Evening star., 1937-05-30

signing y. EIueSt cutting as CdlSnt Qe.
J tective.
Few new names have stepped up
near the top among air favorites this
year. Edgar Bergen being the notable
find" Bergen, however, is not q
radio product, having been trouping
ventriloquist for years with his dummy,
Charlie Mccarthy" w. c. Fields
made his debut before a microphone
recently. and has been received quite
favorably Bob Burns and Charles
ButterWorth are two others who have
moved up in audience regard during
the past twelvemonth Novel produc-
ton ideas, rather than new talent,
have been broadcasting's principal con-
tribution to show business. however.
In this category are Phillips Lords
Gang Busters" and the heroism award
instituted by Kate Smith
Chain executives are dscounting the
Importance of amateur hours in the
scheme of program building. holding
that they have little value except in
themselves. Few and far between have
been the hopefuls who have stepped
into regular air spots after having
been permitted to perform for the
millions by Maj. BoWeS. Fred Allen, ct
al Most of the neophytes are spe-
cialty artists. it is pointed out. capable
OF doing well enough at the sprint
distance" Of one or two programs, but
possessed of little for the route"
Above all, say the moguls, amateur
hours are not the means toward de-
veloping seasoned performers from
green talent. The good Majors pro-
teges have been receiving scant atten-
ton from the men who pass out con-
tracts
N B. c. can point with pride 10
two singers, however, in substantial
ton of the assertion that the net
works could look to the sticks" with
profit. Jean Dickinson and Donald
Dixon were picked up from small!
stations, given a complete "build-up"
by N. B. c., set for major assign
nents, made the objects of numerous
non-radio singing offers. They ap-
pear to represent the initial fruit
of new philosophy, with their risc
due to be duplicated more frequently
from now on. With a close watch
being kept on the small-town air
offerings numerous acts will be
handed fountain pens. sent to lesser
network affiliated outlets for school,
Ing, finally moved up into the big
time"
Theaters and pictures are not sup
plying other than established names:
vaudeville, burlesque and legit stock
companies are gone away" and
broadcasting looks ahead, sees slim
pickings in the talent line, resolves
to do something about it. 1t is
salutary move. this assertion of self
sufficiency. The networks should
benefit when the passage of several
years make the full effect evident
and audiences should benefit, too.
NEW YORK CITY'S municipality
controlled WNYC delivers
crushing reply to any who might feel
convinced that radio announcer'S
Job could be classed among what the
vernacular has dubbed soft touches"
In addition to an oral quiz to test voice
tin1bre, diction, etc. applicants are
subjected to a grueling written ex-
animation before they are permitted
\ to face WNYC microphone for pay.
, Here are few of the posers
l. Define briefly the following
terms: script, continuity, sustaining
show, network show, tag line, tie-in,
standby, ad lib, dead spot, on the
head.
2. (a) What censorship is eXer-
, cised over broadcasting stations?
(b) What types of material must be
excluded from radio programs?
tc) What specific precautions must an
announcer take to guard against OBJ
jectionable material being used during
broadcast? I'd What are the essen
tial differences between the problems
of censorship of broadcasting station
and those of newspaper?
3. Make up a suitable skeleton pro-
gram, consisting of from II to ID
broadcasts which are to be presented
during a single day, from am
to 10 pm, over on-cOmmerClal
station where artists, performers or
speakers are not paid.
4. (a) Describe four types of micro
phones in general use and state un-
der what conditions each is used to
advantage, and (b) select any type
of program you wish, except orches-
tral program, and state your choice
of the types of microphones you
would use and what arrangement
and in what position you would
place them to get best results.
S. As an announcer, how would you
meet the following emergencies? (a)
Failure of speaker to appear on
time for scheduled program. (b) Re-
fusal of a performer to comply with
the restrictions of the station. (c)
The program threatens to finish too
soon. (d) The program is in danger Of
being too long. (e) A program from
remote point fails to begin on time. t
A program from remote point is in
terrupted for several minutes. (g) A
program from England is being trans
mitted imperfectly. (h) Five minutes
before his program is scheduled to
begin a performer telephones that he
cannot appear.
6. What records would you expect
Of amateur competitors of high school
age in the following events? 10O-yard
dash, quarter-mile run, 1O0-yard free
style swim girls, pole vault, 100
yard back-stroke swim. running high
jump. running broad jump. discus
throw, javelin throw, hammer throw.
I. Name the composers of the fol-
lowing selections: Elm Heldenleben," ;"
'Fingals Cave Overture" LES Pre-
ludes," "Sacre du Printemps," Jewels
of the Madonna" "Oberon," Till Eu-
lenspiegel," Ivan the Terrible" Fire
bird Suite" "Valse Triste," "L'Apres
Midi Dun Faune" Aida" "Cavalleria
Rusticanna," "Egmont." "Fause,"
"Rigoletto," Il Pagliacci," "Poeme Ex-
tase" and THE Sorcerers Apprentice. +"
The above constitute about half of