Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 15, 24 October 1930, Page 9

Notes and Comments

B

SWITCH

"BIRD-LOVER" . (City) offers a suggestion that some cage-bird fancier might be induced to give a talk from 2YA on the,care of cage birdseanaries in particular. He offers the opinion that a good "roller" canary could be placed near the microphone "to give listeners an idea of the charm of owning such a bird." "Switch" is not a bird-fancier, but possibly the "turn" would prove interesting to a large number of listeners. * a) Ps DURING the community singing in the Ashfield Town Hall, broadcast by 2FC, Sydney, recently, a particularly fine vaudeville act was put on by 2 bird and.animal mimic who has toured New Zealand when vaudeville was , the vogue. The performer is an elderly man who posed. -as "Poincaire," a *Frenchman,.on the’stage. "He delighted the Ashfield people with his "realistic imitation ‘of-bird-calls and warblings, and also of farm animals and a lion. s s. Ba ON Saturday, October 25, the New South Wales State Parliamentary: elections will take place. At present Labour is out of power in New South Wales, and, headed by Mr. Lang, is endeavouring to recover the reins of Government. Progress results of ‘the election will be broadcast by 2FC, Sydnéy, every half-hour from 11 p.m. till 1.80 a.m. Sunday (New Zealand daylight saving-time), and from 2BL, Sydney, every half-hour from 1.30 a.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Sunday, also New Zealand time. Towards 2 a.m. Sunday an analysis of the position ‘will be broadcast from 2BL, Sydney, and relayed to 4QG, Brisbane, and 3AR, Melbourne, 2 a [HE other night a turn-out of the Melbourne fire brigade was broadeast. A commentator and microphone were placed inside the station. When the alarm was given the scene of bustle was vividly described, and the fire chief stood close at hand answering questions put to him by the man at

the microphone, Every detail was’ well explained, and even when the fire-. engine motors. roared as they rushed out of the station "Switch" could hear every word quite -distinctly. RECENTLY "Switch" listened to @ most-enjoyable concert from 3L0, Melbourne, by the Victorian Professional Orchestra. This combination performs under the: baton of Gustave Slapoffski, the well-known operatic conductor, who in past years toured New Zealand with the J. C. Williamson companies. s * s "PRANDO" (Kelburn) drops a line to ask how thick his "earth" wire should be. ‘The wire should not be of less than- 14 guage if a single wire. It cannot be:too thick. Some listeners use the heaviest cable they can procure, and it is generally stranded. GEVERAL inquiries have reached "Switch" lately as to the identity of the gentleman who directs the community singing at the Ashfield Town Hall, Sydney, relayed by 2KC, Sydney. A Mr. Charles Lawrence officiates, and he is not only popular in Australia, but

also receives many appreciative letters from New Zealand. To some of these he replies over the air. He is beyond comparison as a director of community singing, and a born comedian. A LETTER -from a juvenile listener was received recently by one of the "Uncles" at 2YA, Wellington, stating that the kiddy’s cat always jumps up

Yee on the arm of the sofa when the child--ren’s sessions are on the air, and seems to enjoy the items. When "Spot," the sportive terrier, which performs before the 2YA microphone, barks the cat "swells her tail up as big as a rolling pin," according to the letter received. AN Oriental Bay (Wellington) listener informs "Switch" that he has found a new kind of "howler" in his area. He says he will be enjoying an "outside" station when a cat-like howl will cut in on the musie and spoil reception. The correspondent states: "This particular ‘howler’ is easily identified, having an entirely different note to the usual, and I think the radio inspectors would have little difficulty in locating him." . * s A CORRESPONDENT, "Hatch" (Kilpirnie), writes: "Thanks for the hint you gave to those who describe wrestling contests, but I don’t think you went far enough. There is one of

these gentlemen who constantly annoys us with the persistent use of the words ‘I’ and ‘me’ liven if he is thirsty he discloses this portentous fact. All this sort of thing is rank amateurism,‘ and it is time these gentlemen should be told about it, The cackling, yuerile . laughter when the wrestlers muse them is not at all entertaining to listeners, and commentators should learn self-control." « * * NE type of "crank" whom many listeners would be overjoyed to locate is the individual who on Wednesday nights, when 2YA, Wellington, dg silent, tunes from station to station, "howling" continuously in a: vain attempt to get distant reception. He has only to tap his aerial lead. in with a moistened finger to ascertain if his set is oscillating. If it is he will hear a loud click in his loudspeaker or. headphones. The persistance of this "howler" is amazing, considering that he can receive no station clearly while his set is oscillating.