Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Still one of the best things about a
1t on.
Not even an electric light goes out
more completely than q radio when you
snap the switch.
ladies and gentleman" roars the
speaker, the destinies Of this great re-
pub"
Click!
The 'lic" never gets out. The click
of the switch takes its place, at least
it does IN our home, and no doubt in
thousands Of others.
Radio listeners, in general. may be
divided into two great classifica tons.
those who prefer music, and those who
like talking best.
The extremists never listen to any,
thing except their favorite sort.
Some listeners turn from station to
STATEN, to md the speeches, plays,
skits. and so on.
Others deliberately turn of even the
snnouncers, and roam the air seeking
music. pure music, the more pure the
better.
Now. there is no reconciling these
two extremes The music devotees do
not understand the CAB fans. and the
latter say they get tired OF music.
Just why those addicted to plays and
the like do not now and then turn to
music is q mystery to those who like
nothing better than q good orchestra.
H. has been noticed by many OF the
latter that some of the adherentS OF the
opposite camp will endure singing
which is merely the human voice in
action.
Devctees OF music are willing to Ad
NIT that their opponents have been
growing in numbers during recent
years.
The broadcast!ng stations, at least,
seem to think they are, for they have
increased the time OF speeches end
plays on the air. and have popped up
numerous straight musical offerings
with voice solos and the like.
We talked to che Of these dyed-in-
the-wcol opponents of the human voice
on radio the other day. and this is what
he had TO sly about the matter.
! whether he vas right or not we do not
know.
II think" he said. that the real
reason why so many people search all
over the dial for talk is that they
understand talk better than they do
music.
They ere used to speech. 1t Is
something they use themselves every
day. and they know little or nothing
about music.
"A large section OF the human family
is under the curious impression that
music Is matter of vast knowledge,
rather than Of great enjoyment.
They have imbibed the hocuS-pocus
Of many players. who. in order to I'M
press their fellow humans. have gone
to some pains TO play up the study snd
mental concentrs ton OF the artist
An that is very good, but only the
players are interested in their struggles
What the listener wants is music. and.
II he gets 1t. ne is not much concern ed
whether those who give 1t to him had
. hard time or not.
~
ct always have had an impression
that those who cannot get enough OF
! the talking voice over radio are good
honest folk who have net been around
much. and who have yet to get their MI
Of plays and the like.
mo human being, 1t seems to me, who
has been surfeited with banquets. for
instance. until he hates the very sight
of q toastmaster, would be willing to
sit at home and listen to after dinner
speeches over radio.
But IT. takes all sorts OF human be-
ings to make up the world. OF course.
and he who has not attended many
banuuets may get great thrill out OF
being there over the air.
And of course the switch on your
set works both wAvs.
If you love speeches and radio plays