"I JUST DON'T SEEM ABLE"

Radio Record, 22 April 1938, Page 18

"I JUST DON'T SEEM ABLE"

Gladys Moncrieff’s Hoodoo-NBS Tour Was -Due-Anzac Day Ceremonies In The Cities — Hamlet From Station 2Y A-Easter In The North-News From The Commercials

INGER Gladys Moncrieff ouce said: "I’ve been going abroad for years. and as soon as J make up my mind, and begin arrangements to leave, someone comes along with another contract. I just don't seem able to get away." On the eve of her departure for a tour of New Zealand's Nationals _ stations,. Miss Moncrieff met. with the car accident which left her with a fractured thigh, fractured left leg. compound fracture to the left arm, and concussion. It is thought that it will be some months before her recovery is complete. and consequently her arrival in New Zealand is postponed indefinitely. Listeners throughout the country will hope that further unpleasant incidents do not arise and cause this well-loved star to say once again: "[ just don't seem able to get away." ANZAC Day memorial service, arranged by the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, will he broadcast by 2YA from the Citizens’ National War Memorial in Lambton Quay. The ceremony will begin at 2.30 p.m. FIRST hour of 2YA’s evening programme on Anzac Day will ‘Le devoted to a carefully-selected arrangement of recordings given the caption, ‘"Happy War-time Memo"yies.’ Even a general upheaval such as that of 1914-18 has its kehter moments (as Bruce Bairnsfather showed), and the material chosen for 2YA’s presentation will revive memories of these. [T is not 4YA’s intention to miss "much of the celebrations being held in Dunedin on Anzac Day, and: three different relays will be carried out. At 2 p.m. the ceremony at the memorial column in_ the Queen's Gardens will be covered, and at 3 p.m. the Returned Soldiers’ service in the Town Hall will be broadcast. The final presentation will be made in the evening, when the service from St. Paul's Cathe‘dral will go on the air at 7.30.

JN common with other main national stations, 3Y A will observe special hours on Anzac Day, opening at 9 a.m. and continuing until 12 noon, and again from 1 p.m. onward. Relays from the King Edward Barracks will broadcast the citizens’ memorial service under the auspices of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, when

-sa — the address will be given by the Rev. L. B. Neale, of Dunedin. At 7.30 p-ni. another relay will be from the Christchurch Anglican Cathedral, where a special service will be conducted by both the Toc H movemeut and the R.S.A. "Twentyfour Hours," a specially-recorded drama of the nations, will be presented at 9.5 p.m. This isan NBS production. Lol ‘ERS of William Shakespeare will have opportunity of hearIng "Hamlet" from 2Y A on Sunday, April 24, at 9.5 p.m. This ts yet another of the NBS productions. TWO further plays will be broadcast on Wednesday, April 27. The first. "The Fatal Step," described as a problem play for broadcasting, was produced by the NBS, and is followed by "The Apothe-

cary,’ a drama in cameo, by George Edwards and Company, the Australian group of players. ae (YER the Easter holiday period 1YA handled a number of outside relays. There were so many, in ‘fact, that 1ZM had to be brought on the air on several occasions to.cover sporis fixtures, such as the ‘inter-Yarsity tournament. Ags Gordon [Hutter wus engaged: on. Easter Saturday and: Monday describing the Auckland. Racing Slub’s big carnival at. Ellerslie, "Mr. Maurice Brown, publicity officer for the inter-Varsity tournament, actéd a8 «.mmentator for the eight-oared. boat race, the University athletics and the baskethall. For the next two week-ends 1YA will be engaged on racing relays. The Avondale Jockey Club’s -autnmn meeting is set down for Saturday and Wednesday, and on the following treek the two days’ meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club will be -held. Gordon Hutter, of course, will be at-the microphone in each case, Varsity Debates HE inter-Varsity debating season of 1988 opens on April 28. Ir is pOssible that this year there will be more debates than usual, and the idea: will he that each college shall debate: with each of the others if it can be fitted

into the programmes, Otago and Canterbury University Colleges are to lead off'on April 28 with a discussion of the subject, "That Humour is a Passport to Fame.’*- The subject should lend itself to lively treatment. ‘The Canterbury team, taking the negative-as befits provincia] solemnity-will consist of B. J. Wilson (leader), Miss B. Freeman, (No, 2), and J. McLean (3). And thejudge is Mr. J. H, E, Sehroder, of Christchurch, who knows a good speech when he hears one. The Otago team' will consist of Mr. E. Hefford and Miss > L.. McKenzie, and will be led by Mr. A. W. Stewart, who has had vonsiderable experience in this sort of thing. At The Piano HE Wellington province has many talented young pianists among its ranks, including Cara Hall, Jocelyn Walker and Colin Horsley, all three of Whom are known tou 2YA listeners. Making their first microphone appearance at an early date, two more join the throng of artists whom the NBS presents, Residents of Wellington. Dorothy Downing and Paul Magill, will shortly display their abilities to lovers of piano music, . N.Z. Oddities HERE are a loi. of interesting hap penings in out-of-the-way corners ot New Zealand, and queer ebaracters worth the attention of the historian and the writer of fiction. At 8YA on April 26 Mr. Arthur Harrison is to lift the veil from a forgotten corner of Southland, and tell the story of a little country settlement where Chinese and other relies of the gold rush lived on. Mr. Harrison will be remembered for a recent talk in the "How it Began" series, On the very early days of radio iu New Zealand. Farewell QOPRANO voice of Wellington's Jeanette Briggs bids farewell to 2YA on April 29, as she is shortly leaving to live permanently in Auckland. Among the songs selected by her will be "Carmena.’ by. Lane Wilson, and "Ob .That If Were So." by Frank Bridge, Uncovering The Past AMONG English visitors to New Zealand at present is Mrs. F. Phouless, who is an enthusiastic Egyptologist, an interest that was shared by her late husband. Mrs Phouless has yvisifed

Fgypt and .seen excavators at work. She is to give two talks at 2YA, one ou April 28 and one on May 5, on the work of uncovering the past in Egypt and what these discoveries mean,

Country Life RECENT talk by Mr. J. Cormick from 2YA on the country newspaper appealed especially to journalists. We illustrated the difference between country and city news values by the story of a tire. ‘The eountry town about which he was talking had a new motor fire engine, but unfortunately when the firs; call came the engine refused to start, and the engine had to he towed to the fire by an old Ford. For the eity newspaper the main interest. was the breakdown of the engine and the towing, but the people of the couniry town wanted to know all about the fire itself--how much the owner of the destroyed house had lost and how it occurred. and so on, Journalists appreciated Mr. Cormick’s description of the country newspaper where the editor was editor, sub-editor and reporting staff all in one. as he said it saved time in staff conferences. The NBS intends to give more of these country {own talks. Coals To Newcastle VE eall this section of the "Record" "Round the Studios. but, if what the "Record" reporter saw in Christchurch the other day has any counterpart in other centres, there might be instituted a special column, "Outside the Studios." If was a bnsy morning. and Colomho Street shop-keepers wer beaming. Right outside the door of 8ZB, however. was an itinerant musiecjan, with radio set and aerial, His

music, coming from 3YA, floated up the stairs of 8ZB, Did he later go round to 3YA and introduce to them some of cousin B's "pep" work? Something New YOVETD feature in preparation for an eurly broadcast from 2YA is a reciial by Hammond organ, piano, and trombone. The trombone will be played by Eric Williams, an’ ex-champion of New Zealand, and still considered one of the finest exponents of his instrument, which in the hands of an expert can evolve beauties of intonation not usually associated with this member of the "brass" family, Radiomen At Play QTAFFS of the Nationaland Commeroial Broadcasting Services in Wellington met pleasantly on a recent Saturday in a cricket match at Karori Park. The game was won by 2ZB.to 10 runs in an exciting second-innings finish. With the time limit of 30 minutes each, both sides scored 212 in an hour, hitting 14 "sixers." Star performances with the bat were Peter Whitechurch (2ZB) and Courtney Hall, Foster and Cock (PYA). Best bowlers were Whitechurch, James and Hawken for 2ZB. and Hall, Clive Drummond and Cock for 2YA. Shortwave "QURELY," said the "Records" reporter to a friend whose house is on the hills overlooking Lyttelton Har-

bour, "you must get good Teception from outside stations." "Listen," he replied, Then the reporter heard Berlin, Daventry, Australia, and dozens of North American stations with the utmost clarity, Cuba and Manila, then Java and Japan. In Christchurch reception is not good at this time of the year owing, principally, to electrical interference, In Lyttelton, in spite of the day and night operation of electric plants on ships, all broadeasts are received very clearly. 3YA Farewell HE staff met at 8YA studios the vther day to farewell Mr. H. Robinson, technician at Gebbie’s Pass trausmitting station, who has been transferred to Titahi Bay, Wellington, Mr. Robinson was given an alarm clock. Somebody set it to go off at the exact time it was being placed in his hand by the station manager, Mr. J. Mackenzie. Somebody on the staff spoke too long, however, and the alarm made itself heard iu the middle of a speech, That evening. a farewell party to Mr. RobinSon was held at the residence of Miss N. Ramsay, Mr. Robinson left the following evening for Wellington. Out Of The Blue ARACHUTIST G W. Sellars dropped out of the blue into 3ZB's studio the other day to tell the nou-air-minded what it feels like to jump out of a ’plane and sail to earth under a few square yards of silk. Mr, Sellars has well over a hundred highly successful drops tu his credit and has never yet had any serious injury. There have been times, of course, when he did not feel "too good about things" but, to use his own words, he always came to earth feeling ready to make another jump. The other day in Christchurch. by the way, he thrilled a crowd of TOOO When he introduced a smoke bomb into his performance,

Weathering Them Mecu thought is now being given by 2ZB to the planning of winter programmes. It is probably not generully known that alert programme organisers always plan summer weekend programmes on the assumption that the weather will be fine. When the weather report suggests rain, the programme for Sunday is altered at the

= last moment to suit the changed conditions. Wintry week-end programmes are devised on the home-by-the-fireside idea and differ from those considered suitable for summer-time. New idens likely to be given an airing from 2ZB ou Wintry Sunday evenings inelude i hour with the "2ZB Follies." "The Yeomen" ‘ WANT to Sing in Opera." Mr. Wilkie Bard, English comedian, told us tunefully, when he was in New Zealand a few years ago, And there is no doubt that a popular opera claims its legions of admirers. Listeners Will be able to open their hearts to Gilbert and Sullivan on April 24. when 3YA will give the whole evening to the "Yeomen of the Guard." Debut GPECIALISING in unaccompanied and accompanied part songs, the Tudor Singers make their initial appearance on the air from 2YA on April 28. This group of twelve pieked voices is conducted by Mr. Temple White. Wellington organist with large experience of choral] groups, and a Selected programme ineluding works by Grainger and Lane Wilson has heen chosen for their debut. Recordings by Frank Bridge and Roger Quilter will support the items by the Tudor Singers, Storm Centre THE talk by the Rey. W. S, Rollings on Barcelona the other night at 2YA threw a lot of light on that ancient city which is now being threntened by General Franco's forces, Mr. Rollings is to turn his attention shortly to Czechoslavakia, which is also

yery much in the news these days. He is tou speak on this country at 2YA au April 29, and the title of his talk, "Kurope’s Ancient Home of Freedom" is u sufficient indication of what the trend will be. La France PROGRAMME by the Garde Republicaine Band of France will be given at 9.15 on April 29 froin ZY A. This is not a military band in the strict sense of the word, as its personnel comprises picked imusicians from the Paris Conservafortum of Music. Each man is a specialist on his particular instrument, and it is considered an honour to be chosen as a member of this combination. In the programme to be heard they will play compositions by Wagner, Beethoven, Weber and Lisst. ¢ (

Local Works [LISTENERS interested in music note that composers who live in New Zealand are encouraged by the presentations of their works from the National stations froin time to time. On April 13. station 1YA4 broadcast a recital in Which were some of the latest composilions of Mr. John Tait. of Auckland. These included three quartets for strings, "Prelude." "Interludes." and "Fugue." played by Winifred Hayes, und Messrs, Fowler, Munro and Larid. the anthem "Lord Of All Power and Might." and the ode. "Gird On Thy Strength, O Man!" sung by Mr. Tait's Madrigal! Choir, to the accompaniment of the string quartet, The whole recital Was most enjoyable. Dark Invader N view of the recently-reported news that von Papen has been awarded the highest honour Germany can bestow it is interesting to rememher Cuptain von Rintelen's remarks regarding von Papen, in his book "The Dark Invader." Von Papen was attached to the German Embassy in America while von Rintelen was carrying out his amazing feats of Sabotage, and von Rintelen is extremely outspoken concerning the criminal stupidity-if it Wis nothing worse-of yon Papen and his associates, Listeners will hear more of yon Rintelen’s opinions in the new radio serial "The Dark Tnvader." which has just made its debut on ZB stations in the North Island, The | serial is the adaption of von Rintelen's own sensationally-suecessful book of memoirs, "The Dark Invader." Supper Club EW feature from 4ZB is gaining popularity with listeners, This is the "Supper Club," on the air at 11 }.m. On Mondays, compered by Brian McCawe. The session comprises the latest dance music, drawn fromthe wide-range library, and presented in cabaret style. Its Destiny MAYBE it is due to "One Man’s Family," maybe it is not, but the fact remains that for years the Parlophone recording of "Destiny Waltz" lay unsaleable on the shelyes of music shops and record warehouses, Then came "One Man’s Family." which, as every listener knows, uses "Destiny Waltz’ asa theme; the recording chosen Was the

Parlophone version-and to-day that particular recording is unobtainable in New Zealand. Farewell PFDAUGHTER of Sir William Carncross, recently appointed to a further term of office as Speaker in the Legislative Council, is Miss S, Carncross, until recently head receptionist at 4ZB. Miss Carncross’s brief reign at 4ZB has been a happy one. Her decision to return to her home at Eltham, there to remain as companion to her mother, was accepted reluctantly by the southern commercial. Before leaving, Miss Carncross was presented with an attractive dressing table set in chromium and enamel,

New Lines WO 2ZB activities on the way to the air, are the staff Glee Club and a junior orchestra. The former has been in the programme attractions. The orchestra is also under steady rehearsal but will not be ready for public appearances for several weeks, Both activities are being conducted by Mr. B. L. H. de Rose, That Night y AST Friday’s 2ZB "In Town Tonight" session included a man who described how he had travelled the British Isles on a twenty-pound note; the woman occupier of the house farthest north in New Zealand: and a member of the band attached to Eng-

jand’s crack Honourable Artillery Company. Let’s All Sing GECOND community sing of the season, from the Mayfair Theatre on Wednesday next, from 12 to 1.30 p.m. will be relayed by 1ZM because 1YA will be engaged in covering the second day of the Avondale Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. As in past seasons, the proceeds of the siugs are to be distributed among charitable organisations. Who? TATION 4ZB has a new competition. Who is Sproggins? The only facts known are these: That he has a husky voice with a Lancashire accent; he has

lost a puppy, and several times weekly he intrudes a plaintive cal] over the breakfast session enquiring for his lost pet. He is not an announcer, but he has a fan-mail-twins! He is not yet known to the police, The question isWho is Sproggins? Behind The Lines ST: TION 3ZB, Christchurch, has launched a new session, set down for certain Friday evenings and dealing with doings behind the firing line. Returned soldiers and others look forward to it. The first was a series of sketches, of a burlesque charac: ter, verbally depicting the idiosynerasies of the nit-wit corporal, the bucolic colonel and the plain digger whose chief delight in life was making queer noises at his superiors. Altogether entertaining. : No Repeat BRIGHT and distinctly lively was 2ZB's special old-time dance session from 10.30 p.m. onwards on Saturday last. Well announced by S. Vause, the items were specially arranged to suit listeners who had installed sets in halls, thus avoiding need for an orchestra, always an expensive item in back-country districts. Contrary to popular belief, the programme was a specia] Easter attraction and will not be repeated. Maori Invasion AMBITIOUS anniversary programme is being arranged by 2ZB for the Jast week in April. One of the highspots will be a concert for oyer 100 Maoris brought from the Wanganui district especially for the occasion. The party includes a full brass band, will stage a spectacular Maori play under the direction of Orewa Tahupotoki Haddon, Late Listeners DEA preyalent in some qnarters that not much radio listening was done after 11 p.m., has been put completely ont of focus by an experiment recently conducted by the ZB stations in the form of a request session broadcast hetween 11 p.m, and midnight. At 1ZB, Auckland, the first session (on a Tuesday) brought 50 requests in 20 minutes. On the second night (a Thursday), 70 requests in 20 minutes. At 4ZB and 2ZBR the operators were unable to handle the situation. owing to the lines becoming jamm«al. There were 50 ealls in 80 minutes at 4ZB. Dunedin. whilst at 2ZB it was necessary, at 11.30 p.im., to request listeners to refrain from further telephoning. Similar success was met with at 8ZB, Christehurch. John’s Wife ef OHN BATTEN, ex-film actor and brother of the famous’ Jean, who recently returned to 1ZB after a period at 2ZB, is happy again. for his talented wife, Madeleine, arrived hack in Anckland by the Tainui after a brief but successful visit to London. Mrs. Batten, whose pen-name is "Martin Tree," left Auckland by the Tainui and spent five husy weeks in London, arriving there to hear the glad news from her publishers that all copies of her latest novel, "Genesis" were completely sold out a week after it was released, Mrs. Batten attended a number of literary Inncheon parties in London, and while there she was commissioned to write

a further series of articles and serial stories. She will be kept extremely busy for the next 18 mouths as a result. Husband John says his Madeleine is delighted to be back in New Zealand, which she says, is the best place in the world to bring up daughter Penelope. The Battens are building a house near Milford, on the North Shore, but from time to time, they propose to pay visits to America and England.

The Sword Y mail one day last week Arthur Collyns, of 1ZB, received a fine military sabre in a good state of preservation. This was a present from n lady who explained that there were no more men in her family and that the gift was as a tribute to him for "the great work he was doing for women" in his "Between Ourselyes" SeSSiONs, He Should Know VICE DOUG. LAURENSON (now Mr, zurensen, acting-advertis-ing manager at 14B), Frank Broad eame on the air last week to conduct the Tlospital session with "Jeff." Doug. handed in his job and introduced Frank over the air, and Jeff and Frank carried on with the session, Nobody at 1ZB has qualified more thoroughly than Frank for the work... .. 24 operations, and still going strong. In Auckland ELL STIRLING (who is Mrs. George Edwards) was in Anckland last week. Her husband. voted easily the most popular radio man in Sydney a year or so ago, is the grandfather of radio drama over there. She played "Joan" to his "Darby" when the two entertained 1ZB listeners at breakfast once upon a time. He takes fonrteen different voices in a show that all Australia is laughing at just now"Dad and Dave." Her Haggis OING down to the Empress of Britain last Thursday to collect material for her popular Seots session, "Gran," of 1ZB, was delighted

When she was invited to partake of some real haggis, This probably accounted for the increased burr in her voice when she next went on the air. The large tin of haggis she brought back to the station with her was the object of much interest. Gran spent quite some time explaining to various inguisitive members of the staff what haggis really was. Not Forgotten T is a few years since the longhaired Percy Grainger toured New Zealand, giving platform and radio pianoforte recitals. He has not been forgotten, perhaps partly because there are so many of his own delightful compositions available for the student. "Musie by Perey Grainger" will form the text of the "Masterpieces of Musie’’ session from 4YA next Thursday. at 9.30 pm. Dr. T. Vernon Griffiths will do the dissecting. Band's Progress proven the St, Kilda Band ts no longer "cock of the walk," as it nnquestionably was a few years ago, it is steadily recovering from the setback it had in 1985, when, following the retirement of Mr. James Dixon, most of the older members gave up

playing, and it is only a matter of time before the present conductor, Mr. lL. Francis, puts it back "on the map." lixcriminating listeners will be able to decide for themselves whether this band is indeed improving when it broadcasts a popular programme from 4Y¥A next Tuesday night, beginning at 0.5. "Wave" Said Dora "WY AVE to me, wave to me, wave..." If those words do not coniure up pleasant memories of radio entertuinment a couple of seasons ago, then you are a Scot not worthy of owning i receiving set. The words came from the versatile Scottish comedienne, Dora Lindsay, who toured the Dominion under contract to the NBS, and her radiant personality was such that whereever she appeared on concert platforms she had her audiences waving to, and singing with, her, with greater ease than any other visiting artist has ever attained. Dora was associated with one of the most widely popular entertainment troupes that ever landed in New Zealand, a troupe that included such names as Senia Chostiakoff, Vineent Ryan, and Dave Howard. Dora is back in New Zealand, and will be heard from 4YA next Friday. at 8.32 p.m.; and Saturday, at 8.38. Sif will also give studio presentations on May 3, 4. 7 and Y. Enjoyable [LAST Sunday night, between 9 and 10 p.m., 424M gave listeners a treat when a selection of Irish recordings was broadeast. A feature of the programme, which ineluded songs, music nnd humour. was the absence of famous artists, practically every piece heing given by lesser-known performers. It was an enjoyable evening’s entertainment, and an excellently balanced one. The hest of Irish melodies were given in a simple and unaffected fashion. Unusual OMETHING unusnal is promised from 4YA at 9.5 p.m. on Thursday next, when Dr. V. E. Galway (Dunedin City organist) and the 4YA Studio Orchestra (conducted by Mr. James Dixon), will give a combined performance. When Handel's Allegro for Concerto in G Minor for organ and orchestra is played, Dr. Galway’s orchestral accompaniment will not be on the Town Hall organ. Instead, he will perform on the studio Hammond organ. Dr. Galway will also be heard in solo organ numbers, and one number, Wilfred Davies's "A Solemn Melody," should prove a delectable dish. Trials AST year a well-known Dunedin barrister gave a series of talks from 4YA that were well liked. Styling his series "Famous Trials," he was assured of a wide radio audience every night he was known to be speaking. However old the incidents may be, the majority of people like hearing of sensational erimes, and how the criminal wns finally brought to justice. We're all slightly morbid really, and this predilection for the gruesome rather proves that contention. Commencing at 8.40 p.m, next Tuesday, this same harrister will relate the first of a series of four "Historical Trials."