Radio Broadcast (May 1928-Apr 1929)

A $10,000 PHONOGRAPH-RADIO COMBINATION The phonograph equipment is housed at the left and the radio at the right. The panel in the center contains a distortion meter (reading up to 150 mils.) and special circuit arrangements make it possible to control the amplitude of the sound by the top knob in this panel, while the control directly below it regulates overtones. The installation uses a four-stage balanced amplifier rated at 50 watts. Individual expression in the rendition of phonograph records or radio is said to be achieved through circuits arranged to vary both musical pitch and overtones without, at the same time, altering quality. This installation was especially built for La Salle & Koch, of Toledo, Ohio TO THE great American query, "What's new?" we are forced to reply this month, "Not much." It may be merely an offseason for records. There were all too few likely looking titles in the advance lists. Perhaps the phonograph industry, like book publishing, blooms in full glory but twice a year and inbetween-times puts out only a few pale buds. No, it isn't quite as bad as that because we did find nine records of such exceptional merit that they quite make up for the mediocrity of the rest. Among the classical output are several prize-winners: two duets by Gigli and De Luca, who can always be counted on to be worth while; two beautiful songs by Sigrid Onegin; choral work of outstanding quality by the Metropolitan Opera Chorus; and two instrumental numbers by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Of the popular stuff there are five better-than-average records. Ohman and Arden performing Gershwin music; Johnny Johnson and His Statler Pennsylvanians offering another Gershwin number and on the reverse one of the best songs from the Connecticut Yankee; a Paul Whitman masterpiece; two good numbers from the orchestra directed by the Maestro, known to the trade as Ben Bernie; and, lastly, a couple of unusual waltzes by the South Sea Islanders. The rest are so-so. '5 Wcmderjul and Funny Face by Victor Arden and Phil Ohman and Their Orchestra (Victor). Superb Gershwin music mixed well with Ohmanand-Arden piano magic and flavored with a bit of Johnny Marvin's best singing. Thou Swell and My One and Only by Johnny Johnson and His Statler Pennsylvanians (Victor). Tuneful antidotes for that poisonous latewinter boredom. Mary and Changes by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (Victor). Whiteman continues to glorify American jazz. The Man I Love and Dream Kisses by Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra (Brunswick). This record deserves a great big gold star. Tve Been Looking for a Girl Like You and Everywhere You Go by Paul Ash and His Orchestra (Columbia). For those who crave their jazz red hot. Changes and Let's Misbehave by Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra (Brunswick). Keeping up with the Bernie tradition of bigger, better dance music, with the emphasis on dance. We'll have a New Home and When You're With Somebody Else by Ben Selvin and His Orchestra (Columbia). Standard fox trots of the snappy variety dressed up with fancy orchestration. Tomorrow and Vm Making Believe That I Don't Care by the Colonial Club Orchestra (Brunswick). Just like countless other plaintive waltzes. Girl of My Dreams I Love You and Sugar Babe, I'm Leavin! by Blue Steele and His Orchestra (Victor). One more waltz and a noisy foxtrot with a raucous vocal chorus. The Man I Love by Fred Rich and His Hotel Astor Orchestra (Columbia) A good song handled with no particular merit. For My Baby by Leo Resiman and His Orchestra. If your doctor has tactfully suggested that you do more exercising, get this record. You can't sit still to this number. I Ain't Got Nobody and Weary Blues by Ray Miller and His Hotel Gibson Orchestra (Brunswick). Right you are! The first is an old number and what's more it is played in the old fashioned way with lots of brass and much pep. Of the second — the only thing that's weary must be the orchestra after it finishes. When the Robert E. Lee Comes to Town and / Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream by Harry Reser's Syncopators (Columbia). If you haven't heard the words to the latter song the record is worth listening to — once. Dawn and We Two by The Troubadours (Victor). Lewis James and Ed Smalle who manipulate the vocal refrains and the Troubadours have between them made a grand record out of two fairly good musical comedy numbers. Among My Souvenirs and Keep Sweeping the Cobwebs Off the Moon by Abe Lyman's Califor The ^Month's New Phonograph T^ecords nia Orchestra. (Brunswick). The treatment of the first is perfectly orthodox which means good. The second leaves us cold. Away Down South in Heaven and There ' s a Rickety Rackety Shack by Frank Black and His Orchestra (Brunswick), (a) Even if this were good we wouldn't like it. Not with that vocal chorus! (b) Something else again; it's good! That's What the Lei Said to Me and The Call of Aloha by the South Sea Islanders (Columbia). Waltzes that are waltzes. Poor Linie and / Love to Catch Brass Rings on a Merry-GoRound by Billy Jones and Ernest Hare (Columbia), a. The Happiness Boys sing out the old and sing in the new (Ford), b. Not very good nonsense. More or Less Classical Pescatore Di Perle — Del Tempio Al Limitar (Pearl Fishers — In the Depths of the Temple) (Bizet) and Gioconda — Enio Grimaldo, Principe Di Santafior (En^o Grimaldo, Prince of Santafior) (Ponchielli). Sung by Beniamino Gigli and Giuseppe De Luca (Victor). Week-day words are inadequate to describe the exquisite beauty of *S>1 ))SV Recommended New Records Pescatore Di Perle — Del Tempio Al Limitar (Bizet) and Gioconda — En{0 Grimaldo, Principe Di Santafior (Ponchielli) sung by Beniamino Gigli and Giuseppe De Luca (Victor). The Blind Ploughman and The Fairy Pipers sung by Sigrid Onegin (Brunswick). Die Zauherflote — 0 Isis Und Osiris (Mozart) and Chorus of Courtiers — on Mischief Bent (Verdi), sung by the Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Victor). Bridal Procession (Grieg) and March of the Bojaren (Halvorsen) played by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. (Columbia). 'S Wonderful and Funny Face by Victor Arden and Phil Ohman and Their Orchestra (Victor). Thou Swell and My One and Only by Johnny Johnson and His Statler Pennsylvanians (Victor). Mary and Changes by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (Victor). The Man I Love and Dream Kisses by Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra (Brunswick). Jupiter Symphony (No. 41, Op. 551) (Mozart) by the State Opera Orchestra of Berlin, conducted by Richard Strauss. (Brunswick). 25