Radio Broadcast (Nov 1926-Apr 1927)

What Many Listeners Think About Broadcasting HEREWITH some of your own opinions, listeners, as culled from supplementary notes accompanying the questionnaire replies, together with diverse comments by ourself: Lincoln, Nebraska. Sir: Ah! Another questionnaire! I hasten to answer. [Here some bouquets which we blushingly delete. Ed.]. Now as to the questions. You need not apologize for that first one. I am a traveling man and 1 have been entertained in at least 200 private homes this year. I can not remember a single place in the bunch where the broadcasts were listened to as one would in a show. Even the prayers in the church services were interrupted with bright remarks, and other irresponsible and extraneous material. If I were sure Carl Dreher would get a peek at it I should call it "static", but it wasn't. I'll bet a quart of "snake juice" that there would not be so many church services broadcast if the parsons could sit around the garage stove with some of their audience. You will have to get some more work in on that "kiddies" nuisance. Note the enclosed clipping from the Literary Digest. The clipping was from a department concerning the correct use of words, entitled "The Lexicographer's Easy Chair" and stated: kid. — "J. H. C," Chicago, 111. — As a common vulgarism for "child," the use of this term can not be too severely condemned, but "kiddy" or "kiddies" are permissible as terms of affection. What! Must we do battle with the lexicographers as well as with the Uncle Charlies and Aunty Janes? Yonkers, New York. Sir: With a large and varied field of entertainment to choose from, I have no quarrel to pick with any of the broadcasters. Each is endeavoring to the best of his ability to attract customers, much in the same manner as the stage purveyors do. To me the element of chance is part of the fun. One night everything off color, the next an IN THE January and February Radio Broadcast, we printed a questionnaire designed to find out what a representative body of listeners really thought about radio stations, radio receiving, and radio programs. The many replies — which are still coming in, by the way — have been extremely informative. Answers have been returned from every section of the United States and Canada, and they have contained a wealth of suggestion which we wish we could hand to every program manager. That is not possible, nor can even a fraction of the results be shared with you. However, this month, Mr. Wallace has chosen excerpts from some answers to the questionnaire which are not only interesting, but represent very well the trend of all the replies. In the May number, we hope to present a final installment of this information which may almost be considered a cross section of radio opinion. — The Editor. oriental dream. It's good and soul satisfying philosophy to take the good with the bad and mediocre in alternate doses. Again I have no quarrel with direct or indirect advertising; at least I am satisfied to know, in a decent way, to whom I am indebted for the privilege of being entertained. I protest the present method adopted by the [New York] Herald Tribune's daily program, wherein it prints "Orchestra and Artists" 9:00 p. m. Worthless stuff. If it is the Eveready Hour, I am entitled to know it. I like them and when I see that name, and all others for that matter, I can make my own choice without prejudice, just as I choose rubber tires, perfumes, radio sets or batteries. If this new method on the part of the Herald Tribune's is ethics, I call it cheap junk. I commend your magazine which I have read for one year and will continue to read. I find it the best, judged by all standards. For further remarks on this subject, see the article by Pro Molto Gigolo a few columns on. We quote the following two letters as typical of a great number received: Hartford, Connecticut. Sir: Our radio usually runs most of the time each evening when we are home and reception conditions are good. Dinner music during our evening meal. The local newspaper is scanned for programs of merit and we tune-in on those appealing to us as being most interesting and of best quality. When any particular event of outstanding interest is advertised we generally plan to invite a few friends and make an evening of it. THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will go on the air from wbal on April 24th, presenting as soloist the winner of a municipal violin contest to be held in Baltimore in March. The cantata "Columbus" by David S. Melamet, which won the Saengerfest prize in New York several years ago will be sung by a chorus of 400 male singers assisted by the orchestra.