Radio showmanship (Jan-Dec 1946)

he-board. To ihc layman, it is five programs a week, Monday through Friday, It the same time. I he entire series is deigned lor in-school listening by the grades from kindergarten through the ixth grade. Each day of the week is deoted to a particular subject, and is deigned for specific grade listening. VloNDAYs programs are for use by the kindergarten through the third grade, ind consist of the famous Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris. Tueslay's program for Fourth Grade listenng is titled Art and Artists. Wednesday's how is Georgia at Work, for the fifth ;Taders. Ihursday brings to the sixth rade Songs and Stories of the Sontliland. -riday's program is the Quizzonaire, vhich brings to the microphone the stulents of fifth and sixth grades from over he school system for a quiz based on curent affairs, general knowledge, and class vork. IT TAKES ALL THREE Because there has been practically no neeting of minds between educators and he commercial end of the radio indusry, this series seems particularly signifiant. On the one hand, it apparently has )een the opinion of the educator that iiy thing identified with commercial adio is bad. On the other hand, there is he equally false impression by the broadaster that nothing in the way of an eduational program can or would do a job or an advertiser. It might be well to )ause here and say that this particular )r()gram has two commercials: "Rich's iadio School Presents," at the beginling, and at the end, "Rich's Radio chool has presented." That is somewhat >t an innovation for commercial radio! F, in this program we have arrived at nything like a formula as to how radio an augment its already fine public ervice programs by bringing its adverisers into the picture, then I think it epresents an advance in the right direcion. First of all, I think we fVx)l ourselves IS well as our listeners when we think hat any fine program can be presented vithout several factors, inducting bud gel, know-how from the radio side, and know-how from the educational side. This j)rogram has been unicjuc because the best thinking of one of the really outstanding public-spirited advertisers in the nation has been coupled with the best educational thinking and the best and most careful production. The program itself is the result of three years of experimentation. We stubbed our toes a good many times during the first year, and even today we certainly do not feel that we have reached anything like perfection. But ccmstant considtation between the advertiser, (who originated the idea), the station, and the schools has eliminated many of the bugs. Uf course, a program of this kind won't have crowds waiting at the door of the advertiser to break it down so that they may buy goods immediately. Nor will it have a 25.0 Hooper for the station. But it will do the thing it is designed to do; identify the station and the advertiser with a service that needs to be done. REGIONALISM AT ITS BEST Of what special significance is this particular program? In order tc^ answer that question it is necessary to go a little farther into the mechanics of the program itself. The entire series is transcribed in the studios of WGST, processed from masters, and broadcast over WTOC, Savannah; WMOG, Brtmswick; VVRDW, Augusta; WMAZ, Macon, and WALB, Albany, to give it statewide coverage. Thus, while the series title for Tuesday's program, Art and Artists, gives the proper place to the study of the Old Masters, it definitely emphasizes the arts and crafts that are practiced in the State of Georgia. Of course, the Uncle Remus Stories, Georgia at Work, and Songs and Stories of the Southland series identify themselves immediately as being keyed to this particular section of the country. So, shall we say that its primary significance is that the basic idea is adaptable to any state or section. Such a series teaches the youngster the history, crafts, songs and stories which might never otherwise have come to his attention, and thereby inculcates in him a pride in his ^ A Y, 1946 • 153 •