Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-16
PRESIDENT TAKES
INTEREST IN RADIO
Control Action Is Credited
with Latest Aspect at
White House.

A new and unusual interest in radio
IS being manifested by President
Coolidge. Perforce. it was born of the
close contacts he has recently had
With radio, for by his own admission
he has only been a casual fan here
tofore, despite the fact that the White
House is equipped with a splendid re-
ceiving set.
1t is Mrs. Coolidge who is the real
fan, he once told newspaper men.
She likes to sit and listen to the radio
while knitting. She likes musical pro-
grams of the better sort, and 1t Is said
she even shows a prediction for GER
tain political addresses. The Presl'
dent himself often listens in on what
may be said about him over the radio,
and occa sionally on musical programs.
But on the whole President Coolidge
confessed himself as being far from an
ardent fan. He did not recommend his
comparatively apathetic attitude to-
ward radio to others, for he saw in II
"a wholesome influence in American
life. But It was simply matter of
personal preferences, in which the
First Citizen and the First Lady of
the land stood somewhat contraSted.
The new interest President Coolidge
is evincing in radio has to do largely
with the Federal control authority
which has been set up to iron out the
difficulties in broadcasting and to
regulate and administer radio in the
future.
Standing back of the Federal Radio
Commission. President Coolidge has
promised that the White House will
cooperate fully with it in the task
before it. Before holding their first
formal meeting since their appoint
inent by the President, several weeks
ago, the four of the five members OF
the commission, who are in Washing
ton, called at the White House and
received assurances Of President Cool
idge's interest in their work and faith
in their qualifications.
All but Admiral Billiard, chairman
of the commission, who is on his way
back from China, were present at the
conference. AS President Coolidge
views the current radio problem which
the commission must solve, it Is to
protect the public interest while chart
ing the future course to be taken by
radio broadcasters. Capital invested
IN. radio broadcasting must not be i'm
paired as q matter of equity, in his
opinion, but at the same time the in
terest of the listener Is uppermost.
sThe new interest of President Cool
idge is a natural growth. Not only is
the commission responsible to him
but he himself has become one of the
most important Of all radio speakers.
He scarcely makes any speech now
that Is not broadcast. He has the dis
tfnction of having spoken to perhaps
the largest audience ever to listen in
on a radio address in his recent Wash
ington anniversary speech from the
Capitol, which went out over a hook
up of AZ boardcasting stations. Some
10000, 900 persons In this country were
estimated to have heard that speech,
besides many as far away as Europe
and Australia.
The first of a new series of pro.
grams to be known as "The Balkite
Cycle of Romance" will be broadcast
tonight by WRC in conjunction with
other stations of the "red" network
of the National Broadcasting Co. This
program is designed as a continuation
of the Balkite offerings which termi
mated last Saturday.
Very fittingly, the first step in 'The
Cycle of Romance will be presented
In the guise of Spring. The program
will be presented by an orchestra, to-
gether with a soprano and baritone
soloist.
The WEAF Light Opera Co. will
give WRC's program, a prelude to the
observance Of St. Patrick's day, by
singing 1.-THE Lily Of Killarney" the
story of which was taken from the
Dion Boucicault Irish drama. Colleen
Bawn."
eProminent among wRC's other at.
fractions are the weekly resume OF the
political situation in Washington by
Frederic William Vile, a concert by
the Army Band, the weekly enter
tainments of the Smith Brothers, the
Ipana TroubadourS and the Davis
Saxophone Octet.
Radio reception last night again APP
preached the ideal. While fading
seemed to be more prevalent than on
Monday night and quite few hetero.
DIVINE whistles were produced, the I'M
INSTRUCTED signals, regardless Of their
origin. came through with exceptional
clarity and volume.
XII, Los Angeles, was heard for
the second successive night at 1lA6
o'clock, when a string quartet played
Mendelssohn's Song Without Words"
other stations picked up included
wCCO. Minneapolis-St. Paul; KRLD,
Dallas, Tex; excl. Toronto, Canada;
WOK, Chicago; WKRC, Cincinnati,
and WIN, New York.
An opportunity to see as well as
hear broadcasting is arranged as a
special feature of the Industrial ex-
position of the Chamber of Commerce
tonight at the Washington Audito-
rum. Station WMAL will establish
its studio on the stage and give pub
licly a two-hour program.
Opening with a brief address by
NJ. A. Leese, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce, the program will
include the following entertainment
numbers: Dance music by McWn-
liams' City Club Syncopators; offer
ings by Bell and Christie, popular
Washington entertainers: a group Of
selections by Mrs. Walter +. Hilton,
soprano: Dorothy Sherman Pierson,
soprano and Mrs. Paul Bleyden. con-
cert pianist musical program by the
Hawaiian Melody Boys, comprising
Melvin Henderson. Clinton NJ. Rollins,
Charles Baum and Woodville Brown.
An organ recital by Mrs. Nell Paxton.
organist, will close the entertainment
feature. Mrs. Paxton is giving a re-
cital each evening of the exposition.