MICROPHONE FRIGHT

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 26, 13 January 1928, Page 11

MICROPHONE FRIGHT

STRANGIE EXPHRIENCIS, It is surprising that people who jiwe spent a lifetime on the stage shold suffer with ‘nerves’ when they face the microphone. In fact it 1s the experience of broadcasters that meny pionmnent artists are utter disappointments for broadcasting, and simipir beveause they get ‘mike fright." Rupert Hazell, who made such a remarkable "hit? at 380 Aecibourne, said that when he faced the hittle "black perforated contraption’’ he wanied to say ‘everybody happy,’’ as he always did, but felt so horribly tnhappy himself that he could net get the words out. Wowever he made up for it as he gained his "air Jegs,’’, and wound up by being perhaps the sg catest radio comedian 3L0 has cver hac. Madam Filsa Stralia, who has sung cyer and over again to Rovalty of all nations, showed decided sigus of ‘‘nerves" in facing the mike, even after she had been breadcasting for months, end Stephanie Deste, who, in a seminude make up as "Wanda" in ‘Rose } Meiie" faced huge audiences nightly without a sign of nerves, becaine "mike stricken" until the ordeal of speaking into the little ‘patch of black judinity" had become familiar. The late Lee White, who was loved by hundreds of tlivusands of listeners to SLO for her charming personality, was stiangely nervous when broadcasting and never really gol uscd to what she always regarded as an ordeal, althongh it was impossible to detect the slightest sign of nervousness in listening to her remarkable performances. One speaker at 3L0 Melbourne, who was a prominent orator became abscIntely tongue tied before the mike, and his telk had to be abardoned, and Mr Lawson, when Tremier of Victoria, experienced a spasm of nervousness the first time he broadcast. The VYiime Minister (Mr. Bruce), however, is yery placid and calm with ‘‘mike," and they are now quite old frietids. Mr. Bruce, by the way, is regarded us the best political broadcaster in Atstralia,