Kilocycles

The whimsical author of “The Story of Mankind” is back from another world cruise. As we sat in his room at the Algonquin, Hendrik Willem Van Loon (who was whisked away from the Cunard liner to the Rudy Vallee Hour a week ago Thursday and is proud of his brain child, the WEVD University of the Air) spoke of a world divided into “hard-boiled” national camps.

“In the first place” said Van Loon, “I have gotten a new and almighty respect for climate as a factor that influences human behavior. And in the second place I now realize as I have never done before what a very important thing the geographical background is in the life of every man, woman, child and mule. And I think that it would be wise for those who intend to play the role of Jehovah and who want to change this world of ours, if they would take a trip around the world and would get thoroughly acquainted with those two facts. For the ideas that suit one country will never suit another and the ideals that sound grand, when there is a blizzard outside that makes your ears freeze off your head, will be received with a great deal of Luke-warmness by people who are spending their days resting comfortably from the exertion of shaking rolls and coffee out of a cocoanut tree. Which means that the job before us right here in America is a job which we ought to do right here in America and not in Russia or in Italy or in the blessed Germany of my fellow “Aryans’ (by the way I have seen and smelled some of the original “Aryans in their native haunts and they are not so good).”

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT DEDICATES BUILDING TODAY

The new expensive building which is to house the Post Office Department in Washington will be opened officially this afternoon with the microphones of the WEAF network set for the inaugural ceremonies. In addition Postmaster James Farley, Vice-President Garner and Speaker Henry T. Rainey will talk to America. The broadcast is scheduled for this afternoon at 3:30.

SOVIET AMBASSADOR TALKS DURING PREMIERE

The Soviet Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Troyanovsky, will hail the cultural rapprochement of the two republics in a short address at the conclusion of the premiere American presentation of the Moscow ballet, “Red Poppy,” over the NBCWJZ network tomorrow at 10:00 p. m. A Chinese girl’s love for the captain of a Russian ship, and her death at the hand of a jealous suitor form the plot for “Red Poppy,” the music of which will be given its premiere American hearing by Frank Black and the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

GOVERNOR LEHMAN AMONG COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS

The colleges this year have outdone themselves in getting noted persons to address students during the commencement exercises. Governor Herbert Lehman will speak to the graduates of St. Bonaventure College tomorrow at 1:30 p. m. and will be heard over the WEAF network on Saturday at 2:15 p. m. Prime Minister Richard B. Bennett of Canada will be heard in a talk to students of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and at 6:45 p. m. on the same day Secretary of Interior Harold L. Jokes will be heard during the commencement exercises of Northwestern University over the WJZ network.

ROUND-BY-ROUND OF HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE

Graham McNamee will be assisted by Ford Bond at the ringside microphones when the round-by-round description of the Primo Carnera-Max Baer championship fight is broadcast from the Madison Square Garden Bowl over the combined WEAF-WJZ networks on Thursday at 10 p. m. McNamee will give the blow-by-blow description of the classic battle while Bond will touch the highlights and describe the colorful setting. The fighters are expected to enter the ring at about five minutes past ten and from then until the end of this heavyweight battle the listeners will be informed of everything that happens in and about the ring.

‘A NEW DEAL IN MOVIES’ ON WEVD

Edwin Carewe, motion picture director and producer, and Miss Mary E. Hughes, former chairman of the women’s division of the NRA, will discuss “A New Deal in Movies” before the WEVD microphone Wednesday evening from 8 to 8.30 p. m. Miss Hughes has been praised by President Roosevelt and the governors of every state in the Union for her recent work in organizing the women in support of the NRA. She has had a colorful caret. Mr. Carewe has produced a number of successful motion pictures and is considered one of our leading producers and directors.

YESTERDAY’S THEATRE STARS IN FAMOUS ROLES

“Famous Acts of the American Theatre,” a special full-hour broadcast in which stars of yesterday will revive their best-lowed roles and scenes, will be the NBCWEAF network feature on Saturday, June 16, at 10:30 p. m. DeWolf Hopper, veteran comedy star, will present a scene from a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta in which he was featured many years ago and also will offer his recitation, “Casey at the Bat.” Fritzi Scheff will sing “Kiss Me Again” from Herbert’s Mile. Modiste,” in which she starred in 1905. Donald Brian and Ethel Jackson will be heard in a scene from Lehar’s “Merry Widow,” in which they costarred, and Cissie Loftus will give impersonations of other celebrated actors and actresses of the early twentieth century. Gus Edwards will act as master of ceremonies and Abe Lyman’s orchestra will furnish the music.

JOHNSON ON NRA BIRTHDAY

General Hugh S. Johnson is evidently aware of the landslide of criticism directed at his recent efforts if we are to judge by the number of his current microphone appearances. Last Friday evening he spoke for three quarters of an hour during “The Union Assembly” program on WEVD and a national hookup, and on Saturday he will be the principal speaker during a broadcast commemorating the first anniversary of the National Recovery Act. His talk is scheduled to go out over the WABC network at 3 p. m. Other speakers on this program will be Governor H. G. Kumt of West Virginia, Edward McGrady, assistant secretary of labor, and Donald Richberg, general counsel of the NRA. The speaks will be heard from the Laidly Field Stadium, Charlestown, W. Va.