Radio Digest (Apr 1925-Jan 1926)

16 RADIO DIGES T— Illustrated April IS, 1925 ~' Radio Digest Published by the Eadio Digest Publishing Compaay, Inc. 510 North Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois Telephones: State 4372, 4373, 4374, 4375 E. C. RAYNER, Publisher Eastern Office, Park-Lexington Building:. 247 Park Ave. New York. Telephones: Ashland 8144, 8145, 8146 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations PUBLISHED WEEKLT SUBSCRIPTION RATES Yearly in U. S. and Possessions and Canada. $5.00 Foreign postage, »1.00 additional Single coplea. 10 cents. Vol. XIII Saturday, April 18, 1925 No. 2 Four Time Districts EVIDENTLY everybody tries to talk at once and it is time for the chairman to bring down his gavel heavily and call the house to order, then designate who lias the floor for the time being. This sounds feasible! Perhaps a few suggestions would not be out of order. On this continent we have four changes of time, one hour each. Suppose rules be set that all stations in Eastern time begin to broadcast their programs at 8 o"clock and stop at 10 o'clock Central tune, the same hours, and so on. This would give an hour's difference from each time change. Those in Central. Rocky Mountain and Pacific time would have an hour to listen on eastern stations without interference. Those in Eastern and Pacific time would have an hour at the end for Central and Rocky mountain station reception, and so on. These hours will always be the best. Then most people will be listening in at their sets. Daylight hours and after 2 a. m. Eastern time, any broadcaster could have full swing to satisfy the all-night hound and "getting through" operator. Such an arrangement would necessarily have to be worked out by the government and strict rules applied and enforced. Mutual cooperation is good as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. Audience of the Church MUCH of the objection to broadcasting church services are identical with those of the theater, and is only a speculation, not justification by sound conclusions. Radio is growing in popularity and usefulness and the church as well as the theater must fit themselves to the new mode of dissemination. Radio is not a plaything. It has invaded the homes of the nation and has brought cheer to many who are far removed from churches and the theater. It is quite evident that Radio is keeping countless people at home. It is bringing delight to the shut-ins and to those in isolated places. It has stimulated scientific research, setting the grey matter of thousands of people to work along lines that never before appealed to the masses, and instead of being a detriment to the church or theater it is working in conjunction with the best there is in them for the good of humanity, and the time will come when Radio will be counted among the greatest of blessings that science has bestowed upon mankind. If it keeps a certain few away from church it brings the influence of that institution to thousands who have not made a practice of going to church. If dissension and difference of creed separate people and classes these differences are being bridged by the Radio, whereby those of different faiths may get the viewpoint of others, and while there may be a few more empty pews the audience will be very much larger. Miracles of Radio SOME people call Radio a miracle. The ones who know most about Radio arc expecting most from it. While scientists agree that it is still in its infancy most of us would like to know when it is to have its youth. We know little of the miracles that are enacted before us every day. We may find that we have known such a little about Radio at this time that it will make us feel foolish in the years to come. Even at that we doubt that any one person will be able to fathom the entirety of this .science and will be able 11 us exactly in terms understandable just what hen the voice is presumedly traveling through the air. "Let's Do It Again" AFTER rci eiving a stack of mail in which the |j tei ed their appreciation, Francis Mac Millcn famous American violinist, said, "Let's Do It Again.'' It stands to reason that MacMillen has gained a listening audience that will respond readily whenever the chance conies to hear and sec him in on. He has created a ticket buying public for future recitals wherever he may appear. Tom-Tom's Sounded in Walla Walla WALLA WALLA. — (via Radio.) — Long before daybreak this morning, the villagers in this town were awakened by the rythmic throbbing of the tom-toms in the hills. Messengers dispatched into the bush to find the cause of the drumming, reported that the hostile tribe on the opposite side of the island were holding a big pow-pow to raise funds for a broadcasting station. This will tend to show our readers some of the obstacles and obstructions that have been put in the path of Indi Hisself, to prevent the opening of Station BLAH. If physical force Is necessary to subdue the opposition, Chief Kokomo, that brave and dauntless leader of the Walla Walla tribe, will endeavor to carve his Initials into the hides of some of the enemy. That is a favorite pastime of the chiefs. He's so playful! A message has been received by the XT. S. Steal Corp., to the effect that they will supply antenna towers if they are given free publicity from the station. Positively NOT! This station will not accept bribes — or brides — for such a thing. However, if we like you, you can get anything that you want for nothing — it will be worth just that. Staggering evidence (not liquid) that the opening of Station BLAH, with their super-bum equipment will take place next week, has been reported. Shaka Little (we printed her picture last week) will be on the opening program, as will her cousin Dua Hula, also an oscillatory dancer, from the opposite end of the island. Be sure to get your next week's copy of Radio IndiGest, to follow the programs from this station. The Pipes of Pan (Brought Up-to-Date) I hear the Pipes of Pan in tune The better 'neath a silvery moon — Unless it's o'er a Radio That belongs to a maid I know. Together on her couch we sit And hear the Pipes of Pan o'er IT. The couch springs form an aerial That seem to answer fairly well! GEO. A. WRIGHT. Lodge's Prayerful Cat Annihilated De-ah Indi: Sir Oliver Lodge, this country's foremost living Radio scientist, says that "to the cat mewing at the door it may be a miracle in answer to prayer when it is let out." This is both to underestimate the cat's intelligence and to seek fantastic reasons for simple phenomena. If there is no one about the cat will not mew at the door. If there is anyone about it will not only mew — it will look most appealingly at the person who, it has intelligence to know, can open the door; and some extra intelligent cats can open doors for themselves — and they don't waste time in mewing. No, I don't think Sir Oliver has studied cats as well as he has done Radio! LUN DUN KAT. It's Always the Way I use a lot of gump and guff When next door neighbor does his stuff, He's but a diamond in the ruff, I bluff. I tell myself he doesn't mean By squeal and squawk to vent his spleen, His virtue's fat, his faults are lean, I wean. But Oh my Lord! When I want peace, He's ALWAYS reaching out for Greece, Or demonstrating for his niece — "Soo loud lak dees." I try, I say, I try but yet, I bet some day, I bet, I bet I get a super hetro-het, And then Oh Lord! I'll vaccinate that neighbor's air, I'll make her rear n' rave n' tear, I'll make him clown and tear his hair, For fair. Oh yes, T try, I say, I try. To sec the virtue in his eye, But, God forgive, I couldn't cry, if he should die! W. RUSSKLL LEWIS. It Paid for the Privilege Dear Indi: — When the electricity failed at Maidstone, lOng., recently and the post office carried on by candle light, a clerk in the semi-darkness accidentally issued a dog license in lieu of a Radio license. Ever since, they say, the applicant's set has been howling con tinuously. A. C. B Give Him Laws and Funds Al-GROWN. Condensed By DIELECTRIC I have found out what I dislike about KFI. With superfine equipment and very wonderful programs the whole effect is spoiled by what I would term poor announcing. Instead of announcing the title of a selection and the person who will sing or play it the announcers at the Anthony station invariably go on and throw in a few complimentary remarks about the artist. This no doubt sounds very nice to the artist but it does not help he or she to "go over" with the audience as this sort of bouquet throwing leaves a bad taste and really makes it harder for the artist. More sales resistance the psychologist would say'. A number of announcers around the country cleverly pay tribute to an artist's offerings after the selections have been played and KFI should fall in line. It is better. Our old friend at Jefferson City, Mo., Station WOS, saw to it recently that piano selections from among the classics and played by competent musicians should continue a part of their programs. It is unnecessary to single out any one, in preference to any other, composition for laudation but if it were done, then the Chopin nocturne would surely receive special mention. Such playing aids broadcasting. I had my watch before me and pencil and pad ready to note the call letters and time between announcements of them — when I was called away from the set and missed a golden opportunity to present a culprit to you. For exactly forty-three minutes I listened to a program with no chance to identify the sending station. It was a low meter station and I'm going back to get 'em. Maybe they're not worth it. Let's see! While the programs prepared and transmitted from Station WMH, Cincinnati, are not exceptional to any degree they do meet the level of ordinary requirements and undoubtedly provide pleasure for large numbers of Radio listeners. Happening in on one of many calls I listened to "Rose Marie" and as the orchestra finished remarked the freshness of its presentation, differing in that respect from other renditions of it. One of the dependable stations for instrumental entertainment is WTAM, Cleveland, Ohio. There you may go most any time to listen to either dance music or more serious material. If the Statler concert orchestra is on the program you may well be assured of being pleased. Your reception of the station should be beyond criticism, in so far as the broadcasting is concerned, for this is a battery transmitter. Other features besides the Marine band are broadcast from WCAP, Washington, D. C. Quite a pretentious program was prepared for the Radio audience of this capitol station when the Catholic university glee club sang into Mike, with the possibility of many thousands of listeners noting the quality of the tenor choir. Barber shop quartets are no more enjoyable when heard by Radio than from otherwise quiet and deserted streets. Some there be on the air at times. Tune them out, for there are provided good quartets such as that male quartet entertaining through Station WSAI, Cincinnati. Ensemble, tone coloring and regard for the meaning of songs cause these organizations to stand out above their fellows. Let me remark again that mediocrity in entertainment is rapidly losing caste in Radio circles.