New "Variety Bandbox" Begins at ZBs May 4

New Zealand Listener, Volume 26, Issue 668, 24 April 1952, Page 19

New "Variety Bandbox" Begins

at ZBs May 4

are already familiar with Variety Bandbox, and little more than a statement of date, time and station (May 4, 7.15 p.m., on the four ZB stations, and 6.0 p.m. on 2ZA), is needed to set them tuning-in to the new Variety Bandbox series which will take the place of Calling All Forces at these stations. But even a list of the stars who will provide contents for these new Bandboxes is only part of the story; there is much more going on, far away from the BBC microphone, which would have to be known by listeners if they wanted a complete picture of everything that goes into making up a production such as this. ; For instance, the inquisitive investigator could go back to the year when a couple of young boys were opening the batting for the Bristol Cathedral School XI. The badinage that went on "between the two in those days has changed somewhat, but it is the basis of the act which Tony Fayne and David Evans bring to Variety Bandbox in this series. Even the processes of atomic research have a tenuous connection with the programme. In the making of atom bombs the metal beryllium is used. Ronald Chesney and a friend have discovered that the metal is ideal for the réeds of mouth organs, which they manufacture. But Mr. Chesney can do more than just make mouth organs. He plays them, and his playing-so popular already in England-will highlight ope of the episodes in this new Bandbox series, You would need a good atlas for another problem, which involves finding Wagga Wagga on the map, but at least the discovery would put the successful explorer ahead of British audiences who, when first told by Aussie comedian Bill Kerr that it was his home ZEALAND audiences

town, couldn’t believe the place existed. _ Australia, it would seem, possésses an admirable climate for the rearing of successful variety artists, and another Bandbox contributor from Down Under, Enso Toppano, bears the suggestion out. Mr. Toppano’s artistry with the accordion has earned him a place in previous Bandbox shows. In the dozen episodes of this series of Variety Bandbox, many of the top performers in British variety today contribute their particular talents to the show. Listeners will hear the comedians Max Wall, Harry Locke, Leslie Randall, Arthur English, Peter Sellers, Charmain Innes, Reg Dixon, Michael

Howard, Robert Moreton, Tony Hancock and Frankie Howerd among others. Songs in the programme are presented by Petula Clark, Joyce Golding, Larry Cross, Evelyn Dove, Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, Lynd Joyce, the Luton Girls’ Choir, the. Ilford Girls’ Choir, and many others. Music for the programme is, of course, handled by the resident orchestra under Billy Ternent, and they have the help of'such visiting artists as Kay Cavendish (piano), Jack Simpson (xylophone) Charles Smitton (organ), Max Geldray (harmonica) and Johnny Kerrison and his Samba Band, Ray Ellington and his Quartette, Santiago and his LatinAmerican Music, Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight, Hermanos: Deniz Cuban Rhythm . Band, and Edmundo Ros and his Rumba Band. The series is under the care of John Foreman and is compéred, of course, by Philip Slessor (pity!). |