FATHER TIME SAYS "GOOD-NIGHT RADIO-LAND"

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 40, 17 April 1930, Page 8

FATHER TIME SAYS "GOOD-NIGHT RADIO-LAND"

Broadcast from 2YA Greatly Appreciated

W# have been literally inundated with letters expressing appreciation of the "Old Time" evening recently broadeast by 2YA. ‘These letters have showed that this has been one of the most popular broadcasts of the year and many have expressed a desire for a repetition. Owing to the large number of letters received we have had to select very carefully to obtain the limited number we can publish in the space available. As the Broadcasting Company have also received very many we are reproducing a few of these as well as our own, ’ §everal. have commented on _ the broadeast of a talk on the Rugby ban and generally express the opinion that this was too long. Others, while appreciating the remarks of the speaker, stated that the broadcast should have been prolonged to allow all the artists to perform. Denniston.-Whoever. was responsible for the atmosphere surely must have experienced those happy and never-to-be-forgotten days. Visions of Dan Leno, Bonnie Kate Harvey, Albert Chevalier, the Two Mac’s, George Lashwood and that other great George-Coburn-and a host of others. I had

winkles ‘before me, I had more; [f breathed the air of the old "Queen’s" Music Hall in Poplar in the year 1888 when Dan Leno, the great comedian and dancer, before a crammed house danced for the Clog Championship of the World against the redoubtable Hugh Dempsey. Congratulations to all who brought forty years back in an hour. We will all welcome a repeat of such a wonderful night in history. ‘Miraco" (Paraparaumu). — Dear Old Tempus Fugit. The performance recalled to the writer’s memory the days of his youth-when he used to save his odd halfpence during the week

in order to secure a "threepenny seat" in the "gods" at either the old Marylebone’ or the Metropole Music Halls in London, where, according to ancient custom and the then method of expressing appreciation of the programme, we pelted "The Ladies and Gentlemen" in the pit and stalls- with chewed-up paper, saveloy skins, trotter bones, or any other delicacy’ that happened _to be available... We shall look forward with much interest and anticipated pleasure to a smilar effort from 2YA and hope that.it will be in the near future. "By way in passing, I may mention that our location is opposite to Kapiti Island, and on Saturday evening there was a peculiar phenomenon over at the island, evidently some extensive electrical disturbance.of great magnitude, for a startling display of-was it "Wlectrons," "Mighty Atoms," ‘or "The violent burning of somebody’s ear giving off electric sparks’-I know not which-but the display was most prominent during the concluding portion of Mr. G. P. Aldridge’s address." Bell Block, Taranaki-It is 23 years since I emigrated from London to New Zealand, and I can assure yea that last Saturday night was one of the happiest I have spent in this country. The programme took me back to 35 years ago when it. was my chief delight to patronise most of the old-time music halls in London, such as the "Middlesex" in Drury Lane, and probably better known as the "Old Mogtl," the Britannia, Sadlers Wells, and.Sam Collins. The rendering of the beautiful old-time songs and ‘the impersonation of the Cockney did each and every one of the artists great credit. The Melodie Four excelled themselves. ~ Cobden.-I wish to tender my appreciation to the Old Times’ Concert Party who gave us such a happy evening. When "Father Time" recited to us I felt just a teeny sigh for the old days when very little give us great enjoyment, when a bag of winkles and a pin was enough and a few boy and girl friends to join in "Monte Carlo" (and many others rendered so finely last night). Well, that was happiness indeed. I do trust that one of the andience remembered the chairman "had a mouth," and that the performers got as much satisfaction as we listenersin. Whangarei-It was hard to believe that we were not all seated in an old time music hall and keeping on asking the chairman to have another nip. As the programme progressed we could hear, or imagined we could hear, the chairman getting merrier and merrier, and his work cer#ainly suggested that it was in reality an old-time music hall which was, aS you are aware, not a strictly teetotal affair. It was a wonderful piece of acting over the air. If sufficient notice is received by us in the far north of your intention to entertain listeners again as you did on the 5th instant, I would have to have -my house enlarged to accommodate all our old-time friends who have expressed their intention to be present."

Lower Hutt.-It is thought that it is the privilege of the old only to re-live vividly their early memories-but your joyous company of artists last night dispelled that notion, as I was-and I am sure very many others were-taken back to the good old times of their childhood, and ‘delighted in — that poignant ecstacy of recalled scenes, and sentiment that never will come again! Listening to the songs, I could picture my brothers singing at home in England in their fine young manhood, and heard another patient voice Singing the little "Alabama Coon" each night to.me, as. part of that far-away bedtime ritual, and. just as important as the little verse of "Gentle Jesus." Dear old "Ta-ra-ra Boom de ay," too!

It brought a cry to my heart as I heard again a dear old man-long since gone-singing to himself, as he’ was "tone deaf" and it was the only tune he almost "got right." And so it goes on. So also it must have been for numerous listeners who found they had amazingly tender spots in their memory -for "old people and things that pass." "Nelly Bly" writes :-Dear Father Time: Mum said I was to write and tell you how we all enjoyed last night’s programme, Dad and Mum joined in with you and rather drowned your singers at times, but grandad and grandma couldn’t, of course, make quite so much noise when they chipped in. Mum has often told us about the days when it was possible to sing without wriggling one’s ‘body like folks do nowadays. Since last night Dad and Mum have been singing a lot more songs‘ that they used to know once, "A. Picture no Artist. could

re, | Paint," "Good-bye, Migonette,"? "A Bird in a Golded Cage," and lots of @ others. But Grandad says none of those are as good as they used to sing in his day, and I believe he is right, because he and grandma sang. one called "Sweet Belle Mahone," and it was lovely. to hear them. Grandpa likes "Wait till the Clouds Roll By," but there’s an excuse ‘for that. You see, Grandma’s name is "Jenny." Dear Father Time, please do have another of those evenings and make the old folks happy. And Grandma says will you please ask someone to sing "Sweet Belle Mahone," and perhaps your choir of four may sometime sing the "Cricket on the Hearth." We kids would also like to hear some more of those old songs and not forgetting the "chairman" and his funny remarks. Another Old Timer.-To. thousands" of listeners-in on the down grade it must have opened up memories of their *teens and twenties, for which we wish to show our appreciation. Pleasant as the programme was it has only touched on the fringe of its possibilities. From my experience it is the old

Ww folk who really enjoy radio, and such memories. Tschaikowsky and jazz -both have their place, but in our humble opinion old-time melodies. should have, say, one night per week. .The Other Point of View. | WAS very disappointed with. the old-time concert broadcast from 2YA, as no attempt was made to keep to the programme as published in your paper, and the songs that were selected for the most part were only third-raters as far as old-time songs are concerned, and I am sure you will. hear from a good. few more listeners who are of the same:opinion as myself. I am referring, of course, ‘to’ old-time songs that are popular to-day. As for the artists, they were just Al, and I have no complaint -¢ to make about them.-J.P.