GUEST HOUSE RADIO

New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 555, 10 February 1950, Page 10

GUEST HOUSE RADIO

| HAT about a sweepstake | on. the next one? Put in a bob, draw names, and the winning horse takes the pot." So we pay over our shillings to the energetic individual who is always on hand to run these things, and more or less resignedly look on as the names | are shaken up in a hat and drawn. And all the time the radio blares out the entries, jockeys, odds, the race itself, breeding, owners-anything and everything connected with the turf. The "re-

turn to the studio" is borne impatiently till it is time for the next race. Such an atmosphere and: surroundings must be familiar to us allwhen on holiday. On an unpleasant day, when there is not much to do out of doors, the guests sit around reading and chatting desultorily, and all a bit bored -until it is time for the first race. After that, if there are betting » enthusiasts

present (and almost always there are), it is horses, horses, horses. c At other guest houses we may find a different group. Or a different radio! I know of one where the house set is simply an extension speaker from the main one in private quarters. It is on 2YA, 2ZB, or turned off, and if the extension is switched on you simply get one of these alternatives. Looking up The Listener, as we would do at home, and choosing a favourite programme for a pre-determined time is simply out of the question; if we want music we just have to accept what other people have given us. It is rather good for us, now and again, to be forced to listen to the preferences of other people. At home we get into so much of a rut in radio listening that we hardly ever hear a programme outside our special tastes. But there are so many other kinds of programme, each catering to a devoted group of followers, and each with some merit-if we can be fair and look for the merit instead of instantly condemning what we don’t like. The much abused "serial" undoubtedly serves a purpose for the housewife who has little time for reading during the day, and who has a husband and children to attend to in the evening. "Rhythm" sessions serve not only those who actually want to dance, but probably an even greater number who just want to listen, or merely like something crisp, with vigour and a beat, as a, background to reading » or lazing. This is what the portable radio at picnics is usually producing. If it adds to the cheerful atmosphere of a sunny day, and a sun-bathe after a swim, who can decry it as a programme? But it is not always jive and jitter that attract holiday folk, or those who are

preparing their meals. From what I have heard, light music of the better type has a considerable vogue. Johann Strauss, Eric Coates, and the like are frequently preferred to "Satchmo" Armstrong and Stan Kenton. For holiday time in the country orchestral music, even by von Suppe or Ketelbey, generally seems to take precedence over band music. Speech does not seem to be much listened to; the radio may be accidentally left on during a talk or a shopping ses+ sion, but it usually. serves the purpose of a background accompanimént rather

than a serious business requiring attention. Occasionally there is something quite different. I remember the stillness of a twilight after a lovely day, with only the birds chattering in the trees, and distant sounds of farm life; on the verandah a portable radio, and coming from it, ‘and compelling attention, the dramatic fullness of Joan Hammond’s

voice singing operatic arias. Just a guest house radio, but in that perfect: setting how much more thrilling than at home!

H.J.

F.