Radio age (Jan-Dec 1924)

24 RADIO AGE for May, 1Q24 The Magazine of the Hour HOW THEY MAKE IT REAL In order to make radio plays more realistic and give the necessary atmosphere the above pictured bell board containing door, telephone, clock alarm and tap bells and also buzzer, all connected to batteries and operated by the pressure of buttons, are all used to produce sound atmosphere in radio drama. Photo shows Edward H. Smith, director of WGY radio station players with apparatus. letters or post cards be forwarded to Washington in an effort to sway the senators against the taxation view. Almost countless thousands of messages went to Washington as a result. The Congress and the American public are fast awakening to the realization that radio wields a power in reaching the people that no other agency can approach. Spanish Programs Programs in Spanish to better entertain the thousands of Central and South Americans and the people of Mexico who nightly obtain their entertainment from KDKA, will be transmitted at intervals from the world's pioneer station operated by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company at East Pittsburgh. Pa. New Chicago Station During the month just passed several new stations were opened. One of these was WES, operated in Chicago by the Sears-Roebuck Agricultural Foundation. The station operates on a wave-length of 345 meters. It is proposed to make the programs from this station of special interest to farmers and one of the first things decided upon in establishing the new center of entertainment and instruction was that all its program features were to be of the highest class. Edgar L. Bill is director. The Chicago Herald and Examiner is cooperating with the Agricultural Foundation in the production of quality programs. WJAZ, Chicago, changed its name to WGN and its wave length to 370. The Chicago Tribune made an arrangement with the Zenith-Edgewater Beach Hotel interests whereby it assumes control of programs. The Edgewater Beach Hotel station now has a wave length only ten points above that of WDAP, the Chicago Board of Trade Station. The result of this proximity has caused Chicago fans some grief and it is believed that WDAP's wave length will soon be changed. Radio Helps Theater It was announced by the Studebaker Theater, Chicago, on April 5th, that the broadcasting of the play "Abie's Irish Rose" had brought the sales of seats for that performance to such sudden activity that extra help had to be employed to handle the advance business. Many hundreds of men and women who had heard all or part of the farce over the radio and had heard the gales of laughter with which the play was greeted by the audience in the theater, went to the theater in person, telegraphed or wrote, demanding tickets. The management of the playhouse said the rush of business was something unprecedented and that it was due entirely to the broadcasting of the piece. In view of the fact that there has been some dispute as to whether the broadcasting of opera, musical numbers and plays helps or hinders box office and counter sales, the incident is interesting. French For Children As part of the children's hour program beginning at 6:30 every Friday evening, WGY, the Schenectady, N. Y., broadcasting station is offering children's stories in French by Aime Le Blanc. Mr. Le Blanc is a direct descendant of Daniel Le Blanc, who settled in Acadia (Nova Scotia) in 1650 and whose family story is immortalized by Longfellow in the poem "Evangeline." The introduction of Mr. Le Blanc on the children's program a few weeks ago brought congratulatory telegrams, telephone calls and a great many letters to WGY. Many of them were from French people and others from those who are studying French and who found the stories excellent instruction. French-Canadians were particularly enthusiastic with the new children's feature. New Providence Station George Spink, local playwright and theatrical producer, will be entertainment director of WKAP, new broadcasting station in Providence, R. I., which will be opened in the Narragansett boulevard home of Dutee Wilcox Flint. Concerts will be broadcast twice a week. Both classical and popular compositions will be played on Mr. Flint's $2,200 pipe organ, which will be used not only for solo work but will also be made the basis of the orchestra music on Wednesday and Sunday nights.