Items From The ZB's

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 120, 10 October 1941, Page 25

Items From The ZB's

HAT looked at first sight like a stranger was observed the other week walking through 1ZB’s premises with apparent familiarity. It turned out, however, to be none other than John Gordon, 1ZB’s production supervisor, without his wellknown beard. The immediate theory was that it had been a casualty in Auckland’s big fire, but the truth of the matter is that it was sacrificed in the cause of art. John Gordon was one of the principal actors in an Auckland Repertory Theatre play, and his part called for dignity without the aid of a beard. * % * MUSICAL JIGSAWS, conducted from 3ZB by " Chiv," with Fred Hyde at the piano, distributes ten double theatre tickets every week as prizes, and the station has had remarkable evidence of the pains to which some people will go to win them. Where a large number of entries are correct, prize winners are selected according to originality, and during a recent week at least 200 entries showed such a desperate endeavour to be original that they could only be classed as " works of.art." In a crossword competition keyed on the Christian names of 3ZB announcers, one entrant offered a carefully-thought-out series of black and white drawings, obviously the product of many hours’ work. The total number of entries sent in usually approaches 1,000 per week. * * * O cater for Saturday morning gardeners, " Snowy’s" session of gardening advice from 2ZB is now on the air at ten o’clock every Saturday morning, by which time, presumably, most gardeners are ready for a cup of tea and fifteen minutes’ relaxation. In the near future "Snowy" hopes to conduct a series of demonstrations of such fine points as the correct way to lay a lawn, how to handle compost, and trench digging. The demonstrations will be held at some ‘place large enough to accommodate all the amateur gardeners who are likely to turn up to see how an expert does the job. * * 2 HE introduction of a big new musical feature, Hello trom Hollywood, which the CBS deputy-controller, B. T. Sheil, brought back from America with him, has necessitated several ZB. programme alterations. Real Life Stories has been transferred from 7.30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to 10.0 a.m. ‘on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The last night playing at 1ZB and 2ZB will be on Wednesday, October 15, and at 3ZB and 4ZB on Wednesday, October 22. First morning playing of "Real Life Stories" will be at 1ZB on October 29, at 2ZB on October 22, and at 3ZB.and 4ZB on November 5. Secret Diary, the feature now playing at these morning times, is finishing.