The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-06-20
Gillette NEW
RADIO STAR


Yes and no, maybe. are about
as good answers as one can think
40 in a hurry to the question Of
how tuning conditions were for
loud speaker addicts over the
weekend. Saturday evening there
were all sorts Of products from
dial twisting, the new wave
lengths bringing all sorts OF un.
expected things to the receivers.
Sunday was a BIT noisy and sta.
tons were more difficult to locate.
William Gillette, actor, playwright
and author, with the assistance of
Graham McNamee, registered him.
self in loud speakers last night with
the best bit of radio entertainment
we've had given us by WEAF or
any other broadcaster for months.
Likewise Gillett, if he is the author
OF the sketch that was used to
impress his personality on his audi
ence. has uncovered a form of
radio presentation in class all by
itself.
Informal and personal, the actor
author made his initial appearance
before a microphone one OF the
events of radio history by the in
formative way he went about the
business of allowing himself. not
only to be interviewed, but to have
his mental processes, his methods
OF making a play and his charm
Ing personality very openly exposed
30 that all who heard might under
stand. The whole affair was some
thing brand new and we hope there
will be more like 1t. Likewise Ne
hope Gillette has been infected by
the microphone germ and will try
to use his great dramatic sense to
develop the radio play.
Speaking of radio plays the Sec
ond impressive thing of the pro-
gram over the weekend was the
story of Samson and Delilah" as it
came from WEAF yesterday after
noon. OF course, the radio drama.
lists had opera to help them, In
addition to the usual Bible transla-
tions. But the fragment of biblical
drama was well done and it's mu-
steal setting from the opera we'll
chosen and put together.
DRAMA HEADS
MUSIC PROGRAM
The drama really dominated the
program for the two days, as a
matter of fact, although the two
specimens referred to are about ali
that remains In memory. However,
there was much music both even
tngs. The WRC program OF Sat-
nrday was a rather monotonoue
affair and hardly worthy of the
output Of so important a station.
There were but three items, a band
and two orchestras, after 7:30-and
they continued until after II.
The really high point musically
OF the week end was struck by the
last item in the last program of
Sunday evening-Father Firms
playing Of his own composition for
the organ, the st. Cecilia overture
with the medieval sextette singing
the choral sections. Father Finn
has the distinction of being one of
the ablest of Americas choir direc.
tors. the famous Paulist Choristers
being his chief work. He is little
known, outside of musical circles,
as a. composer and an organist-al-
though he very definitely proved
himself both by his radio activities
last evening.
The st. Cecilia overture is az
fine a bit Of sacred music az we've
heard and was presented in the
finished way one likes to remem.
ber having heard such things.
The American Singers were hardly
In their best form during the At.
water Kent program last night
or perhaps we should saw thew
were exhibiting their ability to
quartet intricately rather than sing
the English, Irish and Scotch
ballads on the bill. The one num-
Der they didn't exhibit with quartet
gestures was their last, loft i'm
the Silly Night" which was their
best. Elsewhere the travelogue
about Scotland and golf from WIZ
and the WBAL Sunday concert
seemed to be the most important
program items