Revival In Wrestling Popularity

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 1, 12 July 1935, Page 34

Revival In Wrestling Popularity

Better Matches This Season, and Gordon Hutter Still Going StrongReception of Daventry — Four Visitors From Australia MeetSouth Pacific Radio Service — Radio Weddings.

RESTLING, which was poorly attended in Auckland late last season and also at the beginning of the present season, has suddenly become very popular, due no doubt to the thrilling and clean matches staged this last few weeks. Auckland’s own heavyweight, "Lofty" Blomfield, who recently returned from his third visit to America, where he won over 40 matches against well-known matmen, was heard from 1ZM last week. He gave an interesting account of his experiences in the land of the Stars and Stripes, Harl McCready, the 17-stone Canadian wrestler, and his manager, Walter Miller, also spoke from the same station during Bill] Hindman’s sports session. McCready claims the British impire heavyweight title, which George Walker similarly claims. A match for the title might yet be arranged. Gordon Hutter is still immensely popular with listeners as 1YA’s all-round sports announcer, The way he handled last week’s match between McCready and Biomfield was a treat to listen to. RECEPTION from Daventry has been fairly good during the past two weeks, but the hours of transmission, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. are inconvenient in that the chief short-wave listeners are the men folk. The majority of men are not home until about 6 o’clock and therefore miss these interesting broadcasts. Now that the B.B.C. has decided to extend the station at Daventry by the addition of two short-wave transmitters, both of higher power than-the two now in use, it may be hoped that reception will soon improve. .The extension of the aerial system recently decided upon should also be of benefit to New Zealand listeners. ‘ WHEN Miss Gladys Moncrieff stepped off the Limited express

from Wellington last Thursday week, she was horrified to find that she had contracted a sore throat on the journey north. But this, plus the fact that she enjoyed little sleep on the train, made no difference to the voice of Australia’s queen of musical comedy when she gang for the first time over the air from 1YA the same evening, This was her first recital of many to be given from the. studios of the four YA stations during her New Zealand tour undex engagement to the Broadcasting Board, She was in perfect voice and the broadcast was exceptionally good, as also was Saturday’s recital. On both occasions Mr. Gil Dech was in charge of the studio orchestra. While Miss Moncrieff continues to sing from the board’s stations thousands of listeners will be tuned‘in. Her tour is bound to be immensely popular. Bota Miss Gladys Moncrieff and her official accompanist, Mr. Gil Dech, who is a noted pianist and conductor and musical director of the Columbia Gramophone Company in Sydney, were’ astounded at the size and appointments of 1YA when they first entered the big building and were shown round. They agreed that it was the most up-‘to-date studio they had ever seen and certainly the best either had ever pe?formed in. After the recital Mr. Clement Q. Williams, the Australian baritone, and his wife, formerly Miss Enid Conley, Australian pianist, who were only married that afternoon, entered the studio to congratulate Miss Monerieff. Later, the four left for an adjacent hotel to sip a little champagne and celebrate the nuptials. HERE are now more than 20 radio stations operating in the South Pacific, a further link in the increasing chain of radio communication being inaugurated by the erection of a sta-

tion at Nukualofa, the capital of Tonga. ‘This enables direct radio communication between New Zealand and Tonga.. New Zealand is now in direct -communication with Chatham Island, Rarotonga (four subsidiary stations), Apia, Samoa (five subsidiary stations), Papeete (four subsidiary stations) and Nukualofa. The stations at Suva, Noumea and New Caledonia are so far not in direct communication with the New Zealand stations, INCE the Rev. ©. G. Scrimgeour, director of the Friendly Road station, 1ZB, has left for Australia to start the "Road" there, his assistant. Mr. T. T. Garland, so well known as "Uncle Tom," has married numerous couples, both in the studio and out of it. As a result quite a number of listeners have inquired how it is that Mr. Garland is entitled to solemnise these nuptial ceremonies. In fact, a lady who listened in to a recent wedding which was broadcast from 1ZB, insisted that it was a burlesque! In view .of these inquiries it is just as well to state the real position. It is this. The Friendly Road has for a long time been recognised as a religious organisation by the Government, Both the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour and Mr. Garland have been licensed as officiating ministers and gazetted as such, and they have the same powers and privileges as all other ministers of religion. AST Sunday night’s devotional service from 1ZB was unique in that recordings sent by Uncle Scrim from Sydney, with the assistance of song records and a talk by Mrs. Scrimgeour, filled up the entire devotional session, conducted by Mr. Scrimgeour and his wife, although they were 1200 miles apart at the time. S the big Auckland Winter Exhibition and show is now in full swing on the Central Wharf right in the heart of the city, both stations 1YA and 1ZB anticipate many country visitors to insnect the up-to-date studios, Country. listeners are assured of a hearty welcome at both places. At the Friendly Road station two voluntary hostesses are in attendance daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and it is-their delight to show visitors the ins and outs of the studios.