THE RADIO WORLD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1938, Page 2

THE RADIO WORLD

PEOPLE AND PROGRAMMES ON PARADE NOTES AND COMMENTS (By “Listener-In”) A La Tommy Handley. That popular broadcast comedian, Tommy Handley was heard from IYA last night in a recorded presentation of his famous sketch “The Dis-Orderly Room.” The funmaker’s bubbling spirit finds further vent in the following autobiography a la Tommy Handley:—“Born in Liverpool. After school entered corn merchant’s office, where learned to flick corn with incredible accuracy at adjacent office windows. Became a commercial traveller by day and entertainer at night. Finding he could make more in one night entertaining than in six days selling toys, etc., entered theatrical profession seriously. Went to London expecting managers to fall on his neck, and found himself pushed into the chorus at Daly’s. He managed to secure the part of understudy to the comedian, and, when the latter was “off” (through eating a surfeit of lampreys or something) played the part. Since then he has never looked back —except to look at a pretty face or see if a policeman was following him. During the war he served with the Kite Balloon Section of the R.N.A.S. After demobilisation he played in the musical comedy “Shanghai” in a concert party and finally in his famous music hall sketch “The Disorderly Room,” '(in which he appeared at Royal Command Performance in 1923). While in the Paladium revue “The Whirl of the World” (1926) was offered his first radio engagement. A lady called Jean Allistone was in radio shows with him. During a lull in the conversation he proposed to her. Greatly to his astonishment she accepted him. Greatly to her astonishment he married her.”

Inter-Varsity Debate. Another of the popular inter-univer-sity debates will be presented from stations 3YA and 4YA on Thursday night. The subject will be “That Humour is a Passport to Fame.” The Otago University Union Society team will speak from 4YA for the affirmative, and the Canterbury University College Dialectic Society team will speak for the negative from 3YA. The judge will be Mr J. H. E. Schroder.

Japanese Houseboy. “Men may come and men may go—but the Japanese Houseboy goes on for ever” might well be adopted as a motto by the National programme organisers. Evidently, however, there are still some listeners worshipping at the throne of Frank Watanabe and his employer—and the all too familiar introductory theme. Those stalwarts may, perhaps be interested to learn how their favourite programme was born. Reginald Sharland —he was in New Zealand with “The Girl Friend” and “Hit the Deck” went over to America some years ago to look at the theatrical possibilities. One night, he met Edmund Holden of San Francisco who had a radio character, that of “Frank Watanabe” the comical Japanese valet, formulated in his mind. The two men laid their heads together—the Japanese houseboy and his employer came into being—and the pair haven’t been off the air since!

Australia’s Pianist-Composer. Many listeners still cherish memories of the visit to New Zealand a few years ago of the world-famous Australian pianist-composer, Percy Grainger. Dr T Vernon Griffiths, superintendent of music at the King Edward Technical College, Dunedin, will present “Music by Percy Grainger” in his “Masterpieces of Music” session from 4YA on Thursday night. Born at Brighton, Melbourne, in 1882, young Percy inherited his talent for music from his mother, an accomplished musician, who gave him his first lessons. For many years his mother wielded a very powerful and beneficial influence on the son’s rapidly-developing musical talent. At the age of ten he was sufficiently proficient to give a series of piano recitals that proved very successful. Then came lessons from Pabst, Kwast, and Busoni in Germany—six years’ successful development of a pianistic ability that made him later a celebrity in many parts of the world. His excursions were endless. Like Alexander, he conquered everywhere. England claimed him a genius in 1907, and he won London in 1912 at the Balfour Gardiner concerts. This Week’s Talks. The Rev John Flynn, head of the Australian Inland Mission will speak from IYA tonight. His subject will be “Australia and New Zealand: Resemblances and Contrasts.” From 2YA on the same night, there will be a recorded talk “With the Australians in Palestine” by Captain W. J. Melville. Mr Arthur Harrison, speaking from 3YA tonight, will recall the history of the past in his talk “In a Forgotten Corner: Reminiscences of Southland.” The Hon W. Downie Stewart will be the speaker from 4YA at 7.30 p.m., when “The Whirligig of Time" series will be continued with an address on “The History of War and Peace —Present World Dangers.” At 8.40 from the same station, a well-known Dunedin barrister will speak on “Historical Trials.” From 2YA at 8.40 on Thursday night Mrs F. Thouless will deliver the first of a series of talks on “Uncovering an Ancient Past: Spade Work in Egypt. The Rev W. S. Rollings, who

gave an interesting address on the Spanish situation recently, will be heard from 2YA on Friday when he will speak on “Czechoslovakia: An Ancient Home of Freedom.” From 3YA on the same night there will be a recorded talk by Mr Leon Gotz entitled “Leaves from a Planter’s Notebook, No. 2.”