NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 58, 2 August 1940, Page 41

NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

the ever-spreading popularity of ordinary dance music and its advanced off-shoot "swing," it may come as a surprise to know that one of the most popular sessions in Dunedin is devoted entirely to songs which first flourished long before the word "Foxtrot" was coined,.and before the world was startled by the advent of the " Jitterbug." The "* Songs of Yesteryear" session, heard from 4ZB every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.45 p.m., has surprised even its sponsors by receiving the plaudits of young and old alike. This would seem to indicate that to-day’s young people, in spite of their cynical exteriors, have a soft spot for old-fashioned melody and good honest sentiment. There have been many programmes, in the past, which have exploited old songs, but in "Songs of Yesteryear" there is something more than a mere presentation of the tunes themselves. Intimate details of the lives and struggles of once obscure composers are related, and something is told of the circumstances surrounding the writing of their songs. Whose is the Voice? A new ‘session which has proved itself an Gutstanding success in Palmerston North, and has indeed, drawn response from faraway Whangarei and Timaru, is 2ZA’s Monday night show at 6.45, "Whose is the Voice?" Listeners are asked to pick the voice of such artists. as Nelson Eddy, Richard Crooks, or Bing Crosby from a bracket of similar voices. This session has proved remarkably successful and draws what may be termed an ‘almost alarmingly sized mail each week. Hollywood News by Clipper! Listeners were delighted with the latest news from Hollywood, which they heard from ZB stations just two days after the Clipper arrived with a film news budget from Howard C. Brown, the Commercial Broadcasting Service’s official correspondent in Hollywood. The inaugural commercial flight from the United States to New Zealand was completed when the American Clipper arrived at Auckland, at 9 minutes past 3 o’clock on Thursday, July 18, establishing a great commercial link between America and New Zealand. Howard C. Brown, an accredited visitor to all the studios, and a personal friend of the stars, directors and producers, forwarded for relay information which was up-to-the-minute, and most interesting to listeners, Arrangements have been made for this Hollywood news to come by the America-New Zealand air mail service in the future, so listeners may look forward to further Hollywood news. At The Console Listeners who are in the habit of tuning-in to 2ZB’s new programme, "At the Console," ie these days when so much is heard of

every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon at 3.30 p.m. will be interested in these future sessions: On Monday, August 5, Terence Casey, who plays the organ at the Tivoli Theatre, London, will be featured, playing numbers such as " The Irish Organist " and "Love Everlasting." On Wednesday, August 7, Jesse Crawford, world famous organist, will entertain in numbers such as " Minuet in G" and " Drifting Down the Shalimar"; and on Friday, August 9, Reginald Foort, Sandy MacPherson, Fats Waller, and Henry Croudson will preside " At the Console." The Guest Announcer Variety and originality marked the " Guest Announcer" programmes submitted by listeners for the first broadcast on Thursday, July 25. The CBS is very pleased with the response to this new type of programme. Among the programmes which listeners had gone to a great deal of trouble to compile

was one called "The Carnival of Animals." The " Guest Announcer" responsible explained that he chose "animal" records from a catalogue and arranged them accordingly. It was amusing to find that there was such a variety. The first recording was "* Wise Old Horsey"; the second dealt with pigs-it was "The Old Sow." The third one, familiar to all, was "The Teddy Bears’ Picnic," and the fourth was "Pink Elephants." The fifth number in the session was "* My Sheep Dog and I,’’ and then followed another famous one, " Ferdinand the Bull." Lastly came

the bright tune, " Kitten on the Keys." All in all, a novel_and amusing programme. Another fine programme submitted was of operatic records, including a selection from "The Anvil Chorus" from "Il Trovatore," ""One Fine Day" from "* Madame Butterfly," "Largo Al Factotum" from " The Barber of Seville," "* Softly Awakes" from " Samson and Delilah," .and ‘" Pilgrim’s Chorus" from " Tannhauser." Another programme deserving of mention was a selection of songs put over by a Digger. These tunes, he explained, helped ‘to make things easier for the soldiers during the Great War. "Invercargill," "Roses of Picardy," " Tipperary," and " Little Grey Home in the West," were all favourites which helped to remind the "‘ boys" of home. Listeners are reminded to submit their programmes to their nearest ZB station, as there is a prize of one guinea for the winning programme, as well as the adventure of announcing a programme. "The Guest Announcer" is heard from all ZB stations on Thursdays, at 8 p.m. They Passed. Their Tests At 4ZB that popular Saturday evening programme, the Speedee Telephone Quiz, is conducted by Jack Bremner and Jeyce Hamer. These two make a good radio combination and keep proceedings moving merrily along. Quite a number of very well-known citizens have been called on the *phone and all have reacted very well to this novel programme. A leading city solicitor answered his question correctly and stated that the 10/6 to which his reply entitled him -was more than he could conscientiously -accept. "6/8 would have been very welcome but half a guinea isn’t quite ethical. You had better give my share to the Patriotic Fund." A nice gesture. The proprietor of one of Dunedin’s leading restaurants, a very. well-known Dunedin personality, told the world that he was a dunce at school and had not improved much since. His modesty was. not justified in this ' particular instance, because -he gave a corfect answer to a fairly catchy question. The ‘Complaints Department at the Telephone Exchange also received a call; but the officer on duty was a sufficiently knowledgeable fellow to dodge the trap which was set for him. The result-‘ No Complaints!" The Detective Office was "phoned up’ on another occasion, and the 4ZB Telephone Quizzer cheerfully asked whether he was included in the local Rogues’ gallery. On being answered in the negative the Quizzer offered the detective a specimen of his finger-prints as an additional prize for a correct answer. The local sleuth successfully passed his test which suggests that knowledge in the detective force is not confined to the careers of criminals.