Too Daring !'

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 18

Too Daring !'

An Air Censorship Lance Lister “Banned” aOO daring for us” was the verdict of the 8.8. C., when a turn by Douglas Byng and Lance Lister was submitted for broadcasting. Lance Lister created the part of The Boy in a musical comedy of that name. He subsequently toured New Zealand in the part. London wireless listeners expressed surprise when this widely-advertised comedy turn included in the evening vaudeville programme was suddenly “cut.” and another turn substituted. When, at the beginning of the vaudeville programme, the performers’ names were announced, it was stated that instead of Douglas Byng and Lance Lister, the advertised turn, Clapham and Dwyer would give a performance. The reason given by Mr. Byng later was that when he and his colleague rehearsed in the afternoon they were told that drastic cuts must be made. “We were annoyed, and pointed out that the items had been broadcast in their entirety from Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow,” he said. “In reply to our protests it was admitted that no complaints about the taste of the turn had been received, but after various officials had been consulted we were told that the cuts must definitely be made, as certain lines were considered ‘too daring’ for London listeners. “NOTHING LEFT” "I replied definitely that the programme would not be given in its mutilated form, as there was nothing left worth broadcasting, and accordingly the turn was abandoned. “I cannot understand what was wrong with our programme. It consists of repartee in the typical vaudeville style. “We were engaged as vaudeville artists, not for a Sunday school concert, and none of our lines would be banned from a music-hall stage. This was our first contract for the 8.13. C. An official at 2LO said that he was unable to give a reason for the change.