The Washington times., 1928-11-13
BAL more now
LOCAL RADIO |
SOURCE |

There was Just bit of static
noise provided listeners to help
them test the new frequency
ALLEGATIONS and the efficacy OF
high mower last evening. Sta
tions with sufficient power be-
hind their brOadcasts were easily
tuned from all sections. There
was considerable interference on
the upper and lower frequencles
and much code.
The most outstanding feature OF
loud speaker on the second evening
of experiment with the new fire.
duency ALLEGATIONS output was the
ease with which Baltimore stations
were tuned and the volume and
clarity of their broadcasts. There
has always been good reception of
WBAL and. up to year ago.
WCAO was occasionally heard.
Last. night both OF these stations
burst forth with the volume OF
local broadcasts and added to them
was WFBR, on the lower ends Ok
the dials. which came through with
an excellent American Legion
Armistice program. IL this is an
evidence OF what listeners may ex-
pect during the coming season. and
as a result of the new WaVe.length
adjustments, Baltimore can not only
be removed from the dead spot
classification. but may be added TO
the available list of local stations.
COLUMBIA PRESENTATIONS
PLEASES LISTENERS
Three rather important entertain.
.k4a.. T. AIREl
various broadcasts We managed to
hear between experimental tunings.
The first of these, of course, was
the first Monday assortment of
weekly Columbia programs WMAL1
provided under its new status as a
big chain station. The United Cho-
raj Singers, the Music Room" con-
cert and the United Salon Orches-
ira provided three examples of ex-
cellent music, not only well in
terpreted but expertly directed and
introduced. The method OF present
ing the various features OF the
Columbia programs is far and
away better than that of the MAJ
tional Broadcasting Company's out.
put. The Columbia directors seem
to make q part of establishing
friendly relations with listeners and
to give definite idea of the i'm
port of the music to be provided
Fred and Dorothy Stone made
their debut as regular radio enter
tainers in a program sent over the
VIZ circuit of stations from Chi
cago, New York and New London,
Conn.,, under the auspices of the Au.
tomato Dish Washer concern. that
was fun of thrills and fair entertain
ment. The German Brothers-re-
membered in Washington as singers
OF news stories--were also features
OF the bill. The program was one of
those amazing three-cornered az
fairs, the main part of it coming
from Chicago and numbers being
introduced from there, but presented
IN New York and in New London.
1t was the latter place that provided
the Fred Stone part of it-that ia
NOUS comedian entertaining his
radio audience from his bed in the
hospital, where he has been since he
crashed in an airplane last August.
"NATOMA" FIRST
OF AMERICAN SERIES
The third prententious exhibition
came from WRC in the form of
Victor Herbert's opera, "Natoma." s"
produced as usual for the National
Broadcasting Company, without
apology or explanation, in place of
"Cavaleria," which had been an.
nounced for last night. In the pre-
sentation of this very colorful opera
the orchestra dominated, and we
fancy from the production the or
chestra would dominate any pro.
duction of it. The music is of
gorgeous coloring and brilliant ef-
feet. 1t flows in a strangely un.
even way, however, as to general
mood. In fact the failure of the |
opera to be given a place much OF |
its music deserves would seem to |
us to be traceable directly to it's |
failure 10 remain in a single atmos- |
phere.
The composer seemed to attempt |
too sudden switches from one type /
OF music TO another. although the !
quality OF the tone pictures in each |
mood was superb, often the words !
were so decidedly different that !
they did not seem to belong to the |
same classification. "Natoma" is |
the first of a series of American
operas by American composers to |
be presented with American singers
by the National Broadcasting Com.
pany. This is a, fine endeaVor and |