Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
YULE RADIO HOURS
PREPARED AHEAD
Christmas Week On Air Is
Called High Spot of
the Year.
BY WILLIAM S. PALEY,


President, Columbia Broadcasting system.
Radio can properly count its birth
days by Christmases. Christmas pro-
grams, no doubt, reach to greater
heights of inspiration on the part of
their directors than any other presen-
tations during the year.
The season leading up to Christmas
is one OF increasing anticipation and
In the program departments of the
broadcasting chains program makers
rise to the occasion.
Neither time, nor energy, nor expense
Is considered when, early in November,
the program, continuity and artist
bureau departments begin their prep
arations for Christmas week, that high
spot of the year-Christmas eve and
Christmas day. Beginning with the
inpelling Cathedral hour. at o'clock
this afternoon, the spirit of the best
talent before and behind the micro
phone in the Columbia Broadcasting
System will carry through a series of
programs for Christmas week, 1929,
which will be climaXed by Charles Dick
ems inspired "A Christmas Carol" at
midnight, heralding the birth of Christ
mas day.
Dickens Story In Drama.
Dickens immortal story will be
dramatized with the full facilities and
talent of the Columbia BroadcaSting
System, under the direction of julius
Seebach, program manager. with a
beautifully conceived continuity by Don
Clark, continuity director. Musical
scores have been adapted by Howard
Barlow. director of Columbias SYM
phony orchestra.
So electric was the response to Co.
IIT1hiQ < Christmas nf 1909
under the direction of Mr.. Seebach.
that Columbia's telephone system was
literally paralyzed for hours after the
rendition of the program and the VOL
un1e Of kilograms and letters which
poured in for days indicated to Column
bia that repetition in character Of
the 1928 program would touch the
heart-strings of radio listeners more
deeply than any other program which
might be devised.
The midnight service of the Column
bia system, emanating from its key sta
ton. WABC, will begin with an organ
carol, in which the symphony of the
great mixed chorus will blend into
renditions of sacred Christmas music.
Special Morning Service.
On Christmas morning Around the
Christmas Tree" is conceived for the
younger folks who, with their elders,
gathered around their own Christmas
trees, will be entertained with special
continuity to accentuate holiday cheer.
An especial radio service then will be
broadcast from the Washington Cathe-
dral over the Columbia network.
The Yuletide of 1929, believe, on
the whole will be joyous celebration
of happy people. Recent stock mar
ket disturbances for a time threatened
to diminish the cheer of this approach
ing Christmas. Stock in trade quickly
was taken by a cheerful people, the
national administration quickly halted
a trend toward pessimism, and now,
having taken stock and found that in
duStry and finance are stable, our Opti-
mism is quickened, and we stand ready
to march forward into a sounder eco
nomic period
We Americans customarily are quick
to overcome danger. The element
which most particularly endangered
our national economic well-being was
psychological. Had we been allowed to
drift along after the severe shake-up
might now be gripping us.
Used to Calamity.
Fortunately, we possess a leader who
long has been accustomed to deal with
calamity. He did not get panicky, and
the essence OF MS program was TO pre-
vent the country from getting panicky
Leaders in banking: commerce, labor
and industry foregathered in Washing
ton and programmed not only a recov-
cry from the national cloudy state of
mind, but the progress of prosperity
which even now forebodes 1880 of
opportunity for every one with the will
to put his shoulder to the wheel and
win.
e.
spirit in which there are no serious
underlying qualms; with our shoulders
squared, with our eyes bright and our
countenances cheerful. Radio Will add
its usual charm to the peoples enjoy
ment of this Christmas. Merry and
gay, the programs of Christmas week
will be further contributing factor
in the plan for happy and prosperous
people to be thinking and acting with
OY1tinoiSr1 and OaOd rhoor