Kilocycles

Last Wednesday the members of the NBC Advisory Council met for the eighth time in as many years and listened to a report by President M. H. Aylesworth. The report contained plenty of platitudes, interspersed here and there with such observations as: “Never before has the national government been brought closer to the American people,” and “seeking always the presentation of various points of view.” Several of the members of the Advisory Board spoke up. Praise was the order of the day.

Members of the Advisory Council of the NBC, which is made up of prominent persons of diversified experience from various parts of the country, are Newton D. Baker, Paul D. Cravath, Henry Sloane Coffin, Walter Damrosch, John W. Davis, Francis D. Farrell, William Green, James G. Harbord, Robert M. Hutchins, Morgan J. O’Brien, Henry S. Pritchett, Henry M. Robinson, Elihu Root, Mrs. John D. Sherman, Felix M. Warburg and Owen D. Young, chairman.

THE SAGE OF BALTIMORE LOOKS AT THE NEW DEAL

About a year ago H. L. Mencken made his first appearance before a microphone when he was interviewed on the subject of “Beer.” He returns once more to the WJZ studios on Friday, April 27, at 7:15 p.m., to discuss “What Is Ahead?” We are told that this will be a frank exposition of the Mencken slant on the New Deal. Mencken has already let it be known that in his opinion America was heading for a “smash-up” under the New Deal, and we assume that the armchairs are in store for some details on this subject.

LAST WAGNER CONCERT CONCLUDES PHILHARMONIC

The final concert in the Wagner cycle currently being given by Arturn engagement by WABC and Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra will conclude the 1933-1934 season of the organization’s WABC-Columbia broadcasts, Sunday, April 29, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Guest soloists will be Gertrude Kappel, soprano, and Paul Althouse, tenor. The broadcast also will bring to a close the campaign for funds, and speakers who will be heard in brief acknowledgements of the widespread public support will be Harry Harkness Flagler, Mrs. Vincent Astor, Marshall Field and Richard Welling, all of the Philharmonic Board.

FIRST UNKNOWN STAR DISCOVERED IN ‘AIRBREAKS’

The NBC program designed to discover artists of unusual talent has announced its first find. Bill Whitley is to graduate from “Airbreaks” to a regular spot on the WEAF network and will be heard every Monday at 3:00 p.m. starting April 30.

Whitley has been singing for about a year over a local New Jersey station and some time ago had an audition with NBC. His voice showed promise and, when the “Airbreaks” series was started as a chance on the networks for unknown artists, Whitley was included in the first program.

FAMOUS COMPINSKY TRIO RETURNS TO THE NETWORKS

The Compinsky Trio, one of America’s leading chamber music ensembles, is scheduled for a return engamement by WABC and the Columbia network for a series of recitals to be heard each Sunday at 1:30, starting April 29. This talented group consists of a sister and two brothers-Sara Compinsky at the piano, Manuel Compinsky-violin, and Alex Compinsky-‘ cello. An interesting note will be introduced in these programs in the form of a historical survey of outstanding compositions in trio literature, played in chronological order. Alex Compinsky informs us that old instruments, made in the period of the compositions played, will be used. As several of these instruments are valued at thousands of dollars we imagine this group will be travelling about with a police escort.

In addition to their network recitals the Compinsky Trio is frequently heard over the facilities of station WEVD.

NORMAN THOMAS REPLIES TO CHANCELLOR DOLL-FUSS

An answer to Engelbert Doll-fuss, Austrian chancellor, by the Socialist Party in America, will be voiced by Norman Thomas, leader of the party and former Presidential candidate, in an address over the WEAF network on Tuesday, May 1. “The Case Against Austrian Fascism” will be the subject of Mr. Thomas’s talk, which is scheduled for 2:15 p. m. We presume that the choice of May 1, labor’s day of protest, for this talk was more than a mere coincidence. Norman “Thomas is one of the few speakers who consistently brings an interesting message to the microphone, and whose voice is ideally adapted to the medium of radio.

‘FAMILY THEATRE’ CONSOLIDATES TWO PROGRAMS

The popular Sunday evening series featuring James Melton, tenor; the comedy team of Lean and Mayfield; the Green Stripe Orchestra, and prominent guest stars of the stage, will consolidate its separate quarter hours into a weekly half hour period starting on May 6 at 9:00 p. m. This new series brings another of those fast-moving variety programs which are so much in vogue on the air these days.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DEDICATES MEMORIAL

Franklin D. Roosevelt, who has done so much by way of making public officials radio conscious, will be heard over the WEAF network on May 3 at 5.00 p. m. The occasion will be the dedication of a memorial to William Jennings Bryan, to be erected in Washington. The President will accept a statue of the Commoner for the nation.

FOURTH PROGRAM OF ‘THE UNION ASSEMBLY’

Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia will be the principal speaker in the fourth “Union Assembly” program on station WEVD Friday, April 27, from 10.15 to 10.45 p.m. This program, sponsored by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union for its 180,000 members, will be carried to the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Connecticut, through an independent hook-up. The Salzedo Harp Trio, foremost harp ensemble in America, will be featured for the musical part. Alla Nazimova, famous stage and screen star, will appear in an original sketch written by Allen Gordon. Morton Downey, of radio fame, will contribute a few songs to this program.

CURTIS INSTITUTE RECITAL PRESENTS THREE YOUNG ARTISTS

Three young artist-students of the Curtis Institute of Music will be heard in a joint recital over the WABC network Thursday, April 26, from 3.45 to 4.30 p. m. Jascha Brodsky, violin; Paceli Diamond, mezzo-soprano, and Yvonne Krinsky, pianist, are the three talented young musicians scheduled to appear on this program. Vladimir Sokoloff will accompany the soloists. This student series is uncommonly good and from these youthful artists are likely to emerge the recognized masters of tomorrow.