Radio Digest (July 1924-Apr 1925)

February 7 , 1925 RADIO DIGES T— Illustrated PROGRAMS HELP TO AMERICANIZE HERE AND OVERSEAS New Station, on Air by Spring, May Be Heard in America on Sensitive Receivers 25-KILOWAH PLAhi GOING UP IN BRITAIN WILL REPLACE CHELMSFORD ON 1,600 METERS LONDON, England. — The British Broadcasting company has now well under way the construction of its new super power station at Daventry, which is to replace 5XX, Chelmsford. The new station will incorporate a number of interesting features designed to give a maximum output for the 25 kilowatts of power to be radiated. Two masts, 500 feet high and 800 feet apart, are being erected to take a T-type aerial — that is, the lead-in drops from the center of the aerial. A wave length of 1,600 meters, that on which 5XX, Chemsford, is now working, will be used. The new location for the B. B. C.'s super power station is the center of a 100-mile circle for crystal range, which will make it possible to pick up transmissions throughout a thickly populated area, including such large cities as Liverpool, Portsmouth, etc. Moreover, two tube sets will be able to pick up the transmissions anywhere in 'the United Kingdom. The new station should be open in the spring, and will work in the afternoon and evening, providing programs of its RADIO FIRMS INSURE OPERA BROADCASTS UNDERWRITE OPERA COMPANY'S PERFORMANCES First Time in History That No Deficit Has Been Guaranteed Because of Microphone BOSTON. — For the first time in the history of grand opera and the Radio industry, performances of opera broadcast by a Radio station have been underwritten prior to their performance. Radio absolutely guaranteed that the stay of the Chicago Civic Opera company in Boston would not result in a financial loss for its two weeks' visit here. Following the leadership of WNAC, The Shepard Stores broadcasting station, twelve other firms, prominent in the Radio industry of New England, joined in underwriting the deficit the opera company would face if it did not sell practically every seat for every performance during the two weeks' engagement. Four of these performances were to be broadcast by WNAC. "Aida" was heard Harold "Bed" Grange, famous Ail-American halfback with the University of Illinois football team, recently made his ether debut when he broadcast a speech from the Palmer school station, WOC, at Davenport. Many college football enthusiasts are well acquainted with him. January 26, and on the following Friday evening "Carmen" was broadcast. Two other operas were to be broadcast during the second week. "Without a doubt the four Radio-underwritten performances will do much to settle in the minds of theater managers whether theatrical broadcasts in Boston are box office attractions. The firms underwriting the opera company's season here were convinced that the broadcasts will lure people to the opera house to hear subsequent performances in person, and are gambling on this conviction to the extent of thousands of dollars that they will have to put up if it proves otherwise. The result remains to be seen. B. G. Hubbell, President of Federal, Dies in East BUFFALO, N. Y. — Burt Gage Hubbell, president of the Federal Telephone and Telegraph company, manufacturers of Radio and telephone equipment and owners of Station WGR, died here Saturday, January 24, after a comparatively short illness. Born July 6, 1867, Mr. Hubbell made an enviable record as an organizer and business man. At one time he was president of seventy-five independent telephone companies between Syracuse and Buffalo. Direct Tug Boats by Radio NEW YORK. — For the first time in any port, the New York Central recently did the despatching of a tug boat in the harbor by Radio. The" system is devised to replace the present practice of directing the movements by the chief dispatcher of railroad tugs and lighters. Miguel Fleta, Tenor, in Victor Broadcast Third Concert Includes Songs by Lucy Isabella Marsh NEW YORK. — Miguel Fleta, famous young Spanish tenor of the Metropolitan opera; Lucy Isabella Marsh, lyric soprano, and the Flonzaley quartet, none of whom had ever broadcast before, were the attractions offered last Thursday, January 29, on .the third Victor broadcast concert program. The successes of the previous two offerings was repeated in the third. The recital included four numbers by Fleta, "La Donna e Mobile," "II Flor," "Mi Tierra" and "Ay, Ay, Ay." Miss Marsh sang "Ave Maria," "The Swallows," "Within a Mile of Edinboro" and "Beautiful Lady." The Flonzaley quartet played a movement from the Quartet in D, "Music of the Spheres," "Nocturne," by A. Borodin, and "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes." The broadcasting was done as before, with Stations WEAF, WCAP, WJAR, WDBH, WGR, WCAE, WFI and WEEI participating. Entertainers Engaged by Radio LONDON, Ont. — While listening to the broadcasting from Station WBAV, the officials of the Madison County Fish and Game Protective association here decided that the quartet who were on the air would be fine entertainment for their annual dinner. A long distance call to the station "sold" the job to the entertainers. Results of Gold Award Set Contest RESULTS of the Radio Digest Gold Award Set contest, which closed on January 17, will be announced in the issue of Radio Digest dated February 21. Radiophans who have been anxiously awaiting information' concerning the outcome, should not fail to order this issue now from their news dealer, or direct. Many interesting sets have been received. Although none might be called revolutionary by Radio engineers of note, their points of difference from standard construction are unique, and will be greeted with aproval and applause i>y home set builders; own two days weekly, a provincial relayed program on a third day, and relays of London programs for the remainder of the week. It should be heard easily in America on sensitive sets. New Feature on the Air CINCINNATI, Ohio. — Realizing that real humor was needed on the programs, the Crosley Radio station, WLW, arranged with E. D. Leonard of the Cincinnati Post to give a humor review each Saturday night. Mr. Leonard is a former college wit and newspaper columnist. The feature, called the "Lafafone," is a collection of the best two-line jokes received during the week. Youngest Harpist Oeraldine Vito, nine years old, said to he the world's youngest harpist, gave her first Radio concert through Crosley WliW recently. Miss Vito is the daughter of Toseph Vito, solo harpist with the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra, who had a special small harp built for Iter.