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

Page 14 WHAT'S ON THE AIR April, 193 1 ^fi-$oJr&^ ^=%F I have never written you before to tell you what a little wonder your magazine was. What I did was tell all my friends about the magazine when I discovered it at our newsstand back in January, 1930. Eight of our neighbors have radios. They all buy a copy of What's on the Air. As Amos 'n' Andy would say, "Ain't that sumpin'?" Yesterday, when we hurried seven miles through the snow to get the March number (you see, we can't do without the little, old mag, now that we are accustomed to it), myself and eight of the listening neighbors groaned and sighed in disappointment; pished, tushed and phooeyed in disgust when the newsdealer handed us that oversized magazine, which, for some unknown reason, reminded me of the side of a barn. It is plain to be seen that you are trying to please the public. Maybe if you would only print the programs like you used to, with the red and black figures, a fellow might, within the course of a year or two, get used to the size of the magazine. L. I. Cape Vincent, N. Y. Um-huh! Dat sho am sumpin'! I have just bought the March issue of the What's on the Air and I think that you should be commended for the great many improvements in that issue. It is 50 per cent, more efficient than the early issues. Most of the radio listeners have a craze for one kind of a program. For example, some people are crazy over minstrel programs. At this time there are few minstrel programs on the chains. In other words, the listener has a hard time finding such programs. Some other programs of this nature are: German band, South Sea music, old fiddlers, cowboy songs and comical programs. Now, I would suggest that all such programs be listed under the heading "Minstrels." Another suggestion is that the editor give the answers with the letters listed in "Fan Fare." I hope that you will consider these suggestions because they come from an average radio listener. The purpose of a magazine should be to serve the average person. C. F. D. Watkins Glen, N. Y. The term "minstrel" conjures up in the modern mind a black-face musical comedy, which complexion would not become the German band, South Sea music, etc. One of my favorites, Lou Van (who has been playing the Clarovox for CFCF, in Montreal), has broken in on vaudeville. You will want to wish him the best of luck, as it was through him I became acquainted with the fine radio magazine, What's on the Air. Valois, Quebec. C. M. A. We have rubbed our rabbit's foot for you, Lou. May I have enough space in your valuable magazine to register a vigorous complaint against this so-called "electrical transcription" mania which has hit most of the radio stations? To my mind the manufacturers of radio receiving sets should be vitally interested in this matter, for do you believe people will continue to buy receiving sets to listen to a lot of phonograph records? If the sponsors of these phonograph-record programs insist on recorded programs, let them peddle them from house to house for people to play on their talking-machines, but, for the good of the radio industry, keep them off the air. Tl^e advance that radio has made in the past ten years is one of the marvels of our century, but it is like taking a step backward with seven-league boots to have radio programs made up of phonograph records. The tonal quality of these recorded programs should be sufficient to keep them off the air. Not only that, but you tune in to the same program from several different stations on the same night, and most any night it will be picked up from at least two stations. Every one connected with radio, be he manufacturer, broadcaster or only a fan, knows that the available air channels are being constantly demanded by more stations than can be allowed. I believe the Federal Radio Commission should put these stations off the air that use these so-called "electrical transcriptions," and let stations come on the air who would be glad to furnish us with flesh-andblood talent, and not feed us "canned" music six nights a week. Our family and many of the fans in this city will not listen to this "canned" music, and I do not believe we are alone in this matter; so let some more of the fans speak up before all we have is "electrical transcriptions." Bay City, Mich. R. J. D. The "Pied Piper" robot, "canned" music, does not beguile this "child." has a little power in it. Thanks. Nakoma, Madison, Wis. Who wants to laugh? P. C I wish to thank you for the interesting articles in this magazine. I for one do not agree with "Wanna Laugh" or "A Subscriber, Nyack, N. Y." I have nothing but praise for Lowell Thomas, Floyd Gibbons and the others who help to bring music and other entertaining programs over the radio. Tell "Wanna Laugh," and others like her, to listen to herself sometimes and see if she never makes mistakes in pronunciation herself. Guilford, Conn. G. M. B. Dozen Wanna Laugh. We are in receipt of your attractive March issue, and congratulate you on the new appearance of your very useful publication. It is a slight disappointment that you failed to note Jackson on your radio map on the back cover. We have a full-time one-kilowatt station in WJDX, and an associate of the National Broadcasting Company, and we hope very much that you will not overlook us in your future issues. Jackson, Miss. W. P. H. We regret this deficiency in our radio map, more particularly as it can not be immediately remedied. The plate for this map was made, however, over a year ago, before Jackson, Miss., boasted a broadcasting station; hence its absence on this map, which we shall hope to improve in the future. I want to say that your magazine is the best of its kind that I have been able to get, but I want to lodge a friendly complaint. In your February issue you gave space to a "would be" funny scribe who signed his name "Wanna Laugh." This man ridiculed one of the most entertaining, polished and genteel gentlemen that speaks to the radio audience, Mr. Lowell Thomas. Such spleen should be passed unnoticed, and, if he or his like >^% I have received a letter from a man in New Zealand who was mentioned in this magazine in one of the previous issues — the article relating to the "DX," or distance, records he has made. Since that article was printed, he has made many more records that only a few can approach. For instance, he was the first listener in Christchurch, New Zealand, to pick up radio station WMAQ, in Chicago; he is one of the two Christchurch listeners to pick up station KWKH, in Shreveport, La.; he was the first New Zealand listener to hear RFM, in Siberia. He also has quoted letters to me that look as if he were the first New Zealand listener to hear stations KWK, KFOX, KFON and at least five more American stations. Many broadcasting stations he has heard have should write again, I think his letters should go the wastebasket route. Mr. Lowell Thomas has been farther around a cup hunting for the handle than Mr. "Wanna Laugh" has been away from home. We of the South — and, for that matter, I believe all other sections — look forward with pleasure for the hour to come when we can hear Mr. Thomas give his all too short talk about current events. S. M. L. Texarkana, Ark. -Tex. Now, Wanna Laugh? "Fan Fare" is a very interesting department, only I'd like to know who Mr. "Wanna Laugh" is. I mean the one who seems to have it in for Lowell Thomas. Mr. Thomas conducts his period in the most interesting way possible. And one more thing. Please use your influence toward getting "Station KUKU," which is owned and operated by Raymond Knight, put on some station in the middle West tint complimented him on his correct reports of their programs. This man is Mr. W. G. Sturgess, 311 Canal Reserve, Christchurch, New Zealand. Mr. Sturgess operates a fourtube Pilot Super Wasp receiver, on which he has made many records. He has letters of verification from forty-three American stations on the broadcast band; also from W2XAF, W2XAD, KDKA, W6XN, CJRM, WLW (on both bands), W9XF, 5SW and GBX (England), PCJJ (Holland), RFM (Siberia), SFR (Paris), DHC (Berlin), ANF. (Java), 2ME (Australia), 6AG (Perth, Western Australia), and a few Australian amateurs. R. R. Mineral Pt., Wis. Thanx a lot, R. R.! For the past three months Tony Cabooch has been on the air daily in the interest of the St. Louis Star's Clothing Relief Stations. On a three-ton truck he makes daily trips throughout St. Louis, gathering clothing for the poor. He has also started a drive on the air to place radios in the Blind Institutions throughout America. A. F. R. St. Louis, Mo. Ah weahs numbah thuhteens, Mistah Tony. Your magazine title should have one addition. It should have a great, big question mark after "Air." You evidently thought your early issues so darn good that the stations would never have the heart to change their programs. Please get in touch with the chains for next month, as I will throw away once more three jits. But, unless there is a change — good night! I am a crossword-puzzle fan, but your late issues are unsolvable. Sorry to bother you, but thought perhaps you had not discovered the many errors. Trusting you may improve, or at least fade out, or take an Aspirin and jump in the Ohio River! Savannah, Ga. J. H. S. A hard blow, but (for any who might be interested) WOTA recovered on the seventh count. Thought you would be interested in the enclosed newspaper clipping: "Tolleston Club to Discuss Radio " 'The Radio' will be the subject for tomorrow's program of the Tolleston Community Service Club to be held in the Tolleston public library, beginning at two o'clock. 'Your Favorite Radio Artist' will be the title of the roll-call. Mrs. W. R. Brown will present a paper on 'The Radio as a Means of Entertainment and Education,' and Mrs. J. McConnachie will have as her subject a radio magazine, What's on the Air. The president, Mrs. A. M. Wheeler, will preside at the business session preceding the program." Gary, Ind. H. W. W. There's an up-to-the-minute Woman's Club for you! Why, oh, why, don't you print anything about Cleveland talent, especially all the fine entertainers at WTAM? You have many readers here in Cleveland and I'll bet they all feel as I do, that we are neglected. A sincere plugger for What's on the Air. Sally. Thanx for the stepchildren, Sally. In your February number there is an article to the effect that the chains were considering broadcasting important hockey matches, probably those for the Stanley Cup, but they had decided it would require a super-announcer to keep up with the play, etc. Bill Spargo, who muttered over the mike from the Boston Arena through Station WBZ before they spoiled things there by broadcasting a symphony orchestra (with which the air is overloaded) during the period set aside for hockey, could do this and make them like it. Also Jack Fellman, who does the Madison Square Gardens games through WOR, is no slouch. Hamilton Cove, Quebec. R. N. P. Which is a word to the wise. I note with satisfaction that the chains art considering the broadcast of the Stanley Cup Hockey series. Right they are, too, in deciding that a super-announcer is required. The man they need is "Cyclone" Edwards. Three years ago he was hockey announcer for WLS, Chicago. Born and bred in Canada, he knows his hockey and is possessed of a line as long as from now till next Christmas. He is the one man I know of, in radio or out of it, who can adequately keep up with the game and make it interesting to those a bit hazy a;, to the rules and regulations of the game. Winnipeg, Canada. I. J. Just another word.