Evening star., 1935-10-27

C1OnS OF the WOrlQ VIA raQlO.
This program, consisting OF choral
groups singing from 20 European
countries, from four countries in South
America and from the United States,
Hawaii. Australia, Japan, Siam and
the Dutch East Indies, will be heard
over the American network as well
as over the radio systems of all the
other countries Each nation is to
present chorus singing typical native
songs, with the cues and Switchovers
for the extensive system of relay
broadcastS handled from Berlin.
Quite aside from its idealistic mo-
tive, which its sponsors hope one day
will awafen better appreciation and
understanding among all nations OF
the world of their respective cultures,
such an enormous hook-up represents
''just another stunt" to the men whose
Job it is to keep the radio day apace
with the cultural, scientific and his
toric progress of the world.
This is not to depreciate the motives
OF Secretary General Arthur Burrows
and his International Broadcasting
Union. 1t is a simple statement OF
fact based upon close observation OF
how they do things behind the micro
phone not only in America but in the
other more progressive Tin a radio
way) countries Of the world.
CONSIDER the fact that both OF the
major American networks have
men stationed at strategic points in
Europe to arrange for important
speeches and public events broadcasts
as the news demands. Between them
the networks here carry not less than
one such relay per day. England early
next year will send over representa-
tive, too. who will be stationed in New
York to arrange for similar broad
casts to the British public. The man
already selected for this first assign
ment of a foreign radio ambassador"
tc the United States is Felix Greene
of the staff of the British Broadcast
ing Corp
Consider also the offerings Of talks
by Emperor Halle Selassie and by
various American newspaper men cur
rently from Adds Ababa, the nation
wide hook-ups for prizeflghtS. world
series and foot ball games and the
more or less regular pick-ups Of various
programs from almost any city IN
America as we'll as almost any point
in the civilized world with which wire
or wireless communication can be es-
tablished.
These are everyday demonstrations
OF radios amazing adaptability to
world circumstances. They are taken
as a matter of course by most radio
listeners; whose imaginations may be
temporarily fired, but who quickly as
sumo as matter -of-fact an attitude
toward them as toward the magic OF
radio itself. Not quite so blase, how
ever, are the men behind the micro
uhones-mostly youngsters. and good
half Of them former newspaper report
ers. Their enthusiasm and their IDEAS
are responsible for most Of these big
broadcasts."
EvEN more incredible than what is
actually being done are the bright
ideas for remote controls" as these
non-studio shows are called in this
country, or 'outsde broadcasts,' as
they are called in England, which con-
stantly pour into the radio offices from
persons not connected with radio. 1t
should be said here that practically
all ideas for remote controls orlgl- !
nate in the departments specially set
up to handle such broadcasts.
=. Probably the most frequent sugges-
ton from the outside is that there
ought to be broadcast of parachute
Jump, with the jumper describing his
sensations as he descends. Not only
fans but many stunt flyers willing to
try it themselves have forwarded this
idea. 1t was tried once. with poor
results. The radio people have con-
sistently ruled against it ever since.
not only because of the hazards in
volved, but because it is rather i'm
practical on account of the weight of
the equipment that would have to be
carried
One network received a suggestion
that it put on band of 20 pieces from
as many different cities, the trumpeter
playing in Kansas City, the trombonist |
in New York, the drummer in San
Francisco, etc. This can be done, but |
the enormous cost of arranging it and
hooking up the various cities, and the
fact that dance bands are common
place anyhow, led to its rejection. 1t |
has been done successfully, however,
with singing and instrumental trios
and quartets from three or four cities.
THE special events department Of the
- Columbia Broadcasting System.
headed by Paul w. White, former
newspaper reporter, actually called the
bluff once of several people who re-
quested broadcast from haunted
house. They put on scientist who
gave a talk debunking such things as
mysterious rappings, footsteps, etc.
They then invited any one to tell them
of a ghost who had sufficiently regular
habits of haunting to be scheduled on
q network
A deluge of letters came in insisting
there were ghosts here or there. But
when the writer's were pinned down to
the actual fact Of having their pet
ghost face mike, they reneged.
Imagination and zeal often outdo
common sense when it comes to sug-
gestions from the outside. White re-
calls that one man actually offered to
arrange. q special battle between the
forces OF Paraguay and Bolivia in the
recent Chaco affray If he would broad
cast 1t. Another man not long ago
visited Mr.. Whites Office and offered
to commit suicide before the micro
phone. He was in financial straits, he
explained, and he insisted he would
20 through with the stunt" on sched-
ule If given payment in advance.
of Americas $1,000 amateur
- radio operators, better known as |
"hams," are to be busily engaged dur
ing the next year in tuning in on
in all rarts of the world |