Evening star., 1934-12-23

- ~APITULATING to perennial
public whim, radio has sur
rendered its entire program
schedule to Old st. Nick. In
full possession of the ether
waves, the rosy-cheekedy rolly-polly
gentleman from the North Is reflected
in virtually every program scheduled
by the networks and by independent
stations for the Yuletide. From now
until New Year the air will tingle
with the holiday spirit.
A program array unexcelled for
comprehensiveneSs, diversity and
interest has been arranged by the
major networks. Music, drama and
other entertainment purveying the
Yule spirit are on the schedules to
be climaxed on Christmas day with
an unprecedented series of programs
relayed by international rebroadcasts
from abroad. As was done last year,
King George Of England will send
his Fluctuations to all English-speak-
ing people via radio.
Aside from local program features,
listeners throughout the country will
be accorded the best that radio has
to offer from the Nation wide net
works. And for the first time listen
ers within hearing of the newly
formed American Broadcasting Sys-
tenn in the East and Middle West
will be able to tune-in the Yuletide
offerings of this newest star in the
radio armament.
Both NofiOnoI nroo Ino cfjpr Ia
and Columbia Broadcasting System
will exchange programs with Euro
pean nations, with the central fea-
ture King Georges Christmas mes
sage, to be broadcast In a program
consuming more than an hour, be-
ginning at 8:55 o'clock, Eastern stand
ard time, Christmas morning To
originate near London, and arranged
in cooperation with the British
Broadcasting Corp, the program will
bring to the American audience, and
to those in other English-speaking
nations, some Yuletide festivity,
sound or message, from nearly every
corner Of the far-flung British EN-
pire. Participating in the Empire
Exchange" will be England, Canada,
New Zealand, Australia, the Irish
Free State, Southern Rhodesia, India
and South Africa. As a prelude to
this whirlwind tour of the empire,
the bells of the Church of the Ma
tivity in Bethlehem will be echoed
by similar bells in Bombay, yelling
ton, Ottawa, Armagh and London.
Columbia actually began its Christ
mas schedule December 16, when,
for the third consecutive season, it
broadcast "pre-view" of the latest
in toys from Nuremberg, Germany,
the worlds toy center. A number
Of other network holiday features
followed, including several from
abroad. One of the afternoon fea-
lures on Christmas day over Colum-
bia will be three-hour program,
including condensed dramatization
Of Dickens "a Christmas Carol" and
featuring a cast including Lionel
Barrymore.
The two N. B. c. networks also have
scheduled elaborate Christmas pro-
gram features. During Christmas aft
ernoon the Christmas opera, "Hansel
and Gretel," will be broadcast from
the stage Of the Metropolitan Opera
House.
American Broadcasting System,
keyed from WMCA, New York, has ar
ranged a comprehensive Christmas
schedule, including a score of special
presentations of carols, extra musical
productions and several dramatiza-
tions.
THAT the radio industry is prepar-
L ing seriously for the Introduction
OF facsimile, or "still" picture
transmission, as practical medium of
public entertainment, Is seen in the
action of the Radio Manufacturers
Association ordering definite develop
ment Of this visual radio art. The
organization has named special COM
mittee on fac-simile, headed by e. w.
Engstrom Of the r. c. A-Victor Co.
OF Camden, N. j., to evolve definite
standards and its first work is that
OF developing nomenclature and stand
ardization.
THE romantic appeal, as well as
the service aspects of facsimile, are
both being considered by the engineers
In directing scientific progress toward
eventual development of a practicable
facsimile broadcasting system" said
the announcement of the association.
"The drum type of facsimile apparatus
Is now in use but eventual develop
ment OF a continuous type of recorder,
taking its paper from a feed roll, is
regarded as the ultimate practical So
luton for broadcast facsimile record
ing. Higher speed also is an engineer
ing goal"
Engineering leaders in radio predict
che day, not far distant, when a fac