The Washington times., 1928-01-10
| LISTENERS ARE
HEARD FROM

Loud speakers gave clear pro-
grams in good volume most of
last evening. There was the
usual interference-but again the
0henOmeIla OF two or more pro-
grams coming in clearly without
blurb or bIurr was heard. Code
again spread its dots and dashes
al over the dials.
Some weeks ago invitation was
extended radio listeners to make
themselves at home in our columns
and let us know what they thought
of programs, broadcasters-or what
ever they happened to have on their
minds. We will from time to time
publish letters in which the writer's
express their ideas in good snappy
fashion.
Here's one that completely fills
the biII-and that we're glad to
print:
Radio Editor. Washington Times.
As q subscriber to your papers
/ take exception to your uncaIled
for censure of the worlds premier
radio announcer. Phillips CarIin.
Banal" is mean word for h sin
ecure like yourself to use about
one who has been recognized by
the National BrOadcasting Com
pany as the best radio announcer
in the country, and IL would be
much sweeter of you to just say
thirty every time you feel that
way. iii You really must give
vent to these space filling re-
marks about ann0uncers, why not
work on less able opponents OF
the art-reaI Offenders?''
Very truly yours.
JAMES B. KING"
LISTENER WANTS
TIME.TRIED MUSIC
Another thoughtful listener seems
to have given some time to analyZ-
ing programs.
Radio Editor, Times:
In response to your invitation
to radio fans to express their
opinions as to programs, etc, /
have to say that my preference
is for talks and operate music
i do not care much for jazz. I
am giving below my idea Of what
would be right in the way of the
percentage of time allowance for
the different kinds Of radio enter
tainment:
Talks. news, educational, po-
Iitical, etc., Is per cent; plays,
dramatic criticism. etc, 10 per
cent: operate music and other
music that has stood the test
of time. 80 per cent, and jazz and
dance music, IS per cent.
THOMAS w. GILMER."
We hope there are many more
listeners who will express themselves
as freely and directly not only to
us but TO the broadcasters and art
lists as well.
For instance. there might be some
commentator given the Peoples
Home Orchestra for it's very good
concert or the Roxy Gang for it's
excellent presentation of condensed
version of Thu Merry Widow last
evening. Gladys Rice. Harold Van
DuZee and Douglas Stanbury were
the chief figures in the production.
The we'll presented program of the
A. and p. Gypsies likewise was well
worth hearing-with a variety Of
music presented in a most acceptable
fashion.
Seldom will listeners hear the
great prologue from ''Pagliacci"
sung as Tito Ruffo, baritone of the
Metropolitan Opera Company, sang
it for them Ia t evening during the
General Motors program. This ar
tist is one of the few whose superb
vocal equipment is under such per-
feet control that he can express to
the limit all the deeper meaning of
the poetry of the composers. In
the prologue he gives us exactly
what LeoncavalIo intended should
he given an AUDIENCE sketch of
the life of the players. their human
ness the pathos and tragedy Of
work and play. In his light Span
ish love song Ruffo displayed an
entirely different mood--and made
it clear and easily understood. In
the songs he presented with band
accompa niment he was Handicapped
by the band and a rather ragged
exhibition resulted.
Elsewhere and otherwise we'd &C.
claim the KIO MinstreIs from WLW
as one of the most entertaining of
the evenings programs. These per.
formances are regular Monday pro.
ducts and worth tuning.
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