Evening Star Newspaper, February 16, 1930, Page 67

D. C. FEBRUARY 16, 1930—PART_ FOUR. sud&n&wmflun‘ a{lt‘l‘u short- ROTARY ANNIVERSAHY wave sf g from THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, breakfast dishes' symphony,” because a number of hnuuwlvaphave written that they to him while washing up 13 AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK. f EDITORS TO BROADCAST. ANTENNA DESIGN BARS INTERFERENCE Solution of Broadcast Prob- lem Undertaken Through New Service. PITTSBURGH, Pa. (#).—Solution of | the broadcast interference problem has ben tackled through the design of a &pecial antenna. Such a radiation device would pump broadcast signals skyward, there to be deflected by the He: e layer of donized atmosphere to distance receiv- ing points rather than have them “blanket” surrounding ferritory. One of these aerials will be used at! the new plant of KDKA, now under construction at Saxonburg, near Pitts- burgh. It was devised by Dr. Frank Conrad, Westinghouse assistant chief engineer. It will emit a strong “sky wave,” so that KDKA's signals may be heard at distant points without inter- fering with nearby reception of other stations. It is possible, however, to change connections so that a strong “‘ground wave,” for local reception will be put out without “jamming” other broadcasting stations. As erected for experimental pur- poses, the antenna consists of eight vertical aerials, each supported by a telephone . Each is tuned by ad- justment of length and by insertion of loading coils. Each is connected to the transmitter by an untuned transmission line. Placing the supporting poles in suitable relative positions, it was found, resulted in the horizontal signal from | each small aerial being blocked by the | signal from another. That neutralizing effect reduced the horizontal signal to! negligibility, while the greatest signal | strength upward. _ Striking the | Heaviside layer, those signals were de- flected to the area outside the immedi- ate vicinity of the station. ‘The KDKA antenna will be built upon 110-foot poles, ranged in a circle 800 feet in diameter. From pole to pole on the rim of the circle will run cage merials of the required length, with transmission lines running like spokes to & common connection at the center of the eircle to meet the feeder line from the transmitter. THE LISTENERS’ FORUM Defends “Canned” Music. Radio editor: I have read with intense interest the letter signed “Washington Musician,” which appeared in this column Febru- ary 2. The writer contended that “many things coming over the radio—are de- cidedly inferior to good records,” spon- soring and defending the idea employed by certain stations of this medium for the entertainment of listeners in. So thoroughly do I agree with this person’s view that I am compelled to offer a few of my own in favor of meri- torious phonograph recordings via the ether. We all know of the popular acclaim ‘which has been accorded the radio. This medium ad a phenomenal rise to & practically international fame. er medium of expression possesses such distinctive and potential qualities for imparting amusement and education | instantaneously to countless numbers of people. Because of its universal ap- peal and tremendous influential ca- pacity it is apparent the logical thinking and far-sighted as being one of the greatest “signs of the times.” “Ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs’of the times?" Those words have an undoubtedly spiritual relation to this epochal age in which we live, gloriously or ingloriously, according to our mental enlightenment. T believe they are miore significant now than when they were uttered long ago, because of a dawn- mlg conscicusness of things highly men- | tal. Why, then, should we not welcome | and encourage any idea that offers im- provement, such as the playing of re- corded music over the radio, much of which is superior in arrangement and tondl quality to other music directly played? I venture to state that most Deople do not have phonographs of suf- ficiently good quality to guarantee ex- cellent musical reproduction. Even if they do, it is apparently true that there 1is less relative expense involved in the upkeep of a radio than there is in the buying of many records, the use of which occupies a comparatively short period. I do not refer to classical or semi-classical music. Another rolm. There are undoubt- edly more listeners-in on the radio in the evening and at night than there are at any other period of the day. Con- sequently, it would be rather bad busi- ness on the part of any advertisers to employ high or even average-salaried orchestras and musiclans to play for their programs during the morning or afternoon. But we can't cut out having any phonograph records at all, for the law of averages demands that there must be many stay-at-homes who find relaxation and stimulation through this medium, notably among the housewives. Like “Washington Musician.” I “would much rather listen to a well bal- anced orchestra from a good record than an indifferent orchestra arrange- ment” {:Ilyed personally. And, if those who believe they are being cheated and done an injustice will make a few un- ‘biased and reasonable comparisons, they are very apt to arrive at just such a conclusion as this musician’s, who, it seems, should know whereof he writes. JOHN POOLE. An Early-Morning Dialer. Radlo editor: T tried a little morning fishing for distance recently before local stations came on and had so much fun, I won- der if there are others perhaps who have had much better luck. If so. would be glad to hear from them, through The Star. When I first twisted the dials about 6 o'clock, there appeared to be nothing 1 | No 0! orchestra with anything in my hand | ERE'S a tale to wring your hearts. A young continuity writer told it to me the other night at the studios. He was fairly new around the place and had been assigned his first big show, after finishing his try-out on continuity for daytime programs and Jazz orchestras. He did a lot of research on the pro- gram, which needed accurate historical data and good atmospheric touches, an then retired from public life for a while to work on his l(‘r\F(. It was finished, it was cast, it went into rehearsal. It wasrewritten, recast, re-rehearsed. i ‘The day came. The young continui writer’s radio set was gone over thi afternoon by a service man, and after a hasty dinner he rushed home to await | the hour when his own words should issue from the loud speaker. In the meantime a storm blew up and the writer's antenna blew down. He tore through the rain to a friend’s house, and although said friend was having intense static from the storm, he managed to tune in on the program. At the close, with his heart soaring and his mind in a happy whirl, and it must be said) ready for praise and en- couragement, the writer thanked his frlend' for his co-operation. “Not at all, old boy,” said the friend. “Awfully glad to have helped you out. Good night.” And that, ladies and gentlemen, is ust one of the cobblestones on a radio writer’s road to fame. Glad to Learn Trick. 1f you were an orchestra leader, play. ing in a big New York hotel, would you know how to attract that crowd of col- lege boys which do so much to build up popularity? Although I have no in tention of ever being caught before an | but a sheaf or continuity, I am glad to learn the trick. Bernie Cummins, who has recently burst forth on the networks, told it to me the other night. Bernie says it all depends on remembering faces. When- ever a couple stops near him on the dance floor and he recognizes the ma Cummins grins in a very friendly fash- Almost always the young man comes over, shakes hands and intro- duces his girl. Then Cummins sllows her to choose the next number for the orchestrs Does ?‘: over big? Well, it always convinces the girl that her escort knows his way about town, the young man is flattered ,and he always comes back-— usually bringing a new girl, such bei the present fashion. Incidentally, Cum- mins used to be a prize fighter back home in Akron, but he didn't stay at it long enough to let it spoil his looks. I'd call him slender, but not too slight, and he has dark hair, olive complexion and very regular features. It wouldn't surprise me if he landed in the talkles di Cummins really took up the because he didn't want to be & musician. He had music around | him when he was & boy—his ily was musical—and he learned a lot about it, but he wouldn't have anything to do with it professionally. The ring was an escape. ! Soon he landed in vaudeville—singing and hoofing—and one day when he was ying in Cincinnat! and getting pretty of living out of a trunk he heard that & night club needed an orchestra. Cummins didn't have one, but he sold it to the night club anyway. It wasn't until four years later, when he was booked for the Biltmore Hotel in New York, that he gained the courage to | take up the baton. “The whole trick | is in rhythm” he confided. “It's the | same in conducting dance orchestras | as it is in boxing and dancing. If you | haven't got it you can't succeed in any | of those lines.” Just to prove that he wasn't kidding. Cummins gave me sam- ples of his style in all three, and I saw what he meant. I imagine he might | have been a first-rate boxer if he had kept: to it, for the best men I have ever | seen in the ring added rhythm to all the rest of their qualities.” “Penrod” a Natural, Since Tarkington's “Penrcd” has | taken to the air—and quite happily, too | —there has been a feeling around the Studios that this is a radio “natural.” It just couldn’t help being good. And we are beginning to have a strong sus- flcwn that Howard Merrill, the clever id who plays the lead in the show, is just sbout perfectly cast. After the initial performance, Booth Tarkington, who chronicled in book form all the Ppeared in person at WOL. Their broad- casts from this station were recorded and unsponsored. Another “Fish” Station. Radio Editor: On reading Mr. Grove's answer to Mr. Otterback, I referred | back to the original query, and I believe I can give Mr. Otterback the correct answer. The station he has heard is probably VAS, at Glace Bay, Nova Sco- | tia. I heard this station over a month | ago and had my reception of it verified. The station is usually on the air around | 3 am. to broadcast fish-market reports | and weather forecasts. The announcer | speaks unusually slow and a trumpet is | used during the program. | Since I have never heard any of the stations mentioned by Mr. Groves, I am not endeavoring to ute what he says, but Mr. Otterback’s description of | the program he heard coincides so | closely with that broadcast by VAS that | I felt he might be interested in this in- | formation. A DX-ER. | | Mr. Otterback Appreciative. Radio Editor: I certainly appreciate your kindness regarding my inquiry concerning the station up in Alberta, Canada. I had two answers to my inquiry, one over the phone and the other in Sunday’s Star. The one in Jast Sunday's paper 1 think is correct, as I suspected the sta- tion was in that vicinity. Thanking you again for your prompt- ness and courtesy. ROBERT OTTERBACK. on the air. Then I heard a merry tune which came from KFKB, Milford. Kans, The next to show up was WRHM. Min- neanolis. Then there wes a jolly chap on WJR. Detroit, and some music on | KGBZ, York, Nebr., and splendid music on WLW. A big snore. which lasted for several | minutes, and was interrupted by some | one knocking on the door to wake up | three men opened the program at WTAM, Cleveland. followed by a hymn. and & generally jolly morning hour of patter and music. WFBR, Baltimore, ‘came slong and then the local stations on their well known time. My set is now more or less obsolete, s6 would be glad to hear morning ex- periences of fans with newer and more powerful sets. H. B. R. Questions and Answers. Radio Editor: If possible, will you lease answer the following questions E.l the Listeners’ Forum Column? (1) Please tell me if there is a sta- tion in Chicago, the call letters of which are WCHI, and state the watt ywer thereof. (2) What are the_call etters of the station at Lafayette, Ind., ir appe: then sponsored by the Pe The. most recent. radio loa neither WCHI nor a Purdue University station, however, the past Saturday night I listened to pre ms from both of these and was unable to distinguish the call letters. . D. COOK. WCHI are the new call letters signed to Station WSOA, & 5,000-watt station at Deerfield, Ill. The oall let- ters of the station in Lafayette, 3 operated by Purdue University, "WBAA. “Amos 'm’ Andy” never FRESHMAN ELECTRIC SETS CONSOLES HIBOYS and COLONIAL DESIGNS Demonstrator Models All in Perfect Order COMPLETE WITH SPEAKERS BUT LESS TUBES CASH $29 B0 casu Come Early as the Quantity Is Limited SATURDAY—MONDAY OKAY RADIO CO. 417 11th ST. STORE ONLY growin, ins of a man child, wired Julian gs:‘::e:‘ jr., who does the radio adaptations, that he was delighted With the show and with the boy's por- Lr%’l. of that scamp, Penrod. series seems not only to appeal to adults, reminding them, as it must, of their own antics and escapades, but the studios have been deluged by re- Quests from parents to put on the show at an ealier hour so that their children listen to it. I think Howard is just about as nat- urally funny without a script in his hind as when he is “in character.” Hére's’ an_instance of the kid's abs lute naturalness: I heard one of the oldest actors teasing him the other night in the studio about his program. It seems that Elizabeth Retnberg, a noted soprano, was appearing at the same time on WEAF, while “Penrod” as on WJz. 3 “How many people are going to listen to you, Howard, when Miss Rethberg is singing at the same time?” I heard the man sa; louder than her.” I bet he could, too, if it came to that. Markets Are Tiresome. At some time in his life every an- nouncer has to read the stock market reports over the air—15 whole minutes of them—and if you don't think it’s a Job, take the table of stock prices from your evening paper and read it aloud to your wife. It is one of the most tiring assignments any announcer could get, but all of us have had to go through with it at some time or another—all, that is, except John Young, who drew the stock market reports the other day for the first time in the two years he has been on the networks. He wasn’t enthusiastic about the job, | cent transatlantic broadca: but Milton Cross and Alywyn Bach, who | Barton, Utica, N. Y. probably have suffered under them more than any two other men I know, prom- 1sed to stand by in the stludios and help him out, especially as John wasn't sure he'd be able to recognize the ab- breviations. John began well, although for the first few minutes he was plainly nervous. A couple of engineers drifted into the control both, where John could see them through the plate-glass window. They smiled. John was sure they were enjoying the fervor he was putting into the reports. They I ed—and that wasn't so good. They laughed harder, and John looked more closely to his pronunciations. They became hysteri- cal, and John was sure there must be something ridiculous about his per- formance, ‘Then he heard a giffgle over his chonlder and turned to find Cross and Baci accompanying him with appro- priate gestures, in chorus, as it were. John gave them his very best look of dignified disapproval and they subsided. He went on with his reading. “Con- solidated Gas, 109,” he rea d looked into the control booth to make sure that nothing extraneous had gotten into the mike. One of the engineers pound- ed his first on the table, and his lips formed the word “sold.” John gulped and turned back to his report. On and on it went. Cross and Bach kept reach- ing over his shoulder and pointing to the wrong place in the script. Every now and then one of them would whis- per into his ear the name of some such stock as “Fried Mexican Jumping Beans, still going up.” Murder was imminent and it proba- bly would have been double. Jol got down to Radio-Keith-Orphe- um, and just as he was about to name the price Bach put his hand over his mouth and in a deep bass that con- trasted mightily with John's tenor boomed, “Twenty-nine and a half." And that, in case you are interested, is the reason for that startling break in John Young's voice, about which several persons wrote to the. studios. McNAMEE'S QUESTION BOX Q. What has become ‘of Milt Cole- man? bm:{dcuu.-zmery Merson, New York, 'A. By this time you know the an- swer, I imagine, for Coleman was off the air only a short time. He was ill, and those were the first dates he missed in more than a year of broadcasting. He and his ukulele, which are heard about 9 o'clock in the morning in New York, have sometimes been called “the Last Wednesday COTTON MATHER told how he took witches out of fairy tales and put them into history. OTHER CELEBRITIES WILL. GREET YOU Each Night at 6:30 except Saturday and Sunday at the AMERICAN RADIATOR HOME BANQUET E——— O === Offered by the WRC and AffillatedN.B.C. Stations 4 FEATUR On The AIR presentation througl Stations WOR WLW WMAQ Club Quartet— ne Ormandy, Conductor— Guests Solo Artist sald Merrill, “I can screech | Finally We have missed his morning i 1 | | | after the other members of the family ‘e gone to school or to work. 13, I have heard that there are sev. eral new announcers who were college professors previously. E. L. D, Guelph, Ontario. A. That may be true at some local stations, but I do not know of any for mer college professors on the networks. I should say that these would most cer- tainly be rare exceptions, for a man who had spent a long enough time as 8 teacher to reach professorial rank prob- ably would be too old to learn a new profession successfully. Q. Where did Bernie Cummins and his orchestra play before they went on the air>—M. G. 8., Karnes City, Tex. A. He played for three years at the Hotel Biltmore in New York City, and before that he played in several cities in the Middle West and in Florida. He has been at the Hotel New Yorker since its opening, in January. Q. Who is the author of “The Silver Flute” programs?—Marion S., East St. Is this true?— sudden that the automatic volume een-i TO BE HEARD ON CHAIN trol at the pick-up apparatus on Long Island cannot act quickly enough to take care of it. Q. Who plays Ma Jones in “The y Goes Aboard”?—Walter Burns, | " A Adelina Thomason, an sctress, who has done everything on the air| trom d | “Cuckoo, 1 | call | static | air?—H. L. Soudain, Baltimore, Md. | A. Technically speaking, it might | possibly be done, but since regular tele- | phone lines are constructed for person- to-person _conversation and mnot for broadcasting. the quality of the voices received the station would be so bad that no station would think of broad- casting it. is, of course, is quite aside from the policy of the telephone com- pany, which probably would not permit it. Ordinary telephone wires carry about four conversations at the same time, but wires carrying programs for ime talks to burlesques in Id a person put in a telephone Q. Coul from his home to a broadcasting on and have his voice put on the| Louis, TiL roadcasting can c: A.John Alcorn. He was also the|” S C S author of the dramatized legends of| Q. Who is the actor who plays Jimmy foreign countries which were featured |Otis in the Johnson & Johnson pro- in the ABA Voyagers' program several | grams?—J. Buel, Framington, Mass. months ago. He was a newspaper man| A. Lorin Raker has been taking this before he entered radio, and he is & part, but he has just signed a contract native New Yorker. | to m’aket }f:‘ll;‘an%fl pl&,,ures, and leaves e soon for cific ast. n o hich was the frst to croon over | Unable to ind out. whether it ucees: e air, n de Leath or Mi |sor has been Hunt?—N. B,, San Diego, Calif. ¢ o reaEaed, Incldentally, A. Vaughn de Leath, who is one of the pioneer radio entertainers. She be- gan singing before the microphone back in 1920, and has been at it ever since. She sang over the air even when she took a fling several years ago at man- | aging a station. Miss Hunt, compared | w ss de Leath, is a newcomer. i years. They are both very good. | s of concerts by - Y SrolicHly vey W | the New York Philharmonic Sociely Q. Why did the volume of the speak- | Orchestra to be broadcast over the Co- ers’ voices jump up and down in the re- | lumb:a Broadcasting System network is —Norman | scheduled October 5. weeks have been set in Central America, and Raker’s first picture will take him | It is purely a coincidence. i (Copyright, 1930.) —_— S S, grams which I heard I noticed ver: Coach Sportslants Feature. little of the sudden variation of which| Ted Hussing will present the new you speak. However, when it does oc-| foot ball coach at West Point in the r I am informed that it i caused by broadcast of his Sportsiants Saturda Jor Economical Tramsportation = & e S NN SMOCGCTH U The minuteyou step on the accelerator of the new Chevrolet Six, you realize that Chevrolet has again introduced a new standara of performance into the low-price field. ~at greatly Reduced Prices! The ROADSTER The PHAETON...... The SPORT ROADSTER The COACH.. The (IOUPE..“..............4..8565 SPORT COUPE. CLUB SEDAN.... SEDAN. SEDAN DELIVERY.. LIGHT DELIVERY CHASSIS.. 5365 The The RTTTIIeTe The The TUNE IN TONIGHT! I 1%2 TON CHASSIS 5520 12 TON CHASSIS WITH CAB, 5625 All prices {. 0. b. factory, Flint, Mich. Wolfe Motor Co. Silver Spring, Md. Aero Auto Co. 1101 King St., Alexandria, Va. Wilson Blvd. and Holly St. Clarendon, Va. Barry-Pate Motor Co. 1218 Connecticut Ave. 2525 Sherman Ave. R. L. Taylor Motor Co. 14th and T Sts. N.W. Johnson & Johnson programs in recent | there about the middle of February.| Twenty-fifth Year Meeting Here Will Be Broadcast by N. B. C. Stations. The twenty-fifth anniversary meeting of Rotary International in Washington, February 26, will be broadcast by WRC | and a network of National Broadcasting | Co. stations. | _ Eugene Newson, president of Rotary International, will be the principal speaker. The_celebration will be held in the New Willard Hotel, with the Washington Rotary Club in charge of arran nts. In recognition of the internationa’ character of Rotary, ambassadors ar ministers of all foreign countries have been invited to be present. Twenty- six acceptances have been received so far from embas and legations. For elgn guests will be introduced by | Leo 8. Rowe, director general of ¢ Pan-American Union. “International World Fellowship” will be the keynote subject of the meeting. | The United States Marine Band will | furnish music for the program, Composers’ Program on WPG. The Crescendo Club will present a program_dedicated to Atlantic City | Composers on WPG Wednesday night. STABILITY That's one of the reasons we show a constant increase in business each year. Every sale must mean a satis- | fedowner. We ask you to inspect our || Packards, Cadillacs, Studebakers, Reos, Hudsons, Nash. Hupmobles, Pierce-Arrows. Many different models. Prices range from $150 up. PACKARD'S USED CARS Kalorama Road at Seventeenth IET Prince Albert de Ligne to Appear “How Far Should Government on Belgian Good-Will Program. | Belgium will be honored in the fifth | of the series of international good-will programs, to be broadcast Tuesday nlz; over the Columbia Broadcastirg | System network. Prince Albert de Ligne, Belglan Am- to the United States, will be the principal ker, Senator !lnl" hfimol% kut'fl;dln\‘-n‘odufl:hlm‘ e musi backgrout o pro- | gram will be typical of Belgium. { NEW DANCE PROGRAM. 1“ WEAF to Broadcast Coon-Sanders’| Night Hawks Tuesday Nights. | A new dance program will be heard | on WEAF and stations on Tuesday | nights. It will originate in Chicago and be played by Coon-Sanders’ Night | Hawks. ‘The Night Hawks started in brond-‘ casting on WDAF, Kansas City, nearly 10 years ago. The program is to be known as the frolic. Talks on Great Scientists. A series of talks on the t men of | science is being given at WLW on Fri- | day evenings by Prof. Louls Brand. | OME-MAKERS I N TUNE Menus..RECIPES..SAmMpPLES Child Care hints. . Other ideas galore! RADIO HOUSEHOLD INSTITUTE Station WRC —11:15 every morning LOOSE LEAF Accounting System f ders’ Forms | .And Analysis Pads ” Livingston, Inc. 722 13th St. N.W. I Regulate Business” Is Topie. One magazine editor, acting as inter- locutor, will put to another editor apd {0 an editorial writer four questions oo “How Par Should Government Regu- iate Business?” in the “Voters’ Service” program Tuesdsy. The program, ar-; ranged by the National League of Wom- en Voters, will be heard from 7 to 7:30 p.m. over 26 stations in the National roadcasting Co.’s network. Henry Oofiu?h:ach. editor of the Forum, will put quest | wald Garrison Villard, editor and owner of the Nation, and Prederick A. Kors. | meyer of the ‘'Wall Street Journal will stion give their answers to each of v:wd.tmpomnce hln & concerned, to business eral and' to the public are these (w.:nmuum which form a part of a series on the relation of government to business which form the basis of the January: and February programs. 'See—Hear! and be convinced that Majestic Radio Stands Supreme Convenient T~rms iLouis & Co- 7th at G N.W., Chevrolet’sluxurious Fisher bodies are built of hardwood and steel, the same type of construction used on_the world’s highest priced motor cars. B POWERFUL You will notice, first of all, its smooth, silent flow of power. In every gear—at every speed—the refined 6-cylinder valve-in-head motor is unusually quiet and vibrationless. pound crankshaft, new bronze-bushed pistons and positive lubrication of all the bearings! Youwill find smooth, stableroadability at every speed. Mile after mile—over good roads and bad—you glide along in uninterrupted comfort. 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