Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1938-10-28
DIVIDING THE RADIO IN THE
FAMILY
Marion Rrownheld

In certain families the radio pays
big dividends because it is wisely
and unselhshly used. Instead of a
haphazard turn of the dial screws
and the plant, Il can't find any
thing good" a more or less definite
system is followed.
One busy mother keeps a simple
"log." Handy to the radio hangs an
ordinary blankbOok to which a PEN
Gil is tied. Each day of the week is
allotted a couple of pages, until
these are filed. When any new pro-
gram is announced that is likely to
be of interest, il is Immediately put
down on the page for the day, and
at the hour provided for by certain
ruled of spaces. Such a scheme is
invaluable for those program that
come three times a week or even
once a week, for it saves much dis
pute and prevents missing the desir-
ed feature. Another alert radio lis
tener keeps a red crayon handy, and
whenever she reads the radio no
tees printed in magazines or news
papers. she underlines the desirable
ones. Then at a glance she can "sift
the wheat from the chaff."
In a large family there is OF
course a variety of tastes according
to age and special interests. How to
divide the radio, when each wants
his preferred program at the same
hour, is sometimes a problem. One
solution that has worked out is for
the others to give up daily feature
for the benefit of the one whose pro-
gram occurs only once weekly. In
case there are guests present, how
ever, all must relinquish radio priv
ileges. In this family, the radio new
er runs as an accompaniment to
conversation. And If at any time no
one listens, it is promptly snapped
off. When certain features, each hav-
ing its enthusiastic fans" run daily
at the same hour. the solution OF d.
viding the use Of the radio is to al
ternate, or take turns" AS the ear
lier installments in most programs
of this type are reviewed before the
current one is broadcast, the listen
er can easily obtain the connecting
links.
Those who are at home all day
may well yield gracefully to those
who can be present only in the eve
ming. Thus in one family, Grandma,
who enjoys news flashes over the air
more than she does the newspaper.
listens during the early morning
broadeasts, and this allows Bobby
to listen to a bedtime story at an
evening news hour. In the same
family, Mother listens to home eco
Monies programs during morning
hours also, and lets her daughter
have the book review period in the
late afternoon, after school.
When there is very special hook
up with national stations, all the
family, by common consent, leave
their home occupations if it is at all
possible. Daddy and Bobby even
postpone cleaning the car until af-
ter certain baseball broadcasts on
Saturday afternoons. On Sundays,
religious services have precedence
over other programs.
The privilege Of the radio is en-
HANGED by making it a reward. In
the family of which we are speak
ing, a bedtime story is turned on
because Bobby has done his daily
chores of sweeping of the front
porch. watering the lawn and empty
ing the wastebaskets. why make
Bobby earn his entertainment?
some may ask. But his mother ex-
plains that she and Daddy work ev-
cry day, and "all must do their
part" The radio in this instance is
a help in teaching cooperation and
In another family, the choice OF
music is carefully divided" Mother
who is partial to symphony concerts
and Wagner does not insist upon
two programs in one day. Instead,
she gives way at times to Daughter
who enjoy light opera Colbert and
for instance) and to Father
who enjoys singing more than any
other form Of music.
Just a frank discussion with the
whole family makes it simpler to
budget" radio time. Mothers log
joys the family memory as to the I
late and hour of favorite perform
ers. Agreement to take turns and
play fair prevents "sduabbles" and
helms to make the radio a more de-