The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-03
RADIO INDUSTRY.
ON FIRM BASIS
|NENGLA|VD
Rapid Strides Made in Past
Few Months in Systema-
thing Broadcasting
BY LUTHER A. HUSTON,
International News Service.


casting in England has ceased to be
a haphazard affair and has become
an organized industry. Huge strides
have been made in recent months
in systematizing the transmission Of
radio entertainment, and 1t is doubt
full il broadcasting in any country
has advanced beyond the stage it
has reached in England
One Of the foremost achievements
Of British radio was the broadcast.
ing on April % Of the Kings speech
at the formal opening Of the British
empire exhibition at wembley. It
was the first time in history that
the voice Of the ruler Of the British
empire had been carried by waves
Of ether to the ears Of millions Of
his subjects.
Audience Of 10000.
Preparations for this event were
elaborate. In addition to the thou.
sands Of private 'listeners.in Z" who
heard the speech in their own
homes, a special program was
staged at Albert Hall, a huge audi.
forum seating more than 10000
persons. Loud speakers were in.
stalled, and every detail Of the cAre.
monies in connection with the for.
hal opening Of England's 500. 900.
OOO exhloitiop was heard by the
huge audience.
Doors of Albert Hall were
thrown open at $3.50 o'clock aui at
1880 the first strains Of music that
signaled the beginning Of the cere.
monies at WembleY came from the
loud speakers. For nearly an hour
the music Of exhibition bands en-.
tertained the audience and then a
burst Of patriotic music heralded
the arrival Of the Prince of Wales.
A Few minutes later a faufare of
mounted trumpeters Of the House.
hold Cavalry announced the arrival
OF the King. The roya! address.
each word clear and distinct, fcl.
lowed.
Under Monopoly Control.
Broadcasting In England, for gen.
eral purposes, Is chiefly under
auspices Of the British Broadcagtinp,
Company, which is virtually a mo.
nopoly. Less than a year age this
company occupied one small room.
Today it has thirty-seven depart.
ments, housed in a huge building,
each department dealing with some
particular phase of the broadcast.
ing industry.
One Of the foremost results Of
the development of n highly organ.
lied broadcasting institution has
been a distinct improvement in the
quality Of program provided for
llSteners-in. The efforts Of the
British Broadcasting Company to
improve It's program have resulted
IN a change in the attitude Of per.
forming artists, and there is now
a virtual rush on the part OF the
performers to get a place on the
program where q few months ago
1t was difficult to persuade anv
artist OF repute to participate in a
radio performance.
among the notables booked for
early appearance on the British
broadcasting Company's program
are Sir tombstone Forbes Robertson.
the famous actor; Frank Hodges,
prominent labor leader and a mem.
Der OF the Ramsay MacDonald
cabinet; Ian Hay and John Mase.
held, the novelists, and Tetrazzini.
the worid-famous singer.
Another departure which the
company will shortly undertake Is
the broadcasting Of operatio per.
Slormances. On May Faust" viii
land by radio, and en- Nav
Hiawatha" will be on the program
Besides these feature numbers
great attention is being given 70
the so'called popular programs. and
scores OF leading orchestras. vs,1de.
viile artists, musicians, etc. err
participating daily in the entertain.
Lnent oIrered British radio fans.