Radio and Films Make U. S. Sing

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 37, 14 February 1939, Page 5

Radio and Films Make U. S. Sing

PORTLAND—Children begin ringing much earlier to-day than several years ago because of the influence of radio and motion pictures, according to Dr. Lazar S. Samoiloff of Los Angeles, voice teacher, who includes Nelson Eddy among his pupils. “Before the radio," declared Dr. Samoiloff, who is in Portland this summer, “it was the rule that boys should not begin taking lessons before 19. and girls before they were 17 years old. But now children begin singing early because they become interested in voices they hear over the radio, and begin to develop their own voices sooner. “’And because a couple of children made good in the motion pictures, all mothers expect their youngsters to be wonder children, too. So they are taken to teachers to try and develop their voices. ’ ’ Climate is not the reason so many youthful American singers went to European countries such as Italy and Switzerland to study music, he stated, scoring the theory that the climate in such sectors greatly favoured one’s voice. • “Before the war every city of 20,000 or more in Italy had an opera company, and American students could go there and in time make their debut in grand opera in an Italian opera house. This was good advertising for the unknown singer. But to-day all this is changed. There are only a. few opera companies, and they are for Italian singers, not. for foreigners. He was a pork butcher, and he and his sausages had done very well indeed in the town—until a rival came along and by undercutting and pushful pub licity started to take all the trade in the place. Butcher No. 1 was sitting in his sho? musing on what the inside of a workhouse would look like, when a bright idea struck him. Changing his clothes, he hurried to his competitor 's shop and, elbowing his way through the crowd of customers, planted a dead dog on the counter. “ ’Ere y’are, Jack!” he exclaimed in a loud voice. “That makes the dozen!’’ Lost An inspector visiting a school was worried by the noise made by the scholars in the next room. At last, unable to bear it any longer, he opened the door and burst upon the class. Seeim; one boy taller than the others talking a great deal, he took him by the collar Io his own room, and planted him in the corner. “Now stand there and be quiet!” he said. Ten minutes later a small head appeared round the door, and a meek voice said: “Please, sir, you’ve got our teach©>-’ ”