Radio_Hong_Kong_1955-1956 — Page 27

Light Entertainment

63. Light, popular and dance music continued to account for the lion's share of entertainment programmes, mostly on gramophone records, and the weekly request programmes brought in more mail than ever. To vary the diet however a number of live music presentations were featured including a broadcast by the distinguished composer of light music, Rudolf Friml, then visiting the Colony, who played selections from his own compositions. Other notable live and local music pro- grammes were the Wednesday evenings series of swing music for the piano by local artists, excerpts from the public concerts of the Hong Kong Concert Orchestra and the "Festival of Jazz” which featured three leading combinations. Towards the end of the year Norbert Matisson, talented cabaret artist from Paris, broadcast a series of swing-music programmes.

64. The "disc jockey" style of personal presentation for record programmes is very popular with the younger generation. Nick Kendall, a young Canadian journalist soon achieved a following of enthusiastic fans with "Juke Box Parade”. “First Hearing" in which the latest in light and popular records were reviewed by Alex Borrie steadily increased in popularity. "The Don Adams" show featured a young professional broadcaster from Texas who introduced listeners to the American style of record presentation.

65. Amateur talent shows always appeal to a large section of the listening public, and "Beginners Please" the new Radio Hong Kong series produced by Hilary Green was no exception. From the first broadcast in December 1955 it was obvious that the programme would have a large following. There was never a shortage of potential beginners wanting to take part in the programme, and the demand for audience tickets far exceeded the supply. The series consisted of six half-hour elimination programmes, the winners of which went forward to the seventh programme, the finals. Six or seven contestants took part in each programme and ranged from singers and instrumentalists to film-star impersonators and performers on the 'bones'. Servicemen and civilians were about equally represented among the performers. The demand for seats to witness the Finals

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