TELEVISION POSTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 18

TELEVISION POSTS

TWO YOUNG WOMEN CHOSEN PERSONALITY AND CHARM [ from OCR own correspondent] LONDON. May 1G The British Broadcasting Corporation announces that Miss Jasmine Bligh and Miss Elizabeth Cowell have been appointed hostess-announcers on tho staff of the television department of the corporation. Until the opening of the television service at the Alexandra Palace they will make frequent appearances in the lighter sound programmes of the dance music type in order to become accustomed to the microphone. Miss Bligh. who is 22 years of age, has had three years' stage and film experience, playing in "Julius Caesar" at His Majesty's Theatre, in the Chariot revue. "Please!" and other West Knd productions. She has visited America, Italy and Switzerland, and speaks French fluently. Miss Cowell, who is 2.'?. has travelled extensively abroad and speaks French and German. Her main "indoor" interest is ballet. These young women were chosen from the 1122 applicants who answered tho advertisement for the two posts. Tho first selection was made from letters and photographs, and all applicants who were considered to have a possible chance were interviewed by a selection board.' Of these the best four were given a sound audition. A final test by high definition television confirmed that Miss Bligh and Miss Cowell, besides possessing the necessary qualifications of personality, tact and charm, had "photogenic" face, suited to the television medium. As a result of the decision to combine the posts of television hostess and announcer, they will make their television appearances at the Alexandra Palace alternately. While one is announcing the of her will be acting as hostess, the latter greeting the artists and helping them to become acelinia tised to the unusual atmosphere of the television studios. Television announcements will probably have to be memorised, the speaker dispensing with notes before the scanner