Kissed Before a Packed House

Radio Record, 4 September 1936, Page 19

Kissed Before a Packed House

Young 8YA Official on a Fuss at Christchurch Charity Concert-Support from Christchurch Musicians for Broadcast Interest in ConcertsHer Last Word was "Whang."

'THERE’S .one young official of 3YA, Christchurch, who is not as bashful as some of his superior officers when it comes to giving the perfect auswer to a lady’s charms. It was his duty, at the big charity concert in Christchurch the other night, to step on the stage and hand real live bouquets to celebrated overseas artists. Immaculately dressed, he presented flowers most solemnly to Thea Philips. The next bunch went to Dora Lindsay, the Scots comedienne, who immediately flung her arms round his neck and kissed him. He returned the embrace. Savoir faire, you know! The audience of 1400 fairly shrieked its delight when Miss Lindsay rushed after our young man and handed him a pot-plant or two by way of reciprocity. Wileen Royd then kissed 3YA when she accepted the station’s flowers and the scream came when she took an embracing shot at Harold Beck, 3YA orchestra conductor. In appearance, Harold was not quite so happy about it, for Miss Irene Morris, first violin in his orchestra, was only a yard of two away! Miss Morris is Mrs. Beck!! R. MALCOLM SARGENT stated in Wellington the other day that it was rather a fine point to determine how far broadeasting

organisations could go in the matter of public econeerts. Christchurch musicians think it would be a very good idea if the National Service: adopted the _ Australian procedure of starring artists on the coneert platform as well. as on .the air, Dr. J.-C. Bradshaw, president of the Christehurch Music Teachers’ Association, gave his unqualified approval of the service’s using . the. stage also, and Mr. Ernest Jenner, lecturer in musie at the Christehureh Training College, remarked that impresarios and the service could come to some business agreement by which coneerts could be given from the platform. While Dr. Sargent ‘gave no final opinion either way, the views éf the Christchureh ‘musiéians are distinetly interesting. R. BOB McKENZIE, the popular football announcer from 4YA, who punctuates his. descriptions so often with the word "wwhang," that it might be attached to him as a nickname,. tells the. following story :-Thé other day he met

a certain reverend gentleman, who had _ just buried one of his parishoners, an old lady who had been in bed for a long time. Every Saturday afternoon the old lady took pleasure in listening to the football matches. They became so much a part of her dying days that she was very eager for Saturday to come each week. Now she listens no more, but "I am given to understand," says Mr. McKenzie, "that her last word as she lay dying was ‘whang.’" Greatest Show OURTEEN hundred people went wild in their enthusiasm at the Civic Theatre, Christchurch, the other | night, when overseas artists, under’ contract to the National Broadcasting Service, presented a charity concert, supported by the 8YA orchestra, conducted by Harold Beck. And that’s not bad for solemn Christchurch! The theatre was booked out long before the show. The plan opened on the Fri--day and by 10 a.m. the next day not a seat was left. Everybody paid. YA officials and all. It was no wonder when the programme took in 38YA orchestra, Vincent Ryan, Thea Philips, Dave Howard, Dora Lindsay, Clarence B. Hall, Hileen Boyd, Freddy Cholmondeley and Senia Chostiakoff. It

A wag the greatest show Christchurch has seen and heard yet! — Au Revoir. FYTER a fortnight’s stay in -Dunedin, Madame Florence Austral and Mr. John Amadio, two of:-the greatest artists brought to New Zealand: by the National Broadcasting Service, have concluded a highly successful engagement by the service. At the close of the final recital from 4YA Mr: Amadio voiced the pleasure the tour had given them both. "We have not only enjoyed the beauties of this wonderful country-my own native land-but the genuine hospitality and kindness shown ‘to us by the many friends we have met," said Mr. Amadio. "As we hope we miiy again be with you at some time, we will not say ‘good-bye,’ but ‘au revoir.’ " More Stars O sooner is one charity concert over in Christchurch than 3YA- officials are busily programme-arranging for the next, which will be at the Radiant Gall on September 15. This time Hileen Joyce, brilliant young Australian pianist, will be associated with the Christchurch Orchestral Society, con-

ducted by Mr. Will Hutchens. In addition to being heard in a concerto with the orchestra, Miss Joyce will present a bracket of piano solos at this concert. Her other recitals from 3YA will be on September 9, 11 and 13. Competitions URING the Dunedin Competitions Society’s annual festival, which concludes with two demonstration concerts at the end of this week, listeners to 4YA have been kept well posted with results. Regularly every day the results of the morning and afternoon sessions were broadcast. as soon as they were received, and provision was made to carry out relays of some of the evening recall performances from His Majesty’s Theatre. Several times during the last fortnight scheduled programmes have been broken for an interval while extra items on relay from the competitions have been given. Friends of the competitors, whose voices were broadcast, as well as casual — listeners, _ would (Continued on next page).

. naturally -be- thankful for the additional entertainment .thus provided. Comedians "Go Big" OMEDIANS at the last charity concert in Christchurch, Fred‘dy Cholmondeley and Vincent Ryan,. will pay -a return visit to 3YA after their Dunedin season, and will be heard from the studio on September 10, 12, and 14. The other day Vincent Ryan conducted @ children’s community sing in the Civie Theatre and got a couple of ‘thousand hands. The management ‘hopes he wiil be able to conduct another sing on September 10-so do the kiddies! initial Appearance A NEW singer made her appearance at 1YA last week. This was a-so-prano, Mrs. H. Reffell, who sang four Montague Phillips compositions. In her jnitial broadcast from 1YA she sang with taste and great artistic treatment, Interference HE fact that nine sales out of ten * are now of dual-wave receivers was mentioned by an Auckland radio engineer last week. He went on to discuss the unfortunate position that exists in connection with radio interference on ‘shortwave sets. Since the passing of the Radio Interference Regulationgs in 1984, he said. the Post Office had-made it quite clear to listenets that interference on shortwave was not the business of the Post Office. This was also true regarding B stations, the. P. and T. Department adopling. the attitude that as long as local stations could be received, this was all that listeners were entitled to Com. plaints by dealers in Auckland to the effect that there was no variety ib programmes from loca] stations were always met by a reply that alternative programmes Were available. In view of this, it is hard to understand how

the Post Office can disclaim responsibility for jnterference elim nation coneerning stations other than the local one. Possibly listeners can expect some relief now that the Government is sympathetic and not antagonistic to B stations. On the Ball SOMEBODY'S bound to bawl "On the Ball" in Christchurch and elsewhere when 3YA broadcasts big games from Lancaster Park this month. The matches will be Canterbury y. West Coast on September 12, Canterbury v. Australia on September 19, ahd Canterbury y.° Wellington on September 26. The station’s announcers Will be on the job with expert running commentaries. Full House HEN Big Brother Bill conceived the ‘idea of an annual children’s community sing he did not realise that the session would grow more popular every year. In the beginning one of the city theatres was large enough to accommodate the sing.ug children, but the next year the Jargest theatre available was too small for the crowd that turned up, so the following year it was decided to engage the Dunedin Town Hali. This has been the rendezyous ever since, and now even its 3000 seats are becoming too few for the number of children attending. This year’s sing was held last week, when the hall was packed,- and everyone spent a happy hour. Big Brother Bill was fortunate in securing the services of Miss Anita Winkel’s (Aunt Anita) pupils, who added a little variety to the entertainment. Now the question is: Where is Brother Bill going to put all the children next year? , Indoor Band HE final indoor concert for the season will be given by the Auckland Municipal Band in the Town Hall on Sunday, September 20. This is to take

the form of a request concert. Already the conductor, Mr. T. J. O'Connor, has received hundreds‘ of requests and bas selected a fine progrumme tu play. On the sume night 1YA, which is to relay the bund recital, will also present tlie well-known play, "The Circle." -‘Tiis should help to satisfy those listeners who want-such productions-on Sundays, For the Deaf Radi O aids for the deaf are now being placed on the market in Auckland. The latest apparatus, which is eatremely efficient and. is capable of tremendous amplification, was designed by Mr. G. O. Hart, A.M.JI.0.B., technical manager of Johns, Limited, following the devotion of considerable time and study by him to this subject. Impressionistic HB .one-act impressionistic play, "The.Axe and the Oak Tree," by Mr. -J. A. §. Coppard, :the Auckland playwright, who has had several of his

plays accepted ang produced in England and Scotland, is to be produced by the author in the studio of 1YA on Monday. September 14. When this play Was .presented in Auckland recently, critics were amazed.at its. originality and the genius displayed by the author. A fine cast has been chosen, Brilliant Cornetist ON LY 12 years of age, Ted Fleetwood, of Whakatane, journeyed to, Auckland last week to keep an engagement at 1YA. On Saturday he gave a cornet recital which caused much" comment

PETE TE UE Ot tte 2 deb Sb 28 de ae VMN BUSIRE! Won Again Ray Trewern’s Voice On Top en corer ° JFURTHER honours were added to Ri:y Trewern’s record last week in the Wellington Town Hall when he came out on top in the Operatic Aria section of the Wellington Competitions. This fine tenor has been heard far too, seldom. over. the air, even since his. success at the Ballarat Competitions last year against all comers, and-the broadcast of his numbers from 2YA last Saturday . night proved that he has nothing the matter with him where suita- . bility for the microphone is con- . cerned. Only one point behind the winner, Mrs. A. .C. Barton, of Geraldine, also put up a fine performance, her voice .coming over . the air. as effectively as the tenor’s, -His enunciation and appreciation of inflection and phrasing left no doubt that he is streets ahead of many who enter for these contests with only a vague knowledge-or less ---of the aria and opera which they choose to sing. Congratu‘lations.are more. than ever in order. [RH ENEURUBUEUEIENE SUSUBURNSU BRIA SURPLUS BU RUB RN UE BLSH RH

on. account of the brilliance of his playing. Already he has won the boys’ open championship at a major bands contest. He possesses a gloriously rich tone for one so young, and he is hailed as a coming champion, Successful Narrator HB ° well-known pianist and. conductor of the Auckland Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Club’s

Choir, Mr. Harry Woolley, made his debut -before the microphone at 1YA when he acted as narrator for the complete recorded presentation «. of ‘Strauss’s: opera, "Der Rosenkavalier." He made. a good job of it, too, for his enunciation was clear and he imparted his knowledge of the tuneful opéra w vith clarity and decisiveness. Good: Conductor " A: ‘CONDUCTOR who would meet with success in any of. the* best theatres. of the world"-is. chow ' Miss

Thea Philips spoke of Mr. Harold Beck, conductor of 3YA orchestra, last week. The soprano added that it was exceedingly pleasing for visiting artists to know that. they had the support of such a competent conductor and such an excellent orchestra. Success of "Macbeth" HE suecess of "Macbeth," presented from 1YA last Sunday -by Professor W, A, Sewell, Professor of English at Auckland University College, was not only due to the exeellent east and their fine portrayals of difficult roles, but to , the fact that so much extensive detail work in connection with voice- ’ placing in front of the microphones and the selection of the effects and incidental musie, was done beforehand. Many hours were spent in rehearsals, ‘The musis. was of the right type to create the necessary atmosph¢re for the various scenes. Fine Play AST week’s presentation of the historical play "Joan: of Arc," produced in the studio of IYA by Zoe Bartley-Baxtey, was really outstanding, The performance was even a big improvement on the earlier presentation two years ago by the same combination. The various characters were excellently portrayed by the large cast, a feature of the production being the synchronisation of music and effects. Interview WHEREVER there are stars you wil! find the ubiquitous autograph hunter, The other day two Christchurch boys, Colin Rowse and Clifton Cook, interviewed Miss Thea Philips in search of her signature. One of’ them timidly explained that he had written a number of songs. He went further, He suggested that Miss Philips might hear them-evyen sing them, This piece of enterprise may have results which will be heard of later. , Hospital Radio ’ So far no finality has been reached by the Auckland Hospital Board regarding the installation of radio — equipment in the big Wallace Wards. The latest move by the board is to call in a consulting engineer to advise

on the tenders received for the work: The other big hospital radio job, that: of installing the latest equipment in the Mater Miseracordiae Hospital, is almost completed. The final linking up of receivers. and earphones is now being done by Johns Limited. More than 70 receiving points have been fitted in the building, and when the installation is complete. first-class reception will be available to every patient, . Appreciation HE charity concert for the orphanages of Christchurch, broadcast by 38YA last week, will probably net just on £1000 when all accounts are squared up and all the money ig in. The promoters are more than pleased with the result. Mr. J. L. Hay, in a chat with the "Radio Record’s" representative in Christchurch, said that the response from the country districts had been remarkable and contributions had come in from all over the South Island. "We appreciate particularly the work of the

INot GILBERT: ‘THE FILBERT Another Comedian For N.Z. Tour ‘ANOTHER humorous entertain- : er will be added this week to '. the number of comedians imported --by the National Broadcasting | Service this year. His name is. .. Arthur Hemsley, best known io Sydney listeners as "Mr. Filbert" -no connection with Gilbert the Filbert-author of the series of that name from 2UE, He was due in Wellington on August 31. Mr. H. was born in Manches-. ter, studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music, played. in ‘stock, Dickens, musical comedy, | and then began in variety sketch- + es in all the London music halls | with his wife, Elsa Brull. They: also played in’ Berlin, Paris, Vienna, many times in South Africa, and. in India and Australia, where he has been, off and _on, for 18 years. v ’ He and his wife were practically the pioneers of Lancashire humour on the stage in Aus-"-tralia; no doubt New Zealand ° ‘audiences will remember. "A © . Lancashire Couple at a Football Match" and at a race meeting, — ‘and. so. on, Another popular . sketch’ was of a Cockney father © and mother surrounded .by an’ imaginary. family.at the seaside. | ‘Mr. Hemsley has played for-the © A.B.C, in almost everything from | variety to Shakespeare; perhaps "his greatest success theze was when he played. Willie Mossop in "tHebson's Choice’’ with Ada . Reeve. Has a daughter aged sixteen. In her very young days they took her round with a Plunket .nurse -that idea should appeal to New ‘Zealanders. And. we still don’t know whether he is related to Harry Hemsley. © See next week.

artists and the National Broadcasting Service and its officers in Christchurch," he remarked. Rebroadcast AVE ENY effort was made by the technical staff of 4ZM to give listeners the best possible rebroadcast .of the Auckland reception to the Rev. C. G.

Scrimgeour the other Sunday night. A receiving set was installed in the St. Clair locality, and on the night before the rebroadcast tests were carried out with 1ZB and 1ZM. They did not give the technicians much eneouragement for the morrow, as heavy static spoilt reception of both stations, so everyone prayed for rain to clear the air. Luck was with them, as light

rain did fall late that night, and was sufficient to quieten the atmospherics, so that when 1ZB was picked up the next night reception was much better than anyone had dared hope. The complete broadcast from the Auckland Town Hall was handed on to Dunedin listeners by 4ZM, and very little of what was said was missed by an attentive audience.