Radio Digest (Oct 1923-July 1924)

May JO, 192 J, RADIO DIGEST — Illustrated ETHERWAVES CARRY LANGUAGE LESSONS TESTS PRESAGE FOUNDING OF RADIO "U" Listeners Hear Professor's Questions, Student's Answers and Teacher's Correction CINCINNATI. — Crosley Station WLW has just completed an experiment which presages the foundation of a Radio university of languages. The unique enterprise is to have the assistance and cooperation of several members of the faculty of the Cincinnati university. In conducting the experiments the instructor occupied a position at the microphone in the studio with pupils assembled in a class room in a remote part of the building, which was equipped for two-way communications by means of a telephone line connecting the class room and the studio. This arrangement not only permitted questioning by the instructor and answering by members of the class but all listeners were able to hear both sides of the lesson, a microphone having been placed in position along side the telephone in the class room. Regular Class in Spanish May 12 For the first lesson the instructor gave the class five Spanish words with their English equivalents, requesting that these be written by the students, after which one of the students was asked to pronounce the words over the telephone. Such mistakes as were made were then corrected by the instructor, who then gave simple English sentences to be translated into Spanish, the same procedure as in the use of the words being followed. The lesson lasted fifteen minutes. Soon after it had ended scores of telephone calls indicated an immediate interest, many requests being made that a regular course be followed. As a result a Radio class in Spanish will be inaugurated on Monday, May 12, continuing daily for two weeks from 12:45 to 1:00 p. m. central time. Students Call Mack on Phone Under the proposed plan as worked out by Fred Smith, whose idea it was. there will be two classes — one in the studio with the instructor and one assembled in the class room — in addition to such individual outsiders as may desire to pursue the studies of the course. The latter will by no means be slighted. When the point of quizzing has been reached in each lesson the instructor will broadcast a request that certain of the outside students, all of whom previously will have been registered, card-indexed etc., call him on the telephone immediately for personal questioning. While waiting for such calls the instructor will fill in the time either lecturing before the "Mike" or quizzing members of the visible class. It is believed that the initial Spanish course will . open vast educational possibilities for Radio and that it eventually will lead to the establishment of a complete university, limited only by such subjects as require special visual demonstrations. Even the latter may come soon, with the adoption of the Frances Jenkins Radio photo transmitter. COUPLE, 64 AND 62, MARRIED AT WOC MOLINE, ILL.— Onesimua Stoker, 64 years old, of Davenport, Iowa, and Mrs. M. J. Mulone, aged 62, of Cleveland, were married in the studio of Station WOC here recently by the Rev. J. S. Neal of East Molin'e and the ceremony was broadcast. The couple heard Reverend Neal's Christmas sermon by Radio and insisted that he marry them and that the ceremony be broadcast. SACRIFICES 'STATIC DOPE' IN COPS' RAID MNNEAPOLIS. — Robert Stewart of this city testified that the pitcher he smashed when prohibition agents recently raided his room, contained nothing but "rank poison," and not alcohol, which he was using in some experiments on an invention to rid the ether of static. He did not want to give away the secret of his invention, he said, hence the smashed pitcher. CLAIMS BROADCASTS HURTS VAUDEVILLE KEITH CHIEF BARS HIS STARS FROM AIR John J. Murdock, However, Fails to Explain Success of Other Circuits in Radio I MOTHER TUNES IN MOTHERS' DAY \ Just an old • fashioned mother, the best and truest friend anyone ever had, thinking of someone who is miles away, and imagining that she hears their voice. Mrs. Louis Gowdy, 88 years old, of Minneapolis, Minn., listens in the new way, hoping and praying on the day of days, "Mothers' Day." O. J. Hibbard Photo SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT CAPITOL THEATER New Organization Will be Part of Weekly Concert NEW YORK. — The Capitol Theater broadcasting orchestra which gave its first performance on the program broadcast by S. L. Rothafel last week, has brought such a response from Radiophans that it has been decided to make the new organization a regular part of the weekly concert. The new orchestra, which consists of twenty men, was recruited from the solo players of the Capitol Grand Orchestra. It is the only organization of its kind on the air, comprising as it does, every type of instrument used in the regulation symphony orchestra. There is a wealth of musical literature which this orchestra can draw upon for its programs, including salon music, French music, light operettas, semi-classic music as well as special arrangements of many types of composition. Reo Automobile Company to Open Broadcast Stations DETROIT. — The Reo Motor Car company at Lansing, Mich., it is announced, has arranged for the installation of a broadcasting station. Entertainments will be broadcast, and the station may also be used as a medium for advertising, it is reported. Employ Trouble Shooter. Mayor Tells Listeners Would Study Complaints to Locate Interference — Officials Aid COLUMBUS, O.— Mayor J. J. Thomas' Radio, committee, organized to work for better Radio conditions in Columbus, has made an appeal to listeners for funds to employ an electrician and establish a clearing house for complaints. The purpose is to learn the general source of interference by a study of the complaints made by listeners and then send out an electrician to discover the NEW YORK. — Radio and vaudeville clashed again here recently with the reMult that the B. F. Keith circuit, controlling most of what is known as "lag time" vaudeville, is including in its tracts a clause which prohibits its performers from broadcasting. John J. Murdock, general manager of the Keith circuit and former president of the Vaudeville Managers Protective Association, claims. "Our investigation has shown that the interests of Radio and vaudeville are opposed in practically all cases. We found that advern gained by broadcasting does not o •the loss of patronage." Mr. Murdock did not explain why Marcus Loew continues to find broadcasting through WHN an excellent medium advertising his acts at Loew's State theater here and keeping his house filled. Capitol Theater Broadcasts Profitable Neither did Mr. Murdock refute the that the Capitol theater, a motion picpalace with variety acts interspersed • the picture, had found its broadcasting from WEAF every Sunday night a most profitable means of advertising. Mr. Murdock is known to have gi his support and position to aiding American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in its divers methods of attempting to control the music situation. Confidential letters have been uncovered proving this connection. APPROPRIA TION BILL SKIMPS RADIO COPS Secretary Hoover Succeeds in Effort to Have Amount Increased WASHINGTON', D. C— The House of Representatives has passed the appropriation bill for the Department of Commerce but no one on the floor undertook to get an additional appropriation for the administration of the Radio law. As the bill passed it carried an appropriation of but $158,788 for the adi istration of Radio. This is only £more than the appropriation of last year and is approximately $20,000 less than recommended by the bureau of the bud The Senate committee on appropria: however, has reported out the appropriation bill and allowed the Radio section $180,278. This is the amount originally recommended by the budget bureau. Secretary of Commerce Hoover appearing before Senate committee asked that it be r: $21,500 to $1S0,278. The additional amount will be allowed by the Senate in passing the bill, it is bedieved. Broadcast Unites Sister and Brother at Deathbed MINNEAPOLIS. — Brother anl s were united at the deathbed of the sister at Quilcene, Wash., through the aof Twin City Radio Central, WLAG, Minneapolis and St. Paul, when Peter Campbell was located after a long absence from La Crosse, Wis. WLAG received a notice to broadcast for Mr. Campbell. The broadcast was received by Mr. Campbell's daughter and delivered to him ten minutes after the broadcast was made. exact point where the trouble is located. Officials of the municipal and Rail-Light company lighting plants have indicated they would co-operate by eliminating any grounds or other defects pointed out by tlie electrician. Approximately $500 has been subscribed to the fund so far. THE ANTENNA BROTHERS Spir L. and Lew P. Part I— A Squawk from the Speaker