Radio Digest (Apr 1925-Jan 1926)

\fi RADIO DIGES T— Illustrated June 13, 1925 Radio Digest Published by the Radio Digest Publishing Compamy, Inc. 510 North Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois Telephones: State 4372, 4373, 4374, 4375 E. C. RAYNER, Publisher Eastern Office, Fark-I,exington Building-. 247 Park Ave., New Yori. Telephones: Ashland 8144, 8145, 8146 [ember of the Audit Bureau of Circulations 241 PUBLISHED WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION BATES Yearly In U. S. and Possessions and Canada, $5.00 Foreign postage, $1.00 additional Single copies, 10 cents. vol. zm Saturday, Jnne 13, 1925 No. 10 "Clearing Up the Air" "E^DITORIAL writers of the daily newspapers are *-J usually considered to be mirrors of public opinion. As such it gives this publication great pleasure to know that the editorial columns of many dailies are now aiding the Radio Digest fight for less broadcast congestion and a logical plan for the regulation of the field. Comes a clipping from the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise of a recent editorial under the heading, "Clearing up the Air." The writer has made a careful analysis of the situation, so careful in fact that we are glad to reprint the editorial in full. It follows : "Radio Digest, one of the leading papers devoted to Radio interests, is endeavoring to secure a consensus that will enable Secretary Hoover and congress to formulate a plan whereby the fullest use of the air can be obtained by Radio broadcasters. The air is now so congested with broadcasting that it is well nigh impossible to get any program with any satisfaction. And the rapid increase in broadcasting stations holds out a threat of even worse conditions unless something is done. "S. M. Kintner, a research engineer, has proposed a plan which has the approval of the Radio Digest and deserves the careful consideration of all who are interested in Radio. Basicly, Mr. Kintner proposes that stations shall be divided into four classes. Class I will be the superstations; class II is for 500-watt stations ; class III is for 100-watt stations. New stations would start in class IV and be promoted to the higher classes as they prove their worth and as vacancies occur. "This plan commends itself in that it goes to the fundamentals of broadcasting. Promotions should be based upon merit and by a similar process of reason demotions should be brought about on the same basis. It is ridiculous for a station with an inferior program to hold the air against a station with a fine and interesting program. Under our present system or the lack of a system anyone with the money to provide a station could go on the air every night and beat a tin pan for a couple of hours to the exclusion of another station with a program of fine artists. There are stations in the air every night for two and three hours that should be restricted to two or three nights a week and then restricted further to half the time each evening. "Radio traffic in the air is not unlike vehicular traffic on the highways. We would not long permit an oxcart to drag its way through a heavily congested street. We would not permit rowdies to break up an operatic performance. Why should we tolerate a broadcasting station that night after night monopolizes a valuable wave band to broadcast a wholly inferior program to the exclusion of a fine orchestra or a group of fine artists whom everybody wants to hear? "We fancy that the ultimate regulation of the air will be to require the utmost economy in broadcasting useless noises, to require announcers to consume as little time as possible and program managers to offer something of real worth or else take a place where they cannot interfere with another station that can and will do all those things. Of course, that will call for a wide margin of discretion because people's tastes vary and we by no means intend to say that there should be discrimination as to decrees of excellence, but there is a line where all will agree entertainment ends and annoyance begins. There are many announcers in the United States who consume fully fifty per cent of the time with words that mean nothing and who by reason of ignorance and lack of culture do not know how to say a thing in the fewest words. We may not restrict them as to what they say, but we certainly could require them to exercise economy in ds and say what they mean as quickly as possible." [n 1 he last analysis the fan is the one who must be taken into consideration. Without him the broadcast itation is useless. He makes Radio. For this <-. must listen and try to do the things he The station men must keep in the background and try only to please the Radio customer just as any other sound business must. 'Gawd, how that man could tnne in!" THE SHOOTING OF SINGLE TUBE McGREW IT SEEMS that a bunch of drug store cowboys were whooping it up in the Marmaduke Soft Drink Parlors when in walks a guy pretty well snozzled and orders a round of Eskimo Pies. Seeing as that was free, even One Tube McGrew took one. Then the guy sees the barkeep's Radio set on the piano and up he goes and clutches the dials with talon hands like as if a few more installments was due and the sheriff at the door. My Gawd, how that man could tune in ! Ya see it was an awful clear night and fifty /WV^ below outside and at mospheric conditions just right for reception. Well, sir, he tuned in about everything — lecture on how to succeed in bookkeeping, zither duets, musical selections, it ain't goin' to rain no more, bedtime stories, out where the vest begins, Mrs. Schlagenhauer tunes out (we hope), beautiful isle of somewhere, has anybody here seen Kelly, after the storm, how d'ye do WLS how are you, At-lan-ta Gaw-gah, and now it's time for the World Crier, the Baldwin Grand, Rainbo Baking Powder station, time signals from the Naval Conservatory, it is now five thirtynine, good night kiddies and don't let the little bugs bite, he is wanted for bootlegging and drives a Ford, this is our regular Lord's Day service, costs better worth less, Duncan Sisters and a song of a woman's love and true as the heaven is true (that one faded out, he couldn't keep it tuned in). Next he got some rough jazz and it got louder and louder and everybody was feeling pretty gay when he pulled the plug and the music stopped with a crash. Well, sir, old Dan couldn't just hold it any longer so he pipes up, "Shucks, tain't nothin', I can tune in Delhi, India, on the loud speaker with my little old single circuit, one tube set." Naturally this called for blood and the bird says, "one of you lies like H-e-111 and that one is Single Tube McGrew." Out goes the light — two shots— lights — two guys dead and the Lady known as Gloo all over them. They called her Gloo because she always stuck around. Well, sir, Officer Widlock claims the guy was lickered up with aldehyde and was no good anyhow he coming from Chicago, but the barkeep is wondering to this day who pinched the eight tubes out of his set when the lights were out. Convulsing, isn't it? Hoping you are the same, THE THIRD TROMBONE PLAYER. 'Who pinched the 8 tubes — " We were informed by the TROMBONE PLATER this week in a letter that the Milwaukee Daily Beverage had installed a new plant and new bulletins would be forthcoming next week. The bulletins give a startling insight into the private life of the Milwaukee brewery worker and his relation to Radio. The Error St. Peter sat at the Gate on day, Directing world folk . their proper way. His Angel's book, with its perfect tale Of winners' deeds, and of those who fail, Lay open before him. "With down-bent gaze He studied the list of men's strange ways. Suddenly, then, unannounced, is seen, A stranger's form. — handsome; of manly mien. St. Peter, scanning his new guest's page, Found him enrolled as good, kind and sage. His deeds of mercy and charity, too, Were "writ large." Demerits were few. St. Peter's face wreathed in a kindly smile, And he seemed about to turn the stile. He said: "You've always been a brother To those in need. I find no other Whose record is nobler as to deeds Of worthy type. Well your story reads. "But pause! Not yet for you the streets of gold — Alas! A deadly stain I here behold. You announced, T find, in QXZ, A station, well known and of high degree. Yet how often have you called its name In a program, and enhanced its fame?" ' Shame-stricken, the stranger hung his head. Then: "Just once a night," he humbly said. Dark frowns o'erspread good St. Peter's face; Banished the smiles — left not e'en a trace. "Your sin," quoth he, "is too great to tell; Turn to the left — that's the road to Hell!" J. E. R. Be that as it may, the habit of not calling station letters frequently enough is not a common sin. Not at all. We wot of several stations where they do little else than that. News of the Week WORSE.! WORSE WHY D0NT THEY STOP IT? Condensed By DIELECTRIC On a jaunt down to the old city of New Orleans, the other evening, our tuning was just in time to hear the beginning of a concert from the Liberty theater, through Station WSMB. This is destined to become one of the popular stations of the country. I say "to become" for the reason that parts of the United States cannot easily hear its programs during the summer months, but just wait until next fall and see how many fans include it in their search for entertainment. WEAR, at Cleveland, included a feature on one of their programs which is seldom heard these days. Of all instruments the zither has fallen farthest behind in popular appeal of late. That this is so should cause regret, for there is in its musical quality a distinct attraction. From WEAR we who listened heard a zither quartet play with musical feeling and an understanding of the limitations of the instrument. Have you heard the Newcastle orchestra from the studio of KDKA? There are differences among good orchestras of precision, attack, tonal beauty, which add interest to listening to more than one. This organization is not to be classed as unusual though it deserves a hearing. In addition, I wish to call attention to the splendid playing of an old folk song rendered by Mr. Paten, as a cello number. We are not, for some reason, having so many firstclass stringed quartets broadcasting as would be acceptable. There is a large majority of listeners who would appreciate such music and expect it of their favorite stations. WSAI, Cincinnati, presented a good stringed quartet in a program of attractive selections. Urge them to repeat. And still we have the advertising stations multiplying, as witness WEEI, the "friendly voice of Boston." Now, music with your meals has a popular appeal; jokes and joyful candies remind one of April 1 ; delightful motoring through Florida (accompanied with music) directs a kindly thought to your Ford ; but why should an orchestra paint the picture of a Gillette Safety First, when the crash of the kettle drum would misdirect your aim around the fruit belt ! We thank WEEI for the operatic selections the Gillette Safety Razor musicians gave us. Another visit was made to the city of brotherly love to see what inspiration the statue of William Penn had aroused. WOO, the Wanamaker station, was very active in broadcasting a concert of mixed appeal, at the particular time presenting a chorus singing "Deep River." They are to be complimented on their choral work and especially the singing of this effective number composed by Burleigh. Station WTAM, the Willard battery station at Cleveland, generally has programs of merit, at least some of their features are above the average. This was so on the evening that the Odeon quartet entertained, a quartet I take pleasure in recommending to all listeners. WHO, at Des Moines, presented an excellent concert not long ago in which an orchestra played the leading role, with music not too heavy for easy assimilation nor yet too light to be unsatisfying. It is difficult to strike a happy medium in choosing program numbers where one's audience is so cosmopolitan as that of the air.