Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03


- and other radio perform
ers need swelter no more
while addressing radio au-
diences Of the Columbia Broad
casting System locally from
WNdAL.
A refrigerating plant has been
installed In Columbia's Capital
studio to cool the room, which
must be kept almost air tight be-
cause of street noises, and the
problem hitherto faced by public
figures of remaining comfortable
while delivering naicrophone ad-
dresses is ended.
"The need of the cooling system
was demonstrated on a partlcu-
larly hot night recently, when a
dirnified Senator discussing an
Important national issue literally
removed his shirt" said Harry c..
Butcher, director of the Washing
ton office. This incident deter
mined us to try and make things
comfortable for our speakers.
The apparatus washes and cools
the air in a manner similar to the
cooling plants in the House and
senate chambers and in the ex-
ecutive offices at the White House.
Another distinctive feature of Co
lunbia's Washington studio is
the cornstalk flooring. The walls
are of double thickness, with g.
inch air spaces, making the
studio practically soundproof.
HARRY HANSEN, who presents
II the Book Parade" over
WABC and the Columbia Broad
casting network every Thursday,
will take the month of August
for a vacation. He says he is go
ing to spend the while time read
ing.
A BOARD his yacht Electra,
"A Guglielmo Marconi, who made
radio practical, still carries on his
experiments, working daily to
push his development Of wireless
still another step onward.
Isolated though he is from land,
he is in more intimate touch with
the world generally than millions
living in cities. He sits at his
telephone transmitter, and from
the Mediterranean talks with
Australia, North and South Amer
lea. Asia and all of Europe.
Marconi's yacht is his home.
With him travels his life, the for
mer Countess Bezzi-Scah. He sold
his home in Rome when he pur-
chased the Electra. This was just
after the war. Since then the in
ventor has spent the major por-
ton of his life aboard ship.
Few realize the part played by
the Electra in the development of
wireless. The man in New York
who listens to radio program in
Chicago-does he know that Mar
coni's experiments on the high
seas are partly responsible for his
entertainment?
In April, 1928, Marconi began
experiments on short-wave trans
mission aboard the Electra. Out
of them sprang beam wireless"
which concentrates radio waves
in one direction rather than per-
hitting them to leave the antenna
In an overwhelming circle.
This is just one of the few ac-
compliShmentS in which the yacht
laboratory has played an impor-
tant part, including one of the
most recent in which the inventor
conducted two-way conversation
from the Mediterranean with
America as Nation OF listeners
were tuned in via country wide
broadcast chain.
Kings and queens and princes
and princesses of England, Italy
and Spain have visited the Elec-
ira. Their autographed photos
hang in the salon. Nearby is a
photo of Pope Plus xI, with a
blessing to the inventor.
The radio room is large cabin
so filled with apparatus that 1t is
almost impossible to move about;
the adjoining room contains the
radiotelephone.
THE Swiss do not like the Amer
lean word "broadcasting" and
are seeking a substitute, accord
ing to DR.. S. Guggenheim, a mem
Der of the board of directors Of
adio-Genossenschaft, the Swiss
broadcasting company.
NINE. LOUISE HOMER, veteran
" Metropolitan Opera contralto
and concert artist, who has again
accepted appointment as men,
Der of the sponsoring committee
for the National Radio Addition,
sees in these competitive audi
lions definite encouragement for
the advancement Of music in this
country.
MY enthusiasm on the subject
of the National Radio Addition, "
she writes, "is unbounded. The
amazing interest in music, which
the additions have aroused in all
parts of the United States, from
the largest cities to the tinieSt
hamlets, is revealing. 1t shows
how much material there is just
waiting to be used and longing to
be used, but which would go I'M
recognized if not brought to light.
Under the plan that the At
water Kent Foundation has orig
mated, young singers are heard
by very large public before they
have finished their education.
They attain a certain degree of
recognition, and this, of course,
gives them a confidence and hope
which could not otherwise exist.
It also gives them tremendous
experience, which in itself helps
them to discover their own pos
eibilities and resources.
This is accomplished for all the
tens of thousands of contestants
I.ybo +ake mart each one of whom