The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-19
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Radio Dial
BY Listner-In-

Victor Herbert, were he still alive
and had he heard the program Of
his music played by the Navy Band
last night. would have been the
first person to congratulate and
thank Charles Benter.
Mr.. Benter's program was more
than just a mere Herbert program;
1t was an arrangement of selections
that were perhaps dearer to the
heart of the composer than all Of
the other hundred odd Of his works.
And they were arranged and
directed by man who appreciated
the Herbert music almost as the
composer loved his melodies.
Particularly pleasing to Herbert
would have been the Grand
Scenes" from "Natoma."
"Natoma" represented Herhert's
greatest effort. 1t was his one big
attempt to create en- American grand
opera. In writing the love story
of a young Indian girl for an
officer of the United States in the
early settlement days Of the Pacific
coast, Herbert worked feverishly.
But the opera never attained the
success that the composer had hoped
and worked for. In fact, at the
time Of his death, it had become
almost obscure, hidden behind the
popularity of kiss Me Again" and
"A Kiss in the Dark"
Then there was the fantasia,
America which Herbert was par
tieularly fond of directing. Could
he have been in the radio audience
last night we can well believe that
he would have been waving his
baton enthusiastically before the
loud speaker. f
And finally there. were the nnelo-
dies that as well as bringing glory
to the composer brought fame to
FRITZ Scheff, Montgomery and
Stone and Eleanor Painter.
They are American concoctions
oil. these Herbert melodies, with an
Irish base and dash Of the Rhine.
1t was fitting that an official
American organization should have
played them last night in memory
of the composer.
Performance Brilliant.
For once we would not have OBJ
Iected, but, on the other hand,
would have been pleased had the
announcer taken it upon himself to
give just a word Of explanation be-
fore each Of the selections played
last night. s-4.as ->v>,e
There was a reason why Mr..
Benter chose the selections he did.
Perhaps Mr.. Benter himself could
have spoken a few words that would
have enabled the radio audience to
appreciate more completely the bril-
liant performance Of his band.
The word radiocasting" as a sub.
stitute for ."broadcastipg" has bob
bed up again.
This time 1t Is adopted officially
by the Associated Manufacturers Of
Electrical Supplies.
"Broadcasting," 1t Is explained,
means, Sowing with seed or. ma
terial substances"
Wnlcn is all very interesting, but
from our observations, it will be a
difficult task adding two more syl.
tables to a speech that Graves
brevity.
WMU, the 'radiocasting" station
of the Doubleday-Hill Electric Com
pany, announces the discontinuance
of its programs for the summer.
Plans, however, are being made, it
Is understood, for series of bigger
and better programs in the fall.
The Red Headed Music Maker is
in Washington this week incognito.
On the hotel register his name ap-
pears as merely Wendell Hall.
The bride Of the Music Maker is
also incognito. She is only Mrs.
Wendell Hall.
We were mistaken in our advice
about an unusual feature to be
broadcast-possible on Thursday.
We had reference to the cross
talk between an army aeroplane
and WRC.
This demonstration win be- given
Saturday night,