Christopher Stone Calling to N.Z. Listeners

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 17, 2 November 1934, Page 11

Christopher Stone

Calling to N.Z. Listeners

English listeners once disliked Christopher Stone. And they had no hesitation in saying so-in almost every newspaper in England. But the B.B.C, was certain that, in Mr. Stone, it had one of the best annotators of gramophone records 1n the country. And so no notice was taken of the critics and Mr. Stone's broadcasts became a regular feature of British programmes. And then the wave started to rol] in the opposite direction, and Christopher Stone is now onof the most popular broadcasters in England and probably has a greater audience than any other perso: on the air. On this page we print a special message to New Zealand readers from Mr. Stone. HAVE much pleasure in sending a message of goodwill to readers of the "Radio Record" who may chance to be unknown friends through the fantastic link of radio and gramophone records. In the whole history of the world it has never bee:: granted to men to make friends with each other on so intimate, and yet so universal, a scale as at present, and I can.never repay my debt to the artists who have, through their records, given ine an excuse and a means for talking every week during the las! seven years into the microphone. TI should like to be able to exchange greetings regularly with these fellow gramophonists all over the world, and indeed,

through the medium of the "Gramophone Alagazine" this has, in some cases, been practicable. But broadcasting is a one-sided business, and sometimes when ! have broadcast from the Empire studios at Broadcasting House and have known that:my voice was not being heard by the British Isles, but only by the far d’stant fringes of the Empire, I have felt as lonely and awe-struck as perhaps some solitary listeners feel when their loudspeaker brings them the authentic voice of Big Ben over those thousands of miles that separate them from MWestminster Bridge. Good listening to us one and all, and may I be allowed to serve the Spirit of Radio for many years! ,