Evening star., 1932-11-27
NRIZES for the years best
- radio programs, as a means
of stimulating radio sta

ANAGCo AOA 0h1C ySoA DCoV
- radio programs, as means
/ of stimulating radio sta
tions and the networks to
better work, are suggested by 0.
H. Caldwell, former Federal Radio
Commissioner and now editor of
several radio trade publications.
Pointing out that awards for
excellence among announcers al
ready have been set up and have
had great influence in raising die
ton standards, Mr.. Caldwell said
that broadcasting programs them
selves need such awards, which
would recognize merit in program
features and confer prizes for the
best programs in the public in
terest. He predicted that they
would have good influence on
broadcasters, advertisers and the
listening public.
Mr.. Caldwell suggested that the
Radio Manufacturers Association,
which is definitely interested in
broadcasting because it represents
set manufacturers, might well be
the donor of such awards. The
awards, he said, could be made
by a disinterested committee OF
distinguished laymen, not con-
nected with radio, but represent
ing a variety of Informed good
taste.
"Some $5O,0oO,OOO a year is now
being spent on broadcast adver-
tising," Mr.. Caldwell said. "The
only standards to guide the con-
tinuity writer's are the lower limits
set by the tolerance of listeners
and broadcasting stations as to
how much advertising the public
will stand for. But fund max
ing possible awards of distinction
and large cash prizes to the pro-
ducers Of the years best programs
considered from the public inter
! est would have incalculable 1nfiu-
ence in raising the standards OF
all programs"
TIM PAN ALLEYS jazz will
i eventually be absorbed by
more modern and expressive
music, in the opinion OF Nat Shil--
kret, the veteran conductor OF
popular and symphonic orcheS-
tras heard on the radio. Jazz,
however, will inf. uence modern
classic music in the meantime,
Shilkret adds, so that 1t should
not be deprecated as futile. He
recommends that all young peo-
pie between the ages Of IA and
"a should be given a means OF
musical expression.
To-day some of our younger
American composers are produc-
ing fine works in this idiom
(modern classic music)" says
Shilkret, "and since it, is still an
idiom, do not nip it in the bud
by mixing it with the Saccharine
Tin Pan. Alley ballads and call
them all the same. Learn to feel
it's native rhythmic impulses and
let it mature. 1t may and it must
do bigger things"
k%*
IRON a damp, dripping coal
L mine, a thousand feet under
ground to a captains cabin on
palatial ocean liner a thousand
miles out at sea is quite a con-
traSt.
Word reached Phillips H. Lord
at the National BroadcaSting Co.
that on the sea and under the
ground two groups of people were
Joining Seth Parker and his
Jonesport Neighbors in singing the
old-time hymns.
Capt. H. S. Bauer of the S. S.
President Van Buren writes:
Coming up the Guatemala
Coast on a beautiful moonlight
night in the Southern Seas we
heard you and the Jonesport folks
and the entire assembly in the
dining room joined in the singing
with you"
Joe Satagen, Canadian miner
writes, Were here down in the
lower shaft of the old mine .
1,026 feet down and say
maybe you don't think we fellows
don't enjoy your stuff that's
singing and us miners just
let right out on it, too"
IF the terms of the radio law
1 governing ALLEGATION Of station
facilities were rigidly invoked to-
day, practically the entire broad
casting spectrum would be plung-
ed into chaos and scores of sta
tionS forced from the air.
Latest statistics prepared by the
Federal Radio Commission dis
close wide disparities in the dis
tribution of stations, power and
hours of operation among the
stations and the radio zones into
which the country is divided. The
Davis amendment to the radio act
of 1927, the source of most of the
ALLEGATION disputes, calls for an
equal distribution, as nearly as
possible, of broadcaSting facilities
among the States according to
their population.
First of all, the commission
would have to delete from the air
the equivalent of at least 81
stations, each operating with
1000 watts power full time. That
is because the figures show that
the country is 81 units in excess
of the arbitrary quota of 400 units
established by the commission as