THE ASK-IT BASKET

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 53, 28 June 1940, Page 48

THE ASK-IT BASKET

Prof. Speedee Gets Busy Again ROFESSOR SPEEDEE’S "‘Ask-it Base P ket" Session -has proved so popular at 3ZB, that it is now being conducted nationally over all ZB stations. Listeners. are advised to tune in to their ZB station on Thursday next, at 9 p.m. to hear one of the most entertaining sessions ever conducted in the history of Commercial Broadcasting. A studio. audience is invited to participate in the session, and last week at 3ZB the forty chairs provided were all filled some considerable time prior to the beginning of the session. At the head of the studio a large basket nearly three feet high, and another small basket, were set up-the large basket to hold the main questions, and the small basket the subsidiary ones. Bob Pollard, conducting the session with the assistance of Fred Hyde, wore a mortar board and gown. Four contestants at a time weré seated round the table in the studio, and’'a boom microphone was slung in such a manner that it picked up the contestants’ answers. Bob Pollard then explained to the contestants, members of the class, and listeners, that each person was asked to select a question at randonr from the large basket. This question was then read out by Bob, and the person who selected the question had the first opportunity of answering it. No intimation was’ given as to whether the answer was correct or otherwise, and the question was passed. on, and responded to by the other contestants. Each ventured an opinion, and when the. four contestants had replied the correct answer was given, and the prize of 5/- awarded to the person who was correct. The second half of the presentation consisted of the handling of more questions, following which attention was turned to the smaller basket, which contained a series of questions along the lines of "The Basket Says"-these questions were, short statements and the contestants were asked to say "Yes" or "No" to the basket’s assertion,