Evening star., 1933-03-12

later for the popular programs
and dance music. After 10 the
audience to be favored Is largely
the class from IS to IS years
of age"
What do these "ags classes"
like most? This executive thinks:
Children between 8 and 8 20
for the tongue-twisting songs,
humorous stories Of 'goops' who
do all sorts Of ridiculous things
and limitations of their older
brothers and sisters. Between 8
and IA they like mystery dramas,
detective stories and Wild West
sketches. Old folks like the
revery type OF program-old
songs, hits of bygone days, per-
haps a hymn or two. Young
people Like dance music and
comedy"
It is the opinion Of this execu-
tive that various stages Of life
should be entertained with pro-
grams Of their own at the most
advantageous times" But to
please all Of the people all of the
time-that is an impoSsibility.
The saving feature of radio Is
that any one can tune out any
thing he dislikes, and, at least
II he lives in a big city, he Is
fairly assured of being able to
tune in something he likes from
another station.
vXIAY back In radios earliest
w days, when two stations con-
stituted network, and any re-
ceiver other than a crystal was
a proof Of affluence, the ether
waves carried the wise e-cracks
and smart music Of Ben Bernie,
the favorite "Old Maestro" and
his famous orchestra, who are
now in Washington for q theatri-
cal engagement.
Not only were the gags there,
but many of them were the same
ones that Bernie is using today
the same ones that charm radio
audiences and that are tickling
the funny-bones Of theatrical
audiences.
Back in 1922, when radio was
a new thing, we were on the air."
said Bernie. But nobody seemed
to know it. I'd 60 to the Lambs
Club afterward and ask them if
they'd heard the broadcast and
they'd look dumb and say, DO
those radios actually work? My,
oh. my!'
I'VE were on two stations; then
four; then six. Say, when we
got up to 18 stations we thought
We ruled the world. And now
look.
I'VE stayed on the air pretty
regularly. And it wasn't until
along about 1880 that we sudden
ly discovered that our stuff was
taking Then we found that
people had heard us. They
started commenting on what we
played or said. And a lot of
things that I say now are taken
as brand-new-yet some of them
are gags used way back in 1922.
Imagine!"
A MINOR. question facing Secre-
IA tary of the Navy Swanson
but one which has aroused con-
siderable feeling in radio circles
is whether he will maintain the
ban placed upon the broadcasting
of Navy and Marine Band pro-
grams over the national networks.
The taboo was ordered by former
Secretary Adams just before he
quit his of1ice. His order. it Is
understood, was prompted by
objections from musicians unions
that the use of the bands for
radio programs deprived union
musicians of work.
The action was defended by
former Representative La Guardia
of New York, but was bitterly op-
posed by Representative Britten
of Illinois, ranking Republican
member of the House Naval
Affairs Committee. The War De-
partment did not ban the use Of
the Army Band by radio.
1t was charged in Congress that
the networks we're reaping undue
profits from the use of the mill
tary bands, which have been
broadcasting an average of about
IA hours a week. The networks
have not replied formally to the
charges, but have pointed out
that the bands have never been
sponsored commercially and have
always been used as sustaining
or non commercial features.
Government regulations prohibit
payment for their services. The
band leaders, it was said, are
eager to broadcast III order to
play to an audience and to get
fha rnra rtice