Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-24

the burden of the theme and III,
spoken word is used simply to con
meet and smooth out the episodes
We all have become accustomed to
associating certain songs, certain
musical selections, with definite pc
RODS in our lives or in history.
These associations are about the
same with most of US. Thus, the
continuity writeNln take the songs,
waltzes and marches of particular
period and weave a story of his own
making into them. This method was
used in the preparation of the "Old
Snowman" which was also present
ed by the "Eveready Group" The
story told in this program was that
of reunion of two old bachelors
who had been "frst-nighters" for
two decades or more in New York;
the story of an evening of reminisc-
ing over old stage celebrities and
deathless old stage songs. 1t liter
ally took many of its listeners back
to the music halls and the theaters
of a generation ago and revived for
them warm old friendships and
pleasant memories.
OF course, the success Of both
types of program depend upon the
judgment of the writer's and the mu-
steal directors in determining what
can and cannot be portrayed through
the microphone, and also upon the
skill OF the artists selected to pre-
sent the story. The artists must not
only be able TO sing and play, but
they must have considerable knowl-
edge OF dramatics. The entire pres
entation must go on the air so that
the average listener will understand
clearly without actually seeing any
thing. Voices, words, music and oc-
casionally such mechanical appli-
ances as wind machines" and
thunder Sheets" must perform p
more faithful portrayal in the radio
continuity program than they were
ever called upon to perform upon
the legitimate stage. And some
times dead silence, a pause, must
convey the most important part Of
the story.
But, then, difficult as this may
seem at first thought, it is in reality
something for which the human
mind has been preparing for genera
tons. All our ages of literature and
art have developed our imaginative
senses to a remarkable degree. We
have had to exercise the Imagination
more and more as civilization has
advanced The very progress Of the
races has demanded it. And this
new trend in radio broadcasting,
this depicting of life and adventure
through the microphone is . natural,
logical trend.
In radio circles the continuity type
OF program is known as the "fore-
ground" program. while the straight
program made up Of various instru-
mental, vocal or orchestral mum bers,
with only station announcers nam
ing each selection and artist as theys
appear, is known as the back
ground" program. One demands
your undivided attention while it is
in progress just as you give 1t in a
theater where 4 visual story is being
unfolded; the other may be a part
of dinner program or the lighter
moments OF an after-dinner discus
sion.
Doubtless there will always be
background" programs, just as there
will always be vaudeville shows and
movie news reels. But critics are
predicting that the great trend in
radio will follow the foreground"
type. Ten years hence the night air
will be full Of tales of love and ad-
venture and intrigue, told to the
strains of interpretive music. With
in few years, perhaps, we may +,
able to see by radio and millions of
fans will then sit quietly at home
and both see and hear plays as they
are enacted in elaborate broadcast.
ing stage studios.