Would Give Announcers a "Kick in the Pants"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 26 April 1935, Page 50

Would Give Announcers a "Kick in the Pants"

So the Editor ’ Sir-"Where is this American tendency going to stop?’ This bright thought is filched from that subtle literary effort of "Britanica" in last week’s issue, but I beg .to inquire just when did this tendency start, As an Hnzeder who, has been domiciled:in Uncle Sam’s stamping ground

for some years I guess I am privileged to express an opinion, and, by heck, I will! What our announcers don’t know would fill several large tomes, but this particular bone I am picking most affects them. I guess they are about as stiff as a Polar bear with the mange and it would do them a heap of good to do a bit of dxing on Americans. It is this stiff artificiality that is stultifying the growth of zadio entertainment in the "shivery isles." The artist is some sort of demi-god tp be referred to only in hushed, eminently respectful tones and his "moniker" to be prefixed by a guaranteed starched "mister," and when our friends take the liberty of using his christian name, one would think it was a piece of rare china or a Mills bomb. I select an example of American methods at random. John McCormick when he broadcasts over the Columbia network in the "Firestone" hour, conducts his own session, spinning a yarn or two, and appearing as free as he would in His native bogs. This. brings radio right into the home circle and does not leave it somewhere up in the. elouds, to which zone. it seems to have been elevated by our home-made pseudo--Oxford-accented products. If I had my way I would line up all our announcers and give them a good kick in the pants to see if they really are human and ‘f there is any possibility of bringing them back to this commonplace, hide-bound little world we live in, .

Wait a minute. I guess I’d give one a break, that guy who was so presumptuous as to refer to Mr. BE. Branscombe as "Td." The cheek of him.

PAX

BRITANICA

Dunedin.