Evening star., 1936-12-27

NSoeoS AoNAo oAiS6StAy 40 Vi WV
talent than the Maj. BoweS amateur
hours, which have as yet to produce
any headline acts or stars for radio,
the stage or the movies.
THE widespread parental hue and
cry against the horror that few
years ago characterized many radio
programs directed at children has
dwindled to whisper as radio execu-
tives, sensitive to public desires, have
snatched the Nightmares from twilight
broadcasts. But in so doing. the mas
ter minds of the ether actually have
improved their child programs and
infant ears still are eagerly turned to
the loudspeaker.
Instead of kicking all their pro-
grams out of the window when the
critics were carping their loudest,
radio programmes removed much of
the basis of criticism by simply delet-
ing the horror element and inserting
enough excitement to satiate the wide
eyed desire for thrill, at the same
time seeing to it that worthy OBJ
ject is achieved in the plot.
Broadcasters took their cue from a
number of organized groups. and par
ticularly from Chairman Prall of the
Federal Communications Commission,
who set about when he took Office
two years ago to raise the standard
of child programs and clear the air
of offensive matter offered by sellers
Of doubtful nostrums. That he has
been successful is attested by the
vanishing volume of criticism from
organizations us well as individual
listeners.
CURIOUSLY enough, broadcasters
have whitewashed their child pro-
grams without turning them into
wishy-washy, ring-around-the-rosy
affairs. Instead of dressing them with
lavendar and old lace and adding
few spit curls for good measure, they
have turned to healthy adventure and
rugged honesty as the basis for many
of their plots.
This excitement may be beneficial
to young listeners, in the opinion of
DR.. j. B. Morgan of Northwestern
University, eminent child psychologist
and author. DR.. Morgan was asked
couple of years ago to review all
scripts for the popular Little Orphan
Annie" series to see that they meet
modern, scientific requirements for
child entertainment and training.
DR.. Morgan takes the position that
children who listen to Annie's stirring
adventures will experience the same
thrills as the little radio and comic
page heroine, for Annie protrays the
things other children would like to be
doing were they faced with the same
situation. Thus the young listeners
are striving to achieve a worthy OBJ
jective and, incidentally, they are abb
sorbing authentic facts about the
people and terrain and plant life of
the locale of the plot. DR.. Morgan
is Of the opinion that plots of this
type stimulate the courage building
spirit of children and make them
stronger and more heroic.
A s A representative Of the largest
= organized group Of parents, Mrs.
B. F. Langworthy, president of the
National Congress Of Parents and
Teachers, says "a movement of pro-
test against many childrens pro-
grams has made itself felt during
the last few years and is resulting in
definite improvement in sponsored
programs. We have already found
in the broadcasting companies not
only a greater desire to cooperate,
but an apparent better understand
ing of the whole situation"
Mrs. Langworthy offers some in
teresting advice to parents. She
suggests that they listen to child
programs with their children and
laugh with them at the absurdities of
the situations depicted. Then she
suggests that they casually find out
what youngsters like or dislike on the
air. After that, she goes on, they
should discuss child programs with
other parents and tell broadcasting
companies what they think of what
their children are hearing. OF course,
She points out, parents should use
discretion in what they allow in the
home circle, which Is another way Of
referring to the listeners best de-
1ense-the power to twist the dial.