NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 61, 23 August 1940, Page 46

NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

ARIETY, always the keynote of 3ZB’s Sunday programme, is well represented in the Cameo Concert, broadcast by 3ZB every Sunday afternoon between half-past two and four o’clock. When the changeover was made from the straight variety programme to the "cameo" idea, listeners were not slow in expressing approval of 3ZB’s latest Sunday presentation. Carefully arranged and attractively presented in the announcer’s brightest style, each camee is a complete variety show in itself, and the whole 90 minute presentation forms & contrasting programme, including something for everyone. On Sunday, August 25, Cameo Concert’s audience will hear well known personalities of screen, concert and variety stage, including: Bing Crosby and Frances Langford in solos and vocal duets; Cyril (""Dreamin’ of Thee’) Fletcher, the "refained" entertainer in "The Fol-de-Rols"; Eileen Joyce, pianist; and Oscar Natzke, the New Zealand bass. "Radio Journal" Changes Due to staff readjustments at 2ZB, the "Young New Zéaland Radio Journal" is now directed by Lady Gay, who considers it advisable to delegate to others certain "pages" of the Journal previously presented by herself. As a result, "Chorus Time," which proved such a popular innovation some months ago, will now be taken by Finlay Robb as accompanist, leaving Lady Gay free to conduct the children’s singing. Finlay Robb will sometimes be heard in vocal items as well. The "Sunbeams’ Club" which Lady Gay inaugurated some two and a-half years ago and which numbers many thousands of children among its members, has now been discontinued, as Lady Gay feels it has served its purpose. However, Lady Gay will continue to present certain parts of the session herself, and will still be heard in songs at the piano, and with the ukulele, and also in little stories and anecdotes as occasion arises. Broadcasting thrives on constant change and variety, and Lady Gay feels that the children’s session is no exception to this rule. 4ZB " Diggers’ Session" The 4ZB "Diggers’ Sessien" on a recent Friday was particularly outstanding. Members of the Third Echelon on leave came up to the Studio in full force, and sang some rousing choruses, under the direction of Bob Shannon, a well known Dunedin dance band leader, who is now with the Burnham Camp Band. Another featureof the programme was an interview with Corporal Berry, who brought to

light many interesting and amusing aspects of camp life. The session was conducted as usual by Les. Froude, who served in the last war, and is now a member of the Dunedin Patriotic Committee. Mothers Don’t Like Swing Over 30 requests a week for the Thursday 3.15 "Mothers’ Request Session," conducted by Gran at 1ZB, shows that mothers don’t like swing or jazz. Ballads both old and new strike the right chord in a mother’s heart,

ee See especially with such singers as Nelson Eddy and Gracie Fields. This half-hour programme has been set aside by 1ZB for playing music which only mothers can request. The sponsor now regrets that he offered to take requests by "phone! ""Yes-No Jackpots " In these days of new and entertaining programmes, it takes something really sensational to catch the ear of a public which tends to become blase in outlook. 4ZB has "rung the

gong," however, with its "Yes-No Jackpots," in which Peter does his best to make come petitors say "yes" or "‘no" in answer to‘lighte ning questions which he fires at them in a bewildering fashion. An answer must be made, and some sort of negative or affirmative is called for in each case-but those two words "yes" and "no" which spring to the mind (and tongue) all too readily, are to be strenuously avoided if good shekels are to be won, This session is scheduled for Wednesday even ings at 8.45. Six A.M-And All’s Well! Do you smile as you get out of bed? Do you bellow in the bath and croon as you clean your teeth? (Very hard, that). Sing as you shave? Or would the "Dead March" be a suitable. accompaniment for your _ journey from bed to breakfast table? You know, sometimes it’s hard to look a good, healthy breakfast straight in the eyebut the wise ones know just how they can be cheered up to face their bacon and eggs with a smile. They know that at 6 o'clock every morning from Monday to Friday, those gay souls Kingi and Geoff. are on the air from 2ZB in the "Yawn Patrol" session, chasing the "A.M. cobwebs" away. Later in the morning, 7.30 to be exact, the "Everybody Sing" session is conducted by the same two announcers. They have a legion of admiring and grateful morning listeners, but do those listeners realise the discomforts which Kingi and Geoff. suffer in the good cause? Imagine them crawl ing out of bed at a.m. on a cold, frosty winter morning, sleepily dressing, and wending their way down to the Studio through deserted streets, and finding the keyhole of the Studio front door with the aid of a friendly policeman’s torch. How many of their listeners would be bright and chirpy at 6 a.m? And after conducting a session, tussle with a stubborn car and after all that, paz take of breakfast about 9.30 a.m? And still remain cheerful? But, on the whole, an early mnaviiell announcer’s lot is happy enough, and Kingi and Geoff. put plenty of pep and cheeriness into their early morning session. So if you haven’t already cultivated that early morning happiness, tune in to 2ZB every morning from Monday to Friday, when Kingi and Geoff. will teach you that it’s "6 a.m. and all’s well." (See pictures on page 48)

) | The ZB stations will broadcast i ART UNION DRAW on Friday, August 30 | | the drawing of the " Worth a | | Try" Art Union, at 5.0 p.m. |

T h | $ 1 $ 7 # E C 0 m M E R c / A L 8 R 0 A 0 C A $ T / n 6 8 [ R / | C E