BEHIND THE SCENES AT 1YA

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 32, 20 February 1931, Page 1

BEHIND THE SCENES AT 1YA

An Evening in the oe Studio

By

Call Up

1N a recent number of the "Radio Record" listeners ‘were taken into the announcer’s room at 1YA by "Call Up," introduced to the announcer, and shown some of #38 the behind scenes working of the station. "Call Up" now continues his tour of the station by taking listeners into the studio for an evening. You are all familiar with the receiving set end of.a broadcast, but most of you

have never been in a broadcasting studio and have but a hazy idea of what such a place is like. One might think that almost _ any room would do for a broadcasting studio, but that would be a very wrong idea. A good studio has to be specially designed | and furnished, for the question of acoustics is all important if the listener’s reception of the.items performed there is to be good.

In the large studio at IYA, where we now find ourselves, we have an example of a very up-to-date and well-designed studio. It is a large room, comfortably accomodating a band or a choir of forty people, and was specially built for its purpose. The walls are hung with tasteful grey curtains with a blue and gold freize. Special acoustic pads are placed on the ceiling,-and there is a minimum of furniture. There are no windows, ex-

cept for one looking into the announcers room in one corner, ventilation being provided by means of the ceiling. This particular evening on which we find ourselves ‘sitting in a quiet corner of the big room is to be deyoted to a community singing programme by the 1YA Broadcasting Choir, conducted by station director Len Barnes, with Reg Morgan’s orchestra assisting. In a semi-circle sit the choir (Concluded on page 20),

Behind the Scenes at 1YA as (Continued from page 1.)

facing the microphone and the conductor, the orchestra being in the centre of this semi-circle except for Mr. Morgan, who is at the piano close to the. **mike,’? . It is some minutes yet before the time to commence, a gramophone record entertains listeners, and there is a steady buzz of conversation interspersed with the notes of instruments being tuned. Mr. Barnes is exchanging quips with members of the choir, there is a good deal of laughter, and everyone seems very happy. Then, "Ready please, boys," says the conductor, All eyes turn to the red light which comes on as soon as the studio is switched over for transmission. The light glows and ‘the studio is on the air. Mr, Barnes greets listeners and announces the opening number "Abide With Me." ‘The programme is under way. A varied programme of songs follows including rollicking sea chanties, old marching songs, Scottish airs, and songs of long ago. . In. between items the breezy conductor keeps the studio, and, he hopes, the listeners, in continual laughter with his bright chatter.

BPverybody in the studio, at any rate, is. thoroughly enjoying the fun. As song follows song they seem to become mdre and more ‘worked up until even "Gall Up’ ¢who' usually confines such efforts to the bathroom) has to give voice to "Tipperary" from his unobtrusive corner. _ While we sit watching these people sing and play in the comfortable studio it is intriguing to think of the thousands of seattered listeners who are hearing them in hundreds of different places--in lonely farmhouses, in the crowded city, on moonlit-beaches, in spacious drawing rooms, in stuffy kitchens, in hospital, and in many other circumstances. All these listeners, rich and poor, happy and unhappy, sick and well, have something in common for a couple of hours, some sympathetic bond, for they are all listening to and probably singing the same old songs they all know and love. VWinally at 10 p.m. the final words. of "Mademoiselle from Armentieres" ‘ving’ out, "Good-night" call the choir to listeners, and the studio is switched off the air. "Hasn’t it been a lovely evening?" says one of the choir girls enthusiastically, and that is typical of the spirit of this very jolly team of artists. And here it is not out of place to remark on the special qualities possessed by such a- programme as this community sing. There is little doubt

that this is one of the most popular types of programme there is, and the reason for this is not far to seé. Listeners can take. an active part in such a programme by joining. in the songs themselves. -They are not mere passive ‘ligteners," but active participants in a jolly sing-song. One imagines many happy little family groups singing with the loud-speaker the good old familiar airs, and-if each such party is as happy as the one in the studio, well the programme is one hundred per cent. successful, :