Old "Sidcuppians" Get Together

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 9, 11 September 1936, Page 19

Old "Sidcuppians" Get Together

Station Director and Dave Howard Both Born in the Same Village- | ‘Eileen. Boyd Provides Church-goers with Special Solo-Christ-church’s Regret at Losing Professor Shelley.

HE conversation in the 4YA studio the other morning was, following genera] lines. when the station director mentioned. to Daye Howard, the English saxophonist, that he spent. his early life in Hngland., The _ visiting, artist was: naturally interested to learn that here was a man in Dunedin who came from the same country as himself, and he showed a desire to learn more about his fellow-, countryman. When ‘he. discovered that the director had.’ once lived in Kent, . the saxophonist’, betameé ‘more curious, "I was born in Kent," he said. "What part were-you' in?" "A little. place

ealled Sideup," was the reply, that caused Dave to hastily add with a good deal of pleasure: "I was born in Sidcup." Whereupon the two entered into a. more confined conversation on their..recollections of their birthplace. WHENEVER a visiting artist appears at 4YA there is usually:some local organisation which dest#es to engage‘ the performer’s services. for, some object of its own, In-most -eases, if the artist is. still under engagement to the National ‘Broadcasting Service, permission is given for an appearance other: than at the radio -station, and ‘in: thus allowing: others to have ‘the benefit of its artists the service is to be warmly tliank- ’ ed. The last to be gi’anted per-

mission to sing elsewhere was Miss’ Kileen Boyd, Australian contralto, who. was heard in a special solo at the Sunday morning service at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. — REAT tributes to his work’ as a cultural enthusiast in. New Zealand, and the heartiest congratulations on his appointment have been paid by numerous Christchurch bodies during the last few days to Professor James Shelley,. the new Director of Broadcasting. Canterbiry College has received -his resignation: with the’ greatest regret, and members have expressed the opinion that the Dominion.as a Whole is to be congratulated on getting the very best man for the job. Christchureh ‘and its various drama groups are going to miss the stimulus and inspiration of his presence very seriously when, -next December, he takes up residence in Wellington. In. the Country "| KNOW of many a country mother who so arranges her ironing day that when’ she is smoothing out the homely garments, she may be listening to an interesting address on the radio." This -interesting remark. came last week from Mrs. W. I. Carpenter, when country girls came to the city for an educational course. The women listened to the ‘lessons. broadcast by teachers in the colleges.and they were most grateful for such opportunities, the speaker added. Two names she specially mentioned were those of Miss M. A. Blackmore and Professor James Shelley, for the encouragement country drama groups always received from him. Classics Again GTATION 3YA Christchurch has set aside September 15 for a musical presentation of the classies by Eileen Joyce, the famous young pianist, and the Christehureh Orchestral Society, conducted by Mr. Will Hutchens. This will be the principal part of the evening’s programme. Rehearsals are now in full swing and the Radiant Hall will be used for the performance. N.Z. Flavour [DOMINION DAY broadeasting in Christchurch on September 28 will have a strong New Zealand flavour, for ‘ pupils of St." Mary’s Convent School, about 30 of them, will present a session of choral. verse-speaking. Works of New Zealand authors will be presented, and they will include "The March of Te Rauparaha" (Thomas Bracken) and poems of historieal, interest by Mona Tracy, Jessie Mackay and Hileen' Duggan. The ‘pupils have made’ a very careful study of the effects to be obtained from

choral verse-speaking and _ listeners will hear a Matinetly, fascinating performance. . 1YA’ Studio’ *'- HAVE a wonderful impression of ‘a beautiful studio ‘in Auckland." said M. Senia Chastiakoff during his stay in Dunedin. He was chatting in the 4YA lounge to an interviewer when he made this statement, adding. that in his opinion it is.-not only the best studio in New Zealand,.. but is not equalled. in. Australia,, Jay was very proud to sing there," he finished with a smile. My Ain Folk T feels marvellous to be- doon her amang my ain folk in Dunedin," said Dora Lindsay, when she first ar-

rived at 4Y¥A, but she was to learn that it, was to be even, more like home as the days passed. The combined Scottish societies lost no time in getting in touch with the visiting Scot. and in a short while she had been "roped in" to appear at a big’ Scots’ night in the Town Hall on Thursday, September 10. By that date Dora’s contract with the National Broadcasting ‘Service will have expired, and she is, of course, looking forward to. appearing at this Scots’ night, which will be, in the-main, a "communitysinging session. Two New. Voices FFICIALS of all national broadeasting stations are ever on the look-out for promising material in the way of voices-male’ or female-and musical and elocutionary competitions provide a wide field. Last week, from 8YA, Mrs. Charles O’Keefe, of Ashburton, mezzo-contralto, was heard, and early in October Miss Alice Olliver, of Christchurch, contralto, will face the microphone. Both these singers came to musical light at the Ashburton competitions, where they fought out an interesting contest. In fact, two points divided them in the final in Miss Olliver’s favour. It is -yare that station officials’ judgment is at*fault. It is generally confirmed by actual performance. Still Talking O much interest was taken in Canterbury in the Ranfurly Shield match at Dunedin, that 3YA_ trebroadcast the description of the game so that everyone would have an opportunity of hearing all that was going

on, Outside shops in Christchurch, -in the city hostelries, billiard rooms, and other places where men congregate, as well as in private homes, nothing else was talked of. When the game started, Canterbury put its chest out and settled down to a game of "wait and see.’ The result? Well, they’re still talking in the city of the plains! Congratulations TF Mr. Bob McKenzie replied by letter to every message hé receives, both during and_ between broadeasts for 4YA, he would have need to employ a private seeretary. All these messages are of a highly

flattering nature, containing apprecjative expressions, such as the following, taken from one communication which was addressed from Christchurch to "Mr. ‘Whang’ MeKenzie": "May I take this opportunity of adding this letter of appreciation te the dozens you must receive, congratulating you on the splendid broadeasts you put over? I must give you pride of place for New Zealand-snappy and most interesting, and not a dull moment. Carry on the good work, and the best ef luck, and thanks for the great pleasure you give to so many lis-teners-in." Novelty Appreciated (CHRISTCHURCH listeners, at any rate, greatly appreciated the enterprise which prompted the broadcast of the two-way conversation between the Union Steam Ship Company’s new express liner, Awatea, and the shore, Engine-room noises, giving 4 remarkably fine atmospheric idea of the scene in the "soul" of the luxury ship, came through excellently and the whole proadeast was admirably arranged. Novelties of this Sort make modern

radio increasingly acceptable to the thousands whose main idea of entertainment is variety. Swimmer A® he is a keen swimmetr, Vincent Ryan, the Australian comedian, is anxious to try out the swimming facilities wherever he goes. In Christchurch he met a pressman who took him ito all the best bathing spots near at hand, and when the comédian left for Dunedin he carried with him a letter of introduction to a Dunedin reporter, who showed him the run of the ropes at the Municipal Baths, Vineent Ryan has also achieved some reputation as a conductor of community sings-he conducted 450 in two and a half years in Australia-and so was asked to take charge of things at the Town Hall last Friday. It is also probable that he will be leading a sing at Oamaru this week. Trust a Journalist! W/HEN an embarrassing moment comes along, trust @ journalist to turn it to good account. Ar. Leicester Webb was giving one of his chats on "World Affairs" from 3YA the other night when there was a temporary power failure. "ello, everyone,’ he remarked on resuming, "I was starting to teli you about the Russian Secret Police when I’m afraid I was interrupted. That just shows you how powerful they are!" Yes, presence of mind is a great asset. Hail, Harmonica! Jrour years ago Mr. Perce Skinner, of Christchurch, started a mouth-’ organ band and the complement was a mere six of these only-recently ‘"developed" instruments. To-day, Perce

Skinner’s Harmonica Band has 384 players. togged out in a special uniform of white jackets with red facings, white shirt, black bow tie and_ black trousers-plus, of course, the necessary etceteras. Proficiency on the mouthorgan: 1ust be. the watehword.- before membership of. this band cam. be

achieved and Mr, Skinner is the judge. Mr. G. 'C. Wilson is the conductor, and seven accordions give body to the band’s work, Ordinary Hohner instruments are used, with banks of sopranos, tenors and basses, and the effect is just great! Five numbers will be heard from 3YA on September 14, Concert Tours ALTHOUGH MU. Senia Chostiakoff concluded his radio engagement in New Zealand with a jinal concert in Wellingtn this week, following his Dunedin season, the Russian tenor will not be leaving the country for some time yet. He neat hastens to Invercargill, where he will appear with the Male Choir

there, afierwards visiting Oamaru and Rotorua, and in October beginning another tour of the Dominion with Vincent Ryan, the Australian comedian, but this time on the concert platform. South Africa is also icaiting to hear the Russian, who yoes there after his second tour here. He has already been engaged jor broadcasting in South Africa, and will later journey to England to sing for the B.B.C, Savage HEN the Christchurch Savage Club takes the public into its confidence on September 17, and explains, on the stage and by broadcast, just what happens beyond the mysterious veil of Sav--agery, Mr, Harold Prescott, the Greymouth tenor, will be one of the artists. He is pooked to sing also in the ballad section of BYA’s programme the following evening. For Old-timers OR the benefit of people who enjoy the long-night old-time dance sessions, 8YA will broadcast on relay, on

September 19, all the doings at the Ritz Ballroom, Colin Campbell’s dance band will be on deck and arrangements Will be made‘to convey the actual atmosphere of the dance floor into the home. Fowl Fare S time goes on, radio service to the farming community is rapidly spreading to a wider field, City people, too, are taking a keener interest in matters of the farm and the oid idea that it must be entertainment for the city and stock reports for the country has disappeared. Both interests are Ccomning together in remarkable fashion. 3YA has received several letters of appreciation of the regular Tuesday reports of an egg-laying competition, couducted at Papanui, Progress reports are presented briefly by Mr. 8S. F. Marshall, honvrary secretary of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, who tells listeners of the Wonderful performances put up by experts’ birds, This club, by the way, has been conducting egg-laying competitions for 30 years. There is much more in the fowlyard than many people dream of! The Public Eye Miss GRACE GREEN, "the Sunshine voice of the Sunshine Station," 2ZM. Christchurch, was well in the public eye at the recent Winter Show

in the southern city, A city radio firm had had so many inquiries as to "what ‘Our Gracie’ looked like," that they offered the station a contribution if its popular announcer would appear at the firm’s stall in person during the show. The station agreed, and for the week the firm advertised the fact widely. The result was that the first night Miss Green found more than 200 people waiting to meet her. One family had travelled all the way from Southbridge for that special purpose... and one little lad cried bitterly until he was kissed "by the lady wot called his birfday." The Child Mind ATHER was on the air one night last week in a certain city. He was giving a talk. In fact he often is heard from the particular radio station, his talks being much in demand, Mother went into the room where her two small boys were in bed and told them that "Daddy" was on the air, and that they could come and listen to him if they wished. The youngest, a boy of siv, after listening for a minute or so said, "Humph, Mummy, so that is Daddy. Pure rubbish, Pure tripe. He doesn’t tell us those things." Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings!

Complaints (COMPLAINTS were made in letters to the Auckland dailies by a wellknown clergyman and others protesting against the cutting off of the children’s broadcast community singing from 1YA recently. "The ehildren and thousands of others should be considered before a few racing men," said one correspondent. "Radio, I understand, is intended to be educative and entertaining and should not be switched off to suit a few racing men and foot- " pallers," adds the writer under the nom de plume of "Radio." After stat‘ing that he did not protest against either football or racing, he added that he objected to the sports clubs "controlling our radio." He hoped that Professor Shelley would have full power to deal with what he termed "this unfair treatment of a vast majority of listeners." Servicemen AS an instance of the difficulties created by the new legislation concerning wages the experience of Auckland radio firms employing servicemen is interesting. According to the new regulations a certain standard of wages must be paid, and of course charges to clients must be fixed accordingly. This hag resulted in quite a small army of independent servicemen starting to operate at eut rates. These men are apparently satisfied with labour returns a mere fraction of those which firms pay to their servicemen. This is likely to lead to less of business unless prompt steps are taken tea control it, Disappointing UDGING by the musical and vocal numbers, especially the vocal, given by some of the prize-winners relayed through 1YA last week at the demonstration concert of the Great Northern Eisteddfod, it is to be hoped that the offerings of these performers is not: a true indication of the amateur standard in Auckland of musical and vocal talent. Listeners must have’ been shocked when they heard at least one prize winner. Such a common number as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is hardly in keeping with the standard of a festival of this nature. To say the least it was a most disappointing entertainment. Fine Pianist HEN she played the Bach "Ttalian Concerto," at YA last Friday night, Miss Margot: Trafford displayed a fine sense of apprecidtion of Bach, her playing being clean cut and entirely musicianly. This young lady, formerly well known in Takapuna, now lives in Ifamilton, where she teaches at. a well-known ladies’ college. She makes oceasional trips to Auckland and no doubt. listeners who love such good. music hope that she will be heard again from 1YA, Crime . Mucte is heard about crime these days, therefore i ‘discussion entitled "Why Crime?" which is io be heard froin 1YA at 7.80 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, ought to be interesting. Two well-known Aucklanders are to discuss the question, Dr. R. P. Anchutz, of the Auckland University College, and Mr. 0. I. Gillies, of the Auckland Training College.