Evening star., 1925-01-29

, courses would be given in this art
and science, so that Droadcasters,
especially the directors, might be
trained for a dignified, learned pro-
fession.
The letters "B. d." signifying doc
tor of broadcasting, might be award
ed to graduates who qualified them
selves in the studies of music, public
speaking, social and individual psy-
chology, etc.
No, II is not variety I want. 1t is
something bigger and better than va
rety. 1t is the better and the best.
X * X
Today the broadcasting stations
stand somewhat amazed at them
selves and the public. They try to
find out what the public wants" and
do their best to satisfy that hydra
headed monster.
For one thing, they often fail to
credit the public with enough intelli-
gence. They are somewhat shy Of good
literature, for instance, fearing that the
public will become bored, evidently.
1t is not what Is offered the public
that bores; IL Is the too long duration
of what Is offered. This is a day of
rapid movement-pep-sna 1t
what you will, 1t is the spirit Of our
age.
People used to listen entranced to
addresses four hours long, but that
day has long gone by. In the early
days of this republic a speech was
about the only form of public enter
tainment there was, and with char
acteristic spirit the American people
got their moneys worth of speech
making.
But If Daniel Webster were able to
come back, and deliver US q four
hour speech, L am sure the hall would
be deserted long before the time was
up. We have the fast-moving radio
impulses, the motion pictures, the
plays, the speeding automobiles.
countless outdoor and indoor games,
freedom from restraint, and, above
all, prosperity.
We need, in broadcasting, rapid
change OF offerings, absurd contrasts,
If you will-anything to keep up our
hair-trigger interest.
X \: I:
Attention is ono Of the hardest
faculties OF the human mind. the
most difficult TO capture and the
most difficult to hold. Educators
know this, and the broadcasters must
learn it.
In teaching children, It is first
necessary to get their interest be-
fore you can get their serious at
tention. Since men and women are
but children of a larger growth. the
same thing holds true Of US.
The way to secure this interest.
IN radio broadcasting, is to make
rapid changes, variety in flve-minute
periods, not in half-hour changes.
Everything must be made short, with
the exception, of course. of such pro-
grams as cannot be sent over the
air except 'as is i.e., an address by
the President, a symphony, etc.
As matter Of cold fact, a move
mont of symphony is too long for
radio broadcasting. In an auditorium
the listener is not fatigued. his
faculty of attention is not strained,
because he watches the players, has
this and that distraction from time
to time.
Listening over ear phones or to a
loud speaker makes tremendous de-
mands upon this faculty Of attention
a demand which broadcasters must
some time stop to consider.
The element of surprise-one OF
the largest in the theater-is almost
totally lacking in radio The news
papers print in advance the complete
programs, so that the listerner
knows exactly what he is going to
hear. Radio reception has none of
the charm of the comedy or of the
novel-looking forward to what is
coming next.
Finally, the question Of a sound
economic basis for broadcasting is
still very much 'up in the air." along
with the programs We all enjoy
But this question is too large q one
to be gone into here. All / care to
say is that until it is settled proper
ly, along sound financial lines, the
art of radio, as distinct from Its
science, will be seriously retarded in
its progress toward real superbroad-
casting.