"There is No Death" for "Smithy"

Radio Record, 12 June 1936, Page 21

"There is No Death" for "Smithy"

John Stannage in a Series of Talks on Famous Airman from 1ZB-Pianist Selected for Christchurch Community Sings-Youthful Pianist for 4YA Relay.

. I his series of Sunday night broadeast talks from 1ZB, Mr. John Stannage, the radio operator and companion of the late. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, adds:lustre to the memory of the. world’s greatest airman, These weekly chats are intimate microphone talks. labelled "Epic Flights with Smithy," and in: these Mr. Stannage takes his many listeners onthe most wonderful flight of all-a flight into the friendship that existed between himself and his old pal. Little incidents, dealt with-in delightful conversational manner, reveal the human side that elevated Sir Charles Kingsford Smith into Australasia’s beloved "Smithy." Naturalness. and obvious sinecetity are features of the talks which demonstrate that in -real friendship "there is no death." Truly, it may be said :- I tell -you they have not died; + Theyvlive and breathe with you; Their hands clasp yours and mine; They are now glorifiedThey have become divine __. .., » "There is no death." ; HEN the Christchurch lunchhour community sings open their 1936 season this Thursday j (June 11) Mr. F. L. Squire, the well-known pianist, will officiate at the piano. Mr. Squire is the pianist for the famous Bailey-Marston Banda; in fact, he was one of the foundation members when that band was formed some seven. years ago. He has given his services for many charitable functions, and was a member. of the Woolston Brass Band for nine years.’ Mr. Squire is on the. staff of one of the insurance companies in Christchurch. With this capable musician, this season’s sings. should be ‘as successful as their’ predecessors. * HEN the Dunedin Symphony -Orchestra’s second concert of the season. is broadcast from the Concert Chamber on June 17 the radio audience will have the opportunity of. hearing a young musician, for whom a wonderful future is predicted. This is Wynne Lorraine Simpson, 14 years of age, who will play, with the orchestra, Liszt’s Piano Concerto in BE Fiat. Wynne began her piano studies at Auckland at the age of five years, and was a silver and bronze medallist at the age of 74. She met with a series of-minor successes until She was 123, and at the Wellington Competitions the judge, Mr. T Vernon Griffiths, of Dunedin, expressed himself amazed at the technical development she displayed. Then in 1935 at the National Distedd- fod she won a championship and two medals, one for competitors 21 and under, and the other for competitors 18:and under. Her first public performance was given with the Lieder_kranzchen Society, at Christchurch, so that her appearance with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra will not only be

her introduction to the southern city, but will mark her second concert performance in New Zealand. Background Noises HE background of mushy noises from 1YA-and 1YX is leading quite a number of. Auckland listeners to be-_ ‘lieve that their’ radio sets"are faulty. As a local radio dealer says, this is good for trade, for he has already: reeeived numerous. sets for overhaul, to find nothing wrong, with them except that. they reproduce the background noise from these *two stations. This background .noise varies, and it not~ always. in evidence. When itis, the two stations are not as good.as the Auckland B stations. It is-to be hoped that the Broadcasting Board will «to something to remedy this: state of: "aif fairs. . ! New Combination N entirely new vocal combination. introduced as "The Melody Travellers" to. listeners. by "Uncle Serim" during his "Man-in the Street’. session from 1ZB last Sunday night, is an innovation that should meet with approval. Both voices, heard in duets and solos, are well known to listeners. One igs the IZB personality-‘Frieud

John," and the other is a recent arrival from the south-Steve Parker, "New Zealand’s Bing Crosby," and a porular performer over the air from stlations jn Dunedin. Possessing a lighter type of voice than the other member of the combination, Steve Parker’s baritone . blends--well .with | that. uef: "Friend Jobn.". More. will be heard of. tliese. two useful -artists on’ Sunday evenings. , z Cut-offs . ¥ there is:one thing above others: ‘titat annoys the average listener, ' it is to hear an.itém abruptly cut’ short ‘for some reason or another. 4Y:4 listeners have long: learned to tolerate: the «annoyance of. having one record in the breakfast ‘session’ each: morning drowned out:: by’ the: 8 o’clock:-chimes, ‘and usually of: having the. final‘ item:cut short by the ‘9’'o’clock* ¢himes. ‘These are: programme ‘breaks which éoiiid be: rectified, but’ it‘is quite‘a different matter when there is a pause inthe transmission due to:mechanical trouble or. outside cause. These’ the listeners are always ready to forgive;':. For’ instance, last Sunday week the station went off the air four.times, but on none of those occasions was the stoppage due to either the transmitter or the staff It seems'‘that the B.P. and

Historic Before His Death Glazounov, a Composer Who Was Spoken of as the "Russian Brahms."

O Glazounov befell. a rare exper-ience--during his lifetime he became an‘historic figure, a part of Russia’s musica] history and before his lamented death at his home at Boulogne-sur-Seine, Paris, on March 22,-at the age of 70, he had already been numbered among the musical saints, — It must not be inferred from this that he was obsolete and belonged entirely to the past. Far from itAlexander Glazounov’s music was simply canonised and permanently added to the musical history of Russia and: perhaps of the world. He was thé last important surviving link with the famous "‘Russian Five’’ and was a pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov. He was the son. of a publisher, and at the age of nine he took lessons in-theory and piano. He was 14 before he heard an orchestra, which experience inspired him with the desire to compose. About this time he met .Balakirev, who advised

him to: take a course of general study, including the ‘classics. "He was put under Rimsky Korsakov, and made p! nomena) progress so that a year or two later he actually composed his first symphony. The boy had a marvellous mem‘ory, and could reproduce nearly all he heard. a His eight symphonies, various ballets, vocal; chamber and other: or‘chestral works’ are eloquent testi‘mony to his technical mastery of Russia’s musical history, and. before . of various forms. Rich and: exotic colouring, original harmony ‘and piquant rhythm stamp ‘all ‘his compositions as those of a master. Quite a number of Glazounov’s . works have been broadcast in New. Zealand from time to time, some of them under his:own baton. Glazounov has been spoken of from time to time as "The Russian Brahms," and the phrase gives quite a good clue to his ideals and musical stature.

L; engineers were carrying Out one of their periodical ‘tests at the Halfway Bush power station, and it was they who cut the power off momentarily. "Carry on, ’Arry" "CARRY on *Arry. ‘Ome James and Don’t Spare the Aitches." Returned to the microphone of 1ZB after a 12 months’ holiday is "Arry Spoogles," the well-known character created a couple of years ago by Dudley Wrathall, previously an announcer at. this station when if was known as 1ZR and situated in Lewis R. Eady’s building. "’Arry,’ during his amusing seysions, is decidedly popular with his lurid accounts of his experiences ag an intelligent officer of the "’Igh command." He certainly takes his listeners on many and varied flights of imagination. This versatiie entertainer may be heard at 7.45 p.m. on Tuesday from this station. Disappointed [f was a disappointment both to members of the Workers’ Educational! Association and to those listeners living some distance out of Dunedin and Christchurch that the debate last week between teams representing the branches in the towns mentioned was forced on to the auxiliary stations almost at the last minute. It had been arranged that the debate should be broadeast by the 8 and 4YA_ high-pow-ered transmitters, thus making it ayailable to. practically the whole of the South Island, but .ags these two stations received instructions to carry out 2 Parliamentary relay on the night chosen for the debate, 4YO and 8YI had‘to carry it between them. A relay line between the two stations was used, and although all listeners within 2 reasonable distance of either city had good reception of the debate, others at

a further distance did not fare so suecessfully. Choral CGonductor-singer A NEW ZEALAND artist in the person of Mr. Alfred. Walmsley has been éngagéd to tour the | New Zealand Broadcasting Board’s national stations, his tour to com-~ mence with the first performance from 3YA on Wednesday, Jtune 17. Mr. Walmsley is a tenor of some standing in Dunedin, and he is also @ well-known choral conductor in that city. "Things to Come" [THE prophetic story, "Things to Come," so ably imagined by. H. G. Wells, will be screened in Wellington and generally throughout New Zealand in about a month’s time. The, music which will -be heard.in the film will be presented in advance in recordings from 1YA on Sunday, June 14, at 8.30. It is styled the ultra-modern in symphonic music, and will be played by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer, Arthur Bliss. The story, which deals with world conditions up to the year 2.036 A.D., is great and imaginative work, ahd the musie specially written to form a suitable musical background will make the film (incidentally the most expensive ever produced), one of the otifstanding releases in many years, The film is directed by Alexander Korda. Family Call ADAME ROSS BRODIE arrived back in New Zealand this week after seven months in Australia. She has been studying in Melbourne. Madame Brodie cancelled all her broadcasting engagements during this last visit and since Christmas has learnt over a hundred French, Italian and English songs. She also studied languages, She is only over to see her husband and family in South Canterbury, and intends returning to Australia until the end of the year. _American PUBLISHED by .the Columbia Broadcasting System in conjunc.tion with Mr, Per¢y. Grainger’s appearance at the Ford Sunday Hvening ‘Hour,. Detroit:-"So great is the enchantment of Mr, Grainger’s ‘compositions, and so widespread their popularity, that there is a tendency at times to regard him only as .a composer instead of what he more truly,.is-one of the world’s great performing vir-

tuosi. Mr, Grainger was born in Australia. We may be proud of the fact © that he has found such a spiritual kinship here, with our own people,’ that he is now a naturalised American citizen. His American debut was made in 1915, and, because of the war in Europe, he’ concertised throughout this country until America entered the war. Then he enlisted as a _ regimenta) bandsman, playing, of all thiiigs, the saxophone. At the efid of the war he became a naturalised Ametican ‘citizen. Since then he has, of course, established himself as one of the world’s truly great artists. His compositions, especially such ones: as ‘Colonial Song,’ ‘Shepherd's Hey,’ ‘Country Gardens,’ abd many others, have been received gratefully by English-speaking peoples throughout the. world, as welcome revivals of pteviously forgotten folk-tunes of our own tongue, and:as vital and fresh contributions to our music literature." New Talks R. D’ARCY CRESSWEHLL, remembered by listeners for his bright and well-delivered series of talks from 1¥A, has been ehgaged to do a new series of five talks on "Homer. " The first is scheduled for June 17 at 9,5 pm, A real thrill is promised when Mr. Campbell Copelin, a m tmhbet of the J. C. Williamson Dramatic Gompany, takes his place at the microphone at 1¥YA on Thursday, ° June 18, Mr. Copelin’s talk is to be on "Salying an Air Liner," and has to do with the. loss of an air liner off the coast of Australia, He was there at-the time and took part in the work. The other newcomer engaged to speak from this sta. tion is Dr. W, B. Thomas, who. will deliver a talk on "Hlgar, the Man," in the middle of a special vocal and strumeital -programtmé of the great English composer’s works from 1YA on Friday, June 20. New Departure A HIGHLY-COM MEN DABLE scheme for furthering -its work and impressing apon ithe public of New Zenland the need’ for presetving the [Dominion’s glorious heritage of fauna and flora, has heeh initiated by the New Zealand Forest and Bitd .Protection Society. The society. has made: a seriés of six tatks which are scheduled for broadcast fromthe Various B stations of the Dominion, the fitst of whieh is to be heard ftom 1%B on Friday next at 7.15 p.m, The spehket is Mr. Byton Brown, of Wellingtur, Who is well known as au slocutionary judge at competition, festivals thtough--Qut Australia and New Zealand. By this new, departure is opened op a "wonderful field of exploration for Dominion societies, particularly: those evgaged in humanitarian works,- ; Gordon’s Mistake OLLOWERS of the turf were’ well catered for by the’ Broadcasting ‘Board last week, when the Auckland ‘Raging Olub’s winter’ meeting~-the Great Northern racing catnival--was held qt Ellerslie. Simuyltaneodsly- withthe ‘rebroadcast of * Gordon ‘Hutter’s running, commentaries on both the Great Northern Hurdles. (tun on Sat _urday) and the Great . Northern. Steeplechase (tun on Wednesday), a re. cording of the descriptions was made’ on the hoard’s special recording plant in Wellington. At 7 p.m. on Wednes-

day and at the same hour on Saturday, before the news sessions started ut 2YA, that: station broadcast the electrical transcription of Mr. Hutterstwo ‘fine descriptions of the classic events. The only disappointed listener was Gordon Hutter himself. Although he made a great job of. both talks, he was extremely annoyed at a sma!l mistake he made at the very end of the Steeples’ description. .As he was concluding he said, "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the finish of the . 5ist Grand National Steeplechase." A small slip. indeed,-and: fully compensated for by his excellent account ofthe race. Mouth Organ Revival N the programme for 2YA, Sat‘urday, June 20, there are two items to. be given by Mr. F. J. Wotdham, New Zealand’s champion mouth organist. The _ first appearante is at 8.16, the number . being a selection of popular airs arranged by Woodham, and the second, popular song and march mediey, also arranged by himself. The mouth ergan:seenis to be coming into popular favour now, with Larry Adler giving it great publicity by his brilliant playing. Recently a band of young men created a new interest in this oft-despis-ed-form of musical instrument by giving a series of brilliant concerts in London under the conductorship of a certain Borah Minevitch. Like everything else it all depends on the way it is played. ’ Overseas . ‘SINCE the 4YA official receiving base has been moved from Half-way Bush to the station site at Highcliff, satisfactory reception of overseas staions for rebroadcasting purposes ha: een maintained. This has been proved on several nights in the last few week: -the occasions of the departure of the Queen Mary on her maiden voyage, the Derby, and the Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin’s address on "His Late Maj esty King George V." In all cases re ception was excellent, although not per fect, due to static interference, and was intelligible to all listeners tuning to 4V A. ; ;

In The States R,. PERCY GRAINGER ‘is a wonderful ambassador where music is concerned, and to those in whom he took a musical interest in Christchurch by every mail they receive a parcel of music from publishers. Mr. Grainger has just finished his American tour and is now in Dngland "after the jolliest season he has ever had." His last en-

gagement was in Detroit at the Ford Sunday Evening Hour which is broadcast over the entire coast-to-coast network .of the . Columbia . Broadcasting system from 8 to 9, and which was the thirty-first of the 1935-36 series of Sunday Evening Hours presented by Mr

Henry Ford and Mr. Hdsel Ford. Mr. Grainger conducted his own two. compositions played by the Ford Symphony Orchestra, the "Colonial Song" and "Shepherd’s Hey," playing the: Liszt Hungarian Fantasy with .the Orchestra, and his solo work comprised "Clair de, Lune," by Debussy, and "Country Gardens." ' Sing, Brothers! VER since the start of the .depression some years ago the Dunedin Community Singing Oommittee has been doing its best to set the town singing, and, what is more to the point, fostering the right spirit of generosity among those who are able to help their less fortunate fellows;. In this :latter cause 4YA has been of enormous assistance, for had. it not been for the weekly broadcasts it.is certain that the collections would not have reached such satisfactory totals. The 19386 community singing sessions began at the end Of. last month, when everything possible was done to make things attractive both for those in the Strand Theatre and for the listeners. But from a singing point of view, it can hardly be said that the opening day was a roaring success. Nevertheless, the collection compensated for any deficiency in the vocal line. Young Pianist Excels A NEWCOMER to the microphone will be Mr. Gilmour W. McConnell. a young Masterton pianist,’ who is musie master at Hadlow College, Masterton. He is due to present a very interesting group of compositions during the chamber music hour on Monday, June 15. Popular Scotties THES two Scotsmen, Sydney . MacEwan and Duncan Morison, who have been creating a big impression with their half-hours of. Scottish and Gaelic music, are at present in. Wellington, and soon will be returning to the South Island for another short season, They are enthusiastic about.

the hospitality of New Zealanders, and the many sights they have seen. They were particularly pleased with Rotorna, and had a.great welcome_ there. They are featured uext week from 38YA on Sunday, June 14; and from 4YA on Tuesday, Jun. 16, Thursday, June 18, and Saturday, June 20, These two popular "Scotties" are leaving in 2 week or two for Australia, where they will be under engagement to the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Theatrical Air-mindedness CTORS and actresses seem to find flying a great tonic, ant an agree. able pastime, if the experience of two leading artists seen on the New Zealand stages during the last few months can be taken as a criterion. Hvelyn Gardiner, the brilliant Gilbert and Sullivan contralto, on the recent tour of the company, was an ardent aviatrix as listeners to her talk, "Why I Flew,’ could well gather. Another — actor, still in New Zealand, Campbell Copelin, the convincing David- Linden, of "The Shining Hour" comedy-drama, ix interested in aer mautics, and will give a talk on "Salvaging an Air Liner," from 1YA on Thursday, June 18, at 9.5. Copelin was last over’ here with Leon Gordon’s "White Cargo" and "The Trial of Mary Dugan," Studio Items {VOLVED from the thought and by the pen of Mr, Will Rome, who already has several radio plays of merit to his credit. "The Choice," a dramatic radio play, was given an outstanding performance by "The Romaneers" from I1ZB last week. Despite the strange fact that there is heard so much destructive criticism of studio items from any station, one must admire the courage of the programme organiser of the Friendly Road station, whose highlights last week were exclusively of local talent. Football Relays ZB, which is the only Auckland station that broadcasts the League football game, recently carried out the first relay of the Season from Carlaw Park. Tt was not possible to broadcast the opening of the season owing to the fact that the station was off the air for repairs for nearly three weeks. Every Saturday during the. present season. "Griffo," the station’s sports announcer, will take up his position on the grandstand to describe the big game on

the No. 1 ground at the park, which starts at 3 p.m. Although a newcomer to the microphone last year and a comparative stranger to the League code, "Griffo" received very favourable comment from both players and listeners for the manner in which he. vividly described last season’s games. IZB hopes to be able to broadcast the big games between the English League tourists

and New Zealand and Atickland from Carlaw Park toward the end of the season. More And Better (QQNLY on Saturday nights has the Dunedin public been used to hearing the Concert Orchestra from 4YA, with the result that these have become known as the orchestra’s "regular nights." Also, as the popular type of programme is broadcast by 4YA on Saturday nights, the orchestra has been thus compelled to confine itself to light ‘and airy selections, and so there is 2 growing feeling that it is the function of the players to provide only this sort of music But soon it will appear twice a week, On a Thursday night later in the month the orchestra is to demonstrate its skill in interpreting more varied works by playing a group of Mozart compositions during the classical hour. Already the orchestra hus begun playing accompaniments for some of the Saturday singers, and probably in this respect its activities w!l be extended to other nights also, —

Says a Listener T is, unfortunately, realised by very few that listening to the radio is really an art. Says an Auckland listener, "We all have those irritating evenings when perhaps a Parliamentary debate on some important topic is drowned by the urge which inspires our visitor .-a lady who has just ‘popped in for a moment’-to ewtol the merits of the carpet pattern. How annoying these occasions can be--but, as @ contrast, how stimulating to have just the right atmosphere for appreciation of a broadcast programme. On Tuesday of last week the fire glowed, an’ the ‘Readers’ Digest’ gave me education and enlightenment, while real enjoyment was provided by ‘Humoresque’ and @ half-hour programme from 1ZB of equally-beautiful melodies from the *cello of Dr. Trevor de Clive Lowe. Oertainly I was in a receptwe mood, but I am left with the impression that such recitals reach close proximity to the ideal programme." ’ 1ZJ’s Future Policy A POLICY statement was broadcast from 1ZJ recently regarding this station’s future. It was announced that, subject to Government approval being forthcoming, the intention is to greatly extend the station’s activities. The directors of Johns Limited, the owners, requested listeners to be patient It was pointed out that nothing could be done until the Governmeni had decided on its policy concerning broadcasting. When this was promulgated there would be no further delay. Fears Unjustified _ N recent notes reference was made to the fact that some Auckland listeners living in areas where direct current only is available were delaying the purchase of D.C. operated receivers because of frequent statements in the Press that these D.C. areas are to be converted into A.C, current. Already many listeners have gone as far as to attempt to dispose of their receivers, in case the power was changed over to A.C., thug rendering their sets useless. Inquiry made at the offices of the Auckland WBlectric Power Board reveals that listeners’ fears are entirely unjustified. Byven in cases where A.C. current is furnished to houses, the D.C, power will be available for those who want it. In other

words, a dual supply will be available in all these districts, so that listeners may use either types of power current. Used To Us Frou the beginning of the wrestling season in Dunedin, 4Z0O has been entertaining its listeners on Friday nights by having. some of the matmen visit the studio. In most, cases the "announcer at the station has had to draw the information from the grajpplers by asking questions, which they answer in a few short sentences, It 18 uot that the wrestlers are unwilling to talk, but rather that they do not know what to say of interest at the moment -the majority of them come from Canada or the United States, and what would interest listeners there might not draw any attention here. However, after being in New Zealand for some time they jearn more about the country and the people, and are then better equipped when asked to broadcast 4a second time. An apt example of this is Earl McCready, who had to be exhaustively questioned before the micro- _ phone last year, but who on his return to the same station only a few weeks ago spoke at length without any prompting. Veteran Guide Speaks HE wonders that preceded the eruption and the terror and the ho'o-: caust that marked the blowing up of Mount Tarawera, was vividly, and really graphically, described by one who'was there at the time-Mr. Alfre4 Warbrick. from 1YA last Wednesday ~ niglit, Wednesday’ was the 50th anniversary of the terrible eruntion in the thermal regions of Rotorua, and this veteran guide, known to ¢0 many as "Alf," came from Rotorua to Auckland, specially to deliver the talk. One of the best-known figures in the service of -the Tourist Department, Mr. Warbrick retired several years ago.. As a guide he has shown many notable visitors, including: the past and present Kings, over the weird regions, He was 15 years old at the time of the eruption, and he is steeped in the history of this remarkable distract. It is of interest to relate that he was not quite satisfied that. the wonderful pink and white. terraces were wholly destroyed... He has made a deep study of the terrain, and. has formed the opinion that the terraces were simply buried, so that if Rotomahana were drained it would be possible to unearth them. Listeners would be to unearth them. ‘More In School HEN the Broadcasting Board instituted educational broadcasts for children in-the aiternoons,~ the fathers of the Otago schools were either sceptical as to the value of the results to be obtained: by wireless instruction, vr were more or less penurious. At-any vate, they did not purchase receivers until the talks became a regular feature: ‘one afternoon a week, and now the in--spectors in their report,..which- is..incorporated in the Otago EducationBoard’s 1935 teport to the. Minister of. Education, state, that they have noticed several new,schooL installations of late. They anticipated a wider adoption ot school wireless as a means of extending the child's experience and bringing the outside world into the classroom.