"No Change" From The Station

Radio Record, 7 August 1936, Page 23

"No Change" From The Station

People Even Ring 3YA to Find the Names of Numbers in CompetitionArmy Style Receiver With 16 Valves Cost £108 to Land — "Almost a Civie Reception" For Celebrities.

WHEN music shop assistants get very worried, it says a lot for broadcasting. Ever since the Music Lovers’ Competition was begun, dealerg in records, sheet music and whatnot. musically, have been inundated With inquiries. "What'was that thing I heard from 3YA.on Saturday? I'll hum it to you," they say. They even ‘Ting the station, but get no change, It’s a game of chance, but the best man, musically, wins! ST week a well-known shortwave owner imported to Auckland a 16-valve receiver which is of the same type built specially for use by the American Army, As soon as it arrived he took the day off from work to stay home and operate it. He is greatly pleased with the results so far achieved. The set cost £108 to land and is obviously designed for expert and professional work,

MA4yYor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Beanland, of Christchurch, extended the glad hand of fellowship the other day to six great overseas artists. The professional musicians of Christchureh were invited, but the reception was not "civic"? in the real sense of the word. It seems that, according to the rules and regulations of the Municipal Conference, no "profes: sional" visitors may be accorded @ "eivie reception." Strangely enough the English Rugby League team-a professional body-wag accorded civic honours. But, let it go at that, Breadwinners OST Dunedin listeners will subscribe to the view that the broadcasting authorities were particularly fortunate in securing the services of the J. C. Williamson Comedy Company, headed by Hlaine Hamill and Ethel Morrison, to stage a Sunday night studio play. The company hag just finished its Dunedin season, during

which the members played "The Breadwinner" (Somerset Maugham) in the 4YA studio. Ag with the company’s stage plays, nothing was left to chance in the ease of the radio work, and several days before the broadcast the cast was hard at work rehearsing in the studio, A box of effects was produced, and the company Worked strenuously at "full dress" rehearsals to ensure that the play would be radio-per-fect on the night of the big broadcast, Versatile Dutchman BESIDES his recitals from the four main stations, the visiting Dutch baritone Sydney de Vries has been heard in a talk over the air, and Madame de Vries in at least two about Denmark and Holland. And now, on Friday, August 14, Sydney de Vries will give a further account of his experiences in "Taking a Voice Round the World; A Singer’s Impression of the Southern Hemisphere." Although the noted baritone was born in Holland,-

it is difficult to realise that he was born outside of an English-speaking country, for his English is perfect, and there is no suggestion of an accent. He speaks six of seven languages flnently, Boy Violinist YOUNG performer on the violin, Paul Valesco, a Rumanian, Was heard from 1YA on Saturday, August 1, at 8.30, in several numbers, Australian critics say of him that "he has a polished technique. His tone is not large, but is unfailingly perfect, and he plays with extreme control and masterly certainty. In fields other than vaudeville, he should develop into a vioInist of high merit, but his retention in vaudeville seems assured, for he is also an essential equilibrist in the equally-polished and perfectly-timed turn given by hig parents." This refers to an appearance of the boy with his parents styled the "Musical Marvels," at the Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, the occasion being a variety and vaudeville season of international stars, Orphans SOMETHING savoury generally follows the sweets, so Bina Addy, Indian mezzo-contralto, will give a chat from 8YA on August 17 on the "Indian-

British Relationship." Miss Addy will also contribute a song or two for the combined orphanges concert in the Radiant Hall on August 19, It will be broadcast from the Christchurch station. On the programme, too, are the Christchurch Optimists’ Club, the Tuahiwi Maori Concert Party, Miss Cecily Audibert (soprano), Miss Nellie Lowe (contralto), Mr. J. L. Tennent (bass), Mr, S, Andrews (tenor), the Rev. L, A. North (baritone), and Mr. R. Malcolm (exponent of Scottish humour). This will probably be Mr. Malcolm’s more than a thousandth performance in the cause of valuable charities, New Song R. W.. MeNAIR, leader of com-. munity singing in Christchureh, and his charming pianist wife, have written a new song for community singing. "It’s Best to Smile" is the title, and it is in such a form that it can be played in any time, straight, fox-trot or. waltz. There are two verses and one chorus, "Women In Business" ARLY in September there will be a series of talks specially arranged for the benefit of women and the problems of employment. The talks will be delivered under the general heading

of "Careers for Women," and the series will be introduced by a general survey of education for women both in business and domestic spheres. The series will deal principally with women in commerce, nursing and catering (the last dealing with restaurant management) and other subjects. A general survey, concluding the series and dealing with the previous talks, will be given by Mrs. Peter Fraser. Popular Artists URING their lengthy stay in Auckland, when they performed’ ‘at 1YA, the touring party of overseas, artists comprising Madame Floretce Austral, John Amadio,.Browning Mimine

-_- mery, Sydney de Vries and Carl Bartling, were immensely popular with all the . officials at the studios. Quite a number of the staff from 1YA farewelled the artists at the Auckland railway station on Monday: night of last week when they departed for Christchurch to continue their engagement with the National Broadcasting Service. Although she has travelled in many parts of the world over a period of years, Madame Austral made no secret of the fact that she was not looking forward to her crossing of Cook Strait in the steamer. express. Although suffering from a bad cold. Browning was most cheer-y ful... That neither Madame. nor. the Australian tenor suffered an ill effects Was shown by their fine voices heard from 8YA later in the week. New Team HIS Friday a big team of overseas artists is to arrive at. Auckland under engagement to the National Broadcasting Service. Headed by the noted Russian tenor, Senia Chostiakoff, who was so popular when he toured the nationa] stations two years ago, the team includes comedians, singers and the London dance band lender: Dave Howard, who is also a fine saxophonist. All will appear in conjunc-: tion with good local artists at the big’ charity concert to be presented by the: National Broadcasting Service in the’ National Theatre, Anckland,:.on Wed-:' nesday, August 12, in aid of © the. Mayor’s Metropolitan Unemployment Fund, i1YA’s studio orchestra will be

specially augmented for this concert, while Lauri Paddi’s Peter Pan Dance Band has been specially engaged for the stage presentations. A surprise for those who attend will be the initial appearance of the dances, both solo and ballet work, presented by a troupe trained by Lawson and Miss Rosetta Powell. The latter has much overseas experience, which places’ her in the forefront of creative ballet mistresses. Rural Radio At last week’s meeting of the Franklin Electric Power Board, Pukekohe, it was decide@ to make application to the Minister of Telegraphs for the allotment of 4 wave-length so that shortwave radio can be installed on the board’s trucks. It was reported that experiments carried out to ascertain whether shortwave communication be- / tween the switching stations and the troublemen’s motor-trucks was practicable, had been most successful. "For greater service to our consumers, the use of shortwave radio will prove most valuable," said the chairman. of the board, Mr. John Dean. "In stormy periods’ we do not want farmers milking by hand, when the use of shortwave radio on the trucks will do a lot to improye the service to consumers and help in detecting the faults with a& minimum loss of time." Frankie PPROXIMATELY 90 different episodes of the adventures, or rather misadventures of a Japanese houseboy and his employer, have now been broadcast by 4YA, and although oecasionally one hears the complaint that a listener or two does not appreciate these items of humour, there is definite proof that a large body of listeners would not miss the weekly episodes if they could possibly avoid it. Wednesday has been the regular Frank and Archie night for months now, but as the Musie Lovers’ Competitions and important relays have largely filed two of these evenings of late, it has been necessary to transfer the Japanese and his friend to another night. Gn both occasions the station was frequently rung and asked whether the records were to. be played or not, as they were not advertised. .§ Upon being advised to listen two . nights henee, the many inquirers were apparently satisfied that they were | not going to be cheated either ee Round North Cape 'THDRE will be an interesting talk from 2YA on Thursday, August 13, when Charles Wheeler will tell us all about a trip he had with the Government lighthouse steamer Matai. on one of its recent rounds of the North Island. It must be a great life, this Matai business, going round the North. and South Islands, but they say that at times it gets a bit monotonous, although it is 8 case of carrying on even while the weather is pretty dirty. But the Matai is q good shin. and those who have had the privilege of travelling on her as guests or passengers testify to the seaworthiness of the vessel and the treatment they receive at the hands of the officers and ere. . '

Sooner, the Quicker © account of the late arrival of their vessel, Gene Sarazen and Miss Helen Hicks will not be interviewed before the microphone, but it ig. possible that arrangements will be made to have them tell all about themselves when thev eventually turn up. It is not so very long ago that Sarazen: Was in New Zealand, He evidently likes the place, but the attraction is (i¢ is suggested) that he wants to repeat his performance of driving a golf pall out to sea from the part of New Zealand. Trust these Americans to try te go one better. "Paris of Australia" ‘THE attractive Auckland girl, Hilda Merse, who began © her radio career as a children’s "aunt" at 1ZM, and who has made a name for herself in Australian radio as 2a member of the radio staff of the "round the elock" station, 2UW, Sydney, for the past two years and more, gave a talk entitled "The Paris of Australia-King’s Cress," from 1YA last week. In this she graphically gave a stranger’s impressions on arrival at Sydney and so well described the . foreign restaurants in King’s Cross, the dozens of street miusi- _ cians and the other queer things in daily life at "The Cross." After having spent a holiday with her

parents at Takanini, she leaves this Friday on her return to Sydney te do a big broadcast on August 10. Last Saturday a big crowd | of kiddies visited her at Takanini and gave her lots of beautiful flowers. Miss Morse, in addition to addressing numerous clubs in Auckland, spoke from 1ZM on Sunday evening. She plans to visit America at the end of next year. Revue Artists Two members of the Hart-O’Brian Revue Company which concluded a successful Auckland season last week were featured on the programme from 1YA on Saturday last. The young Rumanian _ violinist, Paul Velesco, a member of the leading act in the revue, played Bach’s "Air:on G String" and "Mazurka" (Musin), and Sarasate’s "Gipsy Airs." Marie Doran, the soprano of the company, provided popular interludes during the relay of Lauri Paddi’s Dance Band from the Peter Pan Cabaret, -Informal EACUPS clicked happily in Christchurch the other morning when great musical artists, local professionals, broadcasting officials and civic authorities got together for an informal half-hour. Mr. and Mrs. Browning Mummery, Mr. and Mrs, Sydney de

Vries, and the celebrated Florence Austral and her husband, Mr..John Amadio, were there. Mayor and Mrs, J. W. Beanland told the visitors how delighted Ohristchurch was at the influx of music’s greatest exponents-in their various branches-and added that they all had a great deal in common. Mr. Victor Peters spoke appropriately for local musicians, For 3YA Mr. J. Mackenzie, station director, told the visitors just how much broadcasting officials valued such an opportunity for

_ a mutual exchange of ideas. It was a very happy turn-out. Television: "TN radio I miss the sight of my audience, and I miss being able to see just how I am ‘going over.’ Only through fan letters and telephone calls ean I gauge the popularity or otherwise of my work"’-thus Miss Dora Lindsay in a chat with the "Radio Record’s" Christchurch representative the

other day. ‘The mgreporter ‘asked the comedienne how radio was affecting the stage, "Television, I think, will almost displace flesh and blood stage performances," was her reply. Miss Lindsay added: that she meant her remarks to apply to variety work only. On the other hand, in the meantime broadcasting was helping the stage. She found ‘when she was recently with the Long Tack Sam Company, people went to the theatre to see what she was really like.