The Washington times., 1925-03-26
|ROlnping Around
the
Radio Dial
~ LiatAner.L

I Radio ais a means Of expressing
personality has been dismal fail.
ure.. With a half dozen exceptions,
of whom Roxy and Graham Nc.
Nance are the best known locally,
broadcasters-even those who are on
the air regularly-ha had to rely
upon their talent to get them
across with their unseen
audience.
Take, for example, the. directors
Of the musical organizations which
broadcast almost nightly. Their
programs denote their individualisrn,
and good taste, but aside from that
what does the public ever know
about them. 1t is not able to see
them or hear them talk.
Outside Of their programs their
only contact with the public is
through the press, where occasion
ally they are written up. One of
the most deserving of these unseen
artists is Augustin Borguno,
leader OF the Meyer Davis Willard
Hetel Orchestra whose choice Of
tea" programs, via WRC, is caus-I
ing no end Of favorable comment
among listeners in.
Borguno is a Spaniard, who il
considered the biggest individual
on the payroll of Meyer Davis
and q foreigner who has not only
Anglicised his musical viewpoint,
but has brought from Europe, and
especially Spain. a perspective that
intensifies his appreciation of Amer
lean music while, simultaneously.
1t injects strength, tone and dis
| tinctiOn into all that he does, either
as a piano virtuosO or a con-
ductor and picker" OF programs.
He is. in addition, composer.
of note I'm his own country. With
as many dance hits in Barcelona
and Madrid as Irving Berlin has
| in any nine American cities. A
student OF composition, harmony
4 and orchestration musical author
| fty gained from the late Enrique
/ Granados Burguno has dozens of
original competitions that It would
| be well for WRC to urge him to
include on either his afternoon or
evening tone menus
We have learned from q friend
I Of his. that Borguno has composed
everything from light Catalan to
j score for an urproduced opera and
/ even light opera almost com.
Z DtGl6Qs CT IdNlO ldtlO IlcyO AC6AA
little OF his own material.
Once in great while he does do
."Paradis Blues" one Of the few
numbers of his own ever. brought
out in America. And he once did
! Spring an excerpt from his nearly
finished light opera, but after re-
ceiving a stack Of mail asking for
It again, for some reason nothing
was ever heard OF it.
He is an interesting person to
| meet, but inasmuch as 1t is i'm.
/ possible for all earph0ne lovers to
come in personal contact with him,
1t would be good stunt for W2C
i to, arrange to have him give taem
4 some of his own music, written IN
that fiery. dancing Spanish way
of his. y
Why not WRC?
H We knew when we wrote that
criticism of Roxy in Mondays col.
umn that one of the best ways to
stir up correspondence Is to criticisa
the famous impresario. the idol af
radio fans" The mail has not failed
to sustain our view.
Many letters of protest have been
received concerning our statements.
Most Of the readers seem to feel
that our conclusions were "far
fetched or "too cynical" We are
glad to find that Roxy still has as
1 many ardent supporters as ever.
One thing we want to make clear
however. Our criticism was not
written because of any burning envy
of the popularity the great radio
artist Is achieving as daily col
umniSt.
Washington did not fare SO we'll
in the February Music Memory
Contest. Famed as a music loving
city, it fell down badly in its re
suits on this contest. Though this
was one of the three cities from
which the program was broadcast.
only one listener figured in the
awards.
The Kodel Radio Corporation OF
Cincinnati has, purchased the broad
casting station WMI, located IN
that city, from the Gates
Radio Company. Call letters for
4 the station will be changed as soon
as new ones are designated by the
Department O Commerce. The sta
ton Is at present operating on tWo
wave lengths of 326 and 423 meters
alternating each month with sta
tons WSAI and WLW.
The station will be completely re-
I1,,ilf ond eouinment for a ,0OO-Watt