What's on the air (Mar-June 1931)

^*>jr In the brief compass of this page are comments on religion, poetry, current events, music, humor, fraternity, physiology and language. Anything here you want? ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. What do you think of my suggestions to devote two full pages of your magazine to comments by your readers on radio programs, either for good or for bad? It seems to me that this would work up an interest in your magazine that nothing else could. Radio fans would be writing in to you; you could publish those that you think are worthy, and it would be of inestimable value to the NBC and CBS in finding out what the public thinks of their programs, because you would get all sorts of criticisms of certain programs, as well as letters expressing their appreciation of others. F. H. L. McALESTER, OKLA.. I call to your attention the fact that the lectures of Rev. Charles Coughlin, of Detroit, over the Columbia chain on Sunday evenings, are being challenged as to whether or not they should be continued. I have been deeply interested in these lectures and they are of very great importance. By all means let the lectures continue. J. A. S. WINCHESTER, IND. The following poem was read over WLW by McQueen, "The Scrapbook Man," last week. So many have requested it that I send it in to your magazine: "On those long, cold winter evenings, When the howling winds do blow, We have one great consolation — Just turn on the radio. "Then we seat ourselves in comfort In a good old easy-chair, With our daily paper handy, And good programs on the air. "Yes, Amos 'n' Andy are really good, With their programs fair and square, And we always listen for Bill Hay When he speaks out, 'Heh-the-are.' "Now, if you own a radio, Come — with yourselves be fair; If you want your programs listed well, Just read What's on the Air." SAN ANTONIO, TEX. The following contributed by S. W. C: Ad in San Antonio Evening News: "Lost or strayed from Radio Station WOAI, one pair of mare mules, one with blaze face. Finder please phone CR. 4365." WOOD RIDGE, N. J. I wish to thank you for the information about the picture of Rudy Vallee, as now I shall be able to notify the members of my Rudy Vallee Club — and there arc some five hundred members — who will all be very glad to buy the magazine. You see, we all have scrapbooks and keep every bit of news and pictures we find of Mr. Vallee. H. M. K. COLUMBUS, O. I am very deaf, and for many years didn't know of such a thing as jazz. I knew "Nearer, My God, To Thee," "Blest Be the Tie that Binds," and other such sacred songs, taught me in my childhood, but jazz was unknown until I heard it over radio. Have not missed a day in more than six years in spending from two to six hours at my radio sets. Have one in living-room and one in bedroom. I attach the loud ear 'phones and let her go. C. W. R. wind Hanapi." By the way, I'd appreciate you giving him a word in "What's on the Air." G. M. S. SPRINGFIELD, VT. I think the radio programs are better in some ways, and in other ways could be improved. We are all glad to get programs furnished by the United States Army and Navy Bands, and I wish they would give us evening programs as well as daytime. Walter Damrosch always keeps his work right up to the mark. We enjoy the "Black and Gold Room Orchestra," and the "Stephen St. John Banjo Club" is very good for that kind. There is also "The Little German Band" Monday evenings from KDKA that is very good, and they can sing too. B. A. Rolfe's "Lucky Strike Dance Orchestra" is good in their type of music. I just wish we might have more band music or real good orchestra music in place of these terrible "screech owls" that some of the lady singers are. Not all ladies can sing well for radio broadcasting; they "put on" too much. A male quartet is generally very good, but they can not do themselves justice in singing "I'll Be Blue Just Thinking of You" and "One Hour Alone with You" and that class of "mush." By the way, have you ever realized how very few programs there are that are of interest to our boys that are from twelve to seventeen years of age? Don't you imagine if some one in our wonderful country could bring themselves to a big interest in the Boy Scouts, that a program in that line would not but be of much benefit to our lads? Boys like music, but they do not care to have the world know that they are wondering "Who Is Kissing Her Now," any more than our husbands do. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Mr. Kangaroo: "But Mary, where's the child?" Mrs. Kangaroo: "Good heavens! I've had my pocket picked." D. A. W. HARTFORD, CONN. We of Connecticut boast of two lexicographical phenomena. The first is a lake which in all the glory of its combined syllables contains forty-four letters. It is Lake Tchargoggagogmanchaugagoggchaubunagungam au g, which, translated from the Indian, means, "Lake You Fish on Your Side; I Fish on Mine; Nobody Shall Fish in the Middle." The second is my friend, "Mike" Hanapi, who leads the Ilima Islanders troupe of Hawaiians who belong to the staff of Station WTIC of Hartford. Before "Mike" applied the shears to his last name, he gloried in the polysyllabic appellation of Kealiiahonuihanapi, which, translated from the Hawaiian, means "Chief Long CHICAGO, ILL. Opportunities have been afforded various nationalities to bring special "hours" or "programs" to WCFL's audience which would acquaint that audience with the folk music of different nationalities. German, Jewish, Irish, Spanish, Polish, Lithuanian, Russian, Swedish, Italian, Bohemian — all have been represented. I have noticed that foreign programs have been a major policy of the station, possibly because it was felt that with their listeners sufficient interest could be developed to sell the idea of unionism and the ideals of the American Federation of Labor all the better to people who might never otherwise be susceptible to assimilation. H. F. P. ELGIN, ILL. Please send to me the issue that has the picture of "Herr Louie and the Weasel" of "Herr Louie's Hungry Five." I think the picture of "Herr Louie and the Weasel" was in the October issue. I am enclosing fifteen cents for the issue that has the picture of "Herr Louie and the Weasel" in it. If you haven't the issue that has the picture of "Herr Louie" in it, then wait and send to me a February issue. Thanking you in advance for the issue that has the picture of "Herr Louie and the Weasel" in it. G. ("Herr Louie and the Weasel," please note.) WAPAKONETA, O. I would like to ask that in your next issue you will give us the low-down on Bill Hay, of Tuesday night, January 6; when he went to announce the Amos 'n' Andy program at 7 p. M., he could hardly talk for lack of breath. We all know the program is sometimes breath-taking. C. E. B. NEW BRITAIN, CONN. I enjoy your magazine so much. It is full of interest from cover to cover. Please print all you can about Floyd Gibbons. Kindly give us a short sketch of his life. I am sure it would be interesting. Is there any hope of his return for nightly broadcasts? We miss him so much. A Group of Radio Fans. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. Mrs. Flubb — Has your new neighbor, Mrs. Funkbaugh, entertained any of you informally yet? Mrs. Dubb — Often. Only yesterday she and her husband had a row on the back porch, and it proved so interesting that we abandoned Amos 'n' Andy for it. WHAT'S ON THE AlR (Registered In U. S. Patent Office1) Vol. II. MAGAZINE FOR THE RADIO LISTENER Published monthly at Ninth ind Oi i i \i cnnati, 0., nv what's ON THE ai i; en. Printbd in i . s \ Editoriai ind Circulation Opfioes Bos 6. Statioh N, Cincinnati, O. \n\ i iri'isi Mi OFFICES: II NV. F0RT1 SECOND ST., \iw fORB I [TJ I'KIrl I .i r I 0 ' (Copyright, 1981, by What's o» thi Ur Oo.) Patents applied for ooveb basic feati ram-finding service offered in in is MAO v/i n i "Entered ^s second-class mati i 19 LS it thi post-office at Cincin nati, 0., under i in Lot of Marob B, L879." BROCKTON, MASS. "What's' On The Am" 'What's on the Air," I rave about it, 'What's on the Air," can't do without it, 'Cause I'm an A-One radio fan. "What's on the Air" has all the dope, Without it I would give up hope, But with it I'm a contented man. "What's on the Air," it sure lets one know About the artists on the radio, And gives one news important and true. Some magazine, I'll tell the folks, With clever stories and new jokes; Read it once and you will like it too. "What's on the Air" has a clever way Of showing programs broadcast night and day, And keeps one posted for a long time. "What's on the Air" has a fair price, It wins strong praise because it's nice. It's really great — take this tip of mine. O. E. C. CHARLESTON, S. C. What is the matter with the Old Dutch Minstrel program? I have been unable to get it for the last two weeks. C. L. L. KENOSHA, WIS. I wish you would give a little "nook" in your splendid radio magazine to Frank E. McBride, announcer at WMAQ, Chicago. He has a rich, mellow voice, full of sincere friendliness; he is about twenty-four years old, six feet tall, dark hair and brown eyes; very goodlooking, and has a very charming personality. I hope you will pardon me for taking up your time, but it will make me exceedingly happy if you will grant my wish. Mr. McBride does not know about my "hallucination." C. H. CINCINNATI, O. Did you ever notice that three CBS announcers' voices sound alike? They are Frank Knight, David Ross and George Buechler. At our house we guess who it is, but most always guess wrong. Can you persuade WKRC to handle Heywood Broun's broadcast? I usually get it in St. Louis, but I would much rather have it in Cincinnati. M. P. ONTARIO, CANADA Will you please tell me if "Majestic Curiosity Shop," at 9 P. M., Sundays, has been discontinued? C. A. H. (Gone, but not forgotten.) BRIDGEPORT, CONN. As I shall soon be eighty years of age, you see I have no ulterior motive in asking the age of Mr. Richard Maxwell, as Mr. Maxwell is my favorite tenor on the radio. I remarked to a relative one day: "I believe Mr. Maxwell is 'John' with 'Seth Parker'!" Well, we both bought the "Seth Parker Hymnal" and there we found Mr. Maxwell. Once, at "Seth Parker's" Sunday night, last summer, he sang one of the Psalms, and his voice went up and up and rose evermore higher, until I know it must have entered heaven. His voice appeals to me for the richness of quality and the soul it reveals. E. A. D.