CANADA TELLS HER STORY

Radio Record, 18 March 1938, Page 20

CANADA TELLS HER STORY

Broadcast of Recordings From 2Y A-Special Lancashire Programme-Otago’s Ninetieth Birthday-Talks on F oreign Parts-News From All The. Commercials

THIRD episode of the Canadian series, "Within These Walls," will be broadcast from 2YA on Sunday, March 20, at 9.25 p.m. ‘These records are specially prepared for New Zealand listeners by the Canadian Broadcasting Company, and deal with the historical progress of Canada in entertaining style. In exchange the NBS proposes to supply the Canadian Broadcasting Company with recordings dealing with New Zealand history, in which the activities of the Maori race will be the predominant feature. "TALENTED Lasses and Lads Fra’ Lancashire" is the title of a special programme to be heard from 2YA on March 21. Music in the County Palatine is a passion with the people, and it is interesting to remember that included in the eminent personages that claim Lancashire for their birthplace was none other than Richard John Seddon, one-time Prime Minister of New Zealand, who was born at St. Helens. The county has been the background of a notable literature. Wordsworth and Ruskin spent many

years in the Lake District, De Quincey was born at Greenhays, Manchester; Mrs. Gaskell is. still remembered for her novels of the

| Bn i i A i i a i a ee eee a eatly days of industrialism; the three Roscoes were natives of Liverpool. "Stephen Adams," the prolific English song writer, is a Liverpudlian by birth. In the course of 2YA’s programme it is only possible.to give a fraction of Lancashire’s talent, so rich in entertainment is this county of cotton, clogs and shawls. Interspersed with the musical items, a bunch of "tackler" tales will be narrated. This is Lancashire’s own special brand of humour, but is enjoyed by all, irrespective of birthplace. The programme is scheduled to hegin at 9.5 p.m. on Monday, March 21, and numbered among the artists to be heard are Arthur Catterall (violinist), Derek Oldham (tenor). Norman Allin (bass), the Manchester Children’s Choir, James Agate, doyen of dramatic critics, the Colne Orpheus Glee Union, George Formhy (comedian), John Thorne (bari: tone), Edward Isaacs (pianist), Jack Hylton’s Orchestra, an excerpt

from a work by William Walton, and Gracie Fields. A reet champion show tha knoaws! F'EACHER of piano and singing in the Wanganui district, Freda Cunningham, soprano, will present a group of songs by Delius from 2YA on Monday, March 21. One of the most remarkable composers of his time, Frederick Delius, came of German parents who had settled in England. His musical temperament developed early. Much of Delius’s music is confessedly pictorial. It is the blending of the Psychological with the pictorial element that gives his music its peculiarly characteristic quality. ANNOTATED recitals win warm approval from music-lovers who are enabled to grasp the inner meanings and the subtleties of the composer’s feelings through the recitalist’s verbal interpretations. Madame Betts-Vin-cent, whose pianistic ability is already well-known, will give such a recital

— from 2YA on March 22, at 9.5 p.m; For her subject she has chosen works by Robert Schumann, Ninety Years. WHATEVER respective Anniversary Days may mean to the different provinces of New Zealand, to Otago,

March 28, the date of the founding of the province, is a holiday, and it is always kept up. One of the big attractions of the day is a special concert and celebration held in the TEarly Settlers’ Hall, to which descendants of the pioneers come along in force. This year will be the ninetieth anniversary, and the celebrations should be gayer than usual. At any rate, listeners will have a chance of deciding for themselves whether such an auspicious occasion is celebrated as fittingly as possible for 4YA will broadcast part of the proceedings from 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and from 8 till 9 in the evening, Classic Steeples. ‘ALL ZB stations will relay from short wave the running of the Liverpool Grand National, world classic steeplechase, from Aintree on Saturday, March 26, at 8.25 p.m. (local time). This will be the 97th race and entries include Rock Lad, Canadian Champion, and two American horses, Battleship and What Have You. Ap‘proximately fifty horses will jump 80 fences over the four and a half miles course. Trio. HE popular Max Scherek Trio will be heard next Friday in qa chamber music recital from 4YA, Two numbers of special interest to listeners will be Trio in D Minor, by Mozart, and a fantasy, Trio in © Minor, by Frank Bridges. Escaped. HOSD who work in a radio station meet interesting people. Early one evening last week, Mr. Eric Waters, programme organiser at 1YA, was standing by the main entrance door when a well-spoken but plainly-dressed man of ahout 85 approached him, and asked if he could broadcast a tall that evening on the subject of the Foreign

( Legion. At such a late hour it was im,possible to arrange an engagement. The visitor was a greaser and a member of the crew of an overseas ship in port. He had served with the Foreign Legion for three years and then, as he said, he got sick of the life and escaped. Since then he had been sailing around the world, being unable to remain longer than a couple of months on shore. "Blood Money" QUT of the ordinary was the radio play, "Blood Money" at 1ZB last week. Written by the talented Miss Marie Conlan, B.A., of the station’s programme staff, to focus attention on the Voluntary Blood Donors’ Association, run in conjunction with the St

John Ambulance Association, the story told of a man and his wife: who were on a visit to Paris when the latter met with a street accident. A, blood transfusion saved her life. Action moved from the street into the operating theatre of a hospital] and listeners heard an explanation of the full operation of a blood transfusion, a feature of which was the technical accuracy. From 6 To 12 STATION 1ZB now gives its listeners 18 hours’ entertaininent on seven days of the week. Starting on Sunday last the station came on the air at 6 a.m. and signed off at midnight. Previously the station operated on Sundays between the hours of 8 aan. and 10.30 p.m. The Sabbath now starts at 6 a.m. with bright music, and at 8 a.m. the time and tides and weather report are given, "Alice" By Radio "HAVE you read ‘Alice in Wonderland’?" the ‘Record’s" Christchureh representative took the trouble to ask several Christchurch people the other day. Some, who should have known better, confessed that they had not while others were not too sure. This literary gem is to be given in a dramatised form from 3ZB in weekly instalments. "Alice" is played by Hazel Hogg, the "Ugly Duchess" by Grace Green, and the ‘Mad Hatter" by Jack Maybury. David Horne, Jim Walshe. Bob Lewis, Jacqueline Thompson and Hsma Beri are also in the cast, Sunday Sessions HILDREN’S Sunday sessions have always been one of the best ZB station features, and 38ZB, Christchurch, is no exception, They are conducted by Mr, Fred Simpson, station director, and deal with the fascinating

subject of Greek myths and legends. Iuxpertly produced, with musical accompaniment, they regularly attract a big block of adult listeners. Rhythm FOR many weeks the 3ZB novelty orchestra has been delighting listeners. Now it is having a spell for a period. ag the members have had their recreational week-ends spoiled by their radio engagements. They were missed from the programme last Sunday, but their place is being taken for a while hy the Studio Syncopators-two pianists who have rhythm down to the very fine art. Last Sunday night the station scheduled a relay from a film at the Civic Theatre and another relay is to feature June Bassett (known as the "Christchurch Gracie Fields") in popular songs, with Mrs, Warrilow at the Civie organ. On Leave. HILE Mr. J. Mackenzie, station manager for 38YA Christchurch, is on annual leave, Mr. Allan Young, programme organiser, is in the managerial chair, and attending to all the wants of the many callers at the station. Wagner's Music. ALTHOUGH a good deal of Wagner is heavy, there is much of his work that is really delightful, Next week’s "Masterpieces of Music" from

4YA will include three of this composer’s finest numbers, namely, the Lohengrin Prelude, "Funeral March." from "Twilight of the Gods" and "The Flying Dutchman" Overture. The master mind behind the session will be Dr. V. E. Galway, and that means this presentation will indeed be good, Old Maori FMPORTANT relay will be carvied out by 1ZB on Friday, March 18, when the official opening of the new home built for the Maori ’ King, Kiroki Mahuta, at the Pa, Ngaruwahia, will be covered. The main feature of King Kiroki’s fine residence is the magnificent carved dining-room. His Excellency the i Governor-General, Viscount Gal- | way, 1s to officiate. For this func‘tion the old Maori custom of conducting honoured guests to the Pa in a war canoe will be revived. Viscount Galway will go a distance down the Waipa River in the old Maori Te Winika, which is the first of a fleet of seven built by Princess Te Puea for the New Zealand Centenary.

"Otello." BASED on Shakespeare’s famous play "Othello," Verdi’s opera "Otello" is not so widely know as it should be. It is generally recognised in higher * musical circles as being one of Verdi’s finest compositions, yet somehow it has never won great popularity. Taken by and large, the average person does not care for heavy music and maybe there lies a reason for the lack of interest displayed in "Otello." For Verdi composed the opera in the closing days of: his life when he had come rather under the influence of Wagner, and there is no doubt that some of the typical Wag- © nerian "heaviness" had, unconsciously or otherwise, been adopted. by Verdi. However, true lovers of opera will have an opportunity of hearing "Otello" when the full recorded score will be presented from 4YA next Sunday night. At Christchurch. FEW musical centres in New Zealand have harpists of: real ability, so Christchurch is fortunate in having Mr. H. G. Glaysher, who, once a member of a crack English band, is occasionally heard over 3YA. On March 27, he will be heard with Miss Nancy Estall, ’cellist, in a recital. Being the fourth Sunday in the month and set aside for a play, the Avon Players will produce, the same evening, "Congo Landing." Glimpse Of Heaven. A VISITOR to Auckland for the big Catholic Centenary celebrations was a well set-up type of young Maori from the far north. This was his first visit to Auckland-in fact, born and bred on the West Coast near the top of the Ninety Mile Beach, he had never before been to the Bay of Islands. He wandered into the studios of 1YA and expressed a desire to broadcast to his Maori friends in the north and tell them how much he had enjoyed the centenary celebrations. He was delighted when permission was given during the children’s hour, the only period

available. He spoke in Maori and sang a song. "He was more than delightful. After inspecting the studios and the luxuriously furnished rooms at 1YA his comment was: "We hear a lot about Heaven these days, but if it is as good as this-well, it will do me." ‘The Maori said he always listened to the wrestling bouts broadcast during the winter season. He insisted on being introduced to Gordon Hutter and, after a talk with the sports announcer, the happy, chuckling Maori remarked, "That’s worth £5 to me to meet the ‘wrestling man,’" . Radio Thriller. WHEN a dead man is found lying in a locked library and four famous detectives set to work to solve the crime something interesting is indicated, But when that man is an omnivorous reader of detective thrillers and the four detectives are noted fiction characters who step from the pages of novels, something definitely unusual is © assured. The interesting and unusual i lll tll i

join to make a vivid radio play, the climax of which-but it would not be fair to disclose the climax. The play will entertain those who tune in to 4YA next Monday night when the Sheila Nielsen production rf Max Afford’s "The Fantastic Case of the Four Specialists," will be broadeast. Late Entries — NOVEL idea on the programme © at 4ZB, Dunedin, is the extension -of the request session, conducted on Tuesday and Friday nights by Alex. MeDowell. Instead of the usual halfhour, the session has been lengthened to one hour, so that from 11 p.m, till 12 p.m. on request nights, besides acceding to written suggestions for numbers, the station will welcome people actually telephoning their requests after 11 p.m. '4ZB’s Sunday BRAHAM LINCOLN made his vow to secure the abolition of slavery on witnessing-when still a young man -a slave sale. Speaking of it later, he is reputed to have said: "And there I saw them chained, beaten, and kicked =

ag a man. would be ashamed to kick a thieving dog. And I -saw a young girl there, driven up and down the room that the bidders might satisfy themselves." But from that brutal, inhuman suppression came golden musi, a priceless hetitage to posterity-the negro spirituals which were the subject’ of ‘an illuminating session, from 4ZB last ‘Sunday night, conducted -by the station .director; Mr. Len J, Greenberg, and Mr, John T, Leech, a Dunedin vocalist. Air Magazine "PHE 4ZB "Magazine of the Air’ is no longer a tender shoot among the station sessions. It has become & sturdy plant under the careful attention of Joyce Hamar and Stuart Johnson, Next Friday night at 9 o’clock we understand they are going to hold a 4ZB party. Wedding In South \ EDDING of radio interest was held at Dunedin recently, the contracting parties being Mr. T’. R. TH. Green and Miss Eunice Hardie. Mr. Green ig the alert and personable accountant to station 4%B, who varies this exacting task with an occasional yachting

_ broadeast. Member of a very wellknown Whangarei. family, | Miss Hardie’s charm of personality is. remembered by visitors to 1ZB, 2ZB and 4Z.B, where she was hostess at the opening of those stations. After the wedding the guests were entertained at the home of Mr. 8S. Asquith, advertising manger to 4ZB. ~ Drama is the intention of 3ZB, Christ- ‘ church, shortly to produce a dramatisation of "Treasure Island." This, the "Record" understands, . will be something along the lines of "Monte Cristo,’ which made a favourable impresison.in Christchurch. Tales Of The Past DPNTENARY celebrations of the Rothan Catholic Church recently held. at Auckland were temporarily 4

transferred to 2ZB on a recent Sunday evening, when Oriwa Tahupotiki Haddon presented a 30-minute cavaleade of the history of the Church in New Zealand, which, :in its way, was an oratorical masterpiece. Based on authentic tales of ‘bravery and devotion to duty of heroic Catholic priests who stood high in the regard of the warring Maoris, highlight was the tracing or the life and works of Bishop Pompallier, whose atitude to the Treaty of Waitangi, Oriwa explained, was appreciated and understood by the Maori. Variety At 1ZB A&A LI, the stars of Frank Neil's big variety reyue company at present playing to crowded houses at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, were heard from 1ZB on Sunday night, when a thirty-minute entertainment was presented, with the favourite Australian comedian, Jim Gerald in the chair. Junior Orchestra JYEFORTS by Mr. B. L, H. de Rose: to form a 2ZB junior orchestra have met with high success. Over fifty youthful musicians were suditioned, and, as a result, rehearsals will shortly begin with a band of forty players, all of whom will be scientifically trained in orchestral playing by Mr. de Rose. There are vacancies for an advanced violinist, clarinet and trombone, For The Sick YARIETY entertainment under the negis of. station 2ZB will be given in’ the Plaza Theatre, Wellington, on ‘Sunday next at 8.20 p.m., when Mr. C. G. Serimgeour, Controller of the Commercial Broadeasting Service, will explain the necessity for equipping the Rward Hospital with radio, to which the proceeds will he devoted.