Radio revue (Dec 1929-Mar 1930)

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32 RADIO REVUE Practically the same conditions, as far as I could learn, prevailed in many of the large cities with the possible exception of Chicago, and most of the small ones. Chicago has a few fine stations like WGN and WMAQ and broadcasts some excellent programs, but even they depend a great deal on the chain programs broadcast from New York. Some people in New York may complain once in a while about the programs they get but, if they would travel over the country and listen to some of the small stations, they would be thankful they lived in New York. Tastes in Programs Differ As to what constitutes a good broadcasting program tastes differ as greatly as do individuals. Unblushingly I confess that I like jazz. I have set forth this liking more or less loudly at times and, as a result, have been called many things, the mildest of which is "low brow." If liking lively, tuneful music is low brow, I am all of that and more. Big symphony orchestras, playing Bach or some of the other so-called old masters, bore me excessively. They are my particular abomination and they cannot hold me for five minutes. When they come on, I tune off, if possible, to Helen Kane, Rudy Vallee or Paul Whiteman. Everyone, of course, has his or her favorite performer, announcer and program. I derive more pleasure from Amos 'n' Andy, the Main Street Sketches, the Clicquot Eskimos, Ipana Troubadors and Eddie Cantor than I do from a dozen symphony orchestras or a lot of high brow opera singers. To me the latter are a total loss. If I never heard them again, it would be too soon. Possibly I am like George Moran, of Moran and Mack, "even if it was good, I wouldn't like it." Personally, I have had more enjoyment out of the troubles of Amos, Andy, Madam Queen and the Kingfish, not forgetting Flossie White, the snappy "steenographer," than anything else on the radio. The way Andy lords it over Amos and the manner in which the latter balks occasionally, furnish me with a real thrill which I cannot get from high brow music. Brokenshire a Favorite As for announcers, I used to get my greatest thrill from listening to Norman Brokenshire. He seemed, more than many of the others, to be spontaneous and his voice came over well. Graham McNamee always seems to me to be vitally interested in what he is doing and he imparts this enthusiasm to his hearers. He and Ted Husing are my favorite sports announcers, although I believe the latter Stein Norman Brokenshire, ' fhc Announcer Whose Spontaneity Used to Give Me My Biggest Thrill is better, if you are interested in a really technical account of the event being broadcast. Milton Cross, Lewis Reid and the late John B. Daniels are other favorites. David Ross, of WABC has a deep, sonorous voice, but seems to take himself quite seriously. There are a few announcers whom I abominate, but, again quoting George Moran, "why bring that up?" There may be more perfect radio voices than those of Mayor James J. Walker, H. V. Kaltenborn and John B. Kennedy, associate editor of Colliers', but I have never heard them. I will tune off anything else at any time to listen to Jimmy Walker. He knows just what to say, has a beautiful speaking voice and never talks over your head. John B. Kennedy does not talk often or too long at a time, but he does say what he has to say well. The only possible objection I can fiqd to him is his "thank you, Curt Peterson, friends of Collier's" every Sunday evening when Mr. Peterson introduces him to the radio audience. Kaltenborn has a wide knowledge of world affairs, and a snappy way of talking, that holds my interest. Too Sweet to Be Natural When I first started to listen to the radio, my favorites were Roxy and Vincent Lopez. However, lately I have sickened of both of them. They seem to be too sweet to be natural. Mary and Bob have always attracted me, and, then again, there is the girl who plays the principal role in the Collier hour. She seems natural and unaffected. This may be a pose, but it is a convincing one. In my case the radio has kept me at home more than ever before. In the pre-radio days the movies attracted me four or five nights a week. There was no place to go and little else to do. Now, seemingly, there is something on the air nearly every night that I really cannot miss. As a result, the movies are neglected. It is possible to get all the entertainment one wants at home, amusement that is more varied and certainly much cheaper. It is difficult to predict what will happen when — and if — television becomes as universal as radio now is. Possibly then, when we can see as well as hear, it will become impossible to drag us away from home, even when business calls. "Sax" Wizard Goes Over the CBS Merle Johnston, the wizard of the saxophone, left the NBC fold recently to go under the Columbia banner. In making the change, he is said to have given up seven commercial accounts at the National. He already is director of two hours on the CBS.