Song About Duke Fails To "Click"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 29, 25 January 1935, Page 21

Song About Duke Fails To "Click"

Despite Good Publicity, Song Commemorating Duke’s Visit Greeted Coldly by N.Z. Public-Clive Drummond Mentioned in Nelle Scanlan’s Last Book-Mr, Leo Du Chateau’s Experiences.

"HE song of welcome entitled, "The Prince," which was written by Albert H. Light to commemorate the Duke of Gloucester’s visit to the Melbourne Centenary, had the verses ammended by Frank 8S. Cooze to be appropriate for the Duke’s visit to New Zealand, but the sales were not as good as in Australia. Frei Webber and his orchestra featured this new song at the Majestic Theatre and the Wentworth Cabaret for a week, and the Port Nicholson Band played it at one of their Sunday night open-air concerts at Oriental Bay. Miss Iris Mason also played Prank Cyrowther’s arrangement of it on the organ at the Paramount Theatre. Despita the good publicity, the song has nut "caught on" to any extent. This is not a reflection on the merits of the New Zealand composers concerned, or on the patriotism of the New Zealand public, The song of welcome was essentially topical for the Duke’s visit, and people apparently did not think it worthwhile buying the music for the occasion, ' There are few who would fea!’ moved to such patriotism as to sing praises to the Duke around the piano at home or in the bath tub, where the lalest hits are so popular. NHERE seems to be some «difference in England as to how St. Pontefract’s should be pronounced. People who haye been to the town by that name say that it is pronounced as "Pomfreys," but it is significant that the B.B.C. announcers in the _ programme of "The Fifth Ferm at St. Pontefracts," the burlesque of school life by the Melluish Brothers, pronounce it as it is spelt. This seems to indicate that the B.B.C., as in other instances, are preferring a more reasonable pronunciation. This brizht entertainment is to be heard from 2YA again on Tuesday evening. R, LEO DU CHATEAU, mentioned in these columns two weeks ago, is the producer of "The Cavendish Affair," by Maurice Chapman, which is to be broadcast from 2YA on Thursday, January 31, at 9.4 pm. Mr, du Chateau made his debut as the Irish policeman in the Dick Whittington Pantomime at His Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, in the Christmas of 1895. From the boards Mr. du Chateau graduated to management, and for the late H, J. Carroll handled such stars as Kreisler, Wlorence Austral, Ignaz Friedman, and the Don Cossack Choir. He has trav ed through many countries with jr Harry Lauder as manager,,and \ps a wealth of anecdotes about the famous little Scotsman. It is said that no more perfect drawingroom mimic than Mr. du Chateau

exists to-day. He positively brings not only the accent but the personality before you of the person he is imitating. Mr. du Ohateau’s work as a producer, apart from his vast store of technical knowledge, is aided by his extraordinary capacity for teaching, and he is a citizen, of Wellington Whose contribution to its culture is valuable indeed, HOSD who have not had _ the pleasure of reading Nelle M. Scanlan’s latest book, "Winds of Heaven," the engrossing New Zealand novel which is written around life in Wellington, will be interested to know that in the story the following reference is made to Mr. Clive Drummond, the well-known 2YA announcer whose voice is known in all parts of the world :- .

The music ceased in the middle of a phase, -""Hullo, Clive," she said with pert familiarity, as the announcer’s voice broke in, although she had never seen him. — "2YA, Wellington, speaking, A disastrous earthquake has occurred and brief unverified reports filtering through indicate that the towns’ of Napier and Hastings have been eompletely wrecked : With considerable loss of life." "Oh, my God!" Kelly said, as he stood transfixed,. listening to the unseen voice _Which spoke quietly, controlling its emotion... , NED of .the delegates to the last Pan-Pacific Conference is to speak from 2YA on Friday evening,’ February 1.. Mus, N. A. R. Barrer, who lives ir. Masterton and is a lecturer at the W.H.A. in that town, is taking as the subject for her broadcast — talk, "Drama: The Old."