The Washington times., 1926-02-24
GARDNER MACK

4
idea is there shall be only one
lighting effect-and that. complete
darkness! And the intention is to
create something Of the tension and
thrill OF the melodramatic trick
drama that has its vogue on the
stage.
Sixteen radio stations in various
parts Of the country have enlisted
themselves in the experiment for
which Fred Smith, managing
director of the United States Radio
Society, and the editor OF Radio
Digest are jointly responsible. Bob
Casey, one of the worlds best news
paper reporters and star of the
staff of The Chicago News, III the
author Of the story. which is called
"A Step on the Stair and Smith
dramatized 1t. The only thing lack
ing in the advance notices regard
ing the drama is the time fer its
production or rather productions,
as it is to be a serial. Whatever
success attends the affair--ir Is AN
interesting experiment,
just because Handles Halle
lJjah" chorus ard Eyes. We Have
No Bananas" start with exactly
the same musical phrase to
achieve their. widely diverse re-
suits b no reason why trick
that worked on q darIKened stage
VIII also work in q darkened IiV-
ing room. The success Of the
trick nlelOdranla rests on the sud-
dem and unexpected assault It
makes on the nervous system
and frequently on the intelligence
--Of the audience. III the smash
ut the nerves Is more apparent
than that at the intelligence the
drama Is q Broadway success!
But II the audience shows Just
what Is coming and has actually
set the stage fer 1.-THE element
Of surprise Is lacking.
Plan Has Merit.
The plan has great merit how
ever. in that it is q step in the
direction we have ali OF us prayed
would be talxen--the development
Of something like radio form of
entertainment. And because woTY1-
en- and children and many, many
gown men who wouldn't admit 1t,
still get quite kick out OF the
explosion of a firecracker, the fuse
OF which they lighted and which
they placed in q certain position
to explode-in other words about
which they know all there is to
know about--save the volume OF
noise that will result. The greater
the volume of tl1at-the greater the
kick the planner Of It gets!
Just to show there is no partial
ity in these columns that the well
come, sign means just that, we're
hoping everybody will consider on
Its merits:
Pet Radio PeeVe No.
why knock the announcer?
Allow me in defense OF my con-
freres TO state that no announc-
\ er OF my clique has ever at
tempted to be more than back
ground of solid assistance. All
are attempting to assist in radio
progress. So why knock?
''NIicrophone Agitator."
The great bulk Of announcers
have sincerity in their effort
that makes 1t possible for US to
appreciate what they are trying to
do. But at this, the formative
stage Of radio, 1t would seem to be
the real function OF the audience
to tell them whether or not they
do it. And audiences are brutal III
their expression of opinion without
meaning to be SO. That goes for
any kind of an audience and Is one
of the things that kills the initia-
tive OF many sensitive soul who
Essays to give his heart throbs to
the world.
Every singer or writer, who
really thinks about what he's do
ing, knows that IL isn't what he
4n&&oznH0H IN NaWaO xuTsSko hNIt