Evening star., 1935-01-13

needs-and is slowly but
wv surely developing-is an
independent art form. BY
that is meant less depend
ence upon the stage, screen. concert
hall. opera house or class room ana
more reliance upon its own special
TECHNIQUE. Like the motion pictures
in their infancy, radio was at first
compelled to adapt material from the
other arts, reproducing or initiating.
But radio has survived infancy and is
developing art forms largely influence
ed by the simple test Of box-off1ce
success, represented in its case by the
response of listeners and, of course, the
satisfaction Of commercial sponsors"
This Is the opinion of Sigmund
Spaeth, musician and author, whose
well known Tune Detective series
amply illustrated his points. 1t is
Spaeth's conviction that even the
ephemeral character OF broadcast pro-
grams, which are seldom repeated
after one performance, does not alter
the fact that radio must depend upon
itself chiefly for a constant supply of
program substance and technique in
its presentation.
Few Artists Developed.
It is a fact that American radio has
developed few major artists of its own.
It Is also true that most music heard
on the radio was first written not for
radio but for other purposes. Nor has
the radio drama developed as far as
many would like to see. There are
noteworthy exceptions, of course, such
as Nino Martini. Rudy Valee. Bing
Crosby, Frank Parker and Jessica
Dragonette, among radios own artists;
the Gibson Family" samong radios
own music, and numerous short
dramas produced for radio alone.
The rule seems to prevail, however,
that radio draws largely from other
arts for the immense amount Of pro-
gram material its swift and consuming
pace demands. The microphone tech
nique may differ somewhat, to be sure,
but the most popular features of radio
such as the symphony orchestras and
operas and the variety shows such as
Rudy Vallee presents, have already
achieved their popularity in other
spheres. Jack Benny. Fred Allen,
Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn and other
comics must needs train themselves
for radio, but their basic training as
performers had already been achieved
elsewhere. What will radio do when
these big names disappear?
Spaeth reports he recently conduct
ed survey among leaders, not only
in radio, but in the fields of music,
drama and literature, to find out to
what extent they consider a highly
specialized radio art form possible.
Own Art Recommended.
"There was practically unanimous
agreement among all those who an
swered my letter." he stated, ito the
effect that radio deserved and was
actually beginning to realize its own
art forms, and that the best talents
available should concentrate upon the
problems Of the special technique re-
quired for such realization.
Among those concurring were such
outstanding figures as Norman Bel
Geddes, the designer; Zona Gale, the
author; George Gershwin, the COM
poser; Roy Chapman Andrews, the
explorer; Rupert Hughes and Wallace
Irwin, writers; Brock Pemberton, pro-
ducer; Claiming Pollock, playwright;
Frederick Stock, conductor, and Booth
Harrington, Thornton Wilder and A.
E. Wiggam."
Spaeth concludes that radio organi-
cations themselves are best equipped
for perfecting the technique and de-
veloping its best creative talents. If
they fail to measure up to standards
of performance, he thinks, they will
automatically ALLEVIATE their audi
ences, and thus eliminate themselves
from the air.
IMAGINE looking over a display of
i 1,510 different models of radio re-
ceivers-enough to fill one of the
major league base ball parks, but with
very little foot room between bases!
That is what the prospective radio
purchaser would have to do if he de-
cided to canvass the entire set mar
ket before buying.
A current survey of radio manufac-
turers discloses that during the first
IL months of 1884 precisely that num-
ber Of models had been turned out by
the 10 manufacturers then in busi-
ness, and that the situation has "im-
proved" so that today there are even
more. The rate at which set designers |
worked produced about 80 new models |
every week, and more than five per |
day every business day of the year.
Even at that, 1884 Jagged behind the |
preceding year, for there were 1857
different models then.