Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01
EVERY STATE NOW
CAN TALK OVERSEE
Radiophone Service Covers
U. S., England, Scotland
and Wales.

Slowly and surely. though rather
unobtrusively. the Transatlantic radio
phone service has been extended. until
today every State in the Union and all
OF England. Scotland and Wales are
served by the telephone broadcast ana
land-wire arrangement.
The first formal conversation be
tween San Francisco ana London,
nearly 1000 miles apart, took place
Saturday. Although experimental
talks had previously been made over
this radiotelcphone relay. this one
opened the service to five Western
States-California, Oregon. Washing
ton, Nevada and Arizona-and COM
pleted the extension of the service TO
the entire United States.
1t was 9:05 am. in San Francisco
when IL. ID. Pillsbury, president Of the
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.
conversed over the connection with
Col II. Z. Shreve, representative or
the American Telephone & Telegraph
Co. at London, where it was sos pm.
sFr. Pillsbury had just finished his
breakfast Col. Shreve had shortly
before had his afternoon tea.
Both in New York and London salts
faction is expressed in official quarters
that the service has come to stay. but
there is reluctance TO speak of the
possibilities of farther-fiung radio
broadcasts and pick-ups in order TO
eliminate part Of the land wires. That
is part Of the future promise OF RADIO.
q promise that carries with It the Ike
uhood of reduced rates for this service
There is now being considered the
extension of the cable and land-w1re
part OF the radiophone service to the
continent of Europe. A test converse
ton between New York and Frank.
fort-on-Main, in Germany. through the
medium of London. was quite success
ful. The French communications
service, a government agency there.
is considering Paris-toNew York
connection, which at this time neces-
garily would also have to be made
through London. France has begun
work on cable circuits which will per
nit Paris to talk with Madrid. Stock
holm, Berlin. Budapest. Vienna. War.
saw and. perhaps Moscow. and French
officials have expressed the belief that
these circuits might well he connected
UP with the radiorhone relay to the
United States.
The present United States British
Isles service has a basic rate OF $75
for three minutes of conversation be-
tween New York and London. Five
zones have been established for rate
charges TO Great Britain. The basic
rate applies to the Eastern zone, which
includes the New England States.
New York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland and the District
Of Columbia. The rate for each of the
successive zones inland Is 81 minute
more.
Another humorist Of the printed
mage comes TO agitate the micrOphone
with his stock of laugh inspirations
In the person of Irwin S. Cobb, who
will be master OF ceremonies on to-
nights Eveready hour. one OF WRC's
outstanding attractions. While the
sponsors OF this weekly radio hour
have failed to announce IN advance
the complete program for the event,
Mr.. Cobb undoubtedly Will tell some
OF the choice stories for which he Is
famous.
Aside from the appearance or the
humorist, WRC has scheduled q pro-
gram that will run the gamut OF
radio features from a bridge game to
q "blues" singer. The bridge game,
the twentieth in the radio series, Will
come from New York, as usual, but
the 'blues" singer is a Washington
product Miss Shirley Peake by name.
Not since Kate Smith left to join a
theatrical company in New York has
WRC broadcast the efforts of a singer
Of this type of songs.
The Catholic University Glee Club
and a musical journey with the Busy
Bee" are other attractions of local
origin. WRC will import from New
York, however, in addition to other
numbers. the weekly program OF the
Jolly Buckeye Bakers and dance
music by Vincent Lopez and his IA
nous orchestra.
Grace La Rue. late of the "Music
Box Revue" company, who is dis
playing her talent at local theater
this week, is the star of the Movie
Club Hour" which will come as a
climax to WMAL's program tonight.
Supporting her will be number or
other professional entertainers. includ-
ing Gus Mulcay, self-styled harmonica
''vitruoso," and the Elton Collegians,
songsters from the British Isles.
WMAL also has scheduled a, return
engagement for Elizabeth Jordan, so
prano, whose initial effort before the
Ynicrophone of this station, about a
month ago provoked a demand for an
encore and a concert by the Army
Band Symphonet. There Will be two
talks-one by Charles w. DarT. vice
president Of the Washington Chamber
Of Commerce and the other by DIR. r..
f. Slosson, director Of science service.
who has some predictions concerning
the advent of a new coal age.
Radio reception fuctuates like the
weather these days. Sunday night it
was a. good as the most ardent fan
could desire. but last night it began
degenerating again. There seemed to
be something in the atmosphere be-
sides static that weakened the signals
and detracted from their usual clarity.
Static, too. appeared to be voluminous
for such q crisp, cold and clear night.
Despite these adverse conditions. it
was possible TO bring in many Of the
Out-of-town stations with some degree
of satisfaction. Picking up the more
distant ones. however, was difficult
indeed.