STAND UP AND SING

Radio Record, 20 May 1938, Page 15

STAND UP AND SING

Three Dunedin Men Who Proved That The Best Things In Life Are Still Free Special to the Record

by

C. H.

FORTUNE

HE "community sing" was one of the few really worthwhile developments of the Great Depression. Since they were unabie

to alford a full quota Of Cafned and celluloid music in those anxious years, a great number of people found-as people have been finding for more centuries than the Adam-and-Eveists care to admit-that there is only one amusement more cheering than listening to music-that of making it for yourself. Song igs about the one gift without strings left in this money-ridden old world. With return to more normal economic conditions, the community sing has perhaps lost a little of its appeal, but there are still parts of New Zealand where it is enjoyed as eagerly as ever. And there are still hundreds ot sick and crippled people who look to the radio to bring them something of the hearty, cheerful spirit of happy people singing old, well-loved songs in unison, Dunedin ix one city in which community singing seems to have com: to stay. The Unhappy Year UNEDIN community sings started in 1981. Thht was not, you Will recall, a happy year. And hecause it was not happy Messrs. II. P. Desmoulins, J. F. Himburg, and Alf. Pettitt decided to make things a little brighter all round. "Community sings’ were started-and were pat-ronised-hecause people realised the need for them. "Demmy," "Himmy,’ and "Alfie,’ as they were soon to hecome known, had started something, but not even they could then have guessed just how much. When the first season ended they had collected { £74/0/10 for charitable work, and when last season ended they found they had collected for six months the staggering total of nearly £1400, 20 times the sum they had collected their first year! In 1931 £74 was collected; the following year this su rose to £164; in 1988 to £400; in 1984 to £6003; in 1985 1 £666; in 1986 to £920; and last year to that amazing fota’ of £1400. The financial response is all the more praiseworthy when it ig realised the committee insists that the sings be sings. Little, if any time, is wasted in auctioning goods: no ruffles are ever held, and no games of vhance of any sort. All money collected is given voluntarily, save for tha: raised by means of sales, Tvery Friday a stall ts open in the vestibule of the Strand Theatre. Four special appeals were made at sings last year, Au appeal on behalf of the King George Memorial Fund raised

£109/1/9; an appeal for the Johnstone quadruplets, £100; the Mayoress’s Christmas Cheer Fund, £85; and finallv -the most notable success of all-an appeal on behalf of

the Plunket society brought £210/0/6. Each of the quoted sums was raised at one concert. "T)EMMY" deserves his success as a leader. He knows how to get the best from his audiences-how to get them in the happy, friendly frame of mind so essential for community singing. The committee does not confine its attentions to Dunedin alone. Many concerts are organised in country towns. Last year Demmy, Himmy, and Alfie went as far afield as Milton, Timaru, Oamaru, Roxburgh, Mosgiel, Port Chalmers, Green Island, and twice to Gore. These trips occupied a good deal of time, but the results made the effort well worth while, At Roxburgh £62 was raised. The committee is naturally delighted with the public esponse to its work. But the members do not say. very nuch. "Himmy" will express appreciation of support, but will say nothing about his own or his colleagues’ work. Embarrassed Them H® trio were embarrassed last year when the citizens of Dunedin gave them a complimentary sing in the Town Hall. Three thousand people packed the hall. The guests appreciated the compliment paid them. Their services were further acknowledged by the presentation of suitable gifts. Artists visiting Dunedin have always been willing te nelp these community concerts for charity, and there is no doubt that they have helped the box office satisfactorily. Last year the English Soccer team, the New Zealand soccer team, the Young Farmers’ Party, Country Girls’ arty, men of H.M.S. Leander, under the Rev. Hllis, Peter Dawson, of the J. C. Williamson Company (now Peter of {ZB), Dave Howard, English saxophonist, Jimmy Taylor, (nglish entertainer, the Four Blenders from the Montague Show, Mollie Doyle, champion girl piper from Southland, and the Johnston quadruplets, all these were the guests of the committee, Wherever possible they contributed items to the concerts, . ‘WHERE is another man who must not be forgotten-Big _ Brother Bill, idol of the children’s sessions from 4YA, tends a hand. He it was who conducted the appeal on behalf of the Mayoress’s Christmas Cheer Fund, and manages the children’s sing from the main Town Hall. Always a feature of the "singing’’ year, children in thousands flock to the hall, delighted to be near (Continued on page 45).

fo ERHAPS you don’t core for community singing. I know there are scores of people whodon’t. . . But thet doesn’t alter the fact thet for every one who doesn’t, there are probably a round thousand who do.

Stand Up And Sing WORK BEHIND SCENES (Continued from page 15)

the man whose voice they know and wait for all through the year, . Yet another personality is Mr, H. Marsden ("Harry" to most people!)the manager of the Strand-who helps Himmy send his "cheerios" over the air. Harry is in his element as a helper. A care-free personality brightens the whole show. PONTANEOUS:as they seem, there’s -Teally a lot of work running these sings... . Arranging and organising items every Friday is not in itself easy. In addition, hundreds of letters: and "cheerios" have to be checked up and condensed for broadcast. But the comguittee enjoys the work. It is well rewarded by the response and often expressed appreciation.. Entertainment is never lost sight of in planning those shows. Therein, perhaps, lies the real secret of their success, bs "The object of the sings," says Himmy, "is to give pleasure-not only to those who attend, but also to people who, through sickness or some other disability, can only listen in, The financial aspect has been a secondary consideration, and the committee feels that if it has given pleasure for an hour, then its object has been attained and its efforts rewarded." On May 27, Demmy, Himmy and Alfie will be busy again, for at 12,15 that day the 1988 sings start. Listen in, New Zealand.