Radio Broadcast (Nov 1926-Apr 1927)

RADIO BROADCAST MARCH, 1927 DON BERNARD OF WAIU, COLUMBUS Mr. Bernard is studio director of the station. Beside the duty of devising the radio programs for this station, Mr. Bernard occasionally contributes a tenor solo himself The opportunities for vice are countless. This station might devote itself to luring young girls off the farm, while that one busied itself at undermining the democracy. This one might preach that the world is flat, while that one defiled the ether with an unexpurgated baritone solo of "Frankie and Johnny." This one might broadcast recipes for homebrew, while that one divulged chorus girls' confessions. As was evidenced by the instance of the bootleggers' boat, radio's most convenient way of getting itself mixed up in a scandal would be by means of the coded message. But is this golden opportunity for transgression avoided? Is it! This comment from wgy's manager: The Schenectady station does not encourage the personal message and its management permits the use of our powerful facilities, only when the request for broadcasting is sponsored by the police authorities of the city from which the message comes and after all other agencies have failed. This rule is rigidly adhered to as the only means of protecting the listener from a great many "lost persons'" announcements and of preventing impostors, criminals, publicity seekers, and practical jokers from imposing on the station management and listeners. And this from wjz: We receive numerous such requests daily, all of which we decline as politely as possible for several reasons, wjz's prime motive is to entertain the public. Such messages, while at times they may be humorous to those not vitally interested, are not entertaining. If we accepted any, we would be obliged to accept all, and soon we would be broadcasting nothing else. Another reason for refusing such material is the possibility of unscrupulous persons abusing the latest invention of science and making it an ally of evil rather than of good. If we were not extremely careful, it would be possible, by means of coded messages, for criminals to use the broadcasting stations as a means of communication. Rum-runners, by means of a coded appeal for a lost article, could let accomplices know of the whereabouts of a shipment of contraband, or a master criminal could give last minute instructions to his thugs by means of a prearranged coded appeal for a missing person. With over five years experience in the broadcasting field, we feel that it is much better for the general public that personal messages are not broadcast. JOY BARTHELSON OF KGO Miss Barthelson is a member of the Pilgrims, who are frequently heard from kgo at Oakland, California Now if the stations weren't so darned careful not to be agents of evil, think what a zest would be added to our listening-in. We could all become amateur Sherlock Holmeses. Imagine the pleasure of matching our wits against those of master criminals and the thrill of decoding a message and telephoning it to the proper authorities just in time to prevent the blowing up of the Federal Building! But, seriously, radio has got to shake itself free of its blind conformity to all that is considered accepted and proper in this day and age, or run grave risk of dying of dullness. Without THE KDKA LITTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Many listeners commented favorably on this ensemble in replying to the questionnaire which recently appeared in this department