ARE THEY VULGAR?
Some people give their views to Grace Conway
How many people are feeling the same way as Viscountess Snowden about " the filthy stuff now broadcast" by the B.B.C.? I asked a represented,* group of people what they thought and this is what they said : MR. JOHN V A NSTONE (Warden of Toy nhee) : " There is no listening-in done in the club here. We are far too busy with the club activities. Personally I think features like Tommy Handley's and " Happidrome " are quite sound and healthy—in fact I'm a Hatalley fan myself
" Where damage can be done is in the factory breaks. There is a tendency to play down to the crowd—to expect them to have no intelligence, or very little, and to like bawdy stuff. On the whole, I think the B.B.C. are pretty vigilant, but it's a pity they allow the factory programmes to become unpleasant and vulgar. I suppose the fact of the matter is there is such a dearth of music-hall people to-day that when
they do offend, the B.B.C., rather than ban them, just give a warning."
A WOMAN SOLICITOR: " 1 think sonic of the factory breaks ate terrible and often completely humourless. It's depressing to hear roars of laughter at something that's not funny at all. As for crooning— that devitalised debasement of the human voice—I regard it as an antiwar effort and a strange contribution to the toughening process that is so I much part of our training to-day. Far too much time is given to it, and especially late at night and early in the morning."
A COMPANY DIRLCTOR " I never listen except to the news, special speeches (Mr. Churchill, for instance) and an occasional play. That goes for the family. too."
AN A.R.P. WORKER:
" I am very broadminded and frankly was surprised at Lady Snowden administering sueh a slam at the B.B.C. As I occasionally go to music-halls I have always felt that the B.B.C. showed up very well hi comparison. You do get a tendency to bawdiness in the halls."
GILLIE POTTER SAYS: "Lady Snowden is right. The B.B.C. speaks to the family, and nothing should be said that would be in bad taste in the family circle. I have suffered from living up to my principles about g•ood taste in the music-hall as well as on the radio. If I were willing to relax about this, you would hear me much oftener."