The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-21


written by Fred Smith,. studio director
OF the crosley Radio Corporations sm-
He has been relerred to as the rst
Radio Ambassador and visited all of
the the important Mtant bE;oadeasting stations
The Indianapolis Times exclusively.
BY Fred Smith
been absorbing the European radio
atmosphere. Paris, London, Amster-
dam, Berlin and Munich have
crowded our minds with innumerable
Impressions. The weather has been
constantly cool and clear so that we
have been able to go about from
morning to midnight, int erviewing
Europes most prominent fldio men,
visiting studios and factories, and
listening at every available oppor-
tunity to radio concerts. AT the end
Of this time we have come to Zurich
to rest a little, digest this three
weeks experience, and put into
readable form the many, many notes
taken along the way.
Our room overlooks small park
with thickly branched trees, colorfuI
flower beds and grass Of freshest
green. A half a block away to the
left is the lake. Beyond it are green
mountains. Back the other way.
the town climbs great hills. On our
second afternoon here We took No.
of the tiny trans and climbed those
hills to the top of Zurichsberg. Below
us lay the city of Zwingii, the tran
quill lake, and, defining the sky
line, the glorious mountains OF
Switzerland! A tranquil place in
deed in which to write.
Vague Idea
We had come from America with
vague and uncertain idea of what
might be happening in Europe with
regard to radio broadcasting. Many
Americans had told us that we
would learn nothing over here. But
it seemed to me, since l had lived
on the Continent eight years, that
these European countries with one
or two thousand years of civiliza-
ton behind them, would most GER
tainly have developed some ideas
worthy. of careful study. And
haXe not been disappointed.
Travelling from nation to nation
one is struck immedia teiy by an
expression of the dominant national
characteristics in their broadcast
ing systems. England by a govern
mental franchise to a monopoly
carefully controlled. Holland by mer-
cenary cautiousness. Geormany by
defiant idealism. Switzerland by
pure patriotism. France by balanc-
ing state against private interests.
AS a student of these broadcast
ing systems, 1 consider it my bust
ness first, to examine them as they
actually exist; second, to analyze
and compare them with each other;
and third, to point out in what way
their virtues may be applied profit
ably to American broadcasting.
Following, there comes a fourth step
which goes beyond the boundary
lines of races and this is the in
fuence of radio upon internatio4 al
relationships.
/ hope you will follow us in these
journeyings in the attitude of sym
pathetic observers. Our main idea.
will be to enrich ourselves by ex-
perience. Each country has it's at
mosphere in which every form of
expression is modified by dominant
influences. The rapidly changing
economic conditions in these
European countries gives birth to
rapidly changing influences. We
cannot Judge them by American
standards, but by their own.
In Paris
My first Impression Of European
broadcasting was in the little house
built under the North Foot of the
gigantic Eiffel Tower, Paris. 1t
was a beautiful summer afternoon.
Our taxi deposited us on the green
grass not far from the magnificent
Trocadero. Through the park
which surrounds the Tour children
were playing under the vigilance of
their governesses, and tiny babes
were sleeping in their cabs. Lovers,
promenading arm in arm or seated
upon park benches, were cooling the
eternal avowals Of joyous affection.
people coming and going through
the cool shadows.
Under each foot Of the Tour tiny
houses wanting fresh paint squatted
mOdeStlV Tho tremendous prOnor