Evening Star Newspaper, December 9, 1934, Page 70

‘THE 'SUNDAY STAR, ' WASHINGTO C, DECEMBER 9, 1934—PART FOUR. One-Hour Radio Programs Popular Singing Stars and Comedian on Big Radio Networks Coming Back Into Vogue W" Sponsors Are Gomg in for Londer Slrows. Programs With Real Ic]entxty. BY THE RADIO EDITOR. FOU?TEEN spectacular years of broadcasting history :finds radio programming - doubli least one important respec show. nE_buck to its beginning in at the lennh of :the- broadcast -In radio’s embryonic days the weekly one-hotir show was' the thing. It was the general custom for programs to change every. hour on the hour. Then the mw e show, and about three years ago several times a week - turned to the half-hour inute program presented became the vogue. Next eame five-minute shows, and even one-minute “spots” came to be increasingly used. "~ In recent months, however,’ the, fide seems to have turned again. Sponsors are going in for longer shows—shows that have real identity in the day's program menu. The shorter shows are regarded as too ephemeral and fleeting. ‘Two large automobile manufscturers have started one-hour symphony con- certs, heard the same Sunday night on opposite networks, and another now has followed with an unprece- dented three-hour show. A baking company, too, aligned an N, B.C. net- work for a three-hour dance program late each Saturday night. Numerous other programs running one-hour, and in several instances 45 minutes, have shifted from quarter-hour and' half- hour programs. . Like most program trends, listener reaction is the motivating cause here. In a hundred different ways program sponsors and station executives plumb the likes and dislikes of the audience, but they rely mostly on fan mail and so-called listener surveys. = Coupled with the longer program trend is-the status of the radio artist. ¢ does not cost the sponsor much more to hire an artist or an orchestra for an hour's performance than it does for half an hour. In sddition, Iadio time rates for both networks and stations are appreciably lower, ‘proportionately, for a one-hour show than for & half hour or less.. The ourly rate for the basic Columbia siem network of 22 stations is 35,600, while the rate for the basic N. B. C. red network of a score of stations is $5.380. -The artist is generally favorable to the longer radio show. It gives him an opportunity to “warm up” to his Best and it also gives him a chance 10 appear on more than one program shd on more than one network or station. In the shorter shows, featur- ing_so-called ““big names,” and pre- sénted several times a week, the artist friust rehearse constantly, and he has little time to do anything but that single show. By appearing once a week on s given show of longer dura- tion, he can also appear in a different program on another network or sta- tion without undue hardship. That may be the reason far the {ncreasingly large number of radio artists who now appear on several different network programs. Instesd of the “exclusive” radio contracts of other days, many prominent artists now are operating under non- exclusive contracts and are diversify- ing - their radio appearances. * ¥ * x HEN another White House wed- ding occurs, it is not unlikely that it will be broadcast to a listening world just as the royal wedding of the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece was broadcast Thanksgiving day. For the American people, like the British, love the pomp and pageantry of the #brt of ceremonial that was heard by people. in all parts of the world the ofher _day. ewn flair for the microphone, the Roosevelts will interpose no objec- tions to the microphone if such an event occurs during their regime—and, of course, the decision whether or not {0 broadcast will be up to the master nd mistress of the White House and e principals. The royal wedding broadcast from Yondon was the first in history. A Prosdcast of 'a wedding in the White House would also be the firat, for there have been no weddings there ince the second Wilson administra- fon when President Wilson's niece was a principal in the ,Wilsqn-McEl- Yoy nuptials. At that tfme broadcast- ing as we know it today was non-ex- istent. American listeners who arose st K:45 a.m. in the East on Thanksgiving day heard the ceremonies from West~ Jninster Abbey over the networks with unusual clarity, including the intro- duetion by Howard Marshall, the Brit- ish announcer, the description of roy- alty entering the church and the ;!'pen of the crowd, the description of the interior and the choir music; and then the royal bride’s and bride- groom’s “I do” as the ceremony was read. Reception was so clear that some Bunm thought they detected the ‘note of nervousness in' the vofces of the royal pair. While Mr. Marshall was describing the scene outside, the Tinging of the bells and even the clat- Certainly, with their| ter of the horses’ hoofs could be héard. Inside, thie microphones .and wires were all carefully concealed. while the engineers and control men weré all.out of sight in' the centuries-old erypt which is never seen by the public, although thousands pass within & few feet of it when mun( the Unknown Warrlor's tomb. The time differential between Lon- don and America snd ‘between Eng- Iand and her colohies and dominions did not keep the British Broadcasting Corp. from broadcasting the event to the rest of the world chiefly via its far-flung Empire. System of short wave relays. Australia heard the noonday event in the evening, while several continental Eyropean’ radio systems carried it in the early after- noon. For the first time in’ history, also, recordings were made of the radio broadcasts,. and it is reported from London that ‘at léast one of the re- productions of the affair will be pre- sented to the royal couple, so that they can “hear” their own wedding when the mood moves them. The British radio officials maintain a library of recordings of great historical broadeasts so that they can be re- peated on the air on anniversaries or other suitable occasions, TELEVISION HOLDS BRITISH INTEREST Missions Sent to America and Germany to Make Studies. Emphasizing the . intense interest being currently displayed by British officialdom in the possibilities of televifion is the fact that slmost simultaneously with the reeent visit of former Postmaster General Lord Selsdon' and a delegation of Brit- ish radio experts to study Amer- ican , television progress, s similar mission was sent from London to Germany. There have been numerdus reports from Germany lately that, un- der the impulse of Hitler's thorough control of the Reich’s radio, television may shortly be brought out of the laboratory there and put to everydsy uses, The British delegation looked over the television laboratories of the Ger- man post office department, particu- larly its television film scanner and the twin ultra-short wave transmitters for both sight and sound. "Their opin- fons were not expressed, although recent American visitors to Berlin state that the Germans, lke the Americans, are making real strides television. ~ The British group consisted of O. F. Brown of the de- partment of scientific and industrial research; A, J. Gill of the post office engineering staff, H. L. Kirke of the Varley Roberts of the British Tele- vision Committee, Meanwhile the leaders in television development here insist that it will take hundreds of millions of dollars to establish television on a Nation- wide basis, and they say the time is not yet ripe. Some are certain that their television equipment is ready for acceptance by the public, but the all- important problem of financing visusl broadcasting has not been solved even if ultra-short wave lengths are avail- able _and . technique is established. ‘Television inyolves far more compli- cated’ apparatus and & far more com- prehensive broadcasting plant - than the $100,000,000 American system -of sound broadcasting, let alone its prob- lems of programming. PROGRAM CONTINUED Contented Sponsors' Remew Pro- gram, Effective January 7. The : Contented , broadcast: esch Monday at 10 p.m. avar an N. B. C. network, will be continued ‘for another year. Sponsors of the'broadcast have re- newed their contract for 52 weeks, effective January 7. FOREIGN SHORT-WAVE STATIONS STATION. MEGACYCLES. Blrnnqulul v+ .HIIABB Berlin .. .DJA DJB <. (Pontoise) o (Pontolse) .CNR HOURS. .m, - g s 6.45 2 i = ©84 358} 8 =5 " oo opaaoas dshEghe e 2isg 5 gE°B wgo ® 53§?g§g§ Ser g 9‘ ] g o .Id Hog SEHETET o, 8 » 5 o sgi nd » B =4 & E{gg « S g8 2 13 ga k- B > 555 B s G B BNBAOHAHR Y oS E»- Cam g'a - on ggges s8E88s Py g o EB 11} # 588 » 7 salg "3;5 i s B i = g. Jerry Cooper, Columbia baritone, who was recently given his own one-hour pro- gram, “Roadways of Ro- mance,” broadcast every Thursday at 3 p.m. JINCREASES LIBRARY Baymond Knight Calls Addition Billy Batchelor Shelf. Raymond Knight, author of the Billy Batchelor - sketches, broadcast over. N. B. C. networks, has found it necessary .to add a new shelf to his bookcases. . He calls it the Billy Batchelor shelf, as it contains his source of material. Mr. Knight never attempts to use material in his program until he has | acquainted himself with the subject. Sunday, December 9. AM.| .WRC 950k | Jack Benny, popular radio and stage comedian, with the two Hawatian singers he added to his program when N. B. C. started relaying it to KGU in Honolulu for distribution over the Hawaiian Islands. The girls also provide the atmosphere. (Copyrisht, 1034) WMAL 630k | WISV 1,460k Eastern Standard Time. WOL 1,310k 8:00 [Bradley Kincaid 5‘!10‘7 Hour Morning. Interjude Rodds to Romany - “This 'n’ That” - Radio Pulpit Air Sweethearts [Mexican. Orchestra News-Vagaries |Sons of - Ploneers Mo, Bowes” Pty Southernaires London Program The Listening Post “The Ailing House™ Musical Interlude Samover Serenade Tone Pictures Moments of Melody ‘William On & Bus Meeder AFTERNOON er Michaux - . At Aunt Susan’s - - - - American Family Federation of Churches IA.M. Chu{ch of the Alr Labor News Review Between Bookends Arthur Gutow Meditation In Psalms- String Quartet [Success Doctor Tabernacle Choir PROGRAMS. chu“rch ssmee 11:00 11:30 11:48 P.M. Mtjo"r .Ba'vlm' Family “Gigantic Pictures” - . [Chicagoe Round Table 'Tabernacle Choir Midday Serenade Lucille Pierce Ferguson Church Service 'Wayne King Waltzes Musicale Pappy, Ezra, Zeke Haos 5. City Philharmonic lhxty Reser's Crew [Dresm * Drama Music Hall of the Air Dr. Daniel A. Poling Anthony Frome Bob Becker Radio Theater Mg Theater Sunday Vespers Sherlock Holmes w Radio Expl 'Terhune Dog" IChurch of the Air “Little” Jack Little Manhattan Band Melody Musketeers Church of the Air Pat Kennedy Lazy Dan Music mu IChurch of the Air Old Pavorites Joe Brown's Kiddies 12:00 12:18 12:30 12:46 1:00 1:18 1:30 _1:15 2:00 N. Y. Phitharmonic Joe Brown's Kiddies w Radio Voices (Melody Moments . Philharmonic - . Open Ronee lorérs Program cfllll:“ u!.s‘dsnndm EVENING PROGRAMS. “Smilin’ Ed” McConnell Gyps; Voice of Experience The O1d Timer. Father Coughlin i "I"Tfll E" tholic - Hour wfiml Hassell, planist mu&: bylomwln I'rhe Watchtower z Jerry Blaine's Orchut.rl Gypey Ensemble Among the Nations Soire“e Musicale P bt bdrbied :8;8 PM > 8| £88l8 85584 Jack_Littles Oreh, IM!I_BGIA:W’I Orch. P‘\\l Sébin’s Orch. Henry Busse’s Orchestra Helen Ward, a »o-called “torch” singer, who came to radio to sing on the three- hour “Let’s Dance” program, a new N. B. C. attraction. NAVY COMMUNICATION BUSINESS INCREASES Secretary Swanson Reports 1R8,- 800,886 Words Transmitted Last Year. How extensively the Navy is en- gaged in the general communications business, aside from. the far-flung services maintained for military pur- poses, is reflected in the annual report of Secretary of the Navy Swanson. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1934, the total trafic handled over the naval shore radio system amounted to 128,809,886 words. Of this total, 49 per cent was traffic for the various Government departments, with the remainder for private organ- izations. The total estimated savings to Uncle Sam, according to Secretary Swanson, was $3,311,155, which otherwise would have been spent in sending this mes- the Studios ‘New Radio Programs [ Given- Air of Sophistication. WY PETER DIXON. EEKS bsve gone by lnd . practically nothing been said about the Aub’:ct of sophisticated radio eh- tertainment. But during those weeks the builders of programs have gone about their business and &k a résult there sre any number of programs on the air that are: pleas- ingly sophisticated. And be it here recorded that I regard any program decigned for persons of more than the mental levél of adolescents as sophis- ticated. And even the adloescents en- joy them, too. Now let's list a few of them. That coffee company’s presentation of ‘operas with English librettos is a sophisticated program and decidedly worth your while. Good music and intelligent presentation of the story of the opera. I'd rate any of Kostelanet cigaret programs as intelligent and I'd likewise give the same rating to most of the musical programs directed by Preddie Rich, Johnny Green, Mark ‘Warnow and Frank Black. The Radio Theater, on the air from N. B. C. Sunday afternoons, is show- ing rare discrimination in its selection of plays, and while the casting wasn't perfect, Tallulah Bankhead in “Let Us Be Gay” was mighty pleasing last week end. The Romberg-Phelps program on Saturdsy nights is certainly well-bal- anced radio entertainment and worth hearing, and Roxy is improving those | ce; Columbia programs every week. I'll take back a lot of things I've said sbout him. That Alexander Woollcott {nterests grown-ups goes without fur- ther comment. ‘That doesn't include all of the really good programs on -the air—but it'll give you a fair idea that there are pro- grams worth hearing. * ¥ ¥ % m.rs s grand exampie of un- sophistication in that “Let’s Dance” program which had its premiere December 3. It's a good program by the way and the dance music by three different types of or- chestras is excellent. But the commer- cial announcements, done by Don Car- ney, are hard to accept. Cookies com- ing to life and talking about them- selves—well, whimsicalities to hot dance tunes just don't seem believable. ...I'd like to héar some one like Ray Perkins on that program—much as I like and respect Uncle Don...Easy Aces will do their stuff for three dif- ferent film companies...meaning youwll see Mr. and Mrs. Goodman Ace in quite a lot of shorts.: Emil Cole- sage traffic over private communi¢a- ! man's oschestra will supply the music tions systems. PROPAGANDA GUARDED Hungary rr'ounu Tuning In on Speeches. Hungsry’s ministry of commerce s published in its official gazette a new decree forbidding radio listeners to tune in propagands speeches and per- lormances from foreign stations “which are calculated to endanger the social order of the country.” Fines and imprisonment up to two months are the penalties. The Hungarian action follows simi- lar action in several other European countries where the political powers are trying to discourage their nationals from tuning in alleged propaganda broadcasts from neighboring countries. Claims Smallest Set. Another claim to have perfected the “smallest radio set” has been made by a resident of Wolverhampton, Eng- land, who says he has built & crystal set on & piece of ebonite smaller than s British three penny piece. A Lon- doner previously has claimed to have made & workable set only & half inch square in size, Fight to Be Broadcast. WOL and other A. B. 8. lhfiem 'fll carry a ringside description Sammy Fuller-Eddie Cool bout Pfld&y night in Madison Square Gar- MAJOR FEATURES AND PROGRAM NOTES. Efrem Zimbalist, celebrated violin- ist, will be guest artist on the Sunday Evening Hour over WJSV, fram 8 to 9. He will feature “Fantasy on Themes,” from “Coq 4'Or.” The Opera Gui will present Verdi's “Aids.” The cast will be headed by Helen Jepson, 80~ prano, and Frederick Jagel, tenor. Walter Bruno will direct the New York Philharmonic Symphony Or- chestra during its ‘concert over WISV from 3 to 5. The program includes Gluck’s f-moul opera, “Orpheus and Eurydice,” in concert form. Ruggiero Ricci, 14-year-old violin virtuoso, will make his, radio. debut with Ossip Gabrilowitsch * and his ony orchestra on WMAL at 8. "Mecmn!ed Aids in Education will be discussed by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt during her talk on WISV at 7:45. “Hammerstein’s Music Hall of‘the Air,” & WJSV feature at 2:30, will feature Monroe Slvers, mon- ologist, and “Lillian - Emerson, -musical TT1:00 | comedy star. ADVERTISEMENT. for that program featuring Mark Hel- linger and ‘Gladys Glad (who is Mrs. H.)i..Al and Lee Reiser are digging up she little known compositions of Victor Herbert for their programs. They should talk it over with George Hall or Harold Senford,-both real au- thorities on Herbertiana...Vsughn De Leath back on an N. B. C. nétwork where she has belonged for these long years. ER RN T radio show by Charles Mac- Arthur and Ben Hecht on last Sunday’s Hall of Fame was really swell entertainment. What the public wasn't told was that the sketch was the first of a series of radio sketches Hecht and MacArthur planned for radio some years ago—and if that was a sample, then more of them would be acceptable...They used Hildy Johnson and Walter Burns as char- acters—the same characters made fa- mous in “The Front Page”...But Noah Beery as Walter Burns wasn't so hot. Osgoad Perkins or Adolph Menjou would have been much better. Lee Tracy was very, very good. * ok x x Eddie Cantor returns to the air in February it will be on C. B. 8. and Rubinoff will still be with him. But not Jimmy Walling- ton. And some one to take the place of Jimmy is a real problem to the brains behind the program ... C. B. 8. auditioned announcers the other . There were at least 40 appli- cants for jobs and some of them came from as far away &s Fresno, c-ur, and paid their own expenses . B. 8. presents a series based folks wrecked on & tropical hhna Ii¥F'suconn on ‘the air Tuesdsys at 8 ;o o'clock the “Two Doctors,” started a C. B. 8. series - last. Tuesday morning. The same “Two Doctors” have been prac- tically sensational in the Middle West for years.. .N. B. C. considered them for :a, while but nothing. happened. Maybe. this time something will . N. B..C. has started another one Dl those Hollvwood It is titled “Giganti¢ Pictures, On the air at noon Sundays vis N. B. C.-WJZ and 1t miglit be worth hearing because it is a burlesque. Sugar Under License. :Dublin, Irish Free State, has ruled that, household = sugar cannot be brought.-into the: city except. under NETWORK HEADLINERS - nl-fl—‘—'lflh-enfich-rdmm mn a-‘-l.fl-.‘ l'* mhfimdm FEDERAL RADID DANGERS CITED College Professor Warns of Necessity to Guard Press and Broadcasting. PY MARTIN CODEL. T MAY take another war to impress upon Americans the dangers of what O. W. Riegel calls “radio armaments,” for the American people still rest relatively secure in their tradition of freedom of expressicn. Mr. Riegel, director of journalism at Washington and Lee University, in his new book “Mobilizing for Chaos; The Story of the New Propaganda” (Yale University Press), makes a thorough case for continuing to guard the press and the wireless, both mass broadcasting and point-to-point com- munications, against falling into hands that would utilize them for purely nationalistic ends—meaning government itself. 1t has already happened abroad, and with what devastating effects Mr. Riegel points out. One of the first moves of the Nazis, upon assuming power in Germany, was to seize the operation of the radio while com- pletely mobilizing the press. With a few exceptions, European and most other nations utilize their radio, if not their press, to mobilize and maintain their people for nationalistic causes. Radio lends itself admirably to “Kul- turpolitic,” or the strategy of cultured propaganda. Opposes Federal Radio. It works both ways, of course. There are not inconsiderable influences who believe that a government radio would be preferable to a private radio used primarily for entertainment and advertising. Mr. Rliegel is not of this school, for he concludes that “if world experience means anything, it has shown that this stifling of the free exchange of ideas- and opinions by rship and propaganda invari- ably leads to castastrophe in the form of war or insurrection.” Russia’s radio has always been an instrument of the state because radio sprang into being after the Bolsheviks had entrenched themselves and it fitted admirably into their scheme of things. In Fascist Italy the radio is completely controlled. Britain utilizes a far-flung short wave system of broadcasting and rebroadcasting for the frank purpose of binding its colonies and dominions more closely to the mother land. Throughout Europe a race for high power has been in progress for several years, and Mr. Riegel thinks it is idle to believe that the purpose of super-power stations is without its propagandistic purposes across national frontiers, as well ss within them. The Jeaders of even the mnon- Fascist states find radio a valuable ally. President Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” were emulated by Gaston Doumergue when he took over the premiership, in an attempt to pacify troubled Prance after the Stavisky scandal and the Paris riots. When J. M. Keynes spoke to British listen- ers in 1931 to urge them to spend | rather thar save as a way out of the depression, the sale of national sav- ings certificates felt off from 250.000 to 170,000 in & day. It was neces sary to call Sir Josiah Stamp to the microphone to point out that invest- ing in those certificates was one of the few methods of saving that would not create unemployment, and three days later the British public estab- lished a record of 450,000 in the pur- chases of the certificates. e Troubles of Composer. The troubles of a composer will be depicted in a dramatic sketch during the Sigmund Romberg program over N. B. C. Saturday at 8 pm. The playlet is entitled “The Last Waltz With You.” RENOV]ZE ¢ o« « your home Good renovizing—in good taste. EBERLY’S 1108 K NW. DL 6557 Dionify your home . . __ shone ~Everty's” MINUTE Service Station No. 1 17th & L Sts. N. W. IO' IECKII, famous sportsman and dc! lover HERI: Station WMAL Today 2:15 To give you pleasare. And to tell youabout s better food for your dog —Red Heart Diets A, B, C. 3 dif- ferent flavors: Beef, Fish, Cheese. MONDAYS L TH'IRSDAYS