Items From The ZB's

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 113, 22 August 1941, Page 25

Items From The ZB's

| ITH the transfer of Peter Whitchurch to Station 2ZA Palmerston North, as chief announcer, Jack Maybury ("Jacko"), has taken over the duties of production supervisor at 3ZB. " Jacko," who was one of the first voices introduced to Christchurch listeners when 3ZB opened in 1938, first became known through the Children’s Session, and as leader of the 3ZB Novelty Orchestra which was a popular Sunday night feature for many months. Lately he has been broadcasting a cheery luncheon session, and presiding over Yes, No, Jackpots and Racing in Retrospect. "Jacko" has always been prominent in civic and patriotic work, and is chairman of the Entertainment Committee of the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council. ¥ * * ‘THE number of listeners to Station 1ZB who are keen gardeners was shown in a remarkable manner recently. " John Henry,’ 1ZB’s gardening expert, devoted a minute or two of a recent Saturday afternoon session to a description of a new novelty plant, the bush strawberry, which is reported to bear fruit all the year round. It is new to New Zealand, and received na-publicity whatever beyond the brief mention over the air. All the available plants were held by one grower, and within a few days 3000 people had tracked him down and bought plants. " John Henry" himself received some thousands of in. -quiries by post. * © * (CHARLES LUNG, who plays the part of the Governor in the ZB feature Lost Empire, and whose picture appears on this page, is known as "the man of a thousand voices." He is, indeed, one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, and can reproduce practically any sound, from the neighing of a horse to the chirp of a cricket. He was the original Charlie Chan of the air, and was tested to portray Charlie Chan when Warner Oland died. He speaks many languages and it is claimed that there are few dialects which he cannot produce over the air at a minute’s notice. OUNG people from many parts of the _ Auckland province are taking _ at active interest in the Young Citizens’ Session presented from 1ZB every Sunday morning at ten o’clock by Arthur Collyns. The basis of the session is a recognition of the need for a "new order" and of the part which youth will play in it. The fact that young people are awake to their responsibilities is shown by the activity of club members who have formed discussion groups and public speaking classes. Members are also heard over the air from time to time, and many of them have prover clear, straight thinkers. A girl of 17 wht is a student of economics is one speaker scheduled for a session in the near future. |