A Musical "Hunch" Which Failed

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 21, 4 December 1936, Page 19

A Musical "Hunch" Which Failed

Beatrice Pugh Missed Out on Queen of Song: in the Melbourne CupMichael Head’s Recitals Considered as "Classics" by 2YA Listeners | -Octogenarian Prefers ’Planes to Cars.

Not long after her. triumphant tour of New Zealand national radio stations, Miss Beatrice Pugh, soprano, found herself among the race crowd on Melbourne Cup Day. With just a hint of superstition in the. air, she took the musician’s choice and backed Queen -of Song with a modest five bob, according sto a letter received last week from her by an official of 8YA. She missed the bus! Her chatty note goes on to talk of Jean Batten,. and then Miss Pugh mentions her own flight from Christchurch to Wellington to fulfil North Island engagements. It was wonderful flying over the snow-capped ° Kaikouras, she says, and she remarks that while broadcasting a talk recently from 4QG, Brisbane, she told .Aus-. tralians a good deal about New Zealand. Miss Pugh winds up by saying that New Zealand is well ahead of Australia in broadcasting, especially in the presentation of plays. How’s that? AFTER _ listening to Michael Head’s recent recitals from 4YA, one must involuntarily class them as classics. It is not often that such an accomplished musician. who can vara his

entertainment by introducing vocal numbers to his own accompaniment, | visits these parts, so it is pleasing to find. the broadcasting authorities taking advantage. of. those who are available. Not only: did Mr. Head sing and play, but, in-a chatty style, gave his Own annotations before. . the presentation of. each nuneber. The inclusion of several of his own songs in the recitals gave listeners the chance. of judging for themselves his added ability as a composer of some standing. : "[ VE: come to see the . place those marvellous. programmes hail from!" Station 3YA officials looked up from their desks one morning last week when these words issued from: the lips of a very old lady, who was accompanied by her daughter. This distinguished visitor turned out to be Mrs. -B. Reid, .of Reid Street, Blaketown;: West Coast. To the station director;: and others, Mrs. Reid explained that she had listened to-3YA for quite a longtime, and had always been anxious. to see just howithings were:.done ..

in the studios. In the course of con-. versation it leaked out that her ripe old age was 89 and that she did not luse spectacles for anything. Believe ‘it or not, she has a horror of the motorcar, but‘is game to take on.a sky-ride, and hopes tobe in the passenger’s Seat of an aeroplane ,ere.long. ° The staff took her and her daughter all over the big building, and her interest in everything she heard and saw was of the keenest. Mrs. Reid knows quite a lot about modern radio, and told the staff all the virtues of her set, from ‘which, she says, she gains the greatest of pleasure. ‘"Mark,you," she, added, "it’s 3YA ‘that I listen to most, hence my. visit." Lo Whao’s . Right? QscaR WILDE’S famous play, ‘The Importance of Being Ernest," presented from 8YA the other Sunday night, by Miss Marjorie Bassett and company, was something "out of the box." It was: finely acted and spoken and every member of the cast gave an, excellent performance. The celebrated "questionnaire" gives the impression that Monday

is the best night for play presentations, and so the representative of the "Radio Record" sought a few authoritative opinions. The impression he gained was that Sunday is by far and away. the-best night ‘for the "better.-class of play. Still, it’s-all a: matter of Opin-ion,-but we. believe that,;-as most families, in Christchurch at least, join up for the evening meal on Sunday, with a spot of radio to follow, it should be the best evening in the whole week ‘for becoming a trifle serious. Oh well, let’s see what the new director has to say about it! "Fetters-Not Fritters" A HIGHLIGHT in the week's programme at 8YA, Christchurch, was a talk: by that noted research worker, Dr, J. B. Condliffe, formerly of Canterbury University College, who told listeners quite a lot about world trade. . While his talk naturally appealed mostly to the business man and the economist, many members of the general public: found in it something distinctly new to-think about. But whatever the subject, there.is bound. to be some irresponsible who will -never, never take anything seriously. In this jinstancejAt was-a well-known

Christchurch. ‘business man .Wwho remarked to: athe "Radio Record" .that the- title quite properly could "have. ‘been "World Trade ‘in’:Fritters," instead of "Fetters," as Dr. Condliffe had ‘ted Victorian rPuERE is. a--vast body of "international relation- : ship" workers known as the Victoria League, which has branches all over the Eng-lish-speaking world. In Christchurch it is particularly strong. Local members, therefore, will welcome ‘a chat’ from. 8YA’s microphone on Tuesday, December 8, by Miss Drayton, C.B.E., of London, organising gen. eral secretary of the Victoria League, who will take us her subject "Oloser Union Among British Subjects through the. Victoria League and Kindred Societies." , 2 All For. Health YOMMENDED in a radio speech recently by the Zovernor-General of New Zealand, Lord Galway, the Health Stamp campaign is. now in the full flush of suecess. . It will. be aided further in Christchurch when the Christchurch Orpheus (Continued. on next page.)

Choir will give a concert in the St. James Theatre on December 9. ‘The first portion will be relayed by 3YA. This choir went to the big Dunedin contest recently and got -itself talked about-for. its musical abilities, of course. It contains many of the leading singers of Christchurch. city. Voice Returns A FAMILIAR voice ‘in the early days of 4YA, but one that had almost been forgotten in recent years was- again heard at the microphone last week, when the station relayed from the Municipal Baths the chief events on the carnival programme arranged in connection with the visit of the Australian swimmers. The ‘ voice belongs to Mr. Doug Thomson, who was at one time the station’s regular Rugby football announcer at the Saturday afternoon ‘ matches. Mr. Thomson discontinued his work at the microphone for some years to make his reappearance as the commentator at the swimming. His descriptions, as usual, were‘clear and concise, and those who recognised him welcomed him back on the air, About Bridge LTHOUGH we ‘have no Ely Culbertson in New Zealand, in Auckland there is a well known:authority on the intriguing game of bridge-contract and otherwise, This is Mr. Charles L. Eastgate, of Auckland. In a talk which he is to give from 1YA at 9.5 on Friday, December 11, Mr. Eastgate will speak on the evolution of bridge. So, all you bridge fiends, listen-in and see what you can learn, _ Still Waiting | . © far as Dunedin is concerned at least, the report and recommendations, if things have reached that stage yet, of the B station valuers, who were in town some weeks ago having a look over the local stations, have: remained secret. None of the . Station owners has-so far received the slightest hint regarding proposals for his plant. They are still in the same position they were before the Government took a hand in matters -they know nothing. Wool Sale Broadcast _ HE first wool sale-of the new season in New Zealand was described in a special broadcast on relay from 1YA last Saturday between 9 and 10 a.m, This ; was. held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. Listeners could plainly hear ‘the auctioneer yelling out in response to ' the offers of the excited buyers who -eried out in disunity. Although not very entertaining, the broadcast was of interest to those people who have never heard a wool sale. For the Kiddies O popular have Dorothy and Neddo ' proved at the children’s sessions from 1ZB ‘that they have found it necessary to extend these sessions by 15 minutes. Phis ‘is all because the birthday greetings have reached such an enormous total. The Sessions now run from 5 p.m. to 6.15 p.m. daily. Most entertainers know that ‘children are the hardest to keep amused and more harder to "fool" than grownups. The. children. recognise subterfuge — quickly, but Dorothy ‘and Neddo fortu- ~ Mately possess ‘that sincerity when speak-

ing to the kiddies that their popularity was. assured from the start. Dorothy sings aud. plays to: them; while Neddo, With His dancing, singing and Swanee ‘whistle ‘items, provide novelties that make this session varied and interesting. Radio Brings Death 1B discussing the unfortunate death of a 10-year-old boy who was electrocuted when he touched a faulty earth wire connected to a radio set at his home in Epsom last Thursday, a well-known radio technician suggested that all earth wires connected to receivers might be insulated. He said that in last week’s case, had the earth connection been of the proper re-sistance-10 ohms or less-the leakage between the radio set and the power line would have caused the fuse in the house to blow, thus disconnecting the circuit. Tt was unfortunate, he said, that so many people thought that no precautions were necessary in the installation of radio, sets. These people failed to realise that while the sets themselves might be quite ' safe the flexible wires connecting the sets

to the power mains were 230 volts above the potential of the ground, and any connection made between these flexible lines and the earth itself, or any conducting medium which itself was connected to earth, would result in the passing of a current proportional to the resistance of the circuit. . Many Tributes VERY local body in © Christchurch haying anything to do with the arts has, at one time or another during the last few weeks, spoken officially of the great services to.culture and education of Professor James Shelley, Director of Broadcasting, and he has been the : recipient of "numerous and costly gifts," as Gillie Potter so happily puts it. The latest felicitations to the professor, at the time of going to Press, were from the Christchurch Rotary Club. Always looked to for something snappy in the way of speeches, Mr, B, Hitchcock, the president, remarked that everyone knew the "glee with which the professor seized every opportunity for arguing with Government officials!" An ‘educator had‘ been des.

ceribed as'a’person who cast artificial. pearls before real swine, said Mr. Hitch-. cock, but what about one who broad-. casts? he asked. Whateyer Professor Shelley’s policy was, there would certainly be nothing static in it! Records and Photos pre arrangement. between +ZO,°Dunedin, and 2ZR, Nelson, to exchange records is-proving of benefit to both stations. Already 4ZO haa broadeast and returned to Nelson a batch of 140 records which were sent down south on loan, and _ the northern station is at present making use of 100 discs from the Dunedin studio, Both stations are finding these temporary additions to their libraries distinct assets, giving as they do further variations to the programmes broadcast in each town. .The Dunedin station also has some 500 personally autographed photographs of Wee Willie Davis for distribution. Although: the- wrestling season is

fast closing, there are still many interested persons who are inquiring for these photographs and maybe, some in the north would care to write enclosing 3d. in stamps for these pictures, or perhaps of Boesch, some of whose are still available. Dancers, Please Note HERE’S nothing like a change, even in dance music. On Saturday, December 12, the dance _ programme from 1¥A is to be dispensed by the dance band at El Rey Night Club, well out in the suburbs. The band at this well-known and popular club is to play modern dance music from 10.10 to 11.15 p.m. Season’s Farewell WHILe some musical bodies in Christchurch are busy making their farewells as active participants in instrumental and vocal work for the season, others are in the height of their year’s proerammes. Last week the Christchurch Orchestral Society presented the _ final concert of the 1936 season in the Radiant Hall, with Mr. Will Hutéhens as conductor, and Mrs. Harold Cordery. as soloist, .The orchestra presented, among — other items, "Menin Gate Vision," com- — posed by Mr, Perey Nicholls and orches-

;trated by Mr.. _Artinag Lilly, both: of Christchurch. -On the other hand the ‘Laurian. Club, under the presidency of ‘Mr.. Harold Beck, gave its second con--cert, appropriately including a number by Michael Head, who has ‘been sq popular as a contributor to broadcasts by the -national radio stations, Those Maori Names! AOME of the announcers that haye recently arrived from Australia and. are now heard from 1ZB are finding pronunciation of certain’ Maori names. extremely difficult. In a recént children’s session there was reference: to "Cow High". Street’in Auckland, which local listeners probably promptly. identified as Kowhai Street. In’the same session the correct pronunciation of Te Atatu presented another difficulty. There would no doubt have been’an even greater. dif--ficulty had the place namés been either Kaukapakapa or Ngaruawahia! After Sister’ NHE Helmrich family is in the limelight in two ways at least. Not long ago Miss Dorothy Helmrich delighted New Zealand with her appearances ‘at national stations’ microphones.. Now her brother, Dudley Helmrich, who is manager of the. Australian swimmers, is to follow in sister's foot-. steps with a microphonic word or two. On December 14 he will speak from 8YA on all sorts of things, with swimming, of course, uppermost in his mind. Only Holidays ‘NEW announcing voice. caused Dunedin people to wonder at the apparent addition to the’ announcing staff at 4YA. "Of course," they said, "this is the result of the 40-hour week; there must be another man to help keep down the hours of the others." Many considered him an asset to the list of microphone men who are already familiar speakers from the station, but now they are wondering why his voice has ceased as abruptly as it began. The truth ie that he was transferred from Christchurch for a fortnight while one of the regular Dunedin announcers departed on* annual Jeave. Now he is back in the Cathedral City: carrying on the good work from the stations there, while Dunedin’s ~ holidaying. announcer has returned to his position at the microphone, Professor Honoured GEVENTEEN organisations, 18 of them yoceal or choral, three drama and one fine arts, were freely represented in Christchurch the other night when Professor James Shelley, Director of Broadcasting, was presented with a lounge chair, in appreciation of his services to art in New Zealand. "We will find a substitute, no doubt, but we will never be able to replace him," eaid Mr. Roy Twyneham for:the’ Canterbury Repertory Society. .Other.speakers were Messrs, A. G. ‘Thomson, ‘condictor. of the Christ- * church Musical -Society,..and Sydney LL." Thonipson, for’ the ‘Canterbury Society of Arts. One speaker’ claimed that. Profes- | sor Shelley and .Van der. Velden, one an educationist and ‘the other a painter, had sdone more: for the fine arts in New Zea- ' land ‘than’ anyone .. ‘else. "Professor Shel- © ‘ley. expressed the appreciation felt. by himself. and .Mrs..-Shelley- of. the recognition of whatever work: he, had been, able* to’ do,