PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

Radio Record, 25 March 1938, Page 16

PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

t ers . EHIND the much appreciated relays: of services from St. Paul’s Cathedral, Wellington, in future, will be the experienced hand of the new-ly-appointed organist and choirmaster, Mr. David Blair, F.R.C.O. Mr. Blair’s early training was received at St. Mary's Dalkeith, Scotland, the private chapel oi the Duke of Beccleuth, where for eight years he was choir boy, for four of which he was solo boy; iater he became professional bass singer in the same choir, and fron time to time used to act as deputyorganist and choirmaster. For the teaching of singing, Mr. Blair holds the diplomas of A.R.C.M.. and L.R.A.M. The evening service from St. Paul’s Cathedral will be relayed on Sunday, March 27.

TRIO THAT PLEASE FROM IYA.

Often featured on 1YA’s concert programme is the Euterpe Trio, an

unusual musical combination made up of a flute, a soprano and a piano, Frank Poore is the flautist (he’s one of the best in the Dominion), Patricia McLeod, the soprano, and Allan Pow,

the pianist. Fhe tio sot its name from Euterpe, the Geddess of Music in ancient mytholesy, whe ix eredited with the invention #f the flute, The three members do selo worle and also play concerted nuribgis. People like them. Pet, McLeod's soprano Volee is peculjarly suited for thix syork. Pheiy next recital will bs gtyen irom 1VA, on Saterday, April 2,

SNUFF-BOX OF NAPOLEON.

There is a story of Lord John Russell who once sat at @

large city dinner next toa civic magnate who, taking from his pocket a very beautiful snuftbox, said: "This was given my father by the first Napoleon, there is a ‘hen’

on the top of it." "Surely," said Lord John, "it cannot be a hen; it must be au eagle." "No sir," said the owner of the treasure, "It’s a ‘hen,’ " pointing, as he said so to the letter "N" on the lid. A dramatised episode in the _ life of Napsleon Bonaparte, "His Father’s Sword," will be presented from 2YA on Wednesday, March 30.

SHIP THAT SAILED THE VOLGA.

The hero of a vivid Symphonic Poem composed by Glazounovy, is that fierce

marauder and outlaw Stenka Razine, who gives the piece its name. Stenka Razine was a terror with his fierce horde, over a wide area of the Volga, where his own ship sailed in more than regal splendour. The sails were silk, the oars of gold, and in the middle of the pavilion there rested, surrounded by every mark of opuience, the Princess Persanne, Stenka’s captive and mistress, THis musical masterpiece will be heard from 1YA on Friday, April 1, played by the Brussels Royal Conservatoire Orchestra. >

LONG LIST OF CHARITIES.

Two 1ZB personalities have achieved extraordinary success with their "Diggers" ses-

sion.’ One is Mr, Rod Talbot, pietured here, who, with the aid of Mr. John Brown, 1ZB programme supervisor, is —

responsible for the following good works: Installed New Zealand’s largest radio system in the Auckland Mental Hospital-thirteen speakers, 150 pairs of headphones, at a cost of more than £200: installed a radio system- ‘ six speakers. and headphones in 200 cells-at the Auckland jail; raised — funds for more than 75 children of re-

Entertainer From Age Of 4. ---- SSS

Clever comedy artist and character impersonator, Dora Lindsay, is to begin a tour of the’ national stations, her first performance being from 2YA on Thursday, April 14. Miss Lindsay toured New Zealand in 1936. She comes from Alhambra Glasgow, and is called "The Female Harry Lauder." Those who have seen her on the stage either in England and Scotland or in New Zealand will appreciate her attitude of conserving her resources until the show is on. She is a great favourite with the followers of the Long Tack Sam Company and the fact that he did not think it was necessary to have another comedian, the usual male, with his company says much for his confidence in Miss Lindsay’s ability. ; She comes from professional people, her grandfather, Louis Lindsay, having been recognised as being the greatest ueczgro impersonator of his day. _ Miss Lindsay herself has been entertaining since she was able to stand on a chair at Good Templar concerts. her age then being just four years.

turnéd soldiers to have three weeks’ holiday at Motuihi Island; distributed hundreds of crystal sets to sick people ;. distributed hundreds of gramophones and thousands of records: installed four éléctrie radios in various Auckland institutions, Ile is organising a Blood Donors’ League under the wuspices of the St. John Ambulance Association at present. Nearly 40 of 1ZB's staff have joined.

BOTH CAME FROM AUCKLAND.

Two Aucklanders since climbed to fame met in Auckland last week. One

was "Crazy Davey" (as apt an adjective as ever bestowed), the other Geoff. Jackson (Geoffrey James Montgomery Jackson, no more, no less, please)! seotf, was on holiday and Jack on exchange to the NCBS. Walter Wichell and Birnie never wise-cracked at one another with more abandon than did these two in their s€ssion from 1ZB last week. Davey-well, everybody kuows about the No. 1 personality in Sydney radio. Geoff. Jackson was once a reporter in Auckland. Auckland was too small for these two once, and Auckland gave them a stirring reception on their respective returns. Both are featured from 2GB_ Sydney,

BEST ARTIST OFTEN 1S THE LOSER,

"T am opposed to musical competi--tion." said Albért

Spalding, Aleriean violinist. in an interview. "I feel that very often the sensitive young artiss does not do his best under those conditions, and I generally come away with a feéling of discouragement because I realise that possibly the. most promising young artist has not won a prize." Speaking of jazz, he remarked that jazz is only a portion, and a very small portion, of what must be a complete expression of Americanism, He saw no reason though Why jazz should not be used for the expression of serious emotion. Albert Spalding plays at IVA on Wednesday, ’Mareh 30.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATURE MAN.

In company with a friend, Mr, J. Malton Murray once

edited in London a weekly journal devoted to amateur photography. It was the first of such papers to be sold on the streets of London, and soon had a_ circulation ‘of twenty thousand copies, ultimately reaching 26,000. The paper eventually passed into the hands of the big Iliffe firm. On his visit to New Zealand, Mr. Cherry Kearton, the famous photo-Sraphér-naturalist, in comparing notes with Mr. Murray, revealed the intéresting information that it was in the old paper he aud his brother, Richard, published some of their first nature picturés. Mr. Murray talks from 2YA _. on Thursday, March 31.

CHANCE LED HER TO MICROPHONE.

Chance, whose twin sister is destiny, made Greta Keller

an artist for the microphone. When shé was singing at the Cafe de Paris in London, her husbund’s professional partner happened to read in a néwspaper a criticism which stated that the gramophone records of the song réviewed were not nearly so good as Miss Kellér’s singing of it. That suggested the obtaining

of an audition at the BBC, which was so satisfactory that an engagement followed, to be repeated many times, to the great admiration of the public, who, by the way, continue to admire and buy her records by the thousand. She will be heard from 2¥A on Friday, April 1.

EACH PLAYER 1S AN ARTIST.

Summing up the all-round ability of the string players of the Vienna Phil-

harmonic Orchestra, Harold Meredith says that in attack and _ incisiveness they stand suprene-every note is given significance, Yet for all their clarity and clear-cut definition, the violins and ’cellos always manage to impart a sensuous mellowness. Hach string instrumentalist is a great artist as well as a master technician; and their solidarity is such that technical exactitude becomes a méans and not an end-a means to perfect interpretation. They will be heard from 3YA, Sunday afternoon, March 27.

STRADIVARI AND HIS SWEETHEARTS.

Stradivari left off making musical instruments only a

year before he died at the age of 93, Apart from about a thousand vidlins he also made about three hundred other stringed instruments including, of course, ’cellos. He sold his violing at a uniform price of £4 each, the equivalent of about £380

to-day. Thé ‘cellos fétched a little more. In Stradivari wé have a man of blaméless life who married twice but had over 1300 sweethearts. He loved every instrument he made. In the second pet'iod of his astonishing career (1701-1725) he made a ’eello (dated 1707) which wili be heard trom 1¥YA on Saturday, April 2, when a recital will be given by Professor Paul Grummer.

SHE RUNS INTO PEOPLE.

Sister to Jack Lovelock, Miss Olive Love-~ lock, 4ZB’s new recep-

tionist, is not only an attractive young woman, but also oue with many accomplishmeuts, She was educated at the Timaru Girls’ High School, and at the Otago University, where she studied art. Then her fancy turned to the bacteriological department of the Medical School, and for threé yéars she made friends with all kinds of bacteria, Tiring of their company, Olive décided to explore the ‘realm of home science, and there she wemainéd for approximately a year until she obtainéd the position as re¢ceptionist at the southern commercial.

EXIT BAND OF ST. HILDA.

St, Hilda’s Colliery Band which hails originally from Dur-

ham, and was fornied by Durham niiners in 1869, is to be ended. A shortage not only of professional engagements but of new young playérs to take the place of oldér tetiring bandsmen, has brought this unfortunate decision about, says the conductor, Mr J. Southern. St. Hilda’s Band has travelled as much as 20,000 Miles a year, during its popularity, fulfilling engagements. Thus a band that won nearly £20,000 in prizes and raised over £18,000 for charity goés out of existence. St. Hilda Professiona] Band will be heard from 4YA on Sunday, March

THE BROTHERS SPRANG INTO. FAME.

The Mills Bros. sprang into famé as a result of one short

audition in & manager’s office, prior to which they bad sung only in church choirs and amateur theatricals. At that time three of them Were engaged as hairdresser, shorshiner and bank clérk respectively, the fourth boy having only just left school. When the eldest brother John’s illtimed death took place a yeat.or two ago, his place was taken by the Mills boys’ father, while Bernard Addison was added to the combination as guitarist. This present Drilliant combination will bé heard in 2YA’s Dance Session on Wednesday, March 30.

HIS VOICE HAD PERSONALITY.

"T owe everything to Fréd Hartley," said Brian Law-

rence one day to da pressinan. The pressman rang up Fred Hartley and reported Brian’s confession, Fred said, "Now that’s just like Brian, I’m enormously pleased with his succéss, When he was first sent to me by a .gramophoiie company I had great difficulty in finding a singer. Directly I héard him. I knew he Was the man. He has a Voice I knew listeners were going to récognise immédiately. His viice has a personality." In_ station 38YA’s dance session on Tuesday, March 29, Brian Lawrence and His Landsdowne Orehestra will be heard,

No. 24 AS THE ARTIST SEES THEM BROADCASTERS