The New Year on Short-wave

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 26, 8 January 1932, Page 27

The New Year on Short-wave

AND now we shall ask Mr. F. W. Sellens to take up the running for with short waves it was possible to reach the American continent and follow the old year from New York to Honolulu,-224 hours behind New Zealand. Last year the coast-to-coast broad: cast was heard from one station-

W2XAF-through the National Broadeasting Company. This year the Schenectady station closed before the journey was completed, but by turning in W8XAL, it was possible to continue from where W2XA¥F left off. At 445 pm. here, 11.45 p.m. New Year’s Eve, New York, W2XAF coneluded a relay from the Hotel St. Regis, Fifth Avenue, New York, and went over to the Hotel New Yorker, where dance music was heard till 5 p.m. (midnight). They then changed over to the riverside, where hooters, syrens, ete, could be heard. After two minutes of this, a quick change was made to the crystal room of the De Witzler Hotel, Albany, where "Auld Lang Syne" was ‘heard. Members of the orchestra wished their radio audience a happy New Year. The first musical item after the greetings was "Shout for Happiness." Later another change was made, this time to the New Kenmore Hotel, Albany. At 5.58 p.m., W2XAP joined the National Network, and went over to Chicago, where there was still two minutes of the old year left, "Auld Lang Syne’? was heard from Chicago at 6 pm. (midnight there), followed by greetings. Music und greetings were relayed from four different places in Chicago. W2XAF then returned to their studio for further music, but closed before the next time zone was reached. W3XAL was next tuned in, to hear the New Year celebrations at Denver. Midnight struck there at 7 p.m. our time. This was followed by "Adeste Fideles" on bells and peals. Dance music was heard from Denver till 7.45 p.m., when the next change was made to San Francisco, where the "Vagabonds" entertained with music at the Palace Hotel till 7.59 p.m., when the Hotel St. Francis was visited to see in the New Year again. This was done in the usual way, by making ' plenty of noise with hooters, etc. Los Angeles was visited at 8.20 p.m.. and then back to Washington. The last stage on the westward journey was to Honolulu, where the New Year arrived at 10.30 p.m. our time. Reception by now, although still good volume, had become very noisy, so that details could not be followed so easily. Some native music was heard _ from Honolulu, and greetin; ; sent to many countries, including Australia and New Zealand, concluding with "Al) radio listeners, wherever you may be." The call "WJZ (Z pronounced zee) New York’ was heard several times during the relays. WJZ is the key station of the National Broadeasting Company.