Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

U.S. Radio System Held Above BBC By British Author State Control and Inferior Equipment are Blamed During the recent inaugural on CBS of radio versions of Sax Rohmer's "Dr. Fu Manchu" stories, sponsored by the Campana Corp., Batavia, III., the noted British author, who came to this country specially for the purpose, took occasion to remark enthusiastically about the American system of radio. He expands his views here for the readers of Broadcasting. By SAX ROHMER I HAVE been asked to enlarge upon one or two points raised by me in a recent broadcast interview touching the methods of American and British broadcasting, the radio possibilities of dramas such as "Dr. Fu Manchu", and the advantages of sponsored programs. In the first place, I think British broadcasting is definitely handicapped by being under state control. Competition is essential in my opinion to the health of any industry. I don't believe in monopoly. Against the programs presented by the British Broadcasting Corporation there is no more hope of appeal than there would be against a finding by the House of Lords. The BBC is an autocracy. Their word is law. Raps BBC Equipment AS REGARDS the technical equipment of the new studios recently completed in London high claims were made during the time that the building was in course of construction, but I am disposed to believe that certain expectations have not been realized. The acoustic properties, which I understand were based upon some new system which experimentally seemed to promise remarkably fine transmission, have not entirely justified official optimism. In Europe, too, we labor under a serious handicap. There was an attempt, last year, to come to some sort of understanding with the important stations throughout the continent, but, as seems to be the fate of all international conferences, practically nothing resulted. The wave lengths used by certain European stations are not sufficiently diversified to avoid conflicting programs. In certain areas it is practically impossible to secure clear reception from any one of two or three stations. This is an unfortunate state of affairs which I think you do not experience here in the United States or Canada, as I understand that these matters are adjusted by a governing body. In the broadcasting of drama, I consider that a much higher average is maintained in America than has so far been achieved in Great Britain. A type of director seems to have sprung up in the American studios who has perfected a radio technique much in advance of that of his colleague in British studios. We have dramas specially Sax Rohmer written for broadcasting purposes, but with a few exceptions they are characterized by a form of construction indicating the influence of the stage, and directed without due regard to the fact that the players are invisible to the audience. The direction of the "Fu Manchu" episodes, in Chicago, and the manner in which the scripts had been prepared, seemed to me superior to anything of the kind with which I had hitherto come in contact. Admittedly, the English studios do not go in, very much, for this type of drama. The few examples to which I have personally listened have been open to much criticism. On the other hand, I have heard excerpts from Shakespeare beautifully rendered, but the performance relied almost entirely upon the magnificence of the master's language and the elocution of the actors. Lauds Sponsor System ORIGINAL items are not so good, on the whole, and I think that the great success achieved by dramas of the "Fu Manchu" order in the United States and Canada might wisely be made the subject of careful inquiry by the officials of the BBC. I realize that I have personally some 20 books which, treated as "Dr. Fu Manchu" was treated by the CBS on the Campana Italian Balm program, should prove to be valuable properties. Some of my Egyptian stories, and others dealing with adventure in various parts of the globe, have assumed a new value in my eyes, since I visited Chicago for the inauguration of the Campana program. I feel we shall never enjoy the advantages of the sponsorship system in Great Britain. This is regrettable because this system enables the United States and Canada to enjoy programs calling for big financial outlay on the production side which British listeners are never likely to hear. I am strongly opposed to any form of government control in any form of public entertainment. State theatres would be a tragedy. Government controlled publishers would soon be out of business and I am convinced that the same may be said of state controlled broadcasting. I OLD SPANISH CUSTOM Paul SesalandK.B. Warner Held I As Anarchists, Released MADRID, headquarters of the International Radio Conference and capital of a nation in which the embers of revolution still are smouldering, paid its respects to a couple of American radio celebrities attending the sessions in a rather unique way the other day when its gendarmes "detained" Paul M. Segal, Washington attorney, and K. B. Warner, executive secretary of the American Radio Relay League, as suspected revolutionists or anarchists. According to unofficial reports, Messrs. Warner and Segal, the latter general counsel for the amateur organization, were scheduled to address a meeting of Madrid amateurs. The Castillian "hams," in applauding their American guests in the approved Spanish style, raised such a commotion that a riot call was put in by neighbors, who sensed another revolution. Screeching sirens heralded the approach of the armored cars used in Madrid to crush such incipient uprisings. Police swooped down on the meeting hall. Messrs. Segal and Warner were detained until they were "identified by the proper officials." But for a few tense minutes, it is reported, they saw visions of some quaint old Madrid hoosegow. The explanation given by the gendarme, it is understood, was that it was "just an old Spanish custom." Preparations Progress For Convention of NAB ARRANGEMENTS for the NAB annual convention to be held in St. Louis Nov. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are being made under the direction of Philip G. Loucks, managing director, and Edwin M. Spence, director of WPG, Atlantic City, chairman of the general convention committee. The two officials were in St. Louis over the Oct. 8 week-end to confer with chairmen of the local committees. The local committee chairmen are: L. A. Benson, WIL, W. H. West, KMOX, T. P. Convey, KWK, and Wm. F. Ludgate, KSD. During the preceding week, Mr. Loucks discussed plans for a commercial section meeting with H. K. Carpenter, manager, WPTF, Raleigh, its chairman. He also was to discuss with Edgar Bill, president of WMBD, Peoria, plans of the program section, of which the latter is chairman. Reception Committee WILLIAM H. WEST, director of operations of KMOX, St. Louis, and chairman of the reception committee for the NAB convention there, Nov. 13 to 16, has named the following to serve on his committee: A. B. Hendry, WIL; Oscar Hirsch, KFVS; Rev. H. H. Hohenstein, KFUO, and W. F. Ludgate, KSD. Preparations for the meeting to be held at Hotel Chase are being made for more than 500 broadcasters from over the United States. Eckersley Praises U. S. Broadcasting Calls Programs Best In World In Changing Former View ADMITTING a complete reversal of view, Capt. P. P. Eckersley, eminent British radio authority, and former chief engineer of the British Broadcasting Corporation, declared during his current visit here that broadcasting in the United States surpasses that of any other nation. The Englishman is making a trip around the world and expressed amazement at the progress of broadcasting in this country since his last survey in 1927, in an interview with the New York Times. "When last I visited your shores, five years ago", he said, "I considered broadcasting on this side of the water distinctly inferior to the British System. But I must admit that the pendulum has swung around in the intervening years. I have become an enthusiastic convert to the American idea, which as nearly approaches the ideal as I have encountered in my travels. "This marked improvement is noticeable not only in the perfection of transmission but in the high standards of programs. I do not hesitate to say that American programs are the most amusing, most varied, most interesting, the most diverting and educational of all. I am, above all, fascinated with their lively, intimate, warm, exploring spirit. Favors Sponsored Program "WHILE THE rest of the world has been practically at a standstill, America, with characteristic foresight and action has pushed ahead, building up here, tearing down there, until they have achieved an approach to perfection which is a revelation and an inspiration. It seemed to me on my last visit that broadcasting in the United States was moving in the wTrong direction. Commercialized sponsorship seemed to me at that time — and I was not alone — the wrong solution to the problem of building better programs. But the results achieved here in the last five years prove that the American system of commercial programs is infinitely superior to any other that has been attempted. "I would say that the average American program is better than the average British program, and the best American program superior to the best British standards. Utopia, I fancy, is still considerably around the corner, like television and prosperity, but I am convinced that the United States is traveling along: the right track and with amazing speed." Capt. Eckersley also praised the "open door" policy maintained with respect to broadcasting in this country. Declaring he believes that freedom of the ether is as desirable as freedom of the press, he criticized the rigorous censorship of the air in Great Britain as contrasted to the liberal American attitude, which he characterized as a "real public forum where all might be heard". Page 14 BROADCASTING • October 15, 1932