Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 37, 28 March 1929, Page 8

Auckland Notes

(By

Listener

~A FEW hours after last week’s notes were written, the writer, along with thousands of others, had what he regards as his first real demonstration of the full effectiveness of drama over the air. The Auckland Little Theatre Society. made an initial appearance before the 1YA microphone in the production of "Outward Bound," and it is safe to assert that no more effective two ‘hours of spoken word has ever been heard in the.whole of Australasia. The play itself, in the power of its spoken word to create the necessary atmosphere without any of those "effects" so featured in radio drama, suggested that it had been written primarily for broadcasting, though: such was not the case. It was an ideal piece for a first appearance, and the Little Theatre Society has reached, and most thoroughly impressed, a far larger audience than it might ever hope to secure within the walls of the Concert Chamber. For an evening’s entertainmetn the broadcasting of "Outward Bound" ranks with the ‘best that has ever been put on the air in these parts.

B* the time these notes appear in print the radio year will have but ‘few further days to live. Locally there is ample indication that the 1929 season is being approached with the utmost enthusiasm. In the radio trade jtself there is unbounded confidence. It indicates that broadcasting is now on a firm basis, is a permanency, which will follow a definite line of growth and expansion. In this morning’s "Herald" no less than three full pages are given to radio news and radio advertisements. This in itself is an evidence of the spirit which is abroad. Listeners, too, are urging upon friends the desirability of securing sets and obtaining licenses. Next week will see the post office rush commence. In this rush so many people disregard the fact that they may renew their licenses without going to the telegraph engineer’s department at the G.P.O. Here the crowd is at times vexatious through the delays it causes. Any suburban postmaster will issue a license. Why not save time and visit him?

™ is no secret that during the past * few weeks there have been many unlicensed sets operating. The owners of many of these could hardly be called "pirates" in the accepted radio sense of the term. They are simply overeager folk who are fully determined to take out a license by April 1, but who cannot resist the desire to "get things going" a week or so beforehand, just to.see what the new procedure is like. In the past ten days the writer has come across no less than three such individuals in a small area, and though he would be the first to ferret out pirates, has simply smiled at this "beating of the pistol," knowing that it is really all for the good of broadcasting. He has found these early

birds quite frank about what they have done,’and equally emphatic on the point that they realise and will fulfil their obligations.

AUCKLAND is putting its housé in order for the new year. The studio at 1YA and the transmitting plant are receiving a fhorough overhaul, and the installation of new microphones will give further improvement in the quality of the transmission. Not that this has been poor, for 1YA prides itself that it will stand comparison with all other stations locally audible in this respect. Though there are occasional growls from people. whose nature it is to be pessimists, the feeling general among listeners is that we have had a really good twelve months in the past, and that there is an even better one ahead. The steady progress which has been made by the Broadcasting Company, without fuss or flourish of trumpets, is recognised on all hands. There is growing a better realisation of the difficulties that have to be surmounted in making this progress, and the spirit of antagonism, once so pronounced here, is giving place to a sincere desire for co-operation that will be helpful towards the goal of brighter, better, and bigger radio. At this time it is fitting that a tribute should be paid to those keen voluntary organisa- tions which have put in so much time and effort to help our local station. All listeners are grateful to them.

ME. LEN BARNES, the new director at 1YA, is settling down into his new post, renewing old friendships, and getting into close touch with all musical interests. His experience in the world of music will be a big asset to IYA, and its effects should soon be noticeable. Aucklanders may congratulate themselves that Mr. Barnes has been sent north:

(THE Auckland Comedy Players scored another striking success last Thursday when they presented a mock trial ("Larkin vy. Fitzhugh.") The "trial" bristled with humorous points, and smart sallies, and ‘even in the "eourt-room" itself (the studio at 1YA) it was difficult to restrain the spontaneous laughter of the performers, and the usher (Mr. O. B. Kwiott) had repeatedly to call for "Si ence." The humours of a law court, with its numerous; witnesses and others, were exceedingly well brought out, and "Mr. Justice Dearing’ was, as is often the case, extremely dense respecting common, every-day matters about which the average man is quite well informed. Altogether, a clever and diverting piece of work, and a distinct departure from the ordinary radio’ programme.