On Air - by Nigel A JAMES
Calling All
Children
Stories that
come in from the air are moments of magic. Radio, when properly done,
not only conjures up pictures of fantasy, but provides for emotions
as well. And, the best stories of all are the ones that send
children to sleep with dreams in their pockets and smiles on their
faces. Children's radio as how it once was! And, in Austria, it was
thanks to one woman!
It was 1955.
The age of new radio in Austria. A period of excitement when things
were invented and methods didn't come from a course. And so it was,
that against this pioneering background of oneness that Marga Frank
started a program for children, The Little Dream Man. And this,
indeed, was something quiet special.
It began
around bedtime. All of its little listeners were not only on the way
to their beds, but also looking forward to a moment they loved. And
the reason was simple. The Little Dream Man stories had the magical
quality of ending each day on a high. And, that is what made it so
special. It was loved by both children and adults alike. But, of
course, the telling of good stories wasn't all that it seemed.
Each
story was a challenge. They not only had to last for exactly 4
minutes and 45 seconds, they had to conform to Marga Frank's
standards of high evening beauty, as well. And, that wasn't all. The
Little Dream Man went out every day, and that meant 365 brand new
stories each year! A challenge! But, everything always happened on
schedule, and, as the years went by, so did the stories.
And
the generations moved on as well. The Little Dream Man was so popular
that it lasted for almost 40 years, and the first little listeners
eventually grew up to become the grandparents of the last little
listening dreamers. And then came television, and the Little Dream
man sadly disappeared into its shadow for ever.
And
Marga frank is happily still with us, and now, with more than 90
years to her credit, she can look back upon a life of providing great
pleasure. And, Austria, too, said thank you in a very big way. She
was awarded the Austrian medal of honour for her work. The highest
honour of all! And, quite rightly so. She was, after all, the one
who sent millions of children to bed every night with a smile and a
dream!
Nj
