Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
"'Grahafn
OTHING is more interesting in
the life of a radio broadcaster


VI than his mail, for 1T registers
4 with the precision of a barom-
eter the taste and temper OF
his public. Many of the letters I re-
ceive, chiefly as a result OF these
articles, contain questions. Since some
of them may be of general interest, it
occurred to me to publish them, an
swcred to the best of my ability. My
first attempt appears today.
When I read in the papers again the
other day about radio chess games !
began to check up on sports, indoor
and outdoor, which have been broad
cast. It seems that golf and yachting
are about the only important pastimeS
to which radio has not turned its atten-
ton. I have been asked several times
why golf has never been broadcast. The
answer is obvious, and I am confirmed
in this by golfing authorities. Golfers
wouldn't like radio announcerS littering
up the course and perhaps standing
near the tee and describing the stance
and the stroke. Any one who has been
whisper just at the critical moment of
his friends drive knows all about this.
Wigwag System Possible.
Mechanically, che broadcasting of golf
would be by no means impossible, and I
have heard recent discussions which
lead me to believe that it may yet be
done. AS shown in covering aviation
meets, considerable mobility is now pos
Sib!e with microphoneS placed on trucks,
and I am sure it would be quite easy
to devise a means of announcing golf
matches without interfering with the
players. AS matter of fact, it would
be easily possible for person following
in the gallery to wigwag descriptions of
shots to a person placed next to a
microphone on some elevation in view
from the course This would not in
volve a complicated signal code; in fact,
any Signal Corps man, with one of his
mates on the receiving end, could do 1t
easily. I have often thought I should
like to broadcast an important golf
match. Golf has o. world of color and
picturesque detail. Naturally, since it
1t Is one Of the last to look toward
broadcasting. However, believe that
it will eventually be done.
Races Are "Top Hole"
Last week I was at the Derby at
Louisville, at beautiful Churchill Downs,
on the banks of the Ohio. Here we are
now at Indianapolis for the automobile
races. For broadcasting purposes they
are top-hole affairs, both of widespread
national interest, but of vastly different
appeal. I get two entirely different
thrills out of these events, and it is hard
to tell which makes my blood beat
faster. The great horse-racing classic
is, Of course, richer in associations.
remember when was a boy and saw
the old melodrama THE Sporting
Duchess" or something like that, there
was an ecstasy never found again when
the brown mare, Daisy, won the race
in the third act and thwarted the rich
and lifted the mortgage
off the family estates. To the average
American this boyish elation turks in
the background of horse racing.
On the way to the stands find my
self fairly pop-eyed with excitement
over little odds and ends which it is
to crowd into microphone
with a heavy traffic of more important
details. Here is an old railbird named
Jake Pemberton. You could take any
horse you please, blanket him from hts
hoofs to his ears and lead him out in
a fog In dim, early morning light, and
let Jake watch him take about four
PAGES, and Jake will tell you everything
there is to be known about him. Here
are checkers and touts-you will find
the same crews always at Louisville,
Bowie, New Orleans, Tia Juana or Havre
de Grace-who carry more minute sta
tistics In their heads than the president
Of the European Preparations Commits
sion. = .,,., -. :. ..s-.-.s-., ,.s.ssss., ID
Auto Races Breath Taking.
or course, this rush and roar of rae
ipu al1tnrnniai1oS iQ Qh0ilf the most