The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-29
MOUNT VERNON CHORUS TO SING
ROmping Around
the
Radio Dial
BY Listener-In

What is good announcing? What
should a good announcer say?
We would like to have some one
answer those questions for us, be-
cause we have been asked them and
we don't know just how to reply.
Those two questions are among
the most puzzling now facing man
ayers Of broadcasting stations, be-
cause of the general criticism which
has been made of most announcing,
within the past few months.
OF course. no simple answer will
suffice Announcing must vary
with varying conditions. jazz de-
mands one kind of announcing,
while the introductions to a con-
cert by the New York Philhar-
monte Society should be Of another
sort.
Most of the denunciation of an
nouncing has been directed toward
the so-called humorous announcer.
The critics have demanded straight,
formal announcing, with no frills or
ruffles. And yet. some of the most
popular announcers in the country
are those who are the least formal.
including Roxy, at WEAF; Lambdin
Kay, at WSB, and many others.
Other critics say the announcing
should be done briefly with just
the name of the station, the name
of the next piece to be played and
the name of the organization or
person who will play it. But then
Graham McNamee, the most popular
announcer in the country, steps
forward with his great following to
prove that listeners want explana-
tory remarks and a little atmos-
phere.
It's a tough thing to decide. But
probably it is just like anything
else, it must be good to get across.
Poor humor or stereotyped EXPLAIN.
tons will not go. Much criticism
has been directed at the local an
nouncers. Do they rate it?
Announcement over the air last
night of the winners of the last
Brunswick music memory contest
revealed the amazing fact that
though Washington is one of the
six cities in which the contest was
broadcast, not a single local listener
figured in the awards.
And what is still harder to under
stand, not one person in Maryland
or nearby Virginia was among the
prize winners. 1t looks as though
WRC's following made by far the
poorest showing of the six audi
ences for the March contest.
It is of course impossible to tell
in the case of prize winners who
live more than 100 miles from one
of the stations. what stations they
listened to. IT would be interest
ing to know just how many out
side of the WIZ audience got into
the money.
However, it is easy to guess. and
we will. OF the more than fifty
winners. about thirty-five were
from New York. and probably lis.
tened to WIZ; thirteen were from
Pittsburgh and nearby KDKA; five
probably listened to KYW; WBX
and WGY each had two probable
listeners and WRC only one.
WRC's probable winner was. from
Richmond, Va, where Mrs. A. L..
Lorraine, one of the ten 500 win
nerst lives.
OF course the figures for KDKA,
WGY and WBZ probably should
be larger than we have guessed,
because listeners in territory closer
to other stations may have listened
to those more powerful broadcasters.
The only additions WRC might be
able to claim, however, are in Savan-
I,ah, Birmingham. Greensboro, N
c., and Winston-Salem, N. G. Prob
ably, however, those listeners heard
the concerts from KDkA or one
of the other super-power stations.
1t is natural that New YORK
should take the lions share of the
prizes, because listeners there have
| more opportunity of hearing the
artists in person, but why should
Washington be so far behind the
| other outlying cities?
Frederic William Vile ratified
both of his swords last night. In
addition to the German situation.
! he once more warned us of the
possible consequences of the Japa-
nese exclusion act.
"EVOL UTION OF PLANO"