Radio Broadcast - 1927, May - 61 Pages, 4.9 MB ... - VacuumTubeEra

30 RADIO BROADCAST MAY, 1927NO STRANGERS TO THE MICROPHONEThe first is Eva Gruninger Atkinson, contralto, who sings from KPO; next is Keith McLeod, studio manager and pianist at wjz; the third is MissHonarine La Pee, a "syncopating pianist" at KMOX. Miss La Pee recently won a contest as the most popular artist on the staff of this St. Louisstation. The fourth photograph shows Miss Josephine Holub, violinist on the "Pilgrim" program, heard from KGO on Tuesday nightslisteners, instead of abandoning their receiving boring, in fact, because the musician knowssets, will abandon the inferior stations, whereuponthe inferior stations will Mr.what he is in for.go out of business.Aylesworth might have followed the etherealThe service which radio can perform for Mr. "Lohengrin" prelude with the equally etherealCoolidge's second preludegroupis undeniable. However,to "Parsifal" and by doing so alienateit is a service. That is, it is a department whichthe radio fans from Wagner forever. Instead,can bring the broadcaster no demonstrable financialreturn. Evidently, in this day of cut throatoperation, no station manager can afford to devotemuch time and thought to a group which isnumerically small. But when time and theoperation of the 1927 Radio Law has winnowedthe existing number of stations down to a comparativefew, these stations will find it not onlypossible, but advisable, to provide features forminority groups.Why a Good Program Was Goodinaugural program of the NationalBroadcasting Company, which tookTHEplacelast winter, has come in for quite a lotof praise. Perhaps the most authoritative testimonialto it was that of Samuel Chotzinoff,music critic of the New York World in his column:"Concert Pitch." Commenting on the arrangementof the program, Mr. Chotzinoff said.If Mr. Aylesworth constructed this masterpieceof program making he proves himself abetter psychologist than all the orchestra conductorswe have ever listened to. Mr. Aylesworthknows that the untutored radio ear can-The "Newsboy" at KFNF, Shenandoah, Iowa.JAMES PEARSONnot be much different from the sophisticated Mr. Pearson gives a digest of the news at 7:45concert ear. Four Beethoven sonatas on the same p. M. "The Newsboy"is also heard in a healthprogram are as boring to the trained musician talk atas they are to the public at large, even more 7:50 A. M. On Sundays, Mr. Pearsongives religious talkshe isolates the "Lohengrin" piece by followingits last pianissimo with the lustful, mundanechorus from "Tannhauser." Who but Mr.Aylesworth, ever thought of presenting only thefirst movement of Schumann's concerto? Thismovement contains the best of Schumann'sinspiration the other two are anti-climax.During the intermezzo of this concerto, peoplehave a tendency to scan the ads. in the program.Mr. Aylesworth must have noticed this and decidednot to take any chances. Even the firstmovement demands the listeners' closest attention,so Mr. Aylesworth gives his invisible audiencea chance to relax by bringing on MaryGarden at once. Mary chooses her own songs,but her personality is intriguing, whether shedecides to sing Bach or Irving Berlin. Bear inmind that it is Mr. Aylesworth's purpose to keephis twenty millions from straying out of earshotof the loud speaker.Those who feel that the Chorale from " DieMeistersinger" is a little too steep will stay tchear the "Lost Chord," which follows it. WillRogers follows the "Lost Chord." etc.Compare this amazing program with, let ussay, that of the Cleveland Orchestra, whichpaid us a visit last week. The Clevelandersplayed a Mozart symphony, the Stravinsky"Fire Bird," and three new American compositions.With the exception of the symphony, fpiwhich Mr. Aylesworth can match the Schumannconcerto and the Wagner numbers, the highbroworchestra gave us nothing near as good as anynumber on the radio program.As I see it, it isn't the radio that needs encouragement.Mr. Aylesworth should be consoled,The so-called legitimate musical events get thegreat volume of critical comment because theyneed it. The radio seems to be getting alongbeautifully without it.AT STATION CKNC, TORONTOFrank Blachford, violinist of the Toronto Conservatory of Music Instrumental Trio; R. H. Combs, general manager of CKNC,which is owned by the Canadian National Carbon Company; Arthur Blight, baritone, frequently heard from this Toronto station