In the Wake of the Week's Broadcasts

Radio Record, 6 May 1938, Page 6

In the Wake of the

Week's Broadcasts

"LET US NOW PRAISE FAMOUS MEN"

\Vainable tributes were paid by 2YA on successive Sunday afternoons to two celebrities who have just died. A short recital was given onApril 24, in which the — contribution

made by the late Sir Richard Terry {o British musie was outlined and

appropriate record ings played, On May 1 the late Sir Henry Newbolt was honoured in a similarly appropriate way aud records of some of his most popular songs were heard, "Drake’s Drum," by far the best-kyowh poem by Newbolt, gained him fhe. close friendship of a

one-time Poet Laureate, the late Dr. Robert Bridges. It first appeared in #4 London evening paper in 1896, at the moment when the British Government had replied to some menacing words of the Kaiser by ordering a special service squadron to put to sea. When Bridges read the poem he murmured: "Awfully swell, awfully swell." Looking the author in the face Bridges added: "You'll never write anything better than that-it isn’t given to man to write anything better than that. I wish I had ever written anything half so good." That encounter on the front steps of the home of Dr. Bridges at Yatteuden was a-‘turning point in-

Newbolt’s life, because on the advice of the older poet, Sir Heury quitted the Bar for good and went in for literature. wt

SWEET SINGER BUT IS SHE THE TYPE?

a. Listened with real interest to Rita Stone, Auckland soprano, when she sang from 4YA ‘the other Saturday night. As she has been given the lead in the Dunedin Operatic Society’s costly. venture,

"The Vagabond King," it seemed not unreasonable

to. think she pOS- sessed 8 remarkable: vicec ~Oanttidlys

[ was somewhat disappointed. she gave four numbers, not one of which could be termed robust, and perhaps in passing judgment this should be borne in mind. Her voice was clear but not strong: in fact I had to turn up my set to hear her decently. if have very grave doubts whether her voice will be strong enough to be heard all over His Majesty's Theatre when the play is presented in June. One does not like to be hard in a matter like this, but sweetness of voice is not everything in casting an opera.

THE RIVIERA COMES ONLY SECOND

Almost to the point of boredom, distinguished overseas visitors never tire of telling New Zealanders of the beauties of this country. Lord Bledisloe was a notable example. And to him, |

can well believe the warmly tinted comparisons of some ports of the

Dominion to the ™Y French and Italian Rivieras, heard in the well-phrased dialogue of the New Zealand Railways, ‘Romance and Transport" programmes, from the ZB stations, would be but an expression of the simple truth, in which New Zealand, possibly, was slightly undervalued. Apart from this aspect, the prosrammes do show very pleasantly that radio programmes can be just as entertaining at home as overseas. The musicul portion is contributed by three leuding Wellington vocalists in Miss Hilda Webster, and Messrs. Uarison Cook (buss) and Tom Hislop (baritovpe!, while the slickly-turned dialogue comes from Wellington’s O. N. Gillespie.

LISTENERS ALL HEARD THE THUDS

Sitting comfortably at their firesides the other night and listening to 8YA, wrestling fans wriggied with delight as groans of anguish and yells of triumph poured through their loud-

speakers. They wer® given @ most vivid description of the unkind way

Mr. Blomfield was treating Mr. Tonti, aud how Mr. Tonti became exceedingly cross when introduced to the octopus clamp. Blomfield bas made himself very popular in Christchurch and demands for interviews and autographs have’ been legion. The much lighter and shorter Joe’s sportsmanship has also brought him a host of friends. The announcer, though greatly helped by the fast and exciting nature of the combat, is to pe complimented on his work. A.

OUR ad WAS KEEN LISTENER

as V¥reddy Dosh-who he is, or why, I know not-put over some recorded impressions, or imitations, from 4YO last week. It takes a good man to deliver a series of vastly different imi-

tations and _ yet have them all sound the real thing. Dosh is the

first of wany radio imitators J have heard who was just about perfect in every unit of mimicry. Certainly the occasion was che fivst time

T have seen our cat react so violently to the impression of a howling dog. Tibby backed into the corner of the room, arched his back, spat vindictively, and stared about him in obvious terror unable to understand where the menace to his safety lay. He quietcned down while Dosh continued his "fun," but the cheep of chickens agaiu roused Tibby-hopefully this time. I‘inally Dosh’s impression of a speeding train developed so much consternation on Tibby’s part that I believe I have accidentally found out how the vat lost the tip of his tail.

TRE HIGHLIGHT AT STATION YA.

The highlight on 1YA’s programme von Friday week last was undoubtedly the short song recital by Miss Molly Ilayres, a Melbourne soprano and a popular radio artist, who has sung in

all the big Australian studios. She is spending an extended holiday in New Zealand. Her

gloriously clear voice was heard in three songs, easily the best of which was de Giorgio’s "Ave Maria," a composition seldom if ever heard in the Dominion. This was sung to a violin obbligato played by Miss Isobel Langlands, an old school chum of Miss Hayres. 1YA’s telephone commenced to buzz immediately after this song had been given, and the requests for it to be sung again were numerous. In all probability listeners will have au early opportunity of hearing this capable artist sing it again. By special! request, Miss Hayres gave this beautiful rendering of "Ave Maria" in St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral the following Sunduy night at the main service.

iT HAPPENS BIY TOO OFTEN

Stution 2ZB gave itself and its listeners another "pain in the neck" ou Sunday morning last, when its hospital sessionist announced that, owing to an outbreak of an infectious dis-

ease, the Otaki Health Camp was in isolation. Two hours later, the

same voice announced that "the statement was quite wrong and should never have been made," and "some parents had informed us that there wus some trouble up there." This allayed alarm, but not before a good many purents had been badly worried. Aygain, obviously, the statement had not been checked with responsible authorities before being broadcast. a6

BIG BEN WAS GIVEN TOO MUCH TO DO

Big Ben was given far too big a part when the NBS was casting "TwentyFour Hours," the play from 3YA on the evening of Anzac Day. In this dramatie epitome of the events preced-

ing ihe declaration of war on August 4, 1914, the chimes and tolling of Big

Ben marked the passing of time, and after a while interest in the play marked time while he was doing it. It surely wasn’t necessary for him to have been so thorough. The only consolation was that I was able to dash backwards

and forward preparing supper while he was striking, without missing anything worth hearing. The rest of the play was pretty good, though I was amused to’ notice that the German spy sounded like Greta Garbo and the marching troops sounded more like a train drawing out of a station. Sir Hdward Grey’s speech to the House of Commons was particularly well delivered, and most of the French and German interludes came over better than one might have expected. It was with a glow of personal satisfaction that I found I was able to understand the French. It struck me that the play should logically and dramatically have ended with the declaration of war, instead of earrying on for an address by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the playing of "Land of Hope and Glory" and. other patriotic airs. To my mind this ending shattered the feeling of humility which the play should have produeed in the listener.

HARD TO BEAT IN THEIR LINE

Y’d hate it to be thought that I had a particular leaning to one special broadcasting artist or combination of artists, yet I must confess that the Revellers’ Dance Band has an appreci-

ative listener in me. They gave an oldtime dance programme from 4YO last Saturday night,

and it was just right. Good as are some of the other bands at handling old-time dance music, the Reyellers are in a class by themselves, and I submit there isn’t a better combination in that field in New Zealand to-day. It’s not that I find the music first-rate to dance to-though that would be an unassailable contention-for I never trouble to dance: it’s simply that I enjoy their splendid co-operation and sense of balance, and the vigour which they infuse into their playing.

POOR SUBSTITUTE FOR MY MELODRAMA

I sometimes suspect that I have de: praved tastes in radio fare, but if su | cannot help that. My depraved tastes-udmitting that they do exist--tind for me entertainment, aud that is

what I own » radio for. Consequently, whenever [ see anpounced that "The fruity melodrams

‘Only a Mill Girl,’ will be presented," I’m on the station broadcasting it on time, The burlesque that provides the meat in this little hot: h-potch amuses me considerably, and as it is not put on over-frequently, it does not lose its appeal. I was very disappointed when, last Thursday, 4YO for certain yague reasons did not present the melodrama as advertised and substituted an impression of the play, "Ten Minute Alibi." This tatter recording is often put over the air, and though I| have heard it several times during the eourse of listening to programmes, I still fail to see what there is in it to warrant its frequent consideraton by stations of the NBS :