The Washington times., 1933-09-13

hardly fail to give more The rich amateur fortified
by technical experts is not danger and If the young
men only create such programs please themselves
they be of at least fair break. From what
the station say the current programs please no
one; even the sponsors being bit worried. AS for
l can add bit employ Ring Lardner as critic,
editor, and Dictator providing him with an electrical
machine which will silence for six months, anyone he
does not like
Restricted Songs
About orchesras and sketches and stunts, any group
with intelligence do great DEAL but on the SUBJ
Ject of popular the hands of the owner OF the
station and of the sponsor to be tied The music
publishers and the composers ao protest that radio
kills their wares, by too constant repetition; but the
sponsors apparently do not dare to offer program
without the latest hit and the publishers do not dare
refuse permission to play it. The result is that songs
phonograph records, and the music business IS IN
pathetic state.
Again I suggest that the publishers and composers
have remedy in their hands if they are powerful
enough to it: they ration their music. If they
really resist the fattery of hearing their
often that other listeners grow SICK if they want the
life of song to be heightened, if profit comes
from sheet music and records by keeping the song
alive longer time, let them say, Stormy Weather on
the Delta Is the Time for Love Under the Mountain
Moon" shall be played than 62 times day,
instead of the normal 582 times day. Let sponsor
have it Tuesday and an orchestra on alternate Thurs
day evenings.
Look at the Knobs
One of the great disasters of the old movies
due to the BUSINESS of the movie magnates they
so busy that they never looked at the which
their instrument; they left that to getting
$1OO week while they themselves earned $4,000. The
thing seems to be happening in the radio; the
broadcasters too busy with the mcrophone to look
at the receiving apparatus, and they have not yet
learned the simple truth that by wise provision of
nature, the radio receiver has little knob which,
being turned, eliminates station and turns an
other Even more wonderful another little knob turns
the whole thing off entirely.
When they learn about these little knobs it will only
be matter of 10 years before they arrive at reason
able conclusion which is that good program good
enough to carry bad program half an hour later.
good program may carry the last two minutes OF the
preceding program and if the listener is absentminded
may carry the first three minutes of the following
oadcast: but if Shaw and Mussolini and Fred Allen
and Ed Wynn and Ray Knight entertained from station
OOOF at 80 would not stay on that station 10 sec
onds at u.s. out of gratitude or loyalty, when the
usual run of radio began. Nor am l exceptional; l
have actually people turn their radios OFT the
moment sketch advertisement began.
Who Listens? And How?
In many European countries the situation different
There is onlv one station which is controlled
bv the government; and for turning the radio off
altogether you pay such for the thing in the first
place that you want to get your moneys worth. Some
of the programs infinitely more intelligent than
ours as lacking sponsors the controllers OF radio are
under compulsion to appeal to the lowest lnteIll-
gence and of the programs definitely duller
One Briton, himself radio engineer was enchanted
with the liberty of political opinion the air; several
Europeans have spoken of the gaety and brightness
of our programs But of these enthusiasts has sat
through IL hours of broadcasng from single station
That privilege is reserved for the receponsts in the