Best broadcasts of 1938-39 (1939)

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BEST BROADCASTS OF 1938-39 He has written a short statement regarding the genesis and development of “Seems Radio Is Here to Stay.” It should be of interest to the student and to any of those who are curious about an author’s method of approach, his habits of work, and the attitudes authors have toward their own work. Here is what he said. “ Seems Radio Is Here to Stay” is an example of a script made to order on short notice. I would like to say that it was inspired by noble ideals and sentiments concerning radio which I carry around with me daily, but this would be somewhat of an exaggeration. Actually it was inspired by the campaign of the National Association of Broadcasters to enable the public “to know more intimately something of the energies and the values and the services that go into our daily schedule.” I was anxious, in writing this script, to make its opening arresting and to present all the facts and conceits in a way that would sustain interest. The hardest part of the job, as is usually the case in any script of this sort, was the opening. I finally hit upon the device of a great chord in the orchestra because I knew it would come after the regulation twenty seconds of silence following the previous program on the network and that if the chord were followed by seconds of silence the listener would wonder what this strange business was all about. Once the introductory narration was written the rest was quite simple, and I had little trouble with the script, even though I was backed right up against the deadline of the broadcast. The script was unfinished when we went into rehearsal and the apotheosis of radio which constitutes the ending of the show was written in a break between rehearsals. I was conscious in vTiting this script of the necessity to cover the subject comprehensively and yet with care to avoid sounding like a tract on the subject. I have included within the compass of this piece the treatment of such diverse elements as the physical and spatial aspects of radio; its properties of speed; its penetrability and universality as the medium of entertainment; implication of the type of the finest thing done in radio (Shakespearean drama and symphonic music) ; the unsung but necessary contribution of the technical personnel; the importance of free speech and the role of radio in the democracy; the extra-mtmdane consideration of radio. Technically this was a moderately complicated show, requiring a very careful balance between the component elements whenever used simultaneously. The music was very helpfvd in 500