IRISH TENOR'S REFUSAL

Radio Record, 29 July 1938, Page 18

IRISH TENOR'S REFUSAL

Film Offer Made To Danny Malone-Little Old Lady Of Dunedin-Popeye’s Voice Comes To New Zealand-Grand National Broadcasts-News From All Stations

ANNY MALONE, Irish tenor at present touring the YA stations under engagement to the NBS, has been starred’ in several films made by English studios. Just before he left Auckland a little over a week ago, he received a cable from a leading British film producing company offering him an engagement to take the starring singing role in a new film, "The Mountains of "Mourne." As his touring contracts ‘will keep him tied up for some months yet, Mr. Malone reluctantly had to refuse the offer, which would have meant a large sum. Danny Malone lives in London, finds an abundance of work there to keep him going the whole year round. His present tour is being made partly as a holiday. PLEASANT gesture on the part of the organisers of the South Dunedin community sing last week was the inclusion of "Little Old Lady" on its programme, specially for the benefit of Mrs. Emma Harries, of South Dunedin. Mrs. Harries, just turned 104, is probably the Dominion’s oldest resident. As soon as the singers learnt the reason for the number they sang it with vigour and enthusiasm. The main city "sing" also remembered Mrs. Harries. "Many Happy Returns of the Day," "Put a Little Springtime in the Winter of Their Lives," and others, including "Little Old Lady," which Mrs. Harries might well consider her song. Mrs. Harries was born in London on July 18, 1834, and came to New Zealand after 20 years in Australia in 1888, landing at Port Chalmers. THE big racing week of the year for the Grand National starts in Christchurch on August 6. Announcers on the sporting side of 3YA will tell the public all they want to know about the events. The first meeting will be the New Zealand. Metropolitan Trotting Club’s, meeting at Addington on Augiist 6, the other trotting fixtures being August 10 and 12. The Grand National Steeplechase is on August 9 and the Grand National

Hurdles on August 11. The final day at Riccarton is August 13. On August 5 Mr. Fred. Thomas will talk from 3YA on "Reminiscences of Early Grand Nationals." (ANY a lad and many a man can thank 1ZB for getting them a job because of the ‘News from the Placeunent Service" session broadcust every morning at 6.45. The Placement Officer, for long a popular and informative speaker on Friday evenings, recently transferred his attention to each weekPERERELILEAALARLEAPLECCOTIALERALLATEL TEL ATLL EL LELA ELUTE laaibaiil

day morning. Men whose names are on the service’s books are told to listen for the ‘bulletin which udvises them where each job is and invites them to present themselves there at a given time to start work. The conscientious effort on the part of the Placement Officer makes this a boon to the community. Be FORE radio becume domestic Inusical societies in New Zealand had to depend on house seating eapacity for their support. But to-day it is a poor society that is not put over the air, now and then. to sing to an audience a thousand-fold greater than that in the theatre. On August 3, the Royal Christchurch Musieal Society, econducted by Mr. Ernest Jenner, will appear at the Radiant Wall and several of its offerings will be broadcast by 8YA. These include three TIandel choruses for choir and orchestra, und two motets

for chorus and string orchestra. The soloists, culled from the top ranks of Christchurch artists. are Mr, Clive Hindle, baritone, who will sing two Shakespearean songs; Miss Millicent Jennings, who will present Italian songs with violin obbligato by Miss Gladys Vincent; Miss Vincent herself, in Sonata in B Minor, by Respighi; and Mr. Jenner, pianist. The society to-day igs regaining a good deal of its glory of 20-odd years ago. HE humble harmonica has recently sprung from comparative obscurity to a place of eminence among instruments. The fine recordings by Larry Adler undoubtedly brought this erstwhile "toy" to the forefront. Wellington has several harmonica bands. One of these, Claude Jupp’s band, will broadcast from the 2YA studios on August 4. ‘Musical Ball ORTHCOMING seventy-fifth anniversary of the Dunedin Choral Society will be marked by an_ event unique in Dunedin. Apart from the attractive musical and choral pregramme the society is staging a musical ball. Besides the engagement of an augmented dance orchestra, there will be a full symphony orchestra of 16 players to render special dance numbers, Rising PUNEDIN-BORN tenor, Denis Dowling, whose fame rapidly spread in New Zealand and Australia, has now 7 obtained his A.R.C.M. diploma at the Royal

College of Music, London. Quite recently Mr. Dowling was associated with the Royal Choral Society as a soloist in the performance of "Hiawatha" in the Albert Hall, London, under the conductorship of Dr. Malcolm Sargent. Rhythna "PHURSDAY, August 4, marks the 66th consecutive weekly appearance before the microphone‘ of the "Four Kings of Rhythm." Originally ‘broadcasting from 2YD, they were so well-liked that 2YA made arrangements for a simultaneous broadcast from both stations so that listeners in far places of the Dominion could hear the. session. The Four Kings of Khythm present their material on two pianos, string bass and drums, a simiJar combination to that employed by Harry. Roy’s Tigeragamufiins, Suite Music (SOMING from 3ZB every Sunday night is a suite of music heartily to be commended. Every session is characteristic of some composer. For instance, the "Four Aces Suite," the "Aquarium Suite," and Coleridge Taylor’s characteristic waltzes have already been done. The latest was the "Three Men Suite" of Eric Coates. This is a restful contrast to the weekly "snap and pep" programmes. For people-and there are thousands of them: in Christchurch-who leave the dial on 3ZB day in, day out, the work in this session of "Pedro the Gipsy,’ created by George Boyle, is'a changea distinct change, and to the good. _ Liquid History T has been said of the river Thames . that it ig liquid history. Even more is this true of the Nile, the most famous river in the world. The Nile is to be the subject of a talk at 3YA on Tuesday, August 2, by Mr. J. I. Craig, of the Ministry of Finance, Egypt. He knows much about the river that gives life to the country he serves. Fishermen’‘s Luck EW people, when they eat their fish for breakfast, think of the way it is waught and the people who catch it. Do they ever think of the hardships and dangers Of the men who go out in small boats into the open seas and ftish for the town markets? Do they realise that fishing lines may be as much as a mile long, and have to be carefully

% baited at intervals and then set. Facts such ag these are to be told to listeners by Mr. Murray Fastier in qa talk at 4YA on August 5. Mr. Fastier went out in a launch from one of the Otago fishing places and spent some hours on 4 rough sea while the lines were being set and taken up. The talk will give landsmen some idea of the life of hard, rough and dangerous work that makes up a fisherman’s daya

Industrial Talks "RHOSE interested in industrial conditions at home and abroad should hear a series of three talks that Professor J. H. Richardson, Leeds University, recorded for the NBS during his recent visit to New Zealand. Professor Richardson is Professor of Industrial Relations at Leeds, the first man in England to be appointed ty such a university chair. Before that he spent nine years with the International Labour Office, under the League of Nations. He came to New Zealand to look into our system of settling industrial disputes. These talks are to be heard first from +YA, and the opening one. "British Industrial Conditions To-day," is set down for Tuesday, Au gust 2. Triple Bill (00D triple bill, varied in character, : will be presented from the studio of LYA on Monday, August 1, when Mr. J. W. Bailey is to produce three short plays, ‘all by Auckland authors. The first will be "Twenty Years After," by Blake Thornton. This is a tragic story of a returned soldier, and deals with the aftermath of the Great War. Next is to follow a domestic comedy, "Domestic Tangle," by Una Craig; and the third, "2 Catherine Da Medici,"

from the pen of Jennifer Thomas; is.+ historical play dealing with the cou flict between Catherine and. Mary.. Queen of Scots, who at the time of this play was the wife of Francis II, ‘King’ of France, " French Composer. Hu works of Paul d’Indy, "noted .. , French composer, are "not * fre~ : quently heard from the stations of fhe NBS, but the feature presentation from 4YA next Sunday afternoon, beginning « at 2.30, will be "Symphony for Piano ; und Orchestra." The soloist will’ be Miss Marguerite Long, with the Qologne Symphony Orchestra in support. It has been said that d’Indy’s compositions bear a strong ‘resemblance’: té those of Cesar Franck, D’Indy was a pupil of Franek, and ‘he held ‘his mas: ‘ ter in very high esteem, Wrong Idea AS* @ youug buss singer to-day: thinks that his main, object is.to. get as low in the scale and as loyd as: he possibly can, ‘quite overlooking the. ‘higher registers. "The other day Alex* ander Kipnis met a young man Wha asked him for a lesson or two. But. Kipnis, remarking that.he did not. give lessons, said he would be pleased. hear the young man’s voice, The amateur went noisily through a song»made* famous by Kipnis on his recordings. He

said for years he had been trying to sing it just as the great Russian did. Kipnis gsmilingly remarked subsequently that if he sang that song ag the young aspirant did, well, "My word, I don’t know what would happen!" And that’s where the visitor scored; he could be almost a tenor when required. Home Again IT’ and bright, Miss Dorothea Ryan, "Thea" of 1ZB, returned last week after a holiday of several weeks in Australia. Several times she broadcast from the principal radio stations in Sydney. The highlight of her holiday. she said, was the visit paid to the Cinesound studios, where she saw some

shots of the film, "Dad and Dave Come to Town." being made. There she met Cecil Kellaway, Bert Bailey (who, as "Dad," is probably the greatest character actor in Australia to-day). Billy Rayes, Fred MacDonald, Leila Steppe and Shirley Ann Richards, all well known to New Zealand audiences. The primary object of Miss Ryan’s visit to Australia was to se her old friend. Gladys Monerieff, still in bed as the result of serious injuries in a motor accident some months ago. Salvation Army APD to "Bands Heard on the Air" the Dunedin Salvation Army Citadel Band. It has not been heard yet. but if will be next Tuesday night at 9.5 from 4YA, the bandmaster being Mr. A. W. Millard. Ineluded in the band's repertoire will be a Schumann suite: "Northern Son," "Sailor’s Son" and "The Wild Norsemen." Sports Service BELIBVING that many a man who is unable to attend his favourite game cn a Saturday, and who likes to "do a show" at night, needs extra service in sports results, 3ZB has arranged to

present a special sports session on Saturdays at li pm. This means that the average man, who arrives home from the theatre at just about that hour, will only have to tune in to 3ZB to get results in brief from all ove the Dominion. Ping-Pong HE heading will make table-tennis "fans" writhe no doubt, but to many people table-tennis is still ‘"pingpong," despite the visit of two such masters as Barna and Ballak, Hungarian champions. Station 4ZB, ‘through the medium of Jim Arthur, handled two successful relays from the Town Hall on the occasion of the duels be-

tween Otago’s best and the Hungarians. Particularly interesting was the necount of the exhibition match which revealed ‘"table-tennis of a standard never before seen in Dunedin,’ Barna and Ballak’s exhibition being "a combination of ‘table-tennis, Soccer and football !" Sidelights SIDELIGHTS, as presented by the B stations, are becoming increasivgly popular. For the QGhristchurch — station the other night. Bob Pollard delved into the mysteries of a modern bakery. taking his followers from the bulk store, through fhe elecirie ovens and out to the yans, where finished loaves and small cakes were on their journey to the public. Thus the average man and Woman and child, is coming to learn more and more of matters that rarely come before the public. The last sidelight set down for 3ZB’s_ attention was a tour through the big Addington electric power station. New Features /DURING August two new features will make their New Zealand debut on the air, TWirst "Songs of

Yesteryear" will be heard from all commercial stations at 10.380 a.m., Mondays to Fridays. This session should give interest at morning-tea time for the older people, to whom the songs so familiar years ago still bring many . memories. Music has great power to resurrect the past, and the manner in which the feature is presented is said to be interesting. Children will be catered for in anotker new release billed for 5.45 p.m. on Tuesdays, Weduesdays and Thursdays from 1ZB, 2238 and 8ZB, and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4ZB. ‘The title jis "Once Upon a Time." In this production all the favourite characters of childhood days are brought to life. It is a quarter-of-an-hour feature. Dr. Williams TP WENTY-MINUTH talk was given by Dr. Ulric Williams from 1ZR last week, not long after he had stepped ashore from a visit to Australia. Dy, Williams, known to readers of the "Record" for his articles on health and diet, said he had left for Australia almost at a moment’s notice -by invitation of a new and large fF organisation that has sprung up there called the Federated Health Practitioners of Australasia. Dr, Williams described the work that this new organisation is doing in the interests of the health of the people. Its main object, he said, was to place before he public truths of a more definite nature. While in Sydney he addressed six large meetings aud gave five radio tulks, Steeplejack LIONEL SCHATS, announcer at 4ZB, broadcast a relay from the top of the newly-erected 150ft. chimney belonging to Speight’s Brewery. He made the broadcast with nothing more reassuring than a wooden handrail and a flimsy scaffolding for support. The ascent would have been unattraetive in the day time, but Lionel made it at night, The chimney was illumine

uted for the oecayion, and Lionel and Mr. Terry Smith, supervisor for the contractors, who assisted in the broadvast, were dimly visible from the ground as black specks against the sky. Loud-speakers were installed for the benefit of spectators who followed the broadeast with breathless interest und who gave the steeplejack-an-nouncey 4 rousing ovation. The broadeast told of the construction of the chimuey and gave a-deseription of the city ay seen from the vantage poiut. Bank Holiday "DANK HOLIDAY" means more to . the people of England than it ‘loes to the ‘people of New Zealand. Here many of us are sometimes unnware that the banks are taking 3 holiday. In Hngland the emphasis is on the "holiday" and not on tke "bank." Scenes on "‘Appy. ’Ampstead" are among the features assoeiated with the holidays in Bngland. Miss Valerie Corliss, already known as a lively commentator on the English seene, is to describe Bank Holiday as she saw it in London. The talk will be at 2YA on Friday, July 29. Recitals PROWLVER joud imay be the cry for "rhythm music" in this year of grace, there are many thousands of if '

listeners who welcome "straight" re citals. A’ nicely varied presentation will come from 3YA on July 31 when two of the artists will be Miss Jean Scott (soprano) and Mr.. Frederick Page(. pianist). A third will be Mr. Oscar Natzke, young Auckland bass who went to London two years ago for further musical’ study. His contributions will be by recordings. Long Distance Rivat to Pat Lawlor’s long contract with the commercial service for kis "Purely Personal" talks is Mrs. EH. J. Henderson, Wellington. As "Cousin Blizabeth," giving character sketches and travelogues, she has been engaged ‘for two or more sessions a week for nine mouths, Altogether she has given some 47 sessions. Lost Tradition HAT singing ig a lost tradition in sunny Italy, having passed to the German school, was a remark made in Christchurch by Alexander Kipnis. The singers of the great Italian school, he said, had big and beautiful voices, through intensive. training over many years. The singer of to-day was not prepared to give the time and work that made -the singers of other days. On the other hand the German school had developed to a standard it had never before achieved. To sing successfully Schubert, Brahms, and Hugo Wolf, an artist must use brain and heart. The Italians were losing 2 great tradition. Station 4ZD Vuucare yadio station of the south, Station 4ZD, Dunedin, comes on the air three times a week, Its

programmes give a great deal of pleasure, especially to hospital . patients. Besides "Uncle Alf’ and Mr. Mitchell, another who has worked admirably for the station is Mr. Bruce ("Uncle Doug") who controls the weekly children’s sessions,

~~ Research HH Cawthron: Institute -at Nelson is vaguely known to people as the place where researchers "breed bugs." Its value to the community,.and espécially to farmers, is immense and in+ calculable. For one thing, it settled the woolly aphis, and it- hopes to settle ragwort and other pests. Mr. Douglas Cresswell visited the institute on his recent visit to the Nelson province, and he is to tell listeners something about it in two talks from 2YA in the "Discovering Our Country" series, on August 1 and August 8. These will be the. last of the present series of his talks. He will give place on Monday evenings to Professor F, L. W. Wood, who will give listeners the benefit of his impressions of Hurope, gathered. ‘when ke went to Geneva aud other parts last year. Mr. Cresswell will be heard later on in a series of talks on historic New Zealand estates. Literature PROFESSOR T. D. ADAMS’S legion : of devotees will be given a feast of Victorian ‘literature on Friday next at 9.20 at hig weekly classical reading from 4YA. The first piece will be Sir Walter Scott’s "Pibroch of Donuil Dhu," and other items. "Peace Pipe" from Longfellow’s "Hiawatha," "The Famous Mr. . Joseph Addison" from Thackeray’s "Henry HWsmond," and "The Happy Warrior’ by Words» worth. | | For. Patients | most hospitals of the big centtes of New Zealand radio has beet installed for some time for the patients, and a loud-speaker system, too, ‘is in use

go that messages may be given to all wards simultaneously. Latest to install radio is the Westland Hospital, which has received two sets for the children’s ward. One set was presented by the workmen of Jackson’s Bay and the other by 8ZR listeners..

= Play-Time (PRE second ‘hour of the evening pro- . gramme from 2YA on August 3 will be entirely devoted to dramatic productions. Shortly after 9 p.m, Episode 9 ("A Chinese. Puzzle") of the China Seas serial "Shanghai," is set down for performance. This is followed by "The Dream. of Bugene Aram," by George Edwards and Compty

pany. The hour concludes with a further complete narrative from the interesting "Personal Column" series, described as drama from the agony column of a newspaper, Radio Speaker Me. K. W. R. GLASGOW, M.A, M:Se., recently appointed headmaster of Scots College, Wellington, is a well known lecturer from 4YA, and is at present engaged in delivering a Series of talks on "Education" ag pari of the "Whirligig of Time." Mr. Glasgow, only 35, has had considerable experience as teacher at the Otago Boys’ . High School. Subsequently he was appointed senior assistant at King’s High School, Dunedin. His radio voice is very fine, and he has given his lectures with the quiet confidence of a "master" of his subject. Fancy Dress HILDREN will find Neddo’s big fancy-dress party in the Auckland Town. Hall on. Saturday afternoon, August 6, one of the year’s great attractions for juveniles. He is putting a great amount of work into it, and in‘tends to have stage sets and tabloids representing numerous 1ZB broadcasts. Hach will appear in an appropriate costume and setting, stepping out of a page in a huge stage "magazine." Prizes will be given for winners of the many competitions, and for the best eostume. The party will be broadcast on relay. by 1ZB. Eye Witness To be a passenger on a German liner when the World War broke out was the experience of Mr. Pickles, of Wellington. The ship made for a neutral port and the passengers had a good deal of trouble in getting away. There was no Ul-feeling between the German offi-

cers and crew and the English passengers. Mr. Pickles will tell the story of this experience at 2YA on August 5. in the "Hye-witness" series, Mood in Music TALK thai will interest listeners versed in musical matters is scheduled for 1YA on Friday, August 5. The speaker is io be Felix Swinstead, this year’s examiner in New Zealand for the Royal Schools of Music. He is at present conducting examinations throvaghout the Dominion. This wellknown and prolific composer is giving an illustrated talk on "Mood in Music." No doubt many. of his "victims" will be listening in. ~ For. Australia YELL-LIKED 17-year-old New Zea- : land singer Jimmy. Fitzpatrick left for Australia from. Auckland last week to continue his musical studies: He won the. radio trials at. 1ZB and was second in the Personality Quest: He toured New Zealand for six months as a boy soprano’ and was the first artist sponsored on the. air on thé opening night of ZB. Apathetic Auckland Yyeat the audience in the Auckland ‘Town Hall for Alexander Kipnis’s first concert last week, lacked in numbers it made up in its enthusiasm for the great Russian bass. Remarkable feature of public concerts presented by the NBS in Auckland has been the disappointingly small number who attend. There was one exception-when the Comedy Harmonists were presented to a packed hall, Was this because the Harmonists sang popular numbers? Travel Talks ([DORGH ‘McKINNON, of 4ZB’s copy department, has many radio. fans, which is unusual, for George has never if

been On the air, He writes the travel seripts put over during the children’s Sessions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and listened to by thousands. Teachers have told children to listen to these educational talks. But children need no urging, for Jill and Peter handle ‘these talks in such an interesting manner that children and grownups alike appreciate them. Through these talks, listeners have visited ey. ery part of the Dominion, and have been taken’ to British Guiana, Ireland, Avstralia. India, Tibet, and Mongolis.. Choir YE of the best liked 1 choirs in Dun- _ edin-the Returned Soldiers’ Choir --has not been heard on the air for a very long time, but 4YA_ will remedy this deficiency next Monday night. At 8 p.m. the choir will be heard in 2

studio performance, under Mr. John T. Leech. This choir is, of course, unique in rather a sad manner. By the nature of its combination it cannot last forever. That, however, is a dreary thought, hardly fair to a choir which, at the present time, is at the top of its form.