: 9.40. Melody Boys; 9.46. recording; 9.52, Stanley Gay; 9.56. recording; 10. sports summary: 10.10. dance music. Sunday: 2 p.m.. recordings; 6. children's song service: 7, service from St. Matthew's Church (Rev. C. H. Grant Cowan): 8.30. studio prbgramme; IYA Chamber Orchestra; contralto, Madame Irene Ainsley; tenor, Roger Errington; and recordings. Regular Week-day Sessions—3 p.m., selected recordings; 4.30. sports results; 5, children's' session; 6, dinner music: 7, news; 7.30, talk; 8. concert programme; 9, 'weather; 10, close. . EVEN MORE LICENCES S_ New licences and renewals taken out in July totalled,3l94, bringing .the total to 78,006. Thus'last year's figure.of 74,741 is exceeded by over 3000, and there are still renewals and new licences until tho end of this financial year to come. • Of the total of 78,006 licences, 76,066 are for receiving sets, of which 21,592 are in the Auckland district, the other totals being:—Wellington, 32,359; Canterbury, 12,251; and Otago, 9864. Contrary 'to the trend. of recent years, the total of 1128 dealers' licences shows an increase of 101 on the figure at March 31. There are 306 dealers' licences in the Auckland district. - QUERY ANSWERED . . —; — i A. A. Darrington, Birkenhead. —An increase in the power of IYA would certainly affect reception of stations near it on the band, but not as seriously as apparently you have been led to believe. A wave-trap would assist in overcoming the difficulty, but your best plan would be to obtain a set of. greater selectivity, say a six-valve super-heterodyne. The power of IYA is not likely to be increased until the new station is built, i which will be a few years yet. PROGRESS OF TELEVISION Several of the big electrical concerns in the United States- have applied for experimental licences for television. Television in the home, according to many well-known American engineers, is reckoned to bo at least three, if not five years in the future. Some even go so far as to put the time when television will be in any sense a useful, practical home enter tainmenl as far as ten years ahead. The television licences granted by the Hadio Commission are on an experimental and temporary basis. This is because, while the commission thinks experiments in television should be encouraged, they do not see their way to grant a. permanent licence which would be based upon "public interest, convenience or necessity." NOTES AND COMMENTS During the twelve months ended March 31 1932, the number of licences in Europe had increased by over two millions. Shri Meher Baba, 'the silent Indian mystic who visited the United States recently, broke his seven-year vow of silence by broadcasting from. Hollywood on July 13. The addition to the technical staff of IYA mentioned in this column a fortnight ago will be Mr. P. H. Matthews, Auckland district manager of the Western Electric Company (New Zealand), Limited. He will take up his new position on Thursday, September 1, having been commercially connected with the wireless industry since 1923. Tho latest radio census in Germany shows that crystal receivers comprise 15 per cent of the total number of/sets in use in that country. This is 1 per cent more than the percentage in New Zealand. The most modern types of crystal sets exhibited at the recent Leipzig exhibition were availablo at an equivalent of 2s 6d each. A successful field day was held by Te Awamutu and Hamilton amateur transmitters near Cambridge recently. Owing to a misunderstanding, the two parties did not proceed to exactly the same spot and a portable set was* used to establish communication and obtain bearings. In the afternoon the party divided into small groups, each with portable apparatus, and aDX competition was held. Mr. J. Nobes, of Te Awamutu, won the transmitting section, and Mr. G. L. Hardcastle, of Hamilton, the receiving section. Tlie voice of Peter Dawson, famous baritone, was recently mistaken for that of a local speaker by writers in at least two Auckland periodicals. The lecturer i was using a recording during a recent song story, " The Lute Player, from IYA. One commentator subsequently wrote: " A baritone heard from IYA recently, and who is worthy of a place in the best broadcasting stations, is Mr. —. I was particularly impressed with the similarity between the voice of Mr. —- and that oi the world-famous Peter Dawson. At times the likeness was almost uncanny. Mr, sings, unlike most artists we hear locally, with a complete knowledge' of his song.'! Small wonder the critic was impressed.

I»LAZA THEATRE Miriam Hopkins, the captivating actress of "The Smiling Lieutenant" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," is a fascinating figure in "Dancers in the Dark," the unusual film now being presented at the Plaza Theatre. She appears as a dance hall girl who is caught up in an exciting train of circumstance. There is a particularly strong supporting cast, including Jack Oakie, as the leader of a jazz band in the tawdry, cabaret, William Collier, jun., Eugene I'alletto, Lydia Roberti, De Witt Jennings and Alberta Vaughan. The picture is an entertaining blend of swift melodrama and delightfully natural humour. Some lilting tunes arc introduced at judicious intervals. "SYMPHONY OF SIX MILLIONS" Fannie Hurst, whose "Humoresque" was one of the most impressive achievements of the silent era, has given the screen another masterpiece of pulsating humanity with "Symphony of Six Millions," which will succeed "Dancers in the Dark" at the Plaza Theatre on Thursday. Exceedingly flno performances are given by Ricardo Cortez, Irene Dunne, Gregory Ratoff and s Anna Appel. An Australian critic says"Ricardo Cortez has the best role of his career as the young Jew who rises to the heights of surgery, but loses his skill when he makes money out of neurotic women. The scene in which he operates on his own father is tense, tragic and extremely absorbing." . REGENT THEATRE "Sky Devils," the splendid film now at the Regent Theatre, has been enthusiastically received by newspaper critics. One says"Daring aerial exploit and robust humour peppered with amorous adventure have been stirred together according to the 'Cockeyed World' recipe to provide another wise-cracking, hilarious war-time comedy. 'Sky Devils' is a soldier's yarn, concerning a couple of 'buddies' who havo incurred the wrath of one, Sergeant Hogan. Directed under the auspices of Howard Hughes, the extravagant story frolics along with abundant opportunity for the panoramic traffic of the air, wherein Mr. Hughes rejoices. Spencer Tracy wrangles and 'wangles' with glib assurance; William (stage) Boyd gives a characteristic portrayal of the raucous sergeant; and Ann Dvorak brings her intelligence to bear on the part of a conventional 'cutie.' " "Arrowsmith," with Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes, will head the new programme on Friday. ST. JAMES' THEATRE Ramon Novarro, one of the few screen actors who have retained their popularity for ten years, gives a more robust portrayal than usual in "Huddle," the swiftly-moving story of youth at St. James' Theatre. An equally delightful performance comes from Madge Evans, a former child actress who has blossomed into a leading lady of intelligence and beauty. She will be remembered as the heroine in Novarro's "Son of India" and Robert Montgomery's "Lovers Courageous." The opening of the Olympic Games is also shown. NATIONAL THEATRE Rowdy, knockabout humour enlivens "The Heart of New York," tho entertaining "comedy which is enjoying merited popularity at the National Theatre*. The principals are those lusty clowns, Joe Smith and Charles Dale, while George Sidney takes the role of a slothful Jewish plumber, who has his own notions of a [ life of ease after he makes a fortune with a dish-washing machine he invents. It is | all comedy of the most hilarious description. MAJESTIC THEATRE "Mystery Ranch," which is enjoying great success at the Majestic Theatre, is an interesting departure from tho traditional Western film. It is an engrossing mystery picture with a broad sweep of action. George O'Brien, one of the most popular actors of virile roles, rides and shoots with his customary skill and daring as a cowboy bent on running to earth a horde of cut-throats. Cecilia Parker is appropriately coy as the heroine STRAND THEATRE The vital theme of "Frail Women" has impressed Auckland filmgoers. Owing to the remarkable success of this notable British film at the Strand Theatre it has been necessary to extend the season indefinitely. Exoeedingly fine portrayals are contributed by Mary Newcomb, accomplished stage actress, Owen Nares and Edmund Gwenn. Ann Harding, tho screen's most au6terely beautiful actress, gives a typically serene performance in "Westward Passage," to head tho next programme. LONDON THEATRE Brilliant wit is the dominant motif of "Compromising Daphne," the subtly humorous British comedy now at the London Theatre. Charles Hickman, Jean Colin and Phyllis Koristam are the leading players. ROXY AND TIYOLI THEATRES • Children particularly will enjoy the present programme at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. It includes two Western films, " One Man Law," with Buck Jones, and " Two-fisted Law," in which Tim McCoy cuts a typically daring character, as well as performances by Captain Clancy's trained animals. RI ALTO THEATRE The problem of modern divorce is convincingly dealt with in " The Road to Reno" at the Rialto Theatre. Lilyan Tashman, Peggy Shannon, Charles Rogers and William Boyd appear. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE " The Chinese Puzzle," with Leon M. Lion, is being shown with Lupino Lane's " Never Trouble Trouble" at the Crystal Palace Theatre. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE A notable cast interprets " The Lost Squadron," a remarkable aviation picture, to be shown at the Epsom Regept Theatre this evening. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE " Tho Great Lover" (Adolphe Menjou) and " Man of Mayfair" (Jack Buchanan) are the films at tho Prince Edward Theatre. LYRIC THEATRE Kay Francis and Lilyan Tashman are the leading ladies in " Girls About Town" at the Lyric Thoatre. TUDOR CINEMA " Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (Fredric March) is being shown at tho Tudor Cinema. BRITANNIA THEATRE " The Cheat" (Tallulah Bankhcad) and " The Right of Way" are the Britannia Theatre films. SALVATION ARMY A young people's demonstration will be held by the Salvation Army in Scots Hall, Symon'ds Street, this evening. There will be a spectacular display by 350 young people. Commissioner J. Cunningham will 1 preside.

CIVIC THEATRE "The lioino of gangsters" is burlesqued with rare gusto in "The Innocents of Chicago," the unroarious British film directed by Lupino Lane, which seems assured of tremendous popularity at the Civic Theatre. It deals with the adventures of a typical young Englishman who inherits a milk business in Chicago. 110 arrives to take charge of the business, sublimely ignorant that, with the advent of prohibition, tlio organisation of the company lias been employed as a means of distributing illicit liquor. Then the fun starts, llenry Kendall, the comedian of '■The Flying Fool," makes a likeable, if somewhat, innocuous, hero, and Bernard Ncclcll, an American who has made good in English films, is appropriately sinister as the villain. Other players are Betty Norton, a charming ingenue, and Ben Weldon. An amazing stage act is given by a troupo of three daring motorcyclists, two men and a woman, who ride their machines within a metal globe in the most daredevil manner imaginable.