The Thousands that Listen

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 10, 20 September 1929, Page 35

The Thousands that Listen

eee MAGINATION, says "Wireless Week~ly," is a fine possession, and is a tremendous attribute in the énjoymenht of, life, but it sométimes léads one astray, especially where the visudlis¢tion of the wnseen audience is concerned. This fatt is frequently brought to mind when we héar bed-time story‘tellers speiik, of the tremendous fhrill they get dut of speaking to ah alidiehce of hundreds‘ of ‘thousands scattered over the globe. The thought of the thousiinds of loudspéakérs in thousands of homes each reprodu¢ing every ‘Inflection of the spéeaker’s voice seems to stimulate even further imaginative exaggerations. The thought of millions’ (favourite comparative). naturally follows, especially if the shortwaves are being used. But. that millions, or in’ Australia, eve huhdreds of thousands listen.is a pretty well exploded idea. : A radio event is a momentaty flash. It lasts but half an hour or 4n hour ang that is its weakness. That and the fact that it depehds ldrgely on hewspaper announcement for ‘the public to know that it will happen. An event like the Southern Cross tran§mission, of course, receives considerable prominence from the newspapers and as 2 résult many theustinds may listen. Bit for’ events of less ithportdnee and interest a more diligent search igs required to find imention, with the result that fewer people listen. However, the belief that hundreds of thousands are listening: to one’s voice is a yanity. After all, why should not the speaker glow with the thought that his audiehce is a vast one? It stirs him to greater effort-to the gréater enjoynient of those who are listening-and produces a pleasurable sensation to himself. It pleases him and hurts no one. And, of course, the audience is large. It is only a matter of degree,