CONTRALTO TO RETURN

Radio Record, 8 July 1938, Page 18

CONTRALTO TO RETURN

New Zealand' Tour By Former Christchurch_ Singer _ Broadcasts Of AlI Black Matches From Australia ~ Hymn Sessions From Commercial Stations--Features For The Coming W eek

WWO.-vears:ago: Grace. .Wil- . ,:kinson;:,..natiye of. New sx Zealand,: possessed of::a ~~ béautiful + €ontralto-- voice, a"tour--of the’ national" stations Which firmly established’ her fine singitig’ in ‘the ~ ‘minds of "her listeriers: "Now. ¢otnes "the "news that: -Shé-is ta make: another. appearafice. ifher: homeland: ander: engage: ment: to. the NBS~ ; ; Iv was’ "through" ‘the inlerest ‘wid _ encouragement: "of, ‘Dame Clara ‘after. she had heard Mi iss. Wilkinson sing tn Christchurch some ten "years ago, that the. young conand. Europe. for study:. SIR HENRY. "WOOD. and. ‘Sir Dan:: Godfrey were two of -the outstanding. musicians ‘with ‘whom ‘she was associated in England, and in Berlin she studied with Conrad von . Bos,. through | whom, she was ab'e. to.appear in the. German capital. In Paris she received further tuition with; Madame. Croiza. "She" appeared | at. recitals, oratotios, .and’ concerts in England, -and gave several broadcasts.’ THE first of her broadcasts is _ ‘scheduled for 2YA on August 30... .. FOR the benefit. of New. Zealand listeners, arrangements have been made by the national stations to rebroadcast all the principal Rugby football matches of the New-Zealand touring team in Aus- tralia. On‘Jrily 16 will be heard the game between New Zealand and New South Wales; on July 23, New. Zealand v. Australia; and August 13, New Zealand v. Australin: EITHER. radio 1 nor stage is’ anxious -to contest the Sonth Dunedin seat-at the forthcoming general elections: agninst the Postmastet- Geir eral ‘(the*Hon, FF." Jones). °' Just recently Mr... R. McKenzie, 4YA’s popular sporting. commentator,. turned down the proposal. that.he should stand, and now has "come another refusal. Mr. Maurice Jocl, well-kuown:in the Dune-

din "amateur theatrical world, has deGlined- to aecept- nomination, despire considerable. pressure, wae ee HAT is a hymn? Most people would answer that it is a collection of verses accompanied by a tune ful :‘melody-and they would not:be far wrong. The exact definition is a "song of praise and a metrical composition sung in religious service." Some hymn melodies-and words-go back to very ancient times and. while there are some that are poor in the extreme, there are many which, apart entirely from sentiment, can rouse the emotions _of thousands. A new feature at the commercial -stations is "Hymns of all Churches," a recorded feature to be need on four mornings a2 week.

DANNY MALONE, Irish tenor, who ~..4g receiving praise for his excellent singing and microphone technique, will give a further recital from 2YA ‘on July 15, at.9.31 p.m. _In Person EXT week 1YA is to present a fine _-erop of "flesh-and-blood" work. On Sunday, July 10, Zoe Bartley-Baxter, who so -vell presented fromthe studio recently Noel Coward’s "Hay -Fever," ig to produce in the studio J. B. Priestley’s dramatic -comedy, -‘Eden End." She has selected a fine cast for this p:asentation, .which. takes up . 90 minutes om the air.- On the following Monday evening, "Man of Destiny," recorded in the NBS studios in Wellington, will be featured. "Man of Destiny"

is the brilliant piece by the famous George Bernard Shaw. On Thursday, July 14, the chorus and soloists of the Auckland Choral Society will preseut from the studio excerpts from "The Bohemian Girl." For Children HF first duo in commercial broad-casting-"Dorothy and»Neddo"’are together again. This time it’s in a series of Saturday morning children’s parties at the Majestic Theatre.. Remember that these parties, held last year at the Regent Theatre, were a distinct hit? Capacity houses can just about be guaranteed for the popular pair. A film, a concert, and community singing are included, and the 10.30 to 11 a.m. period is broadcast. The first show was held last week. , mF At 3YA HE evening of July 10 will find a considerable space on 8YA’s. ‘programme devoted to "flesh-and-blood" artists. From the North Island comes Miss Dorothy Buckingham, ‘who will be heard in a soprano recital. Then Mrs, Tristram Willcox will sing contralto numbers. The very popular combination, Miss Nancy Esfall,. ’cellist, and Mr. Harry Glaysher, harpist, will be heard on. the same ‘evening. Bohemian Duo Te Bohemisin Duo, engaged for the ..... LYA. evering session on July 16, bad considerable radio experience, They were.engaged for the opening night of 1YA in 1926 and have broadcast at intervals ever since, Previous to this they toured © Australia with Williamson’s Celebrity Vaudeville and. Union Theatres and the A.B.C. They specialise in the lighter type of songs, harmonisirg and playing their own accompaniments on guitars. In Sydney LATEST news from Sydney indicates ‘that Thea, of 1ZB, is having a successful and pleasant holiday in Australia. Her last letter conveyed that it was a hectic rush rather than a rest. She is doing half a dozen broadcasi. programmes for well-known stations. She is at present in Melbourne, stay: ing with her old friend Gladys MonManners HERE are many stories about hard drinking in he old days. One coneerns an all-night party somewhere in Scotland, at which, in the early hours of the morning one of the celebrities noticed that a certain man was sitting" very still. He drew his neighbour's at-

tention to this: "McDougall’s very quiet," he said. "Oh." was the reply, "MeDougall’s been dead these two. hours, but I didn’t like to spoil the sport." Father Walsh in his talk in "the Manners and Morals _ series "at 2YA on Monday. next, July 11, will deal with social conditions like "hese. He should have a rich field to explore in the field of drinking. The title of his talk, "As Drunk:as a Lord," is intriguing, ‘ a

And Wales REAT Rugby battle of long ago is to be fought all over again-from 1YA on Monday, July 18, at & p.m, when one of the NBS series, "Scenes from the Sports Past," is to be broadcast. This is the int-rnational Rugby match between Scotland and New Zealand, played on November 18, 1905. It Will be the re-creation of a thrilling sporting event as it would have been heard through the microphone had radio been in existence at the time. Sportsmen are wondering whether the NBS is contemplatin:; a re-creation of the epie struggle between Wales and the All Blacks during that same 1905 tour when the Welshmen got the doubtful try that won the game! The One Question "THERE have been reports from time to time of the gravity of the drought in Australia-one of the worst, if not the worst, in history. Mrs. M. Foster-Barham, of Nelson, paid a visit this April to relatives of hers who run a huge station beyond Bourke, a ‘thousand miles from the sen ‘ahd she brought back vivid impressions of a country in. the grip of drought, and a community occupied with one main thought-when will the’ rain come?- yet cheerful and astonishingly fit physically. Where there is water, the land

blossoms, and Mrs: Fostér-Barham tells of one sweet potato that : sufficed for twenty people. Mrs. FostermBarhain is to speak of her experiences and impresSions at 1YA on July 15 under the title of "The Heart of Australia," His New Role Me. ROBERT ("Whang") McKENZIE, sporting announcer, from 4YA, is being cast in a‘tiew-role.". The South Dunedin Business; Men’s Association has decided. to conduct .a- weekly community sing in the southern area of Dunedin, dnd this sing: will be hed every Wednesday in ‘the Mayfair. Theatre, -Proceeds: are to. go‘ to’-the mayor's , relief fund for ithe borough: of

‘St. Kilda, "Whang" has agreed to act as leader. _There is no doubt of his capabilities in this direction, for they have been proved on several occasions in the past. If you want to hear "Whang" McKenzie in a coniparatively new role, tune in to 4YA every Wednesday at 12.15, | Travel With Him BEGINNING July 18, worldtraveller Leon Gotz, wellknown to 2ZB’s Luncheon Hour listeners, will be heard in a series of "Travelogues" in which he will tell’ of life and adventure in many lands. Heard at 10 p.m. the Ssession will be called, "Going Places neith Leon Gotz,"

Sports Fixtures UITE a "heavy" sporting afternoon is, promised from 4YA next Saturday. "Whang" McKenzie will broadcast the commentary on the senior Ruyby gatne at Carisbrook, and at halftime he will cover the Lovelock Olympic Memorial Cup race, which will he run on the same ground. At 4.380 a rebroadcast will be made from Sydney of the Rugby fixture, New Zealand versus New South Wales. Band Work OR the good reason that many special recorded features are awaiting their turn at 8ZB, Jack Maybury’s band sessions are being restricted ro one appearance, per’ microphone, per month. Jacko's has captured the dancing feet of Christchurch, and mauy listeners may be a trifle despondent at this announcement. But, and there's always a but, Maybury’s other studio work, together with his celebrated laugh, will make up for the lost time. Sunday Afternoon LF0POLD STOKOWSKI-how his popularity increased after his appearance in "100 Men and a Girl"! -and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra will be featured in 4YA's Sun-

day programme. The combination will be heard in "Dances" by Debussy. For Sydney ACK to Sydney last week, went Carl Nicis, Russian operatic tenor. who has been under contract to the NCBS for several months, Heard at all four ZB stations, Mr, Nicis contributed much to the New Zealander’s knowledge of European and Rueésian folk lore. For Christchurch HE two public recitals in Christ-~ vlurch by Kipnis will be given at the Civie Theatre on July 11 and 13. They will be broadcast. Christchurch has reason to be proud of ifs young pianist, Noel Newson, who, as well as accompanying Kipnis, plays solo items in the programme, Kipnis himself has expressed high appreciation of Mr, Newson's work. 1ZB Broadcasts ATEST innoyation from 1ZB is a series of broadcasts from the "Berkeley Theatre" at Mission Bay, on the waterfront, on Wednesday evenings mostly, In the programmes Are musical items and film cuts. This lounge lends itself very well to broadcasting, and it is becoming a popular. rendezvous in Anekland. Well-known, Auckland vocalists ure featured.

Contest FENTRIES for the 4ZB harmonica contest have now closed, and this week the first of the competitors will be heard from the southern Commercial. It is hoped that this contest will reveal latent talent, perhaps a "Larry Adler." Sessions will be held until all the competitors have been heard, then comes the judging. At 4YA AMONG "fesh and blood" artists to be heard from 4¥A next week will be Mr. Alec Blyth (’cello) and Miss Ennice Steadman (piano), on Monday night, and Mr. Trevor Thomas (baritone) and Miss Aileen Young (soprano) on Saturday night. Farewells | OMf farewells to a departing chisf executive are merely excuses for sycophantie murmurings and hypocritical back-pattings: It was not like this, however, when the 3ZB staff met to farewell Merton S. Bullivant and Jan Mackay, before they left for Wellington on promotion in the NCBS. Both. were given presentations. , Plays y HEN the Civic Players, Christchurch, did "The Right to Die" from 8YA sttidios a week or two ago, they won plaudits from drama-lovers. The combination will be heard agani from SYA ov July 7, when "One Goes Alotie" will be presented. This is a play by Edward Williams, deaiing with France, 1918, and the flying daredevils

of the period. After a musical interlude, the Civic Players will offer, on the same programme, a rather queer piece of inystery and horror by Edmund Barclay, "Murder in the Silo." This is a story in which an Australian swagger, bagman, or what yott will, recounts the tale of a killer. Mr. Harold Shaw is the producer of the Civic Players’ pieces-ranked athong the finest plays 8YA has put over the air. Air Defence R. H. WANSEY BAYLY, Harley Street specialist who visited New Zealand as a ship’s surgeon recently, takes a keen interest in aerial defence. Dr. Bayly made recordings of two talks benring on this’ sttbject, for the NBS. One is entitled "Food and Fuel," and the other "Targets and Missiles." They throw light on the difficult and cotnplet problems of defence against aircraft that are now facing the British Government. ‘These are to be heard at 1YA on July 12 and 14, Part Singers (SONDUCTED by Mr. H, Temple. White, the Tudor Singers, a gron) of twelve picked voices. present another of theit interesting programmes from 2YA on July 14.. This small coinbination specialises in part-Songs, ac companied and tnaccompanied. You Ask One N£wsst page in the Children’s Magazine of the Air at 1ZB is the "Question Box," conducted by the "Profestor and Albert Throgmorton " Children ate invited to send in an} questions which puzzle them, and the professor finds the answers. So far

only one additional wrinkle has appeared on the furrowed brow of A station executive since the session started. He hag discovered for young listeners the length of a year on the new planet Pluto (which was discovered a few years ago), the number of aeroplanes carried by H.M.S. Hood. the cause of flame, and many other such intricate questions. Throgmorton, an ill-behaved pupil, fires all the questions at the professor for the children who have asked them, Money Rolls In HILE heavy rain beat continuously on the roof of the Civic Theatre, last Thursday, hundreds of Christchurch people were enjoying the weekly community sing conducted by Jack Maybury, of 38ZD. The amazingly good total of £70 odd was contributed towards the relief of aistress in the city. Though’ the same people go along each year and each week, sing the same songs with the ‘adition, now and them, of something new, its popularity never wanes. Banjoists T is some time since that popular combination, the Stokes’ Banjo Band, was heard from 4YA, but.‘‘banjo fans" will be advised to tune into 4YA next Wednesday at 8 and 8.34 p.m, when the band wil give selected numbers. For Old Timers OLD-TIME dances are liked by more than actual "old-timers" in Christchurch. These people will get their wishes in the next few days. On July 12, Colin Camphell’s old-time dance or-

chestra, playing for the annual ball of the Loyal Orange Lodge, will be broadcast between 10 and 11 p.m., by 8YL. Then, on July 16, 83YA will relay the same band in a dance at the Ritz ballroom, between 9.15 and 11.30 p.m. Decoration NEw session proving popular from "ZB is the "IIlome Decoration" transmission, In this housewives are instructed how to make their homes beautiful, even with a minimum of furniture and drapings. ‘The ‘instriictor is a man well qualified to speak on these lines. Lovelock Memorial AUTHOUG H Jack Lovelock’s running days have apparently ended, his name will not be forgotten. After all, did he not put New Zealand on the map because of his sensational victory at Berlin during the last Olympic Games? That event has been com-

memorated by the presentation of the Loyelock Olympic Memorial Cup to be competed for by Dunedin harriers, Next Thursday night at 7.80 Mr. L. W. Woods, captain of the Otago University harrier team, will speak from 4YA on "The Lovelock Olympic Memorial Trophy." The Army THE army is New Zealand's latest institution to broadenst its attra: tions. It now has a session to itself at 2Z2B, known as the "Territorial Session," conducted by an officer_of he Defence Department. The time: Saturdays, 7.45 p.m. Art Of Teaching NE first of five talks, under the general heading "Edueation," will ve given from 4YA at 7.80 next Tuesday. These talks form part of the "Whirligig of Time" series. Mr. K. W. R, Glasgow will give four of the ud-

dresses, his subjects being "John Keate: the Flogging Headmaster" (July 12); "Arnold and Thring" (July 19) ; "The Classical Curriculum" (July 26); and "Understanding With Chile" (August 2). The fifth talk will be given by Mr. W. W. Bridgman, well-known 4YA lecturer, and his subject bears the intriguing title, ‘"Inll Circle: Do As You Like." Recitals BRROsDCAst organ recitals from the Civie Theatre, Christchurch, by ‘Clarence B. Hall, are being resumed. "Mfr. Hall has been the performer at many of these recitals, which were inaugurated by 3YA. His next appenrunce will be on July 10, with Mr. David McGill, tenor, as the soloist. Variety Most specialists, on linking up with a e : a radio have one in mind-the airing of their own speciality. But David Combridge, 3ZB’s gardening expert, plays many roles in addition to his chats on plants and plant culture. Regularly at 9.50

a.m. on Sundays, he conducts a band session, his recordings representing all nations. -His gardening session is on Saturdays, from 2 to 2.30 p.m., just at the right time for a few hints about the afternoon’s work. Then, on Weidnesdays he becomes Mr, Natureman, drawing upon his wide acquaintance with plants, insects, animals, and the senshore. He transports children 16 his garden or anywhere in the country. Many children send in drawings of scenes spoken about-a tribute to Mr. Combridge’s powers of description. Charm School "TIME alteration places 2ZB’s "Charm School of the Air’ conducted by Dorothy Wheeler at 10,45 a.m., Tuesdays. Not So Dull YNKIND overseas visitor the other day described Christchurch on & Sunday as "a graveyard lighted with neon. lights." But, though any New Zealand city is bound to be somewhat dull in the eyes of a Continental visi-

tor on Sundays, that is hy no means the fault of radio. For instance, 8ZB, along with the other commercial stations, -has now inaugurated a regular Sunday night feature. "Mirth Parade." This is part of the NCBS policy toward a "brighter Sunday night movement." Talking Film NEW ZEALAND’S first talking picture has been filmed, and will be the subject of a fifteenminute relay from 2ZB on Friday next at 7.45 pam. It is a_ fulllength feature, .served bya cast chosen from 1000 applicants from am and around, JVellington, under the name of "Oh, Mr. Gadd!"