Radio Digest (July 1924-Apr 1925)

14 RADIO DIGES T^IHust rated July 26, 1924 Radio Digest Published by the Radio Digest Publishing Company, Inc. 510 North Dearborn Street Telephone: State 4372, 4373, 4374, 4375 Chicago, Illinois E. C. BAYNER, Publisher Evans E. Plummer Managing Editor Charles P. Smisor .........EOitor Harry J. Marx Technical Editor Eastern Office, 611-12 Times Bldg-., Times Sq., New York; Telephone Bryant 4909, 10462 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations PUBLISHED WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES Yearly in U. S. and Possessions and Canada, $5.00 Foreign postage, $1.00 additional. Single copies, 10 cents. Vol. X Chicago, Saturday, July 26, 1924 No. 3 Back to Home Life No More is the Home a Place to Eat and Sleep CONDITIONS in the times of our fathers seem to favor home life. There was less for entertainment and the people were willing to spend much time in working on their home places, then in the hours of leisure they enjoyed home amusements, and the children settled down with the old folks and enjoyed games and reading and homemade music. Then came a period when shows and entertainments and club life of all kinds were offered much more generally. These chances for amusement drew people away from, their homes, until one's house became for many folks merely a shelter to sleep in and a place for "eats." Now a new force is affecting life, and that is the invention of Radio apparatus. A great many people formerly were not content to remain at home, are now finding great pleasure at home in pursuit of this fascinating diversion. Some of these are not satisfied now away from home, as they want to get back to their Radio instruments, and find what new things the marvelous currents of the air have to tell them. All tastes are satisfied. The grown-ups hear the business news and the political addresses, the people who love rythm and melody listen to songs and dance orchestras, those who want serious amusements have classical concerts and fine oratory. Many a boy who formerly was not satisfied to settle down under the evening lamp, is now happy in his home life, as he tries to see over how great a distance he . can make his instruments effective, or listens to the abundant material offered to interest the young crowd. This invention ought to make conditions somewhat easier for the parents of restless youngsters. Sunday and Radio Increased Desire to go to Church ONE of the evidences that Radio is fast becoming more than a toy is the way in which religious organizations are taking it up. The churches were at first dubious about it. They figured that once the residents of the farms got Radio sets they would stay at home on Sunday listening to the "big" preachers in the large cities instead of attending their own houses of worship. But instead Radio seems to have increased the desire to go to church. Perhaps this may be for the reason that the sets are not perfected and a fellow needs so much more religion and patience while listening in on one of them. But, for the fact that they are bringing church services to hundreds of invalids and to shut-ins throughout the country, to people not physically able to go to church, is a great thing in Radio's favor. Some of the largest churches are now spending hundreds of dollars yearly to get sermons to those who cannot leave their homes and beds. This alone entitles Radio to be classed as another modern God-send. Summer's Deficiency Do Not Expect Too Much in Warm Weather IT IS not always possible to have excellent Radio reception during the summer, the best long distance records come in the winter. Loud signals are infrequent and electrical disturbances are naturally more common and they interfere occasionally with concerts, particularly those received from distant points. A reasonable attitude will help the listener here. He should remember that he cannot expect every act in even the best vaudeville performance to be tremendously amusing and just what he wants, nor can he expect the weather each day to be clear and pleasant. Similarly he must not expect every day to be just right for long distance Radio reception. Now and them a summer storm may interfere with both Radio and picnics. The listener should become acquainted with his local stations and enjoy them during the summer and be satisfied with the long distant records lie has made, or will make, in the winter. In other he should get the best there is in Radio during ons, and above all he should be reasonable. No, Thank Gawd!! By 5XV MR. SMYTHE was evidently ill or badly distracted. For several days his appetite had been almost dead and the most careful and appetizing preparation of his favorite dainties, failed to attract him. She wouldn't ask him about it, however, because she was not a nagging wife; he hated nagging women. About the seventh day she began to suffer terribly and found that even her favorite chocolate creams failed to please her. Mrs. Smythe talked this over with some of her friends who would merely shake their head. When her back was turned, they would glance commiseratingly at her and point expressively at wires suspended in the air from various neighborhood structures. But this could not continue forever for Mr. Smythe had reached the breaking point. She was so curious that she was nearly prostrated. The tenth evening, luckily, Mr. S., after a bite to eat and looking extremely downcast, started to speak. "My dear," he started. "Yes?" she questioned breathlessly (if that is possible.) "My dear, I hate to tell you, knowing you have seen this occurrence before and that therefore you will realize more keenly what it means ..." he paused and looked around as if looking for something and then continued: "My dear, — er — ah — well I may as well tell you: the business has failed and I am a bankrupt." "Oh!" gasped Mrs. S. before she fainted, "Is that all? I was so afraid you had taken up Radio." And she carelessly swallowed a bon-bon as she "passed out." News Bulletins from Milwaukee Furnished in Co-operation with the Milwaukee Daily Beverage Heinrich Schmearkase, 24 Gottmituns avenue, has just finished his 8 Crystal Super Set. Congratulations Hen. Since WLS has taken the air, the Sears-Roebuck Catalogue has become one of the most popular Books in town. Gottlieb Hasenblick, 33 Homebrew street, has traded in his Super Nixo-Dyne for a rattling good crystal set. Sydney Stein, 13 Blusenblosenhosen street, has made enough money from building Radio sets that he bought himself a store set yesterday. Atta boy, Syd. THE THIRD TROMBONE PLAYER. This Is Leap Year; Reverse Your English Dear Indi: Count me in with the Radio Workers of the World once more. DAMTHA low summer fares. Sir Arthur of Monrovia has returned to the Coast! Honestly, Indi, California knights are wonderful but the guy who said they were all cool never went flivvering on the River Road with Sir Arthur! I gotta stop and rub the rust off the antenna. Don't broadcast this yet, Indi, but if Sir Arthur stays away too long, I shall consider applications for a substitute. Do you think 5XV or SIGNING OFF might send in theirs? SOOZZEE. Mrs. Partington Speaks Out Dear Indi: Mizz Partington says she seen it in her old home town paper where a big wind storm right recent did a lot of damages to some of her old neighbors. The electric lights, telephones and telegraphs was put out of service bad; the only way to get any place was by Radio, and all these icelated folks was able to bring in on their sets was the noise of McAdough's i nomination, with one of his 'Iji brass bands playing "Ther'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" and other classical selections like that. She says the poor victims should have some big and liberal contributions sent to them for going through so much sufferin', like when the Japs had their big earthquake and fire, some time back, and most all the other people give them gifts, for, she says, its terrible when misfortunes multiply that way, like when these people had survived one big wind, and then had to get caught in another one right off, even if they did get it by Radio. SIGNING OFF. Secretary Hoover will not hold his third Radio conference till September. Yessirree, that'll be a lot better time to get front page stories in the paper. Advantages, Etc.,' of Radio Parties Dear Indi: One good thing about a Radio party is that you are not obliged to spread the eats. About the time eats should come on, the guests are getting up excuses to beat it without offending the host. I've heard 500 people in a metropolitan theater laugh themselves to a frazzle over a silly joke that made my Radio party curl their lips in contempt. Evidently all the hicks are not in the sticks. W. P. B. Condensed By DIELECTRIC So various are the expressions of opinion concerning the proper routine to be followed by announcers that one hesitates to say "Radio audiences prefer so and so," and yet we venture to assert that the great bulk of listeners in desire announcement of the station's call immediately following a number — not three or five minutes later. I doubt criticism is aimed so much at announcers who give their call infrequently, as at those who allow long waits between announcements or numbers on their programs. Let's see who wins the Gold Cup next September. To anyone located where they may hear two-way conversations between airplanes and shore stations an interesting feature of Radiophony is assured. That immense giant dirigible Shenandoah flew over the city of Buffalo, N. Y., where Station WGR is located and the two of them made some pleasing contributions to the matter on the ether. Fort Hancock talked to a ship off the Atlantic coast and seemed pleased to know from the latter that its wave length (close to that of WOR) met with no interference. These sidelights on the "regulars" add to the sport. Where receiving sets — crystal or otherwise — have enabled folks to listen to music as sent out on the air, a taste for good or mediocre compositions has been the result. Some of us already had our taste developed, but others had not been privileged to choose as they had not heard all classes of musical composition. But no effort had been put forth to train elementary pupils in learning to play an instrument before WDAF put into practice its plan whereby listeners may receive instruction in piano playing. This may be hard on your neighbors, but go to it! Some of the Radiocast stations have made enviable reputations among the millions of listeners in as producers of drama, a form of entertainment not easily adapted to the requirements of Radio. During the past winter months at least one station in the east has devoted a great deal of attention to this particular feature and that is WGY. Radarios will be presented this summer from that station, though the WGY Players have concluded their season with a comedy, "Cappy Ricks." The Radario will no doubt improve with use. It is certainly a fixture. When you stop to consider the great advance in Radiocast programs, both as to character and delivery, since we first listened in to speech and music, it seems remarkable to have progressed so far. Yet indications point to our moving ahead still faster in the coming months and approaching nearer and nearer to ideal Radiocast technique. The new General Electric station under way in Denver will have several improvements worthy of notice, among which are duplicate studios to enable artists to follow each other without delay except for announcer's statements, and means of varying the reverberation period. Important items. You may not see so many references to practical application of Radio as once appeared, nevertheless, experiments are constantly in progress to find new avenues in which this medium may be utilized. In quite a number of cities the police departments have accepted the aid of Radio as of great benefit in apprehending criminals and quickly directing the movements of police officers. Birmingham offers another possible practical application of Radiocasting to business enterprise. In this case it contemplates equipping the taxis with receiving sets and the central office with transmitting ability to reach any taxi at any time. Passengers could be entertained while in transit also.