NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 65, 20 September 1940, Page 46

NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

N Sunday, September 22, the Wellington Crippled Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs will broadcast a programme from 2ZB at 6.30 p.m. They have been trained well, and are eagerly looking forward to their first broadcast. Among the items will be recitations, songs and numbers by the choir, including "Little Sir Echo" and "* Wise Old Horsey." There will also be piano-accordion solos, a vocal quartet, and the Boys’ Band. Listeners should greatly enjoy this programme. Great credit must -go to these boys and girls, who, though handicapped, have developed gifts which are a great compensation. The broadcast will be compéred by Stan Campbell, president of the Crippled Boys’ Club, to whom credit is due for the excellent standard reached by the boys. " There's Gold in Them Thar Hills " The above oft-quoted expression is all right as far as it goes-but it doesn’t go far enough. Ic doesn’t contain directions, for instance, for finding the fabulous hills. And in Dunedinwell, you know how many hills surround, the Otago capital, so it’s not surprising that Dunedinites prefer to be definite and say "There’s gold in that thar 4ZB Radio Station." In the last Spelling Jackpots’ programme one entrant won £4 for spelling the Scottish word * quaigh." He won smaller amounts as well, and left the studio nearly £5 richer than he had been a quarter of an hour earlier. An erudite pensioner who showed up to advantage in Professor Speedee’s " Ask-it Basket Session," earned 18/6, which, although a modest sum compared with the spelling expert’s win, is still fair remuneration for a little brain-fag, for it represents payment at the rate of over 7d a minute. The other Speedee Session, the Saturday evening Telephone Quiz, distributes many half-guineas to telephone subscribers who can supply answers to fairly simple questions on everyday things. The latest " gold-bearing " session at 4ZB is " Yes-No Jackpots." The astute Peter traps many of his competitors into uttering the disqualifying words "Yes" or "No" against their will, but some useful sums have been handed on to the people who dodge his snares. Two Guest Announcers per week are paid £1/1/- each for compiling and presenting a half-hour programme of recordings; someone else distributes large packages of block-chocolate to those who recognise popular tunes from the few bars they are allowed to hear-in fact, 4ZB, taking it all round, plays the role of a Santa Claus who distributes his largesse from day to day instead of only at Christmas. "Voices of the Past" Searching among a few old records recently, the 1ZB Programme Department found

some treasure-trove in the shape of voices of the past; voices of singers and tinny musical combinations which have long ceased to exist. Such gems as early Peter Dawson records, Dame Clara Butt, the great contralto, and the syrupy melody of ‘"* The Prisoner’s Song," were joyfully hauled out to the light of day. Station 1ZB will present a short programme of these and other old numbers on Wednesday, September 25, at 10 p.m., under the title " Voices of the Past." "The Little Mermaid "" At 5.15 o’clock every Tuesday night Station 3ZB presents a play for children. The presentation on Tuesday, September 17, entitled "The Little Mermaid," promises to be something out of the ordinary run of children’s productions. The simple story of the little mermaid who sacrificed her lovely voice for the handsome prince whom she rescues from @ terrific sea storm, and who later returns with her to her Sea Palace, lends itself to unusual sound effects and delightful music. Church Parade On Sunday, September 8, the day directed by the King to be observed as a Day of Prayer, 2ZB broadcast the Special Church Parade from Rongotai Air Station. Prior to the Church Service a commentary was broad-

cast of the ceremonial parade, in which the band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force took part. The service was conducted by Lieut.-Colonel H. W. Hawkins, Senior Church of England Chaplain in New Zealand. The singing of favourite hymns by the large body of airmen was a feature of the broadcast. Before the commentary on the ceremonial parade, which was given by Squadron-Leader B. T. Sheil, the announce, gave an interesting description of the Exhibition grounds as they now appear, and contrasted them with their appearance when the Exhibition was in full swing. 4ZB’s Microphone Artists Station 4ZB is unusually fortunate in the number of good microphone artists to be found on the general staff, and with the arrival of the new programme organiser, Barend Harris, a fine bass voice has been added to the parade. Together with Announcer Jimmie McFarlane, and with Receptionist Rita Holmes at the piano, Barend Harris gave 4ZB listeners their first introduction to his ability in a 15-minute impromptu studio show on a recent Sunday evening. His resonant bass contrasted well with Jimmie’s light voice, and his flair for catching the spirit of a song brought new life to such popular favourites as "Chang-

ing of the Guard," "There'll Always Be An England," and "River Stay ’way from My Door." From Hawaii Billy Lincoln, one of the maestros of Hawaiian music, has recently arrived in Auckland on the Mariposa. With him is Momi Kaimoku, a first-rate singer and hula dancer, Dan Kaeka with his steel guitar, and Johnson Aila, who plays the Spanish guitar and string bass. These artists can all sing delightfully, and have done a considerable amount of broadcasting through Station KGU, Hawaii. On Sunday, August 18, at 7.30 p.m., they made their first New Zealand appearance before the microphone at Station 1ZB. It is understood that they are going to tour the Dominion, Sunday " Specials " "Get the Sunday 6.30 p.m. habit" is the slogan for all Wellington households to adopt. Sounds rather strange, doesn’t it? But adopt it and you'll probably be glad you did. The reason is this: Every Sunday evening at 6.30, 2ZB has something outstanding to offer listeners. Some of the recent outstanding broadcasts were the much enjoyed Announcers’ Party, presentations by the Bohemians, the Camp Entertainers, and The Royal New Zealand Air Force Dance Band. Then there was the enjoyable "‘ Meet the Ladies" programme and the reply to the ladies’ challenge, "Meet the Gentlemen." Next Sunday the programme by the Crippled Boys’ and Girls’ Club should attract attention. On October 6 the third broadcast of the now famous "Stars of Tomorrow" series will be heard. Listeners have shown their appreciation of this Sunday night "special" in many letters and ’phone calls to the station. Preparations for 2ZB’s presentation on Sunday, October 6, of the "Stars of To-morrow" are in full swing. There will be a performer on the bagpipes, and a boy soprano. John Batten’s " Hollywood " John Batten’s " Hollywood" from 1ZB has taken a new lease of life. Until recently we were getting the news hot from Hollywood, but now, with the advent of the Clipper ser vice, the news has become red hot.

_ ART UNION Tune in at 9.15 a.m. on Friday, September 27, for the drawing of the "Lucky Scoop" Art Union. All ZB stations will give the results.