NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 60, 16 August 1940, Page 47

NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

NOTHER 1ZB Saturday evening proA gramme recently was " Black Magic," heard at 10.15 p.m. This programme featured Fela Sowande who is the son of a negro African West Coast missionary. Sowande took a correspondence course in music and learned to play several instruments-without the instruments! He learnt by theory and later when he was able to procure the necessary instruments, he found he could play them with little difficulty, He went to England and with little more than rudimentary knowledge formed a band and taught its members how to play, He is

now sufficiently well-known to have as vocalist Adelaide Hall, the coloured personality singer. " Lady Courageous " The latest addition to 2ZA’s already extensive programme is the feature "Lady Courageous" which has begun regular broadcasts each Tuesday and Thursday at 7.15 p.m. The story is of the forceful editor and publisher of the " Newdale Argus "’-attractive Mrs. Helen King, a widow who becomes interested in certain strange happenings that have been taking place in town. Her grit and determination give the story thrills and excitement, for she is truly a Lady Courageous,

Helen becomes interested in Sandy, a quick tempered young man who blew into Newdale on a freighter, She gives him a job writing copy for the "Argus," and in the end he turns out to be-But if you want to ‘hear more, listen in to " Lady Courageous," Stars of To-morrow The second programme is almost complete for the next presentation of the " Stars of To-morrow" from 2ZB at 6.30 p.m, on Sunday, August 25, Listeners will remember that the first presentation of this programme made radio history several weeks ago. The standard is as high as that set by the young artists in the initial presentation; the youngsters are all very keen, and there is being prepared for listeners a splendid half-hour’s entertainment, Make a note of the date now Sunday, August 25, at 6.30 p,m, History of Dance Bands Such famous names in the dance-band world as Fats Waller, Harry Roy, Ambrose, Jack Hylton and Geraldo make an interesting topic in 1ZB’s "Kings of Jazz" session heard on Saturdays at 9.30 p.m, A short life-history of these musicians and a history of their bands is presented in each

session, together with some of their outstanding and characteristic records. "Whose is the Voice?" Some time ago we told you of 2ZA’s popular new programme "* Whose is the Voice?" On a recent Monday night, Crosby fans were given the opportunity of picking the familiar tones of the one and only Bing, from a bracket which included the voices of Jean Sablon, Denny Dennis, Bob Crosby, Dick Todd and an unknown singer who records on Eddy Pola’s " America Calling." It was thought regular listeners would have little difficulty in recognising the world’s Number One crooner. However, a surprise was in store for 2ZA’s programme department when literally hundreds of letters arrived, and in the majority of cases the conclusions the listeners came to were incorrect. It is thought that Bing’s rendering of "St, Louis Blues" was primarily responsible for this unusual result, Meet the Ladies At 6,30 p,m. on Sunday, August 18, 2ZB will present a novel programme entitled "Meet the Ladies." This will be a studio presentation entirely devised and presented by women, Women have come to the fore in

the last few decades in every profession and walk in life and it will be interesting to hear the first "entirely ladies" Srogramme to take the air from 2ZB. Apart from the novelty, it should be excellent entertainment. Jerry's Heroism In spite ef his doctor's orders, Jerry rose from a sick-bed and staggered into the studio on 2a Monday night recently to make his regular broadcast. "I couldn’t let my million and a quarter listeners down," he said when he arrived. As he was suffering from a bad cold, his voice was a bit hoarse, but his wit was as sharp as ever, "That big twirp, George, wanted to keep pouring that---that castor-oil down my throat," he said indignantly, at least as indignantly as ‘his cold would allow, "Any ordinary fool would know that you must feed a cold, but George isn’t ordinary!" Jerry received a hearty applause when he came into the studio, "For after all," he said, "I have my obligations, and the dear, dear public do appreciate my heroism."