FIRST ON THE AIR

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 12, 7 October 1927, Page 13

FIRST ON THE AIR

INTERESTING RIEEMINISCENCES, J. V. -Farrell (Wellington): While looking through the "Radio Record" just received I saw a photograph of Manuel Hyman, stating that his band had the distinction of being first on the air in New Zealand. I should like to correct the above and state that his band missed being first past the post by about forr years. About five or six years ago I was playing with what was the leading band then (Tutschka’s Orchestra). We were asked to broadcast our band from the studio at the ton of Ford’s Building, Courtenay Place, which we did on two occasions. To give you an idea of how early in- broadcasting we were, I recollect the announcer before: and after every item asking listeners to ’phone the studio if they kad heard us playing. It came as a very great surprise to us and to all coucerned when somehody rang up from Wanganui, alithoueh listeners in the city could not hear us toe goad. , The studio was a small room a few feet square, and it became so hot with the crowd in it that we were obliged to plav with our coats off. , A New Zealand radio journal pub-

lished a full page photograph of the band at that time. 1 might mention that the above band was the only band on modern lines at that time, that is, they included the banjo and saxophone, I also broadcast in the interval with other dance bands up in the Dominion studio several years ago, I think I have proved by the above that H. J. Tutschka’s orchestra was the first and pioneer band to broadcast in New Zeaand.