Evening star., 1937-06-27

when guilty of incompetent handling
OF broadcast cases. In other words
the boys who are not too we'll &C.
quainted with the specialized branch
OF practice which concerns itself with
radio station license and construc.
ton permit petitions are, according
to Variety, excusing their failures by
charging favoritism. The prominence
assigned the story occasioned more
than a little comment at the N. A. B
meeting.
FOR the third successive year. Jack
Benny carries off top honors ir
the Radio Guide listener preference
poll. Close behind is Nelson Eddy
with Lanny Ross in third position
representing a one-notoh rise. Fran.
ces Langford comes in fourth, to leac
feminine performers. with Lulu Belle
retaining her No rating. established
last year. Following are Rudy Vallee
Eddie Cantor. Joan Blaine. JeSsica
Dragonette. Fred Allen and Dor
Ameche. OF particular interest is the
drop of Eddie Cantor, who snatched
runner-up position last year, but
could do no better than eighth this
time
WALTER PISTON, a member Of
the Columbia Composers Com.
mission, created by the network tt
produce works purely for radio pres.
entation, rises to explain the pecu.
liar problems Of his work. Piston
head Of Harvard University's music
department. delivered "Concertino fol
Piano and Orchestra AS the seconc
OF six works to be composed by the
commission.
THE composer whose music 1,
broadcast" he points out. lis de.
pendent upon the listener tuning in
or the kind of set he has, and on the
discriminating power Of his ear. The
average radio is improperly placed
and the seating arrangement arounc
1t generally faulty. In addition. the
volume often is not turned up high
enough. The power of the listener
to make adjustments on the music
being broadcast is the most serious
feature Of composing for radio
The need is for fewer instruments ir
the same dynamic range and fortissimc
playing should be avoided. There
should always be something left ir
the Instruments; radio can do with
less fuss and equipment"
It would appear that writing music
f@ Me microphone is fraught with
numerous hidden terrors. but it is
gratifying to note that Mr. Piston ano
his associates of the Composers Com
mission are acquainted with them and
keeping them in mind.
IN THE several key radio cities, diff
fering types of bradcast entertain.
ment have achieved their most i'm
pressive treatment. New York, Chi
cago, San Francisco, Washington
each has made particularly large
contribution in some specific branch
OF programming, has become recoe-
nized as the center of that certain
brand.
New York remains the capital of
radio, despite the increasing popu-
larity OF shows originating in Holly
wood. AS the home of legitimate
theater, a musical center, business
headquarters and location of most
advertising agency Offices. it has come
by its top position naturally. Actors,
comedians, vocalists, instrumentalists
production directors always have
wandered along Broadway; it has been
the street of entertainment names. u
Therefore, New York, in the program
line, has developed a reputation for
ambitious variety shows, generously
sprinkled with important personalities
Somewhat more interesting is the
position of Chicago as center for
radio dramas and dramatic serials
There is not the supply Of name
talent IN the measure possessed by
Gotham or Hollywood, but the Mid
western metropolis pioneered the use
Of character" voices for radio, de-
veloped proficiency in reading lines
before microphone, attracted talent
scouts who made off with Don Ame-
che, Tyrone Power, Dorothy Lamour
and others. The Hollywood heigra
has not hurt Chicago's standing nor
the listener, for the best of the serial
crop continues to emanate from net
work affiliates in the Windy City.
Among the other centers, Los An
geles became a name" capital, in
duced by the Hollywood film star
talent chest, with the possibility pres
ent that it may achieve distinction
as a city of name-building through
use Of lesser talent, which abounds
in the city of celluloid. The studios
have been moved to Hollywood itself
but whatever happens can be noted
on the Los Angeles record. Sar
Francisco has slipped in recent years,
but remains among the cities with
radio regulations because of high
cal1ber historical and crime dramas
Washington takes designation as a kew
point through the concentration OF
Government agencies as we'll as eco
nomlc, educational and trade associa-
ton.