HARRY LAUDER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 995, 11 June 1930, Page 14

HARRY LAUDER

“KING OF BROADCASTERS” AMERICAN CONTRACT TO FII-L Sir Harry Lauder likes radio broadcasting so well that he looks forward to next season, when he hopes to devote all his time and his vast energy to the microphone. ' Following his New York engagement, the Scottish comedian will sail home for a “wee holiday” on the banks o£ the Clyde. Then he expects to return to America next year to make a singingtalking picture, and then return to radio. He hopes to “woo the mackrophone for a spell,” signing an exclusive contract with one of the national networks for six months’ broadcasting work. Broadcasting is no new venture for jir Harry. He lias been facing the ierophone for years abroad. "I’ve broadcast more than any her person in ilurope, I believe. In•ed, there I’m known as the king broadcasters,” he asserted recently ith a characteristic little shake of nts head, a motion that seemed to run through the Whole body. His love for radio is a natural outgrowth of his consuming desire to make people laugh, to entertain. "Life is a strange thing, but it is changeless,” he said. “Ye can’t run away from realities. They pop up and hit ye in the eye presently. My wish to make people laugh, too, is as selfish as ever actuated a mon, for it springs from my own wish to keep myself from crying. It is a way to make myself forget. Once I enter the theatre, I am the clown, the jester, ' the comedian. I leave my cares outside. But wfcon the curtain is rung down, and the lights go out and a pall of silence hangs over the theatre, I light my pipe and walk out into the night. That is the time that all the old bitter memories come racing to my brain. Then life seems blue indeed. WHEN HE IS HAPPY “But when I am in the glare of the spotlight, with hundreds of smiling faces before me, I am happy. When I face the microphone, I realise that I am making millions happy and I feel like a schoolboy on a holiday. “Some people have criticised my songs for being too sentimental and me for being old-fashioned,” the comedian continued, and the smile disappeared while his face took on a grim, intense expression and the sparkle faded momentarily from his eye. "If my songs are old-fashioned, then love and youth and beauty are old-fashioned, and I thank God 1 am old-fashioned, too. Nowadays they sing of blue moons and ro-de o-do. Noo. whoever saw a blue moon?” he asked quizzically. “These people would crush the fine, the beautiful things out of life, as they would trample a delicate flower

in the field beneath their heel, saying that the flower has no place in life, for it is a useless, old-fashioned thing.

OLD-FASHIONED SONGS

“If my songs are old-fashioned, then half the world must be, too, for I’m closing my tour after 18 months on the road, singing the songs that I did 40 years ago and meeting with greater applause than ever before. Of course, a few new ones do nae harm, either,” the canny Scotsman added, winking slyly, “for without them thsy would say: ‘Harry Lauder? I’ve seen him often. Let’s go somewhere else. It’s the same old thing.’ “And while we re on the subject of age I don’t mind admitting that I’m 60, because I don’t feel a wee hit different from when I was 30.” And looking at Sir Harry, with his fresh, clear skin and his straight, stocky body and sturdy arms and legs, it might be added that the years have indeed treated him lightly. “So with radio just beginning, and myself a wee youngster, I look forward to making many more millions laugh. It will keep me young,” he said with a chuckle. ENTERPRISING IZB MORNING BROADCASTS MOOTED F’ROBABLE INCREASE IN POWER Since improvements have been effected at the “B” station, IZB (La Gloria Gramophones), transmissions show a great improvement. The programmes are well selected, and many appreciative references to them have been received at the station. On Monday evening, IZB was on the air with an excellent programme of old-time songs and selections. The announcer said they were anxious to please, and asked listeners to indicate the class of programme desired. Knowing fairly well what listeners want, it seems to the writer that fully 75 per cent, would ask for nothing better than that given on Monday evening.

An interesting announcement was made during the evening, the announcer saying that it was probable the station would increase its power to 250 watts and go on the air daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Such a proposal will receive the enthusiastic support of listeners and dealers. It will give listeners the opportunity of hearing music during the morning and at lunch time, and will also provide greater facilities to dealers for demonstrating the capabilities of radio receivers. The definite pronouncement that the scheme is to be adopted will' be awaited with interest. TUNING-IN DISTANCE Long-distance results depend not only upon the set, local conditions, aerial, and so on, but very largely also upon the skill in handling the receiver. Important factors that affect reception from far-away points include using the correct B voltages for the detector and radio frequency valves, and the most suitable resistance valve of grid leak. Some types of valves give better long-distance results as detectors than others, and different ones, if available, should be tried out. The correct use of reaction is also a factor in getting results.