The HOME forum

Radio Record, 17 July 1936, Page 50

The HOME forum

POINTS FROM LETTERS

: Pat for Gordon Drop Kick (Waimate) writes:-I¢ gives me much pleasure to read listeners’ letters in the ‘"Home-forum," and I have taken a lot of notice of the hostile criticism some of the wrestling announeers have been subject to. But I don’t agree with "Off the Mat," when he says that if Peter were in Wellington the grousers would think the present announcer was another Gordon Hutter. In my mind Gordon Hutter as a wrestling announcer cannot be excelled in New Zealand, and with Peter alongside him radio listeners are assured of a great night’s entertainment if they tune in to Auckland. One or Other » W. J. Gough (Petone) writes-In two recent issues of your excellent journal, letter-writers in the "Home Forum" have challenged critics to make a better jon of announcing wrestling than Mr. Pope, of 2YA. I accept their challenges. If these Supporters of "boloney" will make the necessary arrangements with the Broadcasting Board and Wrestling Association, I will describe alternate rounds with Mr. Pope, on two conditions: (1) That I am permitted to broadcast from the ringside, and (2) that amplifiers be installed in the Town Hall, and the patrons, other than members of the association, be asked to vote in favour of one announcer or the other. I think all fair-minded sports will agree that the above conditions are in the in- ‘ terests of the listening public, and may the better man win. Equal Chances Kimball (Papatoetoe) writes:-It is with much interest that I have been following the various opinions of listeners about cinema organists, and .would like to add mine, Like "Christie," of Dunedin, I am also a theatre organist, and am quite capable of expressing my opinion, "Christie" says that Torch and Dixon have made records that Crawford could not make. Crawford could make them if he could get out of his slurring and swelling style, as he has an organ every bit the same-in fact, he records ‘on the same organ in London. Crawford’s style conveys the idea that he is too lazy to change his effects, In my opinion the two leading organists are Reginald Dixon and Quentin MacLean. In his number, "What Would You Do," MacLean produces quite a new style, playing most of it, as it were, on tin cans. In concluding, I think that Reginald Dixon has reached the peak with his "Roberta" and "Mississippi" selections. Jesse’s Playing C Sharp Minor (Auckland) writes :- I have just read "Christie’s’ (Dunedin) letter about the organ argument in your issue of June 26. If -he is an organist, as he professes to be, I am surprised that _ an organist would make such statements as. he does about Jesse Crawford. Jesse dumped the old style years ago, and started a new style of organ piay-ing-the musical way. For absolute control of the organ and introduction of effects in the correct place,:there is no one in the same class as Jesse, The real musical qualities of the cinema organ are heard when he plays. . I haye had the privilege of to Jesse Crawford in person, playing a whole programme of organ selections,

which embraced practically every type of music. Has "Christie" heard the record of Crawford playing "The Storm," in which the drums and effects are extensively used? Perhaps it is not obtainable in this country. Jesse Crawford is recognised by all unbiased organists as the "King of the Organ," and if "Christie" would like to learn a number of points in the correct way of playing a cinema organ, I would

advise him to listen to station W2XAF any afternoon, when he will hear Jesse Crawford playing, as only the artist can. But perhaps "Christie" prefers to listen to old-fashioned and jumbled noises produced by the majority of organ soloists over the air in New Zealand. "Rugby-itis" "Soccer" (Invercargill) writes: Does this country think nothing else than Rugby? It eats it, works with it, and sleeps with it, and consequently has growh a mania for it. When a wonder-

ciation football touring team must be, decides to tour New Zealand, our little city is left out as usual So we rely on our only other means of making their acquaintance, and that is by the medium of 4YA. Hagerly I, like many others down here, looked forward to the running commentary that was sure to result from the Test fixture, but to my disgust and extreme disappointment, not to mention a few others, a local Rugby fixture took pride of place. Now I ask you, Sir, is this fair to the community as a whole? ‘There must be thousands who wanted to hear that much-discussed match; but, no, it wasn’t to be. They had to stick to an ordinary local fixture. Please understand, 4YA and its administrators, we in Invercargill rely just as much upon you for entertainment as Dunedin does, and I consider this nothing short of an insult to the Australians. 4YA on the whole gives us wonderful service (the best in New Zealand), and Thursday’s community sing was wonderful, but to-day’s incident has made me disgusted.