Activities of a Notable Year

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 24, 28 December 1928, Unnumbered Page

Activities of a Notable Year

AUAETATUREAEN UANVANUADENAAUAAEUNTSEESTERUOVEAVUERISELG} AAEESUEADOAEERYUETENG CEN PERUAEEEUO REN SOO EGAPLOOE RE EEA TVSEUATEUUNESYOANERUTETNRDETEDTARADEREOUEREDRYANGANEGRGNAUCUCALOOOOSIE MITTIN irae -N the issue of December 30, 1927, the "Radio Record" referred to the year then concluding as being of an outstanding and momentous character in selation to broadcasting. That year ] had marked the end of a great period of building construction. A review of 1928 also reveals what a very successful and memorable year this has been for broadc&sting. It has been crowded with very important events. These events include not only most interesting broadcasts, but also important organisation work. Under ‘the latter heading comes the formation of advisory committees-Church, music and dramatic, and children’s hour-which have proved a very useful connecting link between the Broadcasting Company and the public. These committees meet regularly to discuss the aspect of broadcasting which concerns them, and they make recommendations %o the company. The service being rendered by the com-* mittees is excellent. QF the actual studio concerts, a great deal could be said, for the year has seen some noteworthy performances. All stations have continued the company’s policy of engaging regularly the best talent available, so that now broadcasting stands so high in the esteem of musiclovers that to be a regular performer at any of the stations is a hall mark for an artist. The entertainments broadcast during the year fairly bristle with feature programmes. No special occasion has been overlooked. There have been fine relays of concerts and entertainments given by local musical organisations'in the cities and also such fine concerts as have been relayed from Lower Hutt and from Wanganui to 2YA. Of outstanding interest during the year was the production of the Maori Radio Pageant, a very ambitious studio effort, which was strikingly successful. | Orchestra Formed, F great importance to broadcasting in New Zealand was the formation of sGadten, fe enh canted attend vite antaieeie atte dni ® ated aie teins

2YA orchestra, a combination of the best professional players who could be. engaged in Wellington. The popularity of this orchestra is now greater than ever. On several occasions the orchestra has played at entertainments given by musieal societies in halls away from the studio. This was the case in connection with the two concerts relayed from Lower Hutt and on the occasion of the splendid concert given by Mr. Leon de Mauny. Such is the standard maintained by the 2YA orchestra, that its appearance on any programme is a guarantee of the excellence of the entertainment. While on the subject of orchestras reference must be made to the combination so well conducted by Mrs. Singer, at 1YA, And to the excellent orchestra for which Mr. Harold Beck wields the baton at 3YA. : Radio Plays. TRHE year 1928 saw the first serious ~ effort at the presentation of plays. At 2YA Mr. Stanley Warwick presented "Jane." At 1YA plays produced by Mr. J. F. Montague and the Auckland Players have been almost regular attractions. Commencing with ‘‘Mary, Mary Quite Contrary," "Oliver Cromwell," "The Importance of Being Earnest," and ‘‘Mac-

beth" have followed. There have been many sketches and a very welcome variety has thus been introduced into the programme. Rivalry Between Stations. T is not the place here to make comparisons between the various stations, which mutually rival each other in the service which they provide. Each of the four stations has had marked successes. A very desirable spirit of friendly competition exists between the various ' stations and each is anxious to secure — something that the other cannot get. All stations are instructed to feature every event that can be adapted to radio ~ _ broadcasting, whether it be the visit of aa an important personage, an historical happening, football, racing, trotting, boxing, wrestling-anything, so long as it interesting. . Outstanding Rebroadcasts. DURING the year the stations have © shown very commendable enterprise in regard to topical events. happening not only in New Zealand, but overseas. . The rebroadcasting of the signing of the Kellogg Peace Pact in Paris was a splen- _ did effort. Armistice Day in London was the call for further rebroadcasts of 5SW. The Australian stations were, this year on several occasions, rebroadcast, for the benefit of erystal-set users. The most nof?. able of these rebroadecasts were in connection with, the Eucharistic Congress which was held in Sydney. The description of the Melbourne Cup race was also rebroadcast. Of very recent date is the visit of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, m connection with which 4YA secured the honours, Commander Byrd broadcasting on two occasions. . Historic Events. N° doubt, when the year is looked back upon, the broadcasting features which stand out most prominently.to the mind are such occasions as the transTasman flights, the Heeney-Tunney fight, and the election results. | -Continued on page 3. METI nn eat ue ke wa wes oC adceke uk Oe CE eee eee See EERE ERE ESSE TRUE EA ERAT TELE ATSAETTE Te E eS &

HE past year has been impressive because of a plethora of interesting rebroadcasts of items from overseas and broadcasts direct of interesting events in our own country. This article reviews the outstanding features of the year, and demonstrates the marked advance effected during the twelve months.

(Qontinued from page 1.3 itese were epoch-marking events and were outstanding feats of which the Broadcasting Company may well be proud. Among topical features handled by the stations the trans-Tasman flights must stand out pre-eminent. The first of these was the ill-fated effort by the New Zealanders Hood and Moncrieff, when the broadcasting stations kept up & service till 2.30 in the morning, in an effort to keep New Zealand supplied with the Jatest news. On the occasion of the flight of the "Southern Cross" from and back again to Australia, the four stations supplied a wonderful service and listeners-in had a thrilling experience that they will never forget. In fact, as the years pass the privilege of having been able to listen in on those historic occasions, and particularly on the flight back to Australia, will be more and more appreciated. Marred by Racing Ban. DURING the year the Racing and Trotting Conferences met and decided that the broadcasting of running descriptions of races was harmful to the interests of the clubs. Broadcasting from the course was therefore banned. Since then the company has contintted to supply an excellent service despite the disadvantageous conditions and listeners are very ap-

preciative of the company’s efforts in this respect. The ban has resulted in racing losing much valuable publicity and: in arousing a feeling of antipathy towards the racing and trotting authorities This antipathy may or may not be reflected in the totalisator figures of late, the decline in which is a serious matter for the clubs. It is, at any rate, certainly manifest that the ban imposed on broadcasting from the racecourses has not had the result which the racing authorities anticipated. On the contrary, it would seem the clubs have suffered severely from the loss of the broadcast publicity and the goodwill of the public. Sport Well Catered For. SPORT generally, including racing, has been well covered by the four stations. Boxing contests figure frequently on the programme for Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. The Dunedin Boxing Association had a very successful year and forwarded a letter of thanks to the Broadcasting Company. In the other three cities the boxing authorities also gave broadcasting every facility. The first wrestling matches ever described for radio in New Zealand took place last month in Auckland. For the first time, too, last year, international tennis matches were described, the occasions being the visits of the French and British teams. The international Rugby (Australia v. New Zealand) and League (Hngland v. New Zealand) matches were also broadcast, just as were the cricket tests between Australia and New Zealand. Motor cycle races, with all their thrills, were put on the air. Swimming races have been described. Musical Equipment. DPURING the year the company has been steadily building up its library of music. This is kept in Christchurch, which is the centre of distribution for the artists at the four stations. The regular performers prepare and rehearse special entertainments, for example, popular musical plays, operas and solo items, the music for which is sent from Christchurch. Gramophone records, too, now form a large library at head office. There has been a growing demand for recordings by the world’s best artists, electrical reproductions being almost perfect nowadays, so the company has been introducing judiciously a limited number. The Broadcasting Company is advised of and tests the best of the latest releases and from these the cream is taken. "THE gramophone. items have been the subject of many appreciative letters from listeners, for their introduction into the programmes has vastly improved ‘the -studio entertainments without -in any way interfering with the engagement of the best local artists. The way in which records can be used has been demonstrated in the lecture-recitals which have been given at 1YA and in such productions as "The Gondoliers" and "The Valkyrie." In both .cases, the necessary explanatory matter preceded the- records, which were made-by some. of the world’s best artists. The year’s operations have more than ever firmly established the Broadeasting Company’s position as the greatest musical organisation in New Zealand.