School essay from 1969: Dxing Worldwide on WNYW-

A radio show I like.

What I most look forward to on Saturday afternoons, is the radio program Dxing Worldwide. This program, which starts half past 6, and lasts until seven, comes from radio station WNYW, Radio New York Worldwide. Dxing Worldwide is one of the best programs I ever heard.

Before I go on, I have to define what Dxing is. DX is radio ”hams” language and means distance. Some definitions also adds that the x means the unknown which I think is a good point.

In other words, DX stands for listening to unknown radio stations from far away. This is real sport. Thousands of people around the world have really found something of great value in the DX-sport. Via this they get into contact with most countries in the world. When you turn the dial, you can go from Karachi to Rio De Janeiro in less than a second. Since the sport is so valued and popular, many radio stations, especially those on the Shortwave bands has own DX programs serving as assistance and enrichment for listeners. DX-shows contain mostly only reports from the listeners of important stations they have managed to hear. But Dxing Worldwide contains much more than this. This show takes you from one side of the Dx-spectrum to the other.

At 6.30pm Saturday afternoon I am always in front of my radio. Sometimes it might be a bit difficult to recveive WNYW, but generally speaking it comes in very clearly. A radio listener fancies a clear identification from a given station, and WNYW is clever at this. At precisely 6.30 you hear: ”This is WNYW, Radio New York Worldwide, with studios in New York City, and transmitters in Scituaté, Massachusetts, USA.” After this comes the theme tune of Dxing Worldwide. I like this very much. It is a funny tune that leads the program into an easy manner right from the start.

Les Marshak, the program host is in the hot seat. ”Hello, all listeners in Europe and Africa, here we are with Dxing Worldwide once again. I hope you have a good time wherever you are just now, here in New York City we have great weather, with sunshine this Saturday morning. Well, all the staff here at WNYW is ready to get set, are you? We march right ahead with ”Musings, part I”. What I fancy most with Dxing Worldwide is this personal, friendly sound of Les Marshak. Quite genuine is Les, and it seems he really hopes we have a good time wherever we might be at this moment whether we might be in Sahara or as me, home in my room in the middle of the Norwegian West Coast.

”Musings, part I”. Is an item dealing with different episodes that have happened on radio stations around the globe. Les tells about the snake who came into studio while the newsreader read the news on BBC Radio I and 2.

Another time a young boy in Chicago started his own radio station. He transmitted with the great power of 45 watts! WRFN, Rado Suburbia was on the air every Fridday evening, and had three listeners sending in requests per phone! The boy had to demolish all the equipment and got a warning from the authorities. Such small episodes are typical of Dxing Worldwide.

Les Marshak is quite new as program host. At the end of March this year Steve Grayson quit. He has been the host for 4 years. Just before he quit, he put in a new spot in the show, called ”Remember time.” Les does a great job here too. He reads old reports from listeners about stations they have heard, maybe 30 years old.

It is very interesting and exciting to hear what they heard. European listeners might hear Radio Tokyo and KDKA in Pittsburgh. I think ”Remember time” belongs to Dxing Worldwide. This is a good feature.

After this the spot I am waiting most for every time, ”…this is when I touch that magic button” and turn over to Roy Patrick, in Derby, England.” Roy is the leader of one of the biggest DX-Clubs in Europe and his job at DX-ing Worldwide is to tell the latest news from Europe, as well as to play a rare recording. He played Radio Americas, 1165 kcs Swan Island and Radio

Senegal, Dakar 764 kcs. But the nicest bit was when Steve Grayson hosted the show and we were treated to hear what happened the night of the 15th of August 1967, when Radio Caroline continued its transmissons after the so-called pirate stations were stopped in England. I am for ”Free radio”, so I recorded what Roy played. We hear the Caroline djs lead by Johnnie Walker sing. ”We shall overcome.” Then a short speech by Johnnie why Caroline won’t give up, and then he says: ”Caroline belongs to you,”, Caroline is yours, and Caroline loves you.” Steve added after Roy Patrick had finished: ”Every time I hear that recording, it brings a chill up and down my neck.”

Maybe somebody will say this is childish. Say want you want, the Caroline-guys gave up something to ensure than the station should remain on the air as they had to move abroad. Roy with the latest Dx-news from Europe is also one of the items why I fancy this show.

After this a jingle. This is a little song advertising the station it was played on or for radio generally Jingles is one of the best parts of radio, that’s why I also enjoy Dxing Worldwide. The Global Medium jingle set is often used.

WNYW is a commercial station, so here follows a short commercial spot. Many people are against radio advertising, and there might be good reasons for this, but the commercials on WNYW sounds OK as it gives real information about the advertised products.

Every Dxer is interested in the coming DX-conditions, and ”propagation report” tells us how they have been the last week. I miss a propagation forecast though.

An interview also adds to the programme quality. I remember especually an African radio person from Southern Rhodesia’s ”Radio Jacaranda.” It is interesting to hear how they make radio programs in Africa. You have to cater for all, both the village families with their transistor to the rich, white family on the other side of town with their large radio cabinet. Everybody is to be served.

Some news from the electronic field follows. In this item you have the latest news of new radio sets and radio parts. Les does a great job here too.

The time is now fast approaching 7, and it is time to close the show. But first Les reads some listeners letters from many parts of the world. Then the theme tune goes on the air. Les says goodbye, and says see you next week. Maybe he also tells a little story to add little spice to the closing.

Then Dxing Worldwide is over for this week, and people in large parts of the world turn off their radio sets. Once again they have just as I listened to the radio show they enjoy most, Dxing Worldwide.

And WNYW crosses to the jingle and newscast from American Information Radio News.