FEATURE PROGRAMMES.

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 42, 4 May 1928, Page 4

FEATURE PROGRAMMES.

-~- sepse eee The cyolution of the kinema programme contains a lesson for ‘broadcasters. JEveryone will remember that in the early days of the : kinema a programme aimed almost to cover the whole gamut of human emotion, and consisted frequently of ten or eleven different pictures from a few minutes to ten or twelve minutes in length. Comics, travelogues, drama, tragedy, all were covered in the one programme to "maintain interest" and give "variety." That was the first phase, and it lasted for many years. Then gradually features came to be introduced, yand one longer film was given with still a number of supports, the idea ‘being that those that didn’t like the feature might "get by" on the supports. Evolution still proceeded, and in the last few years we have _ seen the attainment of exclusive feature progranimes-one star picture, heantifully produced and with. orchestral accompaniment, sufficing to , attract and entertain an audience in itself for a whole evening. Quality i-has replaced variety-variety being used in the sense of a hotch-potch -of differentthings on the same evening. In this development the kinema ‘has taken to itself an added strength. Its feature pictures attract a class .. of ‘audience that the variety programmes never would satisfy, and in that way it has widened its audience immeasurably. _ Broadcasting is proceeding along the same path of evolution. The normal concert, corresponds to the early stage of the cinema, although it is true the effort is made to maintain a uniformity of type and quality in any one evening’s entertainment. The tendency, however, definitely _ ds in overseas countries to provide feature evenings, appealing to specific audiences at one time. In New Zealand the Maori pageant and the ’ recent Shakespeare evening, St. Patrick’s night concerts, etc., indicate the . trend., Each feature attracis its own audience and provides a memorable occasion, ; Handicapped as the Dominion may be to some extent by limited talent, the demand may yet be met by encouraging those who are able to give the quality performances desired, to concentrate and develop feature evenings. The performance of "Jane" in the coming week and the one-act plays arranged for 1YA all indicate the tendency, which will certainly. strengthen the appeal of broadcasting, audiences, pr nenrerees and bring in new