RADIO Round the World

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 10, 16 September 1932, Unnumbered Page

RADIO Round the World

_900-POUND lion caused a panic among 150 persons assembled in WBZ studios to witness the animal’s performance before a microphone. Before the animal was driven into its eage six persons had been injured, two being trampled in the stampede from the studio. The lion jumped through a plate-glass window into the control room, from which the operator retreated precipitately without order. ~ % be] & TN a recent rebroadcast from England through the Columbia Broadeasting System, an orchestra was in the New York studio to supplement the English broadcast as the signals faded. When the music from London faded out the local orchestra "faded in" to the programme. A few minutes later, when signal strength returned, it was found that the two orchestras were playing together in perfect time and Wngland then finished its trans-Atlantic broadcast without further help from the New York studio. a » I ADIO-KASBAH, in Tunis, is one of the most simple broadcasting stations in the world. It has no studio, no programmes to worry about, no opening or closing announcements, and no schedule of operating. The transmitter is housed in an old fortification and 2 microphone is hung in a cafe, where an energetic lady pianist of seventy years of age plays to customers. Whenever the operator feels inclined the transmitter starts up and stops when the operator has had sufficient entertainment. A newly-formed listeners’ league is demanding a more elaborate and regular schedule. a a a Gur old gramophone friend, "John Heury," has been touring the Empire and he hag been immensely popular with the natives in South Africa, who evidently sympathise with him in his matrimonial miseries. When questioned by a reporter why he made the misery of matrimony his chief theme, he replied: "Becanse I’m henpecked,’" to which Gladys responded, "No won-der-he’s such a fool." a a 2 FP DICATIVE of the march of events is the following from a Japanese boy to the National Broadcasting Co. of America: "This is to express my appreciation of your excellent programmes, and I have been enjoyed very much by yours. I shall be very much obliged if you will kindly send me your favourable acknowledgment, which is to be. preserved as my precious document in my household eternally. Hoping to receive your esteemed guid_ance on my petty ‘radio course." * th at USICAL tones of sweetness and purity never before produced; in- | struments permitting a range and delicacy of touch, to do justice to which a new generation of eomposers will

be required; violins that turn into French horns at the turn of a switchthese are among the revolutionary new electronic musical instrnments now being demonstrated. The new eleéctronic oscillators make it possible for the musician to create any wave-form, timbre or tone effect desired, and the basis of the instruments were in the "howling valve." The Philadelphia Orchestra and other world-famous orchestras ‘are already using them to enrich various sections. rn 7 * * A NOVELTY at the recent New York patents exhibition was g,miniature toy ‘broadcasting statioh ‘yrhich was allotted the’ call-sign WEE It operated on .04 watts and the range was about 200 feet. s % a RRECENL developments in gramophoue. record manufacture have been the production of records which play twice as long as the standard record. . These may be used on any standard gramophone without alteration to the pick-up or machine in any manier, % * At the Amsterdam International Ex-,’ hibition was shown a piano in which was incorporated an all-electric radio receiver and gramophone. As the keys of the piano were struck the music was electrically reproduced through an amplifier and a moving. coil loudspeaker. Es] t USTAINING programmes have had a greater percentage of time during the last few months from Americun brondeast stations, owing to the business depression being responsible for advertisers reducing their sponsored programme allotment. ‘The poor standard of sustaining programmes is held up as a sample of what would result if advertising were abolished in America. & @ * ON Christmas Eve, 1906, lonely radio operators on the comparatively few ships equipped with wireless, listening for flots, dashes and intervals, were suddenly astonished to hear mugic and speech substituted. An invitsgon to report results of reception by "all who heard brought many inquiries as to how it was done. This originating telephonic broadcast was continued by irregular transmissions until the famous American station, KDKA, started a regular schedule in 1920. From that day KDKA has not missed a single day of broadcasting, es BRITISH radio manufacturers are to | "~_ make a bid for the Denmark trade when the All-British Pxhibition is ‘ cpened in Copenhagen this month. License saturation is higher in Denmark than in any other country. Although about 184 per thousand of the population are radio listeners, Britain has supplied about 8 per cent. only of the radio imports. , .