Evening star., 1943-07-04
A1liI1ls.iAb.s

DlalerS IN their eager search Tor
entertainment and information on
this day of the 167th anniversary OF
the Declaration OF Independence
may happen upon a few programs
which seem punctuated with bit
more static than should be. II the
clocks hands should be pointing
either to IL, S or pm, the static
on these commemorative broadcaSts
will be understandable. Atmos-
pheric disturbances offer the only
major cause for criticism Of the
programs which the British Broad
casting Co. beams to America and
all over the world.
Britain'S salute to the United
States on our most revered national
anniversary characterizes that spirit
of genuine friendship which must
prevail not only between the two
greatest English-speaking nations OF
the world, but between every land
having the fortune, or misfortune,
to exist on the same planet. The
BIC. as the voice of the British gov
ernment, has been doing this job
since the war began. And while,
during those early months OF the
war, it may have been chalked on
as just another big propagandlstlc
noise from Europe, BBC's effort
since the closer union by fire of the
two nations has acquired much more
significance than that Today BBC
has the sound of one democratic
nation reaching out to understand,
and be understood by, another.
The regular Sunday afternoon
series Cat 1890 o'clock, Trans
Atlantic Call: People to People"
best illustrates the aim. Here the
Joint facilities of British and Amer
ican radio have been participating
in exchange broadcastS since last
winter. One week the cockneyS from
Lambeth Walk tell 'oW thye beat
the bloody Jerry in 1910; while on
another, the laong, slaoW drawls of
CharleStonians inform BritonS OF
life in the South during wartime.
This afternoon being the United
States turn in the exchange,
transatlantic Call will originate
primarily from Independence Hall
in Philadelphia, and Philadelphians
"on the street" will give Britons
that much more of glimpse into
the personality of America.
1t will be much the same thing
when the programs Answering
You and "Stars and Stripes in
Britain" are heard over facilities of
BIC and Americas S Mutual Network
at pm and 7:30 pm, respectively.
On the first mentioned broadcast
Movie Star Ray Millahd and ex-
patriates from European countries
will describe the meaning of 1nde-
pendence Day to them. Stars and
Stripes" again will feature Ameri-
can fighting men who want to say
word to the folks back home.
Last nights american Eagle Club,
a regular Saturday presentation OF
pre-Pearl Harbor standing, had its
usual quota of American airmen
speaking to their families on this
side of the Atlantic.
And there are other broadcasts
facilitated by the British Broadcast
ing Co. which American long-wave
audiences do not hear Today, such
prominent entertainers as Bing
Crosby Dinah Shore and Fanny
Brice will be heard in a special pro-
gram to Britain, North Africa, the
Middle East and India by soldiers
of the United Kingdom and United
States chronically starved for the
variety shows of civilian life. The
Saturday night american Com
mentary" period, last evening found
another ready civilian audience in
Britain when Owl Chief Elmer
Davis and BIC Correspondent Ais
tair Cooke reported on the American
scene.
Jack Benny, Bob Hope and Fred
Allen, furthermore, have been fire.
quent radio fare across the seas for