Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-20
future IN DOUBT
FOR ANNOUNCER
Whether He viii Increase or
DwindIe in Importance
Still Unsettled.

EODllC interest III the STATUS VI AHC
radio announcer is growing in no
small degree, and the question of
whether the program of the future
will feature him or displace him Is q
subject for debate In every radio
household Opinions differ widely, but
views may he placed in two broad
classes-those who believe tho an
nouncer will gain in statute and
those who are firmly convinced his
Importance will dwindle TO position
of negligible significance.
Does the radio audience when 1t
settles down for a long evening with
the receiver want to hear the remarks
which the clever announcer inter
polates or does it simply want a few
notes on what is happening, allowing
the program itself to bear the brunt
of the task Of entertaining?
1t would seem that the nature of
the event scheduled must determine
the part the announcer should play.
That this will be the trend of the flu
ture seems a certainty, since the
whole business of radio entertainment
is growing increasingly intelligent.
Bore at Concert.
In other words. a clever announcer
is essential at foot ball game, a
base ball game, tennis match or
any big spectacle which needs thu
man" description. But at a concert
the unobtrusive announcer is worth
his weight in gold; the clever" gem
tleman is q bore and a nuisance.
A base ball game must be placed
IN the hands of a we'll equipped an
nouncer, adept at handling the right
words at the right time and with
vigor enough to put life into his de-
scriptions. But let this announcer
go at a concert in the same vein
and literally terrible situation Is
found.
Radio announcing of the future will
more nearly fit the occasion than 1t
has in the past. In the larger Gen.
ters this has been accomplished in
some measure, although there are
some glaring instances of tactless an
nouncing still to be found at these
points. The smaller stations are by
no means wholly at fault. In fact,
some of the announcing from the
country's low-powered stations often
seems superior TO that emanating
from the biggest transmitters.
Question Still Unanswered.
A new era in announcing is on the
way, but the question of the posi-
fion Of the radio announcer Of the
future still remains unanswered. And
1t will be for some time to come.
Nine Ernestine Schumann-H eink's
second appearance before the micro
phone in the Atwater Kent hour last
night was practically a repetition OF
her first broadcast last Winter. She
sang nine songs, concluding with a
brisk greeting to the radio audience
and the veterans in the hospitals.
In "Stille Nacht, Heilig Mach"
Nine. Schumann-Heink' voice was
clear. warm and well controlled. The
other songs were received with the
wonder and admiration for the
strength, vitality and richness Of the
voice that has sung so many times.
Two new singers-Clarence Him.
tenor, and Matilda Leitch-Jones, So
prano-will be presented by the
Emerson Ensemble, one of WRC's
studio features tonight. The second
appearance of the Star Radio Twins
also viii be made tonight at WRC.
This stations principal attraction of
New York origin viii hs the opera
Tales of Hoffman which viii be
sung by the usual WEAF cast under
Cesare Sodero's direction. WRC will
close its program with a concert by
appearing at local theater.
The congested ether channels well
coined four new broadcasters last
week, it was revealed today by the
Department of Commerce. Two old
timers suspended operations. how
ever, making a net gain Of two for
the week.
The new stations are WLBG, in Pc
ferSburg Va which is uSinp the
1928 meter band: WMBS, Harrisburg,
Pa, $50 meters; WBMC, Woodside,
n. Y, 1898 meters, and WMTIA, New
York City, 230 meters. The two
which signed off permanently are
WABQ, at Haverford, Pa, and
WHBG, at Harrisburg.
It's expensive business being a radio
pest. If people are not encouraged
TO join the radio ranks, sales volume
cannot be Observation-Disclosures are
fewer new things in the way of equip
ment and prices are higher.
A pest in a certain apartment keeps
his machine going all evening. 1t
matters not whether the speaker is
giving out good stuff or bad. Even
static seems welcome. Several neigh
bors who hear this every evening de-
clare they will never buy sets of their
own. This is unfortunate, chiefly be-
cause ii is no unnecessary.
The radio pest is like the motorist
who does fool things with his car. He
discOurageS others from buying ma.
chimes of their own or from using
1heir cars as much as they should. In
the end he is the one who has to
share the loss trough holding back
production.