PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

Radio Record, 11 March 1938, Page 18

PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

-\and:brings with it another ~ St. Patrick’s Day, broadcastets. are confronted with the proposition that "something will have to be done about it." With many.New Zealanders the Festival is accepted in a spirit of polite enjoyment, ‘but for a minority (and a rather important one notwithstanding) ~ the day has memories that go deep down into the heart, These broadcast programmes recall the memories of Ireland from every angle and for every. class. What are the dear familiar things that a Donegal stableman can share with 4 Dublin tradesman, a stableman from Mallow, a shipwright from Belfast? What is the Greatest Common Measure of tender homeland memories of a man who laid the odds at Leopardstown; a man who kept sheep on the mountains that stand up over Killarney Bay; a man who took tickets at Limerick Junction; and a woman who kept shop on the Dublin quays? The answer will be found in the hundred and one Irish National Concerts that will be in full swing throughout New Zealand on the evening of March 17. Station TYA and 2YA will relay Auckland and Wellington celebrations, respectively, and 3YA will feature a studio programme commemor- ating the great day. The modest and loneliest Irishman with a radio set will be able to indulge his patriotism to the full. ‘ AN S every March comes, round

WAS IN U.S.A. AS CONCERT SINGER

Versatile young man is Station 4ZB’s Bruce Macdonald. After leav-

ing the Stratford Boys’ High School. he joined the Public Service and, in

1922, tripped off to America to fulfil an engagement as a concert singer, A sudden illness compelled his return to New Zealand, whereupon he joined the (Continued at foot of next column.)

staff of a piano firm and was its departmental manager at Dunedin for seven years. In that period he held a good athletic record, winning a secondary school’s swimming championship, and also a diploma or two for life-saving, as well as representing his province for cricket for many years. This led him to inaugurate 4°"B’s Sports Service at the inception of that station on: his appointment to the programme staff. He is well-known to Dunedin listeners for hig Sunday evening appearances before the microphone,

Potter was a member of the first concert party to visit the Far East, and he had the unique experience of playing the Widow Twanky in a pantomine of "Aladdin" in Pekin the day the abdication of the young Emperor was announced. While playing in a pantomine at Exeter he was seen by & representative of Sir Oswald Stoll, who gave him an immediate contract for vaudeville, in which he has since made so brilliant a reputation. Gillie Potter will be heard in 3YA’s Musie, Mirth and Melody Session on Monday, March 14.

3YA DEPUTY ON | WORLD AFFAIRS.

George Bagley, who is deputising for a while at 8YA for Leicester Webb and

carrying on the fortnightly "World Atfairs" talks, had a brilliant scholastic career. He was born in Hawke’s Bay and bagged junior and senior as well as university scholarships. He took the arts and law courses and the diploma of journalism and, a brilliant French scholar, was top of New Zealand in various university examinations, His profession is journalism. When George Bagley was on an Auckland paper not so very long ago, the daughter of a Irrench count whom the reporters had been trailing for a story for long enough, dropped her handkerchief. George picked it up, ‘Merci beaucoup," said the lady. "Il n’y a pas de quoi," said he, and that formed a useful approach to the count, the quarry of newspaper men from both Auckland papers. But the others were not in the joke, and George got the scoop for his newspaper. No wonder, for the count could not speak a word of English. George

Bagley has done some remarkable human interest stories from Dutch, Chilean, German and French vessels visiting Auckland, and’ was secretary for the French Club there for several

The Rise of Gillie Potter.

When Gillie Potter came down from the University and joined the late Lewis Waller to make his debut as a super in the humble role of a cowboy in "A White Man"-Waller himself being the super-cowboy-he probably never imagined that his histrionic gifts would develop along the lines they have done. For a long time he toured the provinces in all sorts of parts in all sorts of plays, and when, recognising his bent for comedy, he was refused such characters in musical comedy to which he was attracted, he determined to enter the world of yariety. As a stepping-stone, he got into a concert party with which he appeared all over the country. At Towchester the company once performed on an improvised stage set on trestles, and four local heavy citizens held down the boards to enable a lady performer to do her dance. Later, Mr. (Continued top of next column.)

years. To his credit are the titles of play producer, actor and writer, and to-day he is on the staff of "The Press," Christchurch. It is said that he may go abroad soon, He is keen on tennis, swims and has played football, and once, in his schooldays, did a 100 yards sprint in 101-5 sec. A pretty allround man is "journalism-radio" Geeorge Bagley.

"NOTHING POOR FROM CENTRAL OTAGO"

A new "flesh and blood artist" will be heard from 4YA on March 14. This

the young "Celio player, Noel O’Kane. Noel hails from Alexandra, where she had made a name for herself for ker playing, It should be good, for she studied in Sydney, where she threw herself wholeheartedly into her work. Anyway, listeners will have a chance of proving whether the "girl from the goldfields" is as good as her advance publicity indicates. But she is sure to be good, for they say in the south that nothing poor has yet come from Central Otago.

HARDSHIPS WERE HIS PORTION.

Schubert’s history and hardships find their counterpart in the early life of

Franz Schreker, the German composer who died four years ago. He was born at Monaco on Mareh 28, 1878, and his father died when he was a boy of ten. The family then migrated to Vienna, where the mother had to support herself and four children by sewing. We are not told how, but the boy Franz acquired some musical knowledge and wrote choral works and music for orchestra. After becoming a leading personality in Vienna, Schreker, in 1920, took up the appointment as (director of the Academy of Music. at Berlin, and a year or so before his death taught a master-class of composition at the Prussian Academy of Arts, the position once held by Busoni. Many of the present-day composers in Germany were pupils of Schreker. His musie is alluring to the ear, and over all his profusion and prodigality of musical invention, he maintained a masterly grip. His suite "The Birthday of the Infanta" (founded on Oscar Wilde’s story), will be heard from 2YA on Tuesday, March 15. It will be played by the orchestra of the Berlin State Opera House,

CREW SANG THE VERSES SOFTLY.

In the old sailing days the crews of the ships sang at their work, and al-

though the refrain of the song was kept the same, a custom existed which made each man responsible for each successive verse. The result was inevitably comic, and in raising the anchor, or a heavy mast, or a heayy sail, a long time was taken over the job in the absence of electric cranes, consequently some songs or chanties ran into dozens of verses. In the hearing of the captain or passengers the men sang their snappy and ‘frequently spicy verses sotto voce, but the chorus refrain, being always respectable, was roared forth at the top of their lungs. With it all, thank God for our Jack Tars, at once the most profane and the most truly religious men, hard workers, free spenders, boisterous drinkers, deyout lovers, more faithful sweethearts and husbands than legend allows, and

staunch upholders of the best traditions of our empire. 8YA listeners will hear John Goss, baritone, and the Cathedral Male Quartet, in a selection of sea shanties on Tuesday, Mareh 15. The party gives a most vivid musical picture of those grand old times when ocean liners and wireless were unknown.

Music WAS i "J.A.'s" SOUL

Dunedin legal cir_cles had a severe loss when John AlIfred Haggitt was

visited by the "Man with the Scythe," but the musical world and also the amateur theatrical world of that city suffered as heavily. Over 35 to 40 years he was associated with every worth-while musical body: All Saints’ Choir (organist and conductor for many years), Dunedin Philharmonic Society,, . Royal Dtinedin Male Voice Choir, Orphans’ Club, Operatic Society, University Capping Orchestras, and St. John’s (Roslyn) Choir. Apart from conducting, singing and playing, Mr. Haggitt appeared in many character roles on the amateur stage, his Rajah of Bhong in "The Country Girl," and his Sergeant of the Guard in "The Geisha" being two parts that earned him considerable fame. In fact, C. N. Baeyertz who dipped his critical pen in vitriol more often than not, said of the latter performance, "It was superb

in its colossal splendour and magnificence" Just recently unable to at--tend a practice of the Royal Male "Choir, "J. A." sent along an address on choir work that will long be remembered as one of the finest writings on choir work ever penned. Music was in "J.A.’s" soul. The angels in heaven will not only be playing their harps for him, but he will be conducting them,

HOMECOMING . F THE EMPEROR.

On October 15, 1840, almost twenty ‘years after his death, the remains

of Napoleon were exhumed On Wt Helena and placéd-aboard--a@ ship that took them to. France for reburial in the Chapel of the Invalidés, under the massive tomb that one sees :there today.: According to an_ eye-witness, "when the satin sheet was raised, an indescribable feeling of surprise and affection was exhibited by the spe¢tators, most. of whom burst, into tears. The Emperor himself was before. their eyes! The features of his face, though ‘changed, were. perfectly recognisédthe hands perfectly beautiful-his well-known costume had suffered but ‘little, and the colours were easily dis-tinguished-the epaulettes, the decorations and the hat seemed to be entirely preserved from decay; the attitude itself was full of ease, and but for the fragments of the satin -lining,. which covered as with a fine gauze several parts of the uniform, it might. have been believed that Napoleon was before them, extended on a bed of state." On December 15, 1840, the body. was finally deposited in the tomb in Paris -Napoleon had come home at last. | A play entitled "Go Back, Napoleon," by Charles Porter, claims the attention of 4YA listeners on Monday, March’ 14, when it will be produced in the studio under the direction of Ernest Griffin. The play deals with an imaginary reappearance of Napoleon in present-day Eng-' and,

RADIO PLAY PRODUCER OF DUNEDIN.

One of the bestknown producers of radio plays in Dunedin is Mrs.

BH, T. Moller, and she makes a success of whatever she undertakes, She produces regularly. for a company once known over the air as the Faculty Players, but the names of companies are no longer used by the NBS. Last -week Mrs. Moller scored a hit with from "Nine till Six," in which a full cast of feminine players was used. Two of her most recent outstanding successes were "The Tale of Two Cities." and W. Graeme-Holder’s prize-winning NBS play, "The Time Factor." The latter Was an excellent piece of producing and it drew a letter of high praise from the author. The Faculty Players came into being under the guiding hand of Mr. Lester. Moller five years ago, but when he left for England, three years ago. Mrs, Moller carried on. It is particularly interesting to record that four of the earliest members of the Players are in London, and one of the foundation members. Mr. Russell Napier. has recently concluded playing second lead in T. S. Eliot’s play "Murder in the Cathedral." Napier is now in New York, where he hones. t follow his London success in American presentation of the rt play.

-No. 22. AS THE ARTIST SEES THEM BROADCASTERS