Your Side of the MICROPHONE

Radio Record, 8 April 1938, Page 25

Your Side of the MICROPHONE

JPRIZE-WINNERS this week are: M. Keeley, Wellington (7/6); "‘Oratory,"? Auckland (5/-)3 "M.G.R.," Auckland, "Tui," Timaru, "Dropkick," Auckland, and ‘‘Judy Jane,’’ Morrinsville (2/6 each). Similar prizes are awarded each week, Send your entries (not more than 150 words each) to "SAFETY VALVE," Box 1680, Wellington. Prize-money is forwarded at the end of each month.

Y children are often puzzled as to the manner in which radio sound effects are produced -the sound of wagon wheels on a road, waterlapping, snores, a marching army, escaping steam, ete.

Couldn’t we hear how some of these are done? Boys especially are inter- * ested in this subject, and I think a children’s session would be the place for it.

They would like to know also how these sounds are fitted in exactly with the section of a story. -M.G.R., Auckland. Attack On "Swing" WONDER if many listeners really enjoy hearing the good old tunes mutileted? The tendency of dance bands to "swing" some of our finest national songs is nothing short of piracy. How sickening it is to hear some anaemic, brilliantined person anhounce in 2 silky voice that the next number will be the "swinging" of . "Annie Laurie." of some other beautiful melody. Then follows a crash of discord, like. demons -let loose: ‘These muisical

"heart throbs" are messing up all our really good songs in the interests of "swing." -"Tui," Timaru. Time For Football HE football season is at hand. Last year our national game suffered a severe shock, or was it our self-esteem? This season strenuous efforts will be made by clubs to make good the damage, What are our broadcasting authorities going to do about it? Most clubs have one evening a week devoted to team talks. I suggest that this could be supplemented by a broadcast once a week by acknowledged experts on various phases of the game. These brondcasts would have thousands of players interested. Leeway has to be made up in two directions. First, as the chairman of the Auckland union suggested, in the reluctance or inability of players to produce hard but clean football, and, secondly, in the indifferep>t coaching of club teams. In this latter direction lies the chance for radio to restore our supre-macy.-"Dropkick," Auekland. "Brighter Mornings" Miicur I suggest something a little brighter from the YA Stations in the mornings. We tune into 1YA first thing in the mornings and as a rule get nothing bul orchestra and band music interspersed with one or two songs. What about something a little brighter at that time of the day? Not that good music is not appreciated, but when one begins the daily round a little humour would, I am sure, certainly make a difference to many of us, Here’s hoping for brighter and more humorous programmes in the mornings, giving us housewives something to laugh over as we go about the monot--ony of our work.-"dudy Jane." Morrinsville. Air-Mindedness We hear a lot about encouraging airmindedness, especially in the rising generation, but what exactly are we doing about. this very important -matter? .... Wouldn’t an "Air Séssion" help to

bring the desired result? Great flights could be the subject of some of these "talks," telling of the intrepid pilots and describing the wonderful lands they fiy over. The different types of | machines could be described. | Only. the other day I heard, ! in passing, one small boy say : (cranning his neck skyward) : "Took, Bill, that plane is the:

same as the one that Jean Batten broke | the record with." ,; "Garn, that’s not a Percival Gull," . said his companion. "You'll be calling a blessed train a tramear next. That’s a biplane and the Percival Gull is a monoplane." This conversation gave me the idea’ that an air session would be a popular . one, especially to the school boys."Deirdre Wall," Tai Tapu. Cinderella Quest HE interesting article ‘Amateurs: First" in the Record of March 25° set me thinking: Why not have an Aunt Daisy Quest for the Cinderella of Broadcasting-the woman who is not so young? (I leave the age ques-

tion to you!) It need not be necessary for her to sing or play, but essential that she have common sense, initiative and, above all, a pleasant wellmodulated speaking voice. Judging by the number of young women with shrill, harsh, affected voices one hears _ over the air, it must be difficult to find the ideal microphone voice.-‘Tale," Auckland.