Broadsides and Bouquets for a Whole Day's Programme

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 13, 4 October 1935, Page 6

Broadsides and Bouquets for a Whole Day's Programme

UST at random we choose a day’s programme from next week’s presentations from the national stations and submitted it to six widely-varying types of people for their frank comment. We got it, and for our readers . we pass these opinions on. The programme is that to be broadcast from 2YA on. Thursday, October 10, printed in the panel on this page. This programme in its evening session happens to represent a variety of items which gave the chosen commenters plenty of scope. Their views on this. "average programme" are printed below.

To start the day, ‘they turn on "crook" stuff for the breakfast sessionsat least between. 8.15 and 9 o’clock. Lunch music is a mixture, but if l were at home when the educational session was on I'd certainly switch off, says a Young-Man-of Very Decided Views. Apart from what purpose it might Serve .- for school children, who -wants to hear about "Telephonic Communication in New Zealand" or "An Introduction to Literature"? ~The -time signals,: of course, are a great item, The "Japanese Houseboy" feature was enjoyable when it started, but it has now :been "flogged to death." They should have pernanently mislaid Archie and Frank when they arrived at the fish cannery. The sort of stuff we get in the dinner Ses- . sions is good, light music, but I would

prefer it. with a complete, absence of. : jazz. This evening programmé is ‘not, balanced to my liking. Scottish and: Irish musi¢ is always popular, and I was very interested in Major Merlin’s: previous ‘talks. Bat I don’t, for -instance, like Gil Dech playing "popular stuff," because he’s capable of plenty of better music, I have been disappointed in the stage comedians who have tried to entertain over the air in’ New Zealand, and altogether 1 prefer first-class recordings, .such ag Peter Dawson or Toti dai Monte, *,

Lady in Lodgings is Satisfied

Ts good to hear: the All Black re.’ « sults-as soon as possible. In fact. the news service generally is satisfactory forme, Devotional services are sometimes conducted by most. unconvincing speakers. Only the first of the educational talks would ‘have any interest for me, although I suppose they are some good. for the children. I don’t know how many: children enjoy. their hour night after night.- All right for the younger ones, but some of jt is rubbishy. Apart from thuse wretched castanet solos the dinner music is to my taste-ttot too heavy, and a change from jazz. I haven’t heard Fred Bluett yet, but I’m hoping he has some. thing original. Usually the "Japanese Houseboy and his Hmployer" are quite comic: Major Merlin’s, talk sounds as though jt should be interesting. I don’t like the amount 9f. detail in the sta-.

tion notices nowadays-waste of time. Raymond Beatty has a splendid voice, and although Miss Kinnaird’s is pro bably as good, I just prefer men’s

voices over the air and in records, "The Kingsmen" features are therefore always acceptable. But there are plenty who like women’s voices, so it helps to

balance the prograinme. This particular programme seems to have a little bit of everything-the sort of variety that I like, unless the persun iu the next room hus chosen a differcur station to listen to.

' Newspaper Seller Has His Dislikes = _ _

‘pete All Black reports are good, and it’s nice to get them early. You can cut out the devotional services, because they give me the blues; they’re too mournful. The only time that 1 get to listen in is during the evening, and I hardly ever go out. Why don’t they give us something bright and snappy? They’ve got two stations, so why couldn’t they put on light stuff on one and heavy music on the other? Fred Bluett’s all right, but you can wash the "Japanese Houseboy" right out, also the Kingsmen. Talks are all right

in 2 way, but some are hopeless. You can wash out the recital programme. Gil Dech is all right. Wash the Flute Quartet out. Look here, why can’t they put on the music, mirth and melody at 9? Bverybody’s tired by 10, and that is when you get a good variety. They’ve

got all day to put on-the other stuff. Sometimes on a Saturday night I feel like giving up the wireless. Some of the dance: programmes are rotten, and

for a fellow who has a set which can’t pull.much more than the’local station in, it is hardly worth bothering about.

Wharf Worker Likes His Band and Opera

’*M not much interested in the day programme because I never hear it, Fred Bluetr might be all right. but why can’t We have more of the rea: Cockney humour like "Little Alberi that got eaten by the Lion". and "Twopence per ferry, per child, per head," or however it goes. Tomy way of thinking that is real humour, But all these programmes seem to come round in ro: tation, the same items year after yeur Why don’t they put on a good oper: once a week, say Gilbert and Sullivan, but vary it-not too much of the one piece? These flute quartets. and recitals are all right, but out here you (Continued on page 58).

A Day’s Broadcast queues

(Continued from page 7.) ay don’t get real music. ‘Couldn’t th give us band music like "William 'Te "The Turkish Patrol,’ and the thit€s that you hear at the flower. shows in England, with the crack . bands? I should: like to see far more classical} musie, less of talks, and some of the operatic numbers we have been used to hearing. at Home. Young Wife Prefers a Bright Session BREAKFAST sessions are usually bright. to start the day with, and there is a good variety in inusical selections during the day. I nearly always listen to the educational session: as there is often some really intere! ing information in them, even ft! adults. In the last few months the dinner sessions seem to have brightened up, giving us light music with an occasional dance tune, The dinner musi¢c on this programme is a pleasant mixture, I can’t say that I thought much cf the broadcasts of the stage comedians heard within the last few months, but, as Fred Bluett is new to me, I’m hoping for something better. I:always enjoy the Kingsmen quartets, and: that talk sounds interesting. -' I always listen to the "Japanese Houseboy" in the vague hope of hearing something funny, but I’m _ nearly: always disappointed, Sopranos do not hold ‘much appeal forme ‘in broadcasts, but I am locking forward to hearing Heather Kinnaird singing contralto numbers and Raymond Beatty in duets with her. I don’t remember having heard a flu} quartet, but those items look as thous they will be worth listening to, ay Gil Dech playing popular melodies on. " the piano is just the sort of thing I will enjoy, The variety given in ‘this particular programme . makes a pleasing’ mixture for gq wholé evening, Professor Suggests Bait. for Talks DON’T remember having listened to any of the comedians and I don’t think that I would very much care to. I should like to see more of the Gilbert .Qnd Sullivan operas in the programmes, but of course without making the mistake of overdoing it. I have listened ‘ in to some of the radio plays and th have been entertaining. In Australi when I had more time to listen in, suck were the programmes, notably the Syd- : ney ones, that a listener could more or less bank. on hearing at a definite time With regard to talks, I think that a fair amount of informative talks could do no harm, and if they. could make people listen to seri‘ous talks by baiting them with humor‘ous or lighter talks, let them go ahead. I often wonder whether there is too much recorded music, If local talent could be encouraged, it would indeed sive greater interest, but then it is a question whether such talent would be, sufficiently good entertainment, I¢ is ~ -& big question and one would like tim to give a considered opinion,