Hootings, Tootings and Yelpings

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

Hootings, Tootings and Yelpings

"Poisonous Germs Distributed Through The Air" ... Barbara Hutton And Her Millions .. . In Defence Of Rosalie And Her Romances

IVE ’em Muck (Wadestown): How glad was I to read that letter ‘‘Fungoid Growth’? in your issue of November 15. Every voice raised in rebellion against this **muek’? we pay for, and don’t want, will perhaps finally kill the poisonous germs distributed through the air.

But why distribute them? Is there a majority crying out for such fare? Surely, if so, the minds and characters of such must be very sub-ordinary. Of course, risque jokes and suchlike are easily assimilated by those who ave too lazy to think or concentrate, but after a while such amusement must have the effect of blight, Or is there some invisible and sinister mind at work administering dope in order to keep people half asleep, stupid, and thoughtless? In desperation, I often switch over to shortwave, sometimes only to get another sort of bedlam; hootings and tootings; blarings and whirrings; sereecchings and _ yelpings; trumpetings and blowings; besides morsing of every deseription, to which may be added vicious propaganda from many quarters, till one wonders if it is all really a foretaste of

Hell. However, I must admit, in fairness to those who are doing their best, that we do get some decent, nourishing amusement for mind and soul.

A Suggestion

Mr. X (Wellington): So many listeners are not satisfied with the class of entertainment given them, that I am going to make a suggestion, the adoption of which would enable the authorities to please everybody. The Government has three or four stations in each of the main cenires and my suggestion is that each station should put on the air only one class of entertainmentthus I would confine the output of one station to such matter as "Eb and Zeb," "Carson ‘Robison," "Dad and Dave" and other humorous records. Another station might produce crooners and sob-stuif, ete. Talks would also need to be classified. For example, the same class of listeners do not ‘want Sandy Powell from the same station as "World Affairs" and

those who appreciate Gigli (of whom we do not get enough) do not want to listen to the "Buckaroos." Adopting my suggestion, everyone could get what they want, and nothing more, by turning a knob.

Bricks for Barbara

"‘Fed-Up"’ (Te Rau-a-moa): I think most women will agree with ‘‘Unsympathetie Reader" about Barbara Hutton. Those

‘ i millions that cause her so much unhappiness would bring comfort to a few thousand if they were — scattered round a bit. I don’t know Adela Rogers St. Johns, but you say she is a famous novelist, and I am sure she must be, as no amateur could "get away" with an article written like that. Repetition has its uses, but becomes very monotonous ] if overdone. Most of the article is devoted to telling us two factsthat Barbara was scared everybody | Wanted to marry her for her money, and that no decent American would marry her because of lit. The rest is excuses for Barbara. Adela Rogers St. Johns is Severely handicapped by the > poverty of her subject (not in a money sense). She has set her- | seif the difficult task of creating something out of nothing.

"6 "Chipping

London East End Cockney (Ohinewai): Why do people keep chipping poor little Barbara. She can’t help being rich. I bet that if the Southland reader had a ehance to be rich he would have very little to say. Barbara Hutton is to be pitied because she was born rich and would never understand hardships of other people. Her time will come when it pleases Almighty God, and not before. I guess she is still helping some poor © devil, so why worry about the | little rich girl?

Meal Music

Here’s Heping (Hamilton): I would like to issue a _ protest against the programmes we receive at meal times from the national stations. Surely something can be done about this. During other parts of the day quite good programmes are presented, but for some unknown reason, at meal times we get American jazz music, crooning and so forth. Can we not have a few more organ and accordion pieces, not forgetting the ever popular Comedy Harmonists?

"Rosalie"

Michael Conway (Wellington): Having heen 2 consistent reader of your paper for a considerable time and, I may say, a very satisfied reader, may I be allowed to burst forth into song. I must confess, however, that on _ this occasion, my song contains what may strike you as a discordant note. I have always been interested in what I felt was your very fair criticism regarding radio entertainment in particular and world affairs in general. In this week’s issue, however, you published a criticism of 2 feature entitled "Rosalie and her Romances," in which you indicate that this young lady. has outlived her usefulness. May I be permitted, most respectfully, of course, to differ from you in this direction, Both my wife and myseli have listened to this feature from its commencement and we derive a great deal of enjoyment from doing so. My own impression is that there is so little entertainment whieh we hear on the radio that can be termed "really enjoyable," that I should feel sorry to hear the last of a feature which I consider is excellent entertainment, and from which I have received a great deal of pleasure. If you really desire to kill off some of the features, I could supply you with a2 list-a long list-of those whom I consider have a very prior claim to extinction. I am not overlooking the fact that what you write about this feature is, of course, merely your

own opinion, but in this case I think you are wrong in what you state. Personally I hope Rosalie lives a long while and has as many farewell appearances as Melba.

"Cheap Sneer"

Rosalie (Wellington}: Your paper dropped considerably in my estimation when I noticed in your columns this week, a cheap sneer at a session which in mv opinion

is one of the most interesting on the air. The session I refer to is "Rosalie and Her Romances" and I might inform you that I am writing now, not only to express my own opinion, but that of a number of friends ‘of mine, who wouldn’t miss "Rosalie" for worlds. Your critic is obviously a male and is naturally not appreciative of the type of entertainment that appeals to women. However, despite his nonchalant dismissal of the session, I for one will continue to listen, because to me ‘Rosalie" is human and her little "affaires," while harmiess, are a happy reminder of those days when we, too, were young.

Humorous

Becky (Te Rau-a-moa): I, too, think "Buying a Gun," one of the best humorous items I have heard. over two years-also "Holes." We all like Sandy Powell, too, especjally in "Sandy Turns Highwayman." I can’t bear Clapham and Dwyer, but we all like "Dad and Dave." There is something I have often wanted to say about the "Japanese House Boy" and "Eb and Zeb." Why people always bracket these two i can’t imagine, as they are not similar in any way. Archie and Frank are.in the style of Jeeves and Bertie Wooster, while "Eb and Zeb" are, to my mind, simply foolish. We are very fond of little plays, especially humorous ones-‘Labur-nam Row" is one of the best. We are looking forward to hearing more of the "Personal Column," 00,

What Do YOU Think About [t? READERS are invited to take advantage of the Home Forum for the expression of their views. Letters, which should be as brief as possible (maximum approximately 200 words), should be addressed to the Home Forum, c/o ‘‘Radio Record,’’ Box 1680, Welilington,