They Romp From Songs To Patter

Radio Record, 17 July 1936, Page 23

They Romp From Songs To Patter

Hart and O’Brian Combination Give 1ZB Listeners an Idea of Good Programme Continuity — Government Valuation of B Stations Arousing Interest Among Owners an d Listeners.

At times listeners complain that radio programmes lack continuity, but no one could complain at the continuity of a short programme arranged and presented from 1ZB last week by members of the Hart-O’Brian Revue Company, at present showing at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, Talking their way into songs, they sang their way out again with the perfection that only belongs to professional and practised artists, Their matter between times was bright and erisp, and after hearing Frank O’Brian himself, who simply carried listeners along, one was left with the impression that one would like to hear more of "Mrs. O’Brian’s Boy." Showing its usual enterprise, 1ZB relayed from His Majesty’s last Friday songs and other bright items from the show. OVERNMENT valuers are at present making a tour of inspection of all B stations in the Dominion, and are shortly expected In Auckland to value the plants with a view to their being taken over by the Government. As far as can be ascertained, only one Auckland B station intends to become a Government station by offering its entire plant for sale. 1ZJ Off the Air AST Thursday morning 1ZJ3 was off the air for 45 minutes due to trouble which developed in the aerial system. The fault was hard to trace and was eventually located in a defective insulator on top of Johns, Limited's, tall building. During the period when the station was off the air 24 tele- . phone calls were received blocking all three trunk lines at the station, asking whether the station was really off the air or was the trouble in the listeners’ sets. The interesting feature of the ealls by phone was that all were from women, Output of Variety SYD. SHACKEL’S dance band has been setting feet a-tingling from 8ZM, Christchureh, for some months now. and the orchestra is in popular demand. The station is being well sunnoarted by its elub members and ean generally he relied on. to send some thing snappy over the air daily. Sinre the station director, Mr. W,. J. Green, now editor of "The Standard," Jett Christchurch for Wellington Mr. James Younger and Miss Grace Green (announcer) have been in charge of the output. Courtesy SOME little time ago the Dunedin branch of the British Israel] World Federation (New Zealnnd) made an arrangement with 4ZM to broadcast on relay

from the Town Hall a lecture to be given by the visiting Dr. Pascoe Goard. This was to take piace on August 4, which happens to be one of the station’s regular nights, but as the doctor has been detained at Detroit his lecture will not now be given until August 19, which falls on a Wednesday, the night occupied by 4ZB. As both these stations operate on the same frequeney, it will, of course, be impossible for both to be on the air at the same time, so 4ZM is endeavouring to arrange with 4ZB for the latter to close down while the lecture is being given. 4ZB has obliged 42M by a sim'lar arrangement hefore, and there is every probability that it will again extend the eourtesy.

Chinese Talk jy the last few weeks station 4ZB has branched out to the extent of securing several flesh and blood turus for the microphone. The other Sunday morning it gave listeners a pleasant surprise by broadeasting interesting talks by three members of the Long Tack Sam Company. First there was Long Tack Sam himself, that animated and clever showman, who, as on the stage, was not at a loss to say something interesting at the microphone. Then there was his taiented daughter, Miss Nee-Sa Long, who delighted the ladv listeners with her impressicns of ladies’ fashions in different countries. In this little discourse she was capably assisted by Mr, Aster, the female impersonator of the company, who put the questions to the little Chinese girl.