Kilocycles

THERE are few reviews of radio programs. Unlike literature, the theatre and other permanent forms of expression, radio is a “one night stand.” The ears that are not listening are unlikely to hear a particular program again. I will therefore be more concerned with ideas in radio and with what broadcasters are planning for the week to come.

At the outset, I wish to answer an oft-repeated question: “How many people do you suppose I addressed over this station?” asks Mr. Prominent Personality. Suppose Dr. Stephen S. Wise is speaking on a vital topic of the day. Will he draw a capacity audience at Carnegie Hall? We’ll agree that the answer is ‘yes.” Now, let us assume that his talk over station WXYZ is listed in the large dailies, in many instances considered a feature for the day and a selection for the display box on the radio page. By how many times do you suppose you can multiply that Carnegie Hall audience to arrive at the number of his listeners in their armchairs at home? “It’s colossal!” to quote a well known comedian . . .but still anybody’s guess.

Surveys have been attempted by means of questionnaires, telephone calls, etc. But I seriously doubt that the results were ever conclusive.

Radio Flashes: Postmaster General James A. Farley will deliver a special address over NBC-WEAF network today at 5:15 p.m. He will discuss “The Progress of the Post Office Department” in observance of the 145th anniversary of the founding of the United States Postal Service. Other interesting items for today include: George Gershwin, composer-pianist with Lou Katzman’s orchestra at 7:30 p. m. over NBC-WJZ network; William Daly’s orchestra with Lawrence Tibbett, baritone at 8:30 p. m. over WEAF and National chain; the Actors Dinner Club presentation under the direction of Doris Hardy with Sam Wrenn, star of “Sunday Nights at Nine,” at 4:30 on WEVD; Editors discuss New Deal’s help to farmer with Philip F. LaFollette, former Governor of Wisconsin and others at 12:30 on WJZ and NBC network; “The Contributions of the Jews to Literature” will be discussed over station WBNX by Sidney H. Reiss, executive secretary of the Young People’s League at 9:45 p.m.

Tuesday: WABC and the Columbia network offers the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Eugene Ormandy at 9:30 p. m.; “The Road to Peace” is the subject which Herman Bernstein, editor of the Jewish Daily Bulletin, will discuss at 8:15 p. m. during his weekly program on WEVD, a brief resume of the Jewish news of the week will follow this talk; WEVD presents two other worthwhile programs, at 10:15 p. m. the University of the Air will be in charge of Professor Ernest Sutherland Bates who discusses “Coordination in our Present-day Life” and at 10:30 Zinoida Nicolina, soprano, Simon Philipoff, balalaika artist, Zam’s Gypsy orchestra appear on Around the Samovar program.

Wednesday: The Nation Radiotorial Board provides an interesting fortnigtly discussion of timely topics at 8:00 p. m. over station WEVD At this session Dr. Israel Goldstein will be one of the speakers. Albert Spalding, violin virtuoso will be heard over WABCCBS network at 8:30; John McCormick, famous Irish tenor, is supported by William Daly’s orchestra on WJZ and the National system at 9:30; at the same time on the Columbia network appear Burns and Allen with their comic antics.

Thursday: “Fantasy,” a work of program music in the modern idiom by David Sokoloff, will be presented for the first time on the air over WABC-Columbia network by Freddie Rich and his Columbians with the composer at the piano playing the solo parts at 8:00 p. m.; this premiere will have to compete for an audience with Rudy Vallee’s Variety program on WEAF at the same time; at 8:45 p. m. on WEVD, Mrs. Estelle M. Sternberger, executive director of World Peaceways, presents a guest speaker in a series titled “The Peace Editor Looks at the News”; Al Jolson with Paul Whiteman’s orchestra and Deems Taylor as master-of-ceremonies provides an interesting program on WEAFNBC at 10:00 o’clock.

Friday: at 2:30 you can choose between the Philadelphia Orchestra on WABC and the Boston Symphony playing compositions by Arnold Schoenberg on WJZ; the March of Time program is still going strong on WABC at 8:30, though it has not kept up the pace of last year; The First Nighter is a popular dramatic serial on WEAF at 10:00 p. m.; Two interesting musical programs on WEVD are furnished by Gregory Matusewich, concertina artist, at 10:00, and Florence Stage, concert pianist, at 10:30 p. m.

Week-end: A special Young Judaea broadcast over station WEVD Saturday at 10:00 p. m. will present Dr. Louis I. Newman of Temple Rodeph Sholom; the Siberian Singers appear in arrangements by Nicholas Vasilieff of traditional Russian, gypsy and Ukrainian folk songs over an NBCWEAF network on Sunday at 11:00 p. m., the singers will be accompanied by Vladimir Heifetz, pianist; Dr. George Counts of Columbia University will raise the question “How Much Do We Care About Our Schools?” when he is heard at 6:30 on Sunday over WEAF-NBC network; a half hour earlier, at 6:00 on WJZ and a coast-to-coast hookup you will hear Edward Johnson, tenor of the Metropolitan and the Cadillac Symphony Orchestra. Sunday evenings are crowded with comedians–at 7:00 Groucho and Chico Marx on WABC; at 7:30, Joe Penner on WJZ; at 8:00, Eddie Cantor with Rubinoff and his violin on WEAF; the Hall of Fame presents John Charles Thomas, baritone on WEAF at 10:30 p. m.; The Sunday night radio forum on WEVD announces a debate on “Salary Cuts for Teachers” between Dr. Abraham Lefkowitz, legislative representative of the Teachers Union, and Peter Grimm, chairman of the Citizen’s Budget Commission.

ON THE DIAL

The first annual award for a novel or play which contributes most to the cause of world peace will be given to “Peace on Earth,” a drama by George Sklar and Albert Maltz, it was announced by the Women’s Peace Society. The prize, the Annie E. Gray award, a plaque, will be presented to the Theatre Union, producers of the play, at the New School for Social Research, Sunday evening, March 18.