The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-17
|ROnping Around
the
Radio Dial
BY Listener.In


Station WRC crashed through
with a real surprise last night that
will rank with the radio triumphs
of the year.
The local Radio Corporation sta
ton added another feather to it's
cap or another laurel to its crown
or whatever broadcasting station
does in such a case.
We had some misgivings when
we read the schedule yesterday an
nouncing a special program" from
to $50 o'clock. These special
programs" have in the past estab-
lished a reputation for being "spe-
cially poor" and are usually SEIZED
uled when the broadcasting station
hasn't anything to- fill a gap.
But WRC wasn't fooling this
time and it was real surprise and
a pleasant one when they announced
that they would broadcast the
presentation of Bach's Mass in b
Minor" by the famous Bach choir
Of Bethlehem, Pa.
We didn't blame Ellsworth Temp
kins for the pride in his voice as
he announced that they were broad
in history and that it was the first
time that the Bach mass had ever
been given over the air.
The group around our loud
speaker did not miss the signifi-
canoe of the announcement. There
was a noticeable tension in the air
while we waited for the music to
begin.
WY, New York, made some
quick shifts on its schedule and
also broadcast the choir. It was
fortunate they Ibid, because it
would have been shame for only
one station to broadcast such "a
program.
. The Bach presentation came
through the air almost perfectly.
1t was much better than the usual
stage broadcasting and undoubtedly
was the result Of some skillful plan
ming by Walter Tesch, the WRC
engineer. The microphones had TO
be placed exactly right to get the
effect they did.
> Congratulations WRC.
The evenings program opened
auspiciously with q beautiful con-
cert Of dinner music by the Lee
lovely music of the kind that we
are not fortunate enough to hear
often. =
The close Of the evening program
was equally as good with a short
song recital by Olga Steck, soprano
and prima donna Of China Rose"
Miss Steck has learned that it does
not take volume for a beautiful
radio recital, and that tonal quality
is the all important thing.
After the Bach choir surprise,
WRC still had another trick in its
dance program by the Beaux Arts
Club Orchestra Of New York. The
program was only about twenty
minutes long, however.
After listening to Olga Steck sign
off we turned to out-of-town for the
first time in the evening and found
reception unusually good. Got
around to WGBS, New York, just as
they were concluding the production
Of "Salome," one-act play. They
also had an unscheduled feature in
an interview with 'Paggy" Wood,
Broadway star and her husband,
John Weaver, writer.
IHlS was one Oh Ing lew AHbSi :.
views we have heard on the air
which did not sound as though it
was written out in advance. 1t
must have been spontaneous, be-
cause 1t had all the embarrassing
pauses and conglomerate chatter
such conversation usually has.
The Armstrong Radio Club, form
ed by students at the Armstrong
High School are going to stage a
radio show next week from We'd
nesday to Friday. The principal fea-
ture will be the practical demon
stration of device used for trans
mission and reception of photo
graphs by radio. The students have
been preparing for the show since
January.
anUen-aoEMEMT