NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 51, 14 June 1940, Page 46

NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

HE 5ZB "Speedee Telephone Quiz" on Saturday nights at 8.15 is a great success, Listeners have been very generous. Nuttibets of them have donated the half-guinea they have won to the Red Cross Fund, The other evening when one listener was "stumped," he declared that his due punish« ment for being such a dunce was that he should pay « guinea to the Red Cross Fund, "I will send in a guinea for not being able to answer the question," he said. Within a day or so, a cheque arrived at the station for the fund. Asking and Receiving For all the glamour that seems to surround a radio amnouncer’s life, there are, naturally, titnes when life does not seem quite so bright. However, it seems to be at those times that sotnething happens to create an entirely new atmosphere-something that gives the depressed ohe a tremendous "kick." An instance of this o¢eutred at 3ZB the other day. Not that "Chiv" was feeling particularly "blue"; nevertheless, he had an experience that would have cheered anyone up. Following on the wonderful response to his appeal for stamps for the hospital cot, "Chiv" decided that a similar but bigger appeal should be launched fer the Sick, Wounded and Distressed Fund. It was discovered that the Christchurch Red Cross Conimittee had simultaneously started @ canvass of business howses with the same idea. 3ZB’s co-operation was offered, and the club members are now collecting all the stamps possible, A special appeal was made for collections that had been put aside and forgotten. At this stage, "Chiv," who says he will soon be known as the "Chief Asker for Things" at 3ZB, told of a small boy in the Christchurch hospital, who comes from a city orphanage, and who is likely to be in hospital for some considerable time. This lad collects stamps, said "Chiv,* but has never had an album-would some listener please send an album with some stamps specially for him? If more than one was received, the others would go to the Red Cross Funds. "Chiv" never had any doubts about getting one, but he wat not prepared for the response to his @ Within a quarter-of-an-hour, twelve phone promises wete received, and two collections had been delivered at 3ZB. When the story of 3ZB’s effort in the great batrow appeal is told, it will show that "Gracie," "Jill," "Jacko" and the others taking part all had similar experiences to that of "Chiv." Announcers on the Stage Again the other day 4ZB’s Patriotic Sing passed the £200 mark, This time an Announcets’ Day was featured, and to he!p

the cause, every "mike personality" valiantly took the stage, away from the comparatively sheltered environment of glassed-in studios. The St. James’ Theatre was packed to the roof, and every turn was given a rousing receptionin fact, the announcers assonished even their fellow workers at 4ZB. It can truthfully be said, in the words of a visitor, that "there wasn’t a flop in the whole cartload." Bernie McConnell gave a humorous character sketch which immediately set a high standard, and "Peter," gorgeously kilted, and an object of awe, sang "Hail Caledonia" in fine style. Michael Hutt, who swears that he never sang a note before, revealed a pleasing light baritotie voice, and provided the surprise of the day in the duet which he sang with "Airini"an enjoyable act, with some gentle satire thrown in for good measure. Jack Bremner did ‘a suitably pontifical Stanley Holloway act-the new monologue ‘"Sam’s Christmas Pudding"-attired in a British Red Coat uniform, peaked cap, walrus moustache, musketin fact "everything bar t’ kitchen mangle." "Joyce". and "Molly" gave a most enjoyable turn, quite up to professional standard, as two "dltra refained" bright young things. They were almost as slick as the Western Brothers, these two "‘cadesses." A short sketch in the shape of the eternal triangle, gave good scope

to " Jessie," "" Don" and " Peter" as the wife lover and villainous husband. Lionel Sceats made a big hit with "A Love-Sick Announcet’s Dream of Home," a clever parody, written by Leo. Fowler, on Cyril Fletcher’s ‘Dreamin’ of Thee." To wind up the procetdings, the announcers formed a chorus and sang some topical verses about Commercial Radio in general, and their aspect of it in particular. Again a bouquet must go to Leo. Fowler for a neat piece of verse writing. "Tired, but happy," was the verdict of the 4ZB announcing staff, at the end of the sing, but they decided it was well worth while when they were informed of the £200 total. "Apple Song" Recorded "All right boys, let’s try it again. More staccato from the brass this time. The twobar introduction to the chorus. Ready? One! Two!" And it was Apple Time with a vengeance in an Auckland recording studio recently when Theo. Walters and his band recorded the familiar "Apple Song." A master-disc of this popular all-New Zealand song was being recorded to send to Australia. There it will be pressed into a processed disc for regular playing by the Commercial Service.

The scene was quite informal as the band practised the song. Gradually, verse by verse, chorus by chorus, the song was built up. That the rehearsals were hard work, was shown as the players one by one took off their coats and played in their shirt-sleeves! W. Illingworth was there to assist in placing the microphones to obtain the right balance of sound from the different parts of the band. Listeners to dance bands might be surprised to see the immense amount of planning and replacing which takes place before the microphones can faithfully reproduce a _ wellbalanced ensemble of sound. After several experiments, the band was scattered all over the studio, with no attempt at neatness of atrangement, but the result obtained when the disc’ was played back, justified the trouble taken.