Radio Digest (Oct 1923-July 1924)

i RADIO DIGEST — Illustrated April 5, 192k Radio Digest week ft a^u y m, "Ti^3 9 ^p WtK cents RE6. uTV'PAT" OFFHAND DOM. OF CANADA Published by the Radio Digest Publishing Company, Inc. 123 West Madison Street Telephone: State 4S!3. 4S44. 4845 Chicago, Illinois E. C. RAYNER, Publisher Chas. F. Smisor. Editor Evans E. Plummer, Managing: Editor H. J. Marx. Technical Editor M. W. Thompson. Associate Editor Eastern Representative, Jacob Miller, Times Bldg., Times Square, New York; Telephone Bryant 4909, 10462 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations PUBLISHED WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES Yearlv in V. S. and Possessions and Canada. S'.OO. stage, $1.00 additional. Single copies, 10 cent Vol. VIII Chii;i.o. Saturday, April 3, 19:4 Xo. 13 The Radio Trust Who Is Going to Settle the Radio Business? BY WHAT divine right does the powerful and majestic Bell system step in to settle Radio's business1? For no reason except that "might makes right." Radio can take care of itself — the problem of who shall pay for broadcasting will be settled by the Radio industry and the Radio public. Either a levy on set manufacturers or a sales tax on essential parts — and one of a dozen excellent ways are available for securing funds to pay the finest talent in the world. The phone company's position is reported to be that there is bound to be a radical change in broadcasting because it is furnishing something for nothing. It applies to its own broadcasting particularly, as it is in the business of transmission and does not sell Radio receiving sets, nor do its subsidiaries, except for certain parts developed from telephone use. The company argues that when the extraneous interests that have flocked into Radio on the boom die out it will still have to handle Radio transmission, and therefore it must stabilize the industry. Why will it have to handle broadcasting1? No law compels it to and it has implied no obligation to do so by the sale of Eadio apparatus. The manufacturers have and they will see that there is plenty on the air to listen to. The phone company must stabilize the industry! Why? Are not the executives of some of the companies doing business in the field big enough to accomplish this at the right time? Have they appealed to this great divinity to come in and by a magic sweep of the wand make a thorny path over into a garden of roses ? Two events at Washington have important bearings en the subject. One was the hearing on the White bill which contains a clause providing for the ending of monopolies, and again, on April 10, will be opened the Federal Trade commission hearing of the investigation of a Radio trust. Court Rulings Judge Favors Boys in Putting Up an Aerial A CINCINNATI justice to whom was referred a case of two boys wishing to construct an aerial on tikeir home against the wishes of the landlord, who objected strenuously to having a couple of poles attached to the roof of a dwelling owned by him, decided in favor of the two youngsters. In making his decision, after asking the property owner various questions, the court said: "Radio is one of the most beautiful and helpful influences a boy can have. It is a great factor in broadening their minds and I hope I will be able to help the young boys appreciate the advantages of a Radio receiving set." Education by Radio Country Places Get Most from Broadcasts THE educational value of Radio to families in their homes and on the farms is becoming more fully appreciated. From a western broadcasting station people in many cities and towns and thousands of farm homes in the country enjoy daily entertainment. Lectures from great educational centers scattered over thirty-one states are heard from one super-station. The pleasure that a whole family gets from a nationwide music and lecture broadcast is intensified by the fact that they have been deprived of these things until the discovery of Radio. Speed of Waves Sound Leaps Distance with Amazing Quickness IF YOU are 186 miles from a broadcasting station, when you listen in, you hear each sound 1/1,000 part of a second after it is produced in the broadcasting station. This is because Radio waves travel at tin speed of 1S6/J00 miles per second, so fast as to be instantaneous ovr-r all normal broadcasting ranges. If you were in a studio and with one ear heard a note struck iano, and at the other ear could hear the same transmitted 1,000 miles by Radio, your ears would be unable to distinguish between the two. They would ike a single note. RADIO INDI-GEST You Can't Make Love by Radio You can't make love by Radio, It simply can't be done, It has its limits and I'm sure That lore-making is one, You can sing songs, I grant you Of passion and of youth, But when the World is listening In You can't express love's truth. You can't make love by Radio, It lacks the soul's pure eyes That, mirror-like, reflect its joy, The joy that satisfies, You can, upon the ether Tell people how to live, But to make love 'tis lacking That thrill it needs must give. You can't make love by Radio, The microphone is dead. No rosy lips to press a kiss And kisses can't be said, It has no silken tresses fine, No dainty hands to hold, No cheeks inviting lore's caress, No tears to be consoled. You can't make love by Radio, The World's too large, by far, You need a cosy little room Where two and no more are, You can't have any listening in, There's no fun if you do, The Radio is NOT the place To send my love to you. Charles L. H. Wagnee. Soozie and Mama Haymes Please .Write Dear Indi : Seeing as how Mama Haymes put several little crosses on one of her letters to you (Dec. 15), I suppose you know her rather intimately and can answer my questions. Has Mama Haymes a steady meal ticket ? (I don't know how steady. — Indi.) Can she cook as good as King's Maggie? An how about Soozie; is she a her or a hymn ? (Yes. — Indi.) My offer of March 15 (object matrimony) is still open and as a greater inducement for the accepted matrimonial worse half, T will grant the full and exclusive rights to my receiving set one night each week (Sunday night). Love's wonderful isn't it? I. Noa Lots. P. S. Herewith is an appendix to my recent encyclopedia. I. N. L. Encyclopedia Indi-Gesticana (Compiled by I. Noa. Lott) Crystal. — The small, octagon shaped piece of glass that your friend declares to be a diamond. Jack. — Dough, mazuma, sponduly, kale, money or anything used to purchase Radio appliances. Lightning Arrester. — A detour for lightning, but lightning usually goes by too fast to read the sign. Plug. — A wooden stopper for a beer (I mean, vinegar) keg bunghole. Potentiometer. — An instrument called for In most Radio circuits for the purpose, evidently, of absorbing electricity, running down batteries or any other debrading use. Re-Radiating. — The action of an improperly operated set that causes howls (the neighbors' squeals). Spark. — The end of a cigar farthest from your mouth. Tickler. — Woolen XYZ. Mrs. Partington Speaks Out Dear Indi: Mrs. Partington says she's heard some oil men, or other greedy fellers is claiming a patented right to the Air, as well as on all the machinery they send it and we receive it with, and they seem to think all listeners is for is to buy patent machines to hear patent programs out of patented air. She says, "First thing we know we'll be listening out of the little end of the horn, and paying the fiddler for that." She believes listeners had better get busy and send some applause letters to their congress members just to let them know that the Ether ain't got no Tea-pot Dome, and is not for lease, public nor private. " Signing Off. Bet He Owns R. G. A. Stock Too Dear Indi : There's a guy in our block who's so tough he chows vacuum tubes and spits electrons. Fiddle D. Dial. Bigger Than the Government? Condensed By DIELECTRIC It is unfortunate that so good a Radio bill as that sponsored by Congressman White and approved by the proper government departments should be slated" for a long "silent period." Such a bill might go a long way to clear the air in these days of Radio monopoly. Again we have forced upon our attention the spectacle of a tube "shortage"! Contests carried on by broadcasting stations are not so numerous as at one time, yet they flourish in spots. Of course, every such feature creates an added reason for selecting that particular station to listen to, also it helps the A. T. & T. increase their receipts from telegrams— some of which travel considerable distances. Not long ago WJAX and WJAZ announced contests on the same evening, though the latter was to be held at a later date. While listening for Chicago's announcement many a fan failed to win a prize from the Union Trust Company. At last! After the various organizations opposed to giving the mass of music lovers in this country a chance to hear artists of renown, had performed thev skit, we are about to be blessed with hearing classics*, music rendered by musicians who stand at the top of their profession. The Radio and Music Fund Committee, in New York, have announced their intention to l>egin broadcasting this class of programs and WEAF will donate their station to its use. Judging by the letters received, the idea has appealed to those in every walk of life who express their gratitude for fostering such a desirable plan. Send in your check. Debates formerly were entirely confined to three judges, who were present in the hall in which the debaters held forth, for decision as to the winners. More recently such intellectual calisthenics have been staged before thousands of self-appointed judges. Except in a few instances, however, the three judges decided the ease. WJAZ asked the Radio listeners to be the ju in a debate on the ''wet'" or "dry" question, debated before the microphone in their studio. The majority of listeners were "wet" — that is, they so voted. Being Saturday night . Some of the American broadcasting stations have no dffieulty at all in reaching England with their programs, where they are relayed for the benefit of those unable to pick them up direct. But when the British stations attempted to reach our listeners last mouth the result was far from satisfactory. Only a comparatively few with super sets were able to catch more than the carrier wave. Not that they have any programs superior to ours — possibly not so good, but it would be very interesting to fans on this side to tune in an English station in a while. It has been explained that the power used by their stations is not as great as used here. Put on more juice, England, aud let 's hear you! A year ago broadcasting stations were guilty of keeping their Radio listeners waiting several minutes between numbers before announcing their call letters. Some even announce a half-dozen numbers without giving this information. This is seldom found to bo the today. The person at the dials wants to kno« whom he is listening, at the earliest opportunity. A letter to RADIO DIGEST from Dorothy Macintosh complains of the inability of listeners to chnrch knowing the location of the church to which they are tuned. Announcements at the beginning and close of a service are usually the only ones g might preface the sermon with a sWti all fans would welcome.