Radio Digest (Oct 1923-July 1924)

I February 9, 192 7/ RADIO DIGEST — Illustrated "HELP!" CRIES FAN TO "PAPA" HOOVER TEMPER SHATTERED BY DAMPHOOL SPARKS "I've Helped Russia," He Writes, "And Now I want Relief Myself" WASHINGTON.— Complaints relating: to Radio interference are received daily by Secretary of Commerce Hoover, who has become a sort of "fosterfather" of the Art, now regulated under the 1912 law by his bureau of navigation. A recent and unique communication from a fan located on the Florida peninsula, where ship traffic is heard almost constantly, has caused amusement in high official circles. The letter, which follows, voices a pathetic appeal from an apostle of Hooverism and demonstrates the need for definite regulatory laws: "My dear Sir: "Help! ! ! ! "When you called upon me to conserve, I conserved. When you asked me to sweeten my food with the milk of human kindness, I got indigestion using Florida cane syrup in my coffee. When you asked me to come a'cross, I stepped on the gas. When you asked for help for the Near East, I went the limit. When you asked for help for Russia, I sent over a few safety razors and barber shears. Now He Wants Relief "I have been for you in your every endeavor. I have Hooverized until I didn't know 'hooves-who.' "Now I want RELIEF. "I have $700 invested in a Radio set. It functions perfectly but every program is deadened or the fine passages lost by the damnable interference. "And this not for one night but every night for a year back, and from any, time in the day until I quit in disgust. "Night after night I try until my patience is exhausted to get decent reception and, may be for a minute, sometimes two minutes, a song or music comes in as clear as a bell, and then some deep throated spark begins to shatter the atmosphere. Then the amplifier takes it up and another station is lost. Some damphool is playing with the keys of his transmitter — or telling some buddy or some other rumrunner that he has a date when on shore with some calico. Florida Worse Th.au Dante's Inferno "There must be some relief. Were there periods of ten minutes even when one could listen in to lectures, songs or music without interference I would have no complaint. But it is incessant. "Dante's Inferno can be no worse than the noises that come to us here in the peninsula of Florida. In relief work, in drives, in everything, you have accomplished the seemingly impossible — let us have relief." Mr. Hoover's answer to the Florida fan has not been made known, but it is understood that he realizes keenly the need for more authority to regulate Radio, both ashore and afloat, even though the voluntary agreement laid down by past Radio conferences has greatly modified the interference. Legislation defining his duties and setting forth rules and regulations as to amateur, commercial, private and other forms of Radio communication is urgently desired by the secretary, as well as additional appropriations and personnel for better and more frequent inspection of stations causing interference. Wendell Hall Sings His "Blue" Songs for WEAF NEW YORK.— "Blues," not of the sulphurous nor of the lugubrious kind, featured the recent programs of Station WEAF, American Telephone and Telegraph, this city. They were the sapphire songs of Wendell Hall who, through Station KYW, Westinghouse, Chicago, has won fame. While in this city Hall arranged with a leading phonograph company to make four "blue" records. SHOWS RADIO VALUE IN RESCUING MINERS HAZELTON, PA.— Opposition to the theory that Radio could be utilized In mine-rescue work was upset in a sense near here recently when John Fritz of Audenried, who had installed a set in an anthracite mine 200 feet from the surface, afterward reported that he had heard almost every broadcasting station ordinarily heard above ground. BLIND YOUTH LEARNS MUSIC BY AIRWAVE ELK CITY, KAS.— A blind must* wrote to Station W) York City: "Radio helps me lean and keep pace with popular songs." The lad asked WEAF to help him find a Job at the piano or drum in theater, cafe or dance hall. The station said it would forward such information to the lad. FOLLIES QUEEN LOVES HER RADIO Merry Ann Pennington, of Ziegfeld Follies fame, is ever happy with her Radio set, but here the camera man has caught her with a particularly pleased expression, and even if she has been "left out in the cold," as the furs seem to indicate, she evidently harbors no grudge against this old world of ours. Foto Topics Photo BAND REHEARSES AT KHJ TO HONOR SOUSA Famed Musician and His Men Also in Concert LOS ANGELES. — That there is something new under the sun was revealed throughout a great part of Radioland recently, when Hiner's Los Angeles Band was presented in a Radio rehearsal over Station KHJ, the Los Angeles Times, as a tribute to Lieut. Com. John P. Sousa, and his band of 100 musicians, who were the guests of Los Angeles. It was the desire of Dr. E. M. Hiner in presenting his concert four days earlier to inspire the listeners in of Radioland to a desire for "better" music. Fifty musicians of the band produced beautiful music which, with the aid of the transmitter of KHJ, was able to fill the great auditorium of ether. Under the guidance of Dr. Hiner, the band was directed through two hours of difficult compositions, each of which was interspersed with one of Sousa's stirring marches. Always keep the plate and grid leads far apart. If they must be run close, have them run at right angles to each other. This will reduce howling. KANSAS CITY OPEN: ITS PURSE STRING CONTRIBUTE TO BUY SETS FOR CITY'S INVALIDS Mayor Gives His Sanction and Check — Merchants Join Movement KANSAS CITY, MO.— Had JeanWurmser, 16 yrars old, bi out and play like normal be lo sets for the several such invalid children here. Jean has been an invalid since birth, paralyzed in both legs. He never told anyone except his mother about his desire for a set to lift I i that is sarily the lot of one who must always remain within the confines of his urmser had found such dify in keeping up the home and in supporting herself and two rhildren that she could never quite enough from her $12 a week to purchase even the simplest receiving set for Jean. Money Saved for Bet Needed for Coal At one time this winter she did have four dollars put away toward the set, saving a nickel or dime at a time, but then it turned unusually cold and staved cold so long she was forced to use the reserve to purchase coal. The little mother was faithful — she didn't complain. It was just a chance bit of conversation that caused her to reveal to a friend that the severe weather had beat Jean out of the r~',;" set he had been looking forward to for so wS*. But that was sufficient. The friend passed the word along and that same day a movement was organized to provide sets not only for the Wurmser boy, but for every other invalid in the city. Many merchants, catching the spirit of the movement, offered to accept contributions from the public which each day would be turned in to the fund headquarters. Movement Takes City by Storm Two days after the birth of the movement four crystal sets and an extra pair of phones had been contributed in addition to the pecuniary gifts. Magnetically the spirit spread. Everyone seemed to be eager to assist in providing pleasure for the city's unfortunates. Certain Radio dealers agreed to furnish sets at cost, volunteers offered to install aerials and other outside wiring without remuneration and the contributions have shown no indication of ceasing to pour in. Mayor W. W. Gordon has given the movement his indorsement and a check. Other city officials were among the first to contribute, children brought their pennies, business men usually made the offering one dollar. Kansas City, long noted for its generosity to the needy, again had responded to call. SWEETER VOICES ARE BROADCAST RESULT New Vocal Technique Developed Says Music Leader MINNEAPOLIS. — Radio is developing an entirely new type of vocal artists with voices surpassing in sweetness and technique those of concert and theatrical stage stars, it is declared by Miss Eleanor Poehler, music educational leader of the Northwest, one of the few women executive directors in complete charge of a large Radio broadcasting station. Miss Poehler, as director of the Cutting and Washington Radio corporation's station, WLAG, popularly known as the Twin City (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.) Radio central, has for some time been experimenting with these "Radic voices" and developing them. "This extraordinary invention — Radiois opening a field that is epochal for new artists and giving the public the benefit," said Miss Poehler. Before taking charge of Station WLAG. Miss Poehler was prominent in western musical circles as a soprano soloist. THE ANTENNA BROTHERS Spir L. and Lew P. A Broadcast from China