Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-15
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

Every announcer, then, ought to
have his voice tested for tone quality
before he is allowed to assume the re-
sponsibiiiues of the Job.
If he comes over" with a CRATE. a
| rasp or a gargle. ne ought to he given
some other position, no matter how
much he knows about music or how
we'll he likes the sound of his own
voice.
If an announcer knows all music
from Palestrina to Berlin. and has not
| A smooth, pleasant voice, he has
| nothing. He may know how many
symphonies Beethoven wrote and be
filled with anecdotes about the great
musicians. but II he has q disagree
able habit of suddenly hurting into
the microphone, he should be sternly
Withdrawn.
If he forgets that he is merely q
sort OF audible printed program, and
insists on regaling us with inside
stuff" that does not interest US a. bit,
he should be made to walk the plank.
He ought to be tested for normal
pronunciations.
If he finds II necessary to plead
with hearers to send letters of con-
graduation to performers, he should
be regarded with acep suspicion.
And if he continues to tell lis, after
every number. how much we have en-
joyed it, then truly he should be
given the air"-but strictly in the
old slang meaning, not in the broad
cast one.
Do you remember tho old wax
photograph records, each melody pre-
coded by a voice that said
Edison record. The ballet music
from William Tell, played by the
Um-tee. I'm Band"
Well, modern radio broadcasting
station announcers have always re-
minded me of that unknown gentle
man who performed before the Ia nd
got under way.
II would be interesting and novel
# some station would put an an
nouncerless program on the air some
evening. Let the hard working fellow
have a rest, and permit the perform
ers TO take the air inst they arc,
without one plea in their behalf
SilenCe-then the music OF a piano,
then voice. Silence--then tax
mot over minutesl. Silence-then a
dance orchestra. ] do not say ".
would like il. but simply submit that
the thing would be an interesting eA-
pertinent. If nothing more.
probab We would go back to our
announCers with more appreciation Of
heir work. and more regard for their
handling Of a difficult task.
The ideal announcer. il would seem.
Is cultured man with a smooth,
pleasant voice. who makes his an.
nounCements as brief a. consistent
with the giving of proper information,
and who knows when 10 ruit
The man who knows when II stop
talking,
He is indeed, 4 wonderful person.
Most men like TO hear the sound If
their own voices, so one Canno' ey.
actly blame q preacher when he {, lis
too long, or a politician when he
waves the flag and roarS for hours
~ time, OF the broadcast announcer
who finds Ii necessary To TALK and
talk and talk
A year ago. in this column. there
were presented some views on r.dio
hroadCastinE in which our genlIl
friend Roxy was CRITICIZED for tal'.in>
too much. The writer does not thirl;
Tor minute that what he aaid in.
fluenced Roxy u cut down on his
chatter, but the fact is that MS an.
nouncenerts are much more restrain.
cd than formerly. md consequently
more pleasing.
Is not the truth simply his. thai
what any honest man thinks sincere
ly is likely to he thought H. a great
many people, and that IN the end tnis
view, if true. will prevail?
So with the problem OF the an
rouncers in general. Radio j. a new
thing, and the. announcer l. SLOWLY
hndinG his place. Some Of them-mozt
~ them-haNe found il: hut . few