The Eternal Night

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 48, 14 June 1929, Page 31

The Eternal Night

Down at Antarctic

(From

R. Leslie

Jones

Lyall Bay.)

"WE think of you during your Hternal Night." These words, uttered on Saturday night, June 1, with dramatic force by Announcer James Wallington from brondeast station WGY, Schenectedy, New York, meant much to Commander Byrd and his gallant men now located at "Little America" in the Antarctic, and also the thousands who had the opportunity of listening to the splendid musical programme broadcast by WGY (799 kilo-cycles) and allied stations QCA (9580' K.C.) and 2XAD (15,340 i) . ° The Checkers Cab Company provided a fine programme; some bright orchéstral items included, a feature being "King of the South Pole," specially dedicated to Commander Byrd, and sung by a lady. Loud applause in the studio greeted this and each other item. "Swéet Rosie O’Grady" was another item much enjoyed. ' Interspersed ih thé programme were a few short talks by personal friends of Commander Byrd’s party. A budget of messages were read out to. members of the expedition, both at the "Frozen South" and also abroad the City of New York and Bllinér Bolling,’ now lying at Dunedin waiting for the ice to break up at the polar regions. ° Some of the messages caused not a ~Httle laughter, and some of the others created perhaps a little’ pathos. A large variety of subjects was touched upon, from "The Baby’s Progress" -to "The Tenth Anniversary of a Wedding," and a message "From mother, father, and grandmother" to their brava son. many miles away, helpéd listeners to visualise a lifelike picture of the mén down south, and théir parents, relatives, and friends at Home listening ‘in at 2 a.m. in the morning (American time), & warm summer morning in New York; a message indicating that a small share of the colder atmosphere of the Antarctic would be very acceptable in New York at the present time. The radio: engineer of the U.S. Army Signal Corps spoke to the radio engineer at "Little America," offering congratulations for thé magnificent radio work being petfarmed at the Antarctic. Mr. Russell Owen, the "New York Times" official correspondent with the expedition, was heartily congratulated , for his splendid articles whitch have {been appearing in the Press throughout che world.

Further humour was added when a message from a friend in America: to one of the Byrd party, stated that pedesttians in a city in U.S.A. -were compelled to respect the red and green traffic signals, and follow vehicular traffic; much fun. being caused when sage) being quick on the track of the someone pushed a pedestrian off the kerb on to the roadway against the red signal, the "cop" (stated the mesoffender. Miss Sylvia Kennedy (Miss Schenéctady), recently selected as "Miss New York State,’ spoke from the studio to Commander Byrd and party; and at 4.45 p.m. (New Zealand time) the entertaining announcer, James Wallington, speaking from WGY, said: "We have now come to the end of our programme ;it is hard to say good-night; we think of you during your eternal night." — The programme from New York was received on short-wave throughout, on the loudspeaker, and was pérfectly clear and steady,