IN THE WAKE OF THE WEEK'S ...BROADCASTS...

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 24, 25 November 1938, Page 11

IN THE WAKE OF THE WEEK'S ...BROADCASTS...

STATION 2YH MAKES ITS DEBUT

AWKE’S BAY came into its own last weck when NBS announcer, with surprising warmth in his voice, said: **Station 2YH, Hawke’s Bay,

now takes the air for the first time.’’ Opening cere-

mony was performed, with little notice of mution--too late, in fact, for notification of listeners in last weck’s ‘‘Record’’-on Thursday evening. The Prime Minister spoke by means of a recording, but Acting Minister of Broadeasting, Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, and the Speaker of the House, Hon. W. E. Barnard, were all in the studio, an impressive array of Parliamentary big guns. Director of Broadcasting, Professor James Shelley, spoke to listeners after Mr. Jones and Mr. Barnard; warned local musical talent that it must not expect too many engagements, because it had to compete against worldwide recordings for listeners’ favour. Special programme of a light and pleasant nature was given on the opening night, beginning with a lively band quickstep ‘‘Hawke’s Bay,’’ composed specially for the occasion. Local talent did make itself heard on the programme in songs by a male quartet and a Hawke’s Bay tenor, attractively given. Then fading spoilt the rest of the programme for at least one Wellington listener. ‘‘Record’’ joins in wishing good luck to new station 2YH, Hawke’s Bay.

AUTHOR ALONE AT FAULT

Station 4YA broke away from routine the other Sunday night when a studio play was presented; not merely a programme-filler, but the night’s entertainment, for it

lasted nearly an hour and threequarters. The play, "The Voysey Inheritance"

by Granville Barker, the story of a legacy in the shape of a tottering business left by an embezzling lawyer to his son who. endeavours to rehabilitate it, hes been done from other stations, so it is fairly well known. Probably it has not been done better than Kathleen Falconer’s

company interpreted it from 4YA. A wordy play, its success depended upon the right type of voices, and Miss- Faiconer found these. There really wasn’t a weakness in the easting, and the long play went smoothly from start to finish.

I.thought the conclusion of the play was inclined to burke the issue and. was disappointing considering the quality of what had gone before, but that, of course, was the author’s fanlt, and not the players’. Glad to hear that 4YA is vow announcing names of those participating.

GOOD PIECE OF DELUSION

More neatly put together than most of such specially arranged programmes, "Variety Show" featured from 4ZB on Saturday nights at 8 o’clock, is quite a successful

Piece of delusion, The show consists of recorded items to which is given

the effect of a continued performance by the introduction of applause between "turns," and concise descriptions of stage settings and performers’ response to the applause. It’s all been done before, of course, but "Variety Show" somehow or other just misses the usual air of artificiality. Sitting back in a chair, one is easily led to believe a relay from a concert is taking place.

TOUR OF THE CATHEDRAL

Composition of radio relay on almost any subject means some hours of preparatory worka fact which the listening public is apt to forget. It is little use

taking the microphone' along to a given place and trying to give a snap

broadcast on the spur of the moment. Station 3ZB realises this and therefore made & very creditable job of its architectural description, the other day, of the Christchurch Anglican Cathedral, ‘Responsible were Te Ari Pitama, announcer, a very wellknown Christchurch architect, and the Rev. K. Schollar. The radio trio started at the main doors and, en route up to the altar, conducted listeners past the various memor-

ial pieces which have been given from time to time. They gave a graphic idea of how. much of this famous building is due to the generosity of the Canterbury public. Then, providing a suitable background, were the strains of the organ, played by Mr. Foster-Browne, and choir-boys’ voices. Ali Canterbury is interested in the extension and completion of the celebrated building and the broadcast came at a most opportune time. It is hoped that the script of relays of this nature is kept for reference in future.

THEY LIVE AGAIN ON THE AIR

Heard from 2ZB the other night the first instalment of what the producers hope will be a regular feature. It is called "These Men Served New Zealand," is produced

locally by Charles Thomas and Company, and concerned, as the title sug-

sests, with the lives of prominent New Zealanders. First on the list was William Mair, that striking figure who rendered such fine service during the Waikato wars and in the campaign against the marauding Hau Haus. The technique of the pro-

duction is along the accepted lines of part narrative, part dram--atisation; and judging by the first instalment, Mr, Thomas and _ his colleagues are not far behind the standard attained in similar features recorded overseas, and it is certainly a relief to hear good English voices for once. I liked the touch of drama given to that famous incident during the battle of Orakau; when General Cameron instructs Mair, who is his interpreter, to endeavour to persuade the beleagured pa to surrender; and when the Maori spokesman flings back his deathless "Ka whawhai tou matou, Ake, Ake, Ake." Mr. Thomas was content to have his Maori announce simply in English that he and his fellow warriors would fight on for ever and ever and ever, but it’s stirring just the same. Mr. Thomas hopes to dramatise the lives of 52 famous New Zealanders (next instalment, Henry Williams) and in view of the approach of Centennial year, the idea is sound.

WORD OF POOR QUALITY

How many times have you heard the word "finalise," or derivations of it, over the air? I’ve lost count, but that extensive usage does not make the word

any more "g word." It just doesn’t exist, and radio pur-ists-or am I

wrong in suspecting that announcers are radio purists?-should be ashamed. of themselves for using it. No doubt in time it will be accepted by the authorities, but at present all authorities shudder violently when they hear it. It annoys me, but perhaps I’ve a good reason. Some months back I used it in the presence of a determined pedant, and received a rap over the knuckles for doing so. I’m passing the rap on now-and enjoying the act. |

WANDERS ROUND THE CITY

Some good jobs of work have been done recently by Kingi Tahiwi, 2ZB’s Maori announcer, who in the guise of "2ZB’s ling Reporter," or something of

that nature, wanders round Wellington and environs with a micr ophone.

Some of his reporting has not as much news value as it might have, but some is excellent, He covered the opening of the King’s Theatre, Wellington, quite capably and I was also interested in his tour of the Exhibition buildings one afternoon last week. It was not an easy broadcast to do, but Mr. Tahiwi made it interesting, and I learned some useful facts about the number of nails used in the building, and the approximate amount of the weekly payroll for the 300-odd men who are working on it.

MEN LIKE iT AS WELL

Although programmes specify that a certain morning talk is for women in particular, it is surprising the number of men who listen in. I was in a Christchurch busi-

ness man’s office the other day when, promptly at i1 am. he said,

~iuxcuse me a moment; listen to this," It was a chat from 8YA by a woman for women. Maybe men are waking up to the idea that women have a flair for radio work, but I could not help suspecting that on this occasion my friend was listening for possible talent that might be of value to him in the business world, He listened to the whole of the talk, even to the recipe for the day. "Well, what do you think of that?" he asked me. Thinking it might have been his wife or a friend (and liking it too), I discreetly said, "Fine." He agreed,