Great Appeal of Swiss Alps Drama

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 32, 15 February 1935, Page 21

Great Appeal of Swiss Alps Drama

Thrilling B.B.C. Recordings of First Successful Ascent — More Talks on Cursing Wanted — Empire Broadcast by ‘High Commissioner — Publie’s Poker Case Verdict.

ONQUEST of Nature’s fortresses has been the inspiration of thousands of men-and women-for ages of time, and the cause of hundreds of deaths. After centuries of mountaineering, venturing over strange oceans, crossing great deserts and penetrating "impossible" jungles, the latest cry is "Northward Ho!" or "Southward Ho!" pitting all of men’s endurance and inventive skill] against the last strongholds of all-the Poles. But the glamour of the great mountains of Hurope and Asia is as strong as ever. Hach year makes the difficult tracks a little easier, at the price of human life. Guides come and go, sturdy fellows‘ with uncanny skill in their blood and rigorous training in earlier years to complete the qualifications for their calling which in the ultimate calls for such knowledge, judgment and infinite stamina. The last of all the mountains is the greatest-E.verest, aloof and forbidding as ever, rearing its peak still in an. age-old challenge. Seventy years ago next July Switzerland’s most notorious peak, the Matterhorn, was Airst conquered, by. a party of Hnglishmen, led by the artist Hdward Whymper. They beat an expedition of Italian climbers, headed by the great \euide Carrel, in a desperate race to the summit. [TX repeating the thrilling drama "Mags on the Matterhorn" next Thursday from 2YA, the station is providing listeners with another oppor'tunity of hearing the true story of this first successful attempt on the Swiss monarch. This remarkable radio play is the work of Gasbarra, the famous alpinist, and Dr. Christian Pfeil, a well-known German radio expert, Its unusual setting and the skilled treatment which went into the making of the records from the drama in the B.B.C. studios make it. a memorable drama of the kind: only broadcasting

can give. It is rieh in its realistic reproduction of the strain and excitement, the endurance and courage demanded of those who venture far into the "white hell" of Switzerland’s highest peak, The recordings take a whole

hour to run through, and the perfection of recording provides life-like "noises off,’ shouts, calls, and the frightful death shriek of a victim of a precipice. Those who heard the former presentation of this drama a few weeks ago will appreciate the reason for the requests for its repetition. T was unfortunate that London went off the air a little less than a quarter of an hour after Sir James Parr commenced his talk ic New Zealand on the’ evening of Wednesday last week. Before the High Commissioner was switched on, Miss Stella Murray, the New Zealand singer, was heard on the Empire stations rebroadcast in several Maori numbers. Conditions were not perfect for New Zeaiand reception, but the songs came through with good tone and clarity. There was some swinging and occasional static with Sir James Parr’s talk, surveying conditions in England as they affected New Zealand. This Dominion’s popularity had increased in DWngland in the last few years, he said, and the people at Home were making strenuous efforts to push New Zealand goods. New Zealand’s butter market was suffering to some extent because much of that produce was being sold merely as "Mmpire but-

ter." Bfforts were also being made to send as many tourists from Hurope to New Zealand as was possible. This advertising campaign had now been extended to include sporting journals, which would reach the type of person who could afford to come to New Zealand. BY a proportion of five votes to one, the complainant won the Poker Case in the "We Await Your Verdict" series two weeks ago. ‘The "charge" arose out of a poker game at Mrs, Jane Middison’s house, the prosecution hay‘ing been brought by Mrs. .Templing. Listeners varied between.£10 and £525 in their-assessment of damages for the complainant. A case arising out of alleged bodyline bowling is the latest one for consideration by listeners. EVERAL Wellington listeners have expressed their appreciation of the talk on "fhe Lost Art of Cursing," given by Mr. J. S. Barton, 8.M., last week, and the general hope is that he will ‘continue along these lines some time in the future. Not that the listeners are taking up golf, or anything. One doesn’t need to go to the loudspeaker to learn ordinary, everyday profanity. What one cannot pick up from overheard street conversations can often be supplied by post-war books -and even such pre-war works as Balzac’s "Droll Stories," so severely verbally castigated by a northern confrere of Mr. Barton’s. But what we miss nowadays is the picturesqueness of those potent old curses of ‘half-a-dozen centuries ago. so liberally presented by Shakespeare, Pepys and hosts of others who could get away with it. The origin-

al of . "The Thousand Nights and One Night" ("Arabian Nights") also has some kick behind its best curses-but the magistracy may approve of that no more than of Balzac. Mr. Barton, however, did not have to resort to anything unmagisterial to make his :talk most interesting and amusing. His next subject, "The Literary Touch in Judgments," will be dealt with 90 Monday, February 11.