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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1936)
Radio Traffic Court Material Aid In Safety Campaign Judge's 'Guests On 'Amateur Hour' Broadcast Alibis By Joe Custer RADIO'S strangest "amateui hour"- In which the "maatei ol cert .nonlcs" can put you In tail Where 'guest artists' accept "invitations" with reluctance And where "awards' are apt to be (1) compulsory schooling. 2i temporary restraint of freedom. (3) loss of money, or 141 any ol these combinations Such Is the "amateur hour' con ducted over the San Jose (Calif. I radio station each Monday after noon, a feature that in a year's time has captured the interest ol a vast Western audience It emanates troin the inner re cesses of the grim two-story, red brick building that Is the City Hall. On the first Moor, directly above the basement prison, is the police court-und radio's strange program of amateur "talent" Is enacted before His Honor, the Po lice Judge! BUT If the otlicial bench is for bidding, His Honor appears anything but. Tall, lean, athletic he played football and rugby at Santa Clara University, and he holds his own today with the city's best handball artists Judge Percy O'Connor's Irish blue eyes twinkle down at his "guests" on the program. He la soft-voiced and sympa thetic, but he can be firm and se vere. He Is conducting nls "Trafflc Court of the Air," in which actual cases are broadcast. Thousands listen, as letters to the station In dicate," and in his files Judge O'Connor has hundreds of commu nications seeking information, spcond-gucflfling his decisions, or offering illustrations of how this novel presentation proved of bene fit. It is a ticklish spot for the Judge, this broadcasting. There Is - ho recalling of verdicts or words, and thousands judge the Judge as they are gathered about their ra dios. The vistor crowds his way into a congested courtroom, filled prln clpally with "performers" who 7 : cnir-fL JJk 1 til lIEr;,"'!' amment, paving the way tor tnt -"J 8- Jll imKf messages he endeavors to convey f4'-jr ",Km iF 111' S ' Whether the ordeal of magnified J jF Via-... J I i ' publicity Is especially trying to V lj V VfTyViW If bls "guests" or not, Judge O'Con- k'.-f Bhif' ,ayt?l s nor ls unconcerned; if the pub- !. SjPiuaimA &r ' i licity makes them more careful in S tT tte 1 uture' ne ' eels 'he program I RI jV ' has been well worth while. XWAJT'' i " : : Ihe Druadcast baa resulted in other surprising services, too There was a feminine driver, for instance, who declared she was unable to pay a fine, and "couldn't really afford to operate a car; I'd sell it at the first opportunity.' She was startled wheq two tele phone calls offering to buy the car came in while she was still dis cussing the matter in court A stickler for justice, but a firm neliever In tempering ft with mercy if he is convinced the case warrants It. the judge fines sen tences or reprimands inriiscrlmi nately and speedily. Letters ap plaud his fairness and his tin manity. A Stanford university law stu dent was advised that "an Impdr tant' principle of a law career is to appear in court only as a rep resentative of someone else, and not on your own behalf." and then his penalty was adjudged in pro portion to his meager finances. One of Judge O'Connor's favor ite sentences is compulsory at tendance at a "traffic school." In which violators are enlightened on traffic laws, and then given an ex amination to ascertain the extent of their added education JUDGE O'CONNOK follows the court broadcast with a 15 minute period "Traffic School of the Air" program, during which he answers questions submitted by his listeners, advises on traffic problems, and reviews recent ac cidents, explaining how they might have been avoided He was rather surprised at the T rafjic School of Air Gives Drivers Practical Advice tan mail" response to the follow ing Incident In his court The violator was decidedly a loriegn-appearing individual, and Judge O'Connor suspected that he could neither read nor write. The violation was disregarding an ar terial" "stop" sign. "Why, I don't believe you could lead what it said on that sign.", the judge remarked "Are vou POSITIVE you can read'" "Sure!" "Well, we'll give you a little test anyway, to make sure." Judge O'Connor's eyes fell upun the large black lettering on his of fice door, "POLICE JUDGE." What does thut say do you Know?" The foreigner stared for a long minute. Sure!" For another long minute he peered intently. "Well, what does it say?" "It say," the defendant an swered triumphantly, "STOP!" bpeeders and other traffic violators receive emphatic warning from the unique police court broadcast at San Jose, Calif., con ducted -daily by Police Judge Percy O'Connor. Judge O'Connor, shown at his courtroom microphone, conducts an "amateur hour" that is bringing results in cutting down San Jose's traffic violations. well the fundamental law of ra dio. "No dead spots!" Ha MOVES the conversation along briskly, and he keeps the air lanes humming. He gives his unseen audience a show while , he dispenses Justice, and his pro gram has rapidly grown to be come a leading "best seller." Ho Is not without a keen sensi of humor, and he loses few oppor tunities to" capitalize on an open ing that results In a chuckle or two. The witness, charged with speeding, a third offense, has been drives che message home, not only to the accused, but to the thousands listening in. It is the opportunity to reach an unlimited audience that makes Judge O'Connor's "Tramc Court of the Air" fulfill his purpose to make p'eople "Safety Conscious." The program is fundamentally tor educational purposes, and the trick of capturing widespread in terest lies in the Judge's ability to provldo some semblance of tenter- 'it' "Don'ts" From The Radio Police ludge DON'T DRINK If you are driving. DON'T DRIVE If you are drinking. DON'T drive at a speed inconsistent with the hazards of road bed and visibility. DON'T FOLLOW other vehicles too closely. DON'T FAIL to stop at all "Stop" signs DON'T JUMP traffic lights. DON'T TRY TO PASS unless you have surhclent space. DON'T BACK UP without knowing the way Is clear. DON'T TRY TO PASS on a curve DON'T FAIL to give proper hand signnls when fuming DON'T see how close you can come to pedestrians DON'T WORRY about the right of way- HIVE IT TO THE OTHER FELLOW! overflow tho benches and lino up ' against the walls The Judge confronts u guest artist," Introduced by the simple routine of calling out his name: John Ulunk. 12:u So-and-So avo nue. Chnrged with violating Sec tion o(78, speeding, 38 miles per houi through a 20-mile none, guilty or not guilty?" From there the case goes on. and the microphones relay every word to the "fans" at their loud speakers A lending man In ama teur theatricals for years, before superior otllclnls decided It wisest tu eliminate his stage activities as 'unbecoming to the dignity of the lllce," Judge O'Connor knows ssked if he knows the trattlc code. He does 'Well, do you know what the difference Is between a 2l-mlle sone anil a 25-mlle zone?" "Sure,"' the tall, dark youth an swers. "In a 20-mile nine, you go 20 miles an hour, and -"' The "guest artist" is checked hy the laughter which sweeps tho courtroom, and- the Judge, grin ning widely, finishes out the inter pretation, "and in a 25-mlle rone, you go 25 miles per hour, is that it"" He explains and thoroughly, means, and It then, patiently Just what zoning Is here that he FOOD, NOT STARS, FORETELLS FUTURE OF YOUR CHILD "What will my child be like Ave yeni's from now?" In ancient days paronts n.sked tho stars for an an Bwer, but science today foretells tho future by something more re liable food! Given the correct dlot, your boy or girl can normnlly expect to grow up healthy, well developed, equip ped to be a victor in the baUle of Ufo. Medical authorities agree that an adequate supply of Vitamin B, the appetite and growth vitamin, Is essential. University of Califor nia tests showed that children fed wheat germ, rich in Vitamin B, gained three times as fast as other children. Wheat germ (heart of tho grain) Is a rare food substance requiring a bushel of wheat tu produce an ounce. Tho same wheat germ used In university tests Is now being toasted and added to a well-known hot cereal called Wheat Hearts. The result ls a cereal naturally sweet and nutlike in flavor. Also, because It Is extra rich in Vitamin It. physicians are recommending It for child diet. Mothers may secure Wheat Hearts from their grocers. As an Inducement to try it, the makers of fer to send a genuine Oneida Com munity Tmlor I'lnte baby spoon, (retail value 50c1) for only ten cents and a grocer's sales slip showing the purchase of one package of 1 Wheat Hearts. Sales slfv and ten cents mailed to the Sperry Flour Co., Dept. t". San Krnm'lscn. will bring tho silver boby spoon postpaid. Milium. mm. ii rx m mm mm mm mm mm mm w mm 'frran... rfsMnf.n - riiiriwi .j ( . .:.- . -m.- I 1 1 1 1 n ii I ii 1 1 1 ill it t . .' rrr ,. aTj : iu- i in hi in i i Bim i " ' , ...""Vf 0; TRY IT Vf'fami'n B Hot Cereal It Tastes Good! I - I 1 5Pv Y fl ft IHaitilMWHU .1 Tftltn ItCOHDl it Ml tiutAin Ulll TO Will A UHN Of y(rT WUHMM W MOW NAVff piufjuit mri mv SMVtlUtTlK SPFDnv U Here's something new in cobblers six sparkling variations of an easily nude dessert. Apple Cobbler with cheese batter . . . Fruit Cup Cobbler . . . Candied Sweet Potato Cobbler from Dixie . . . and three other novelties, just what you want to give variety to spring menus. Martha Meade includes these six novel cobblers and JO other new recipes in her famous "Six-Of-A Kind" cook book, packed free in every sack of Drifted Snow Flour. This is the "Home- Perfected" flout which has helped thousands of Western homcmakcrs avoid bakirrg failures and save moncv. Before it ever eocs to vouP J - grocer, Drifted Snow Flour is tested by Sperry's staff of 117 " Home-Pcrfccters" homemakers like yourself, not professional cooks. The Drifted Snow label is placed only on flour which they find perfect in results . . . assurance that you will have equal success with it in your kitchen. Variation in flour quality causes one-half of all baking failures! Avoid this expensive fault change to Drifted Snow Flour and get "Home-Perfected" protection for all your baking. Your grocer has it, with the interesting "Six-Of-A-Kind" recipe book free in every sack. HIAR MARTHA MEADS AND RADIO STARS IN NOVEL PROGRAM Martha Meade is entertaining the West's most famous radio stars and you arc invited to meet them! For a program you'll enjoy and remember, rune in any N BC rjtion. Tucdm and Thursdays, 10A.M. (P S. T ). Martha Meade, famed homcmalt ing evpcrl. gives you new recipes, time saving hints, latest household news. Guest stars who are hcatllincrson the air tell about their favorite dishes and inrcrestiiut experiences. Won't you come? Remember Tuesday and Thursday mornings. WMtfimMaan mUnnmit' IT Il 1WT Kll Mlf iii.rtii. ,ksn tsM DRIFTED SNOW FLOUR L'ppl'fUlit llti'i. Sprrry Flour Co.. Hi i Frini'iM-o Your Baker Can Savt You Time and Effort ThousinJs of hikers in their cleanly, modern bakeries serve you delicious breads, cakes, pas tries, at very moderate prices. Buy from your baker or pdtro.nizc your gnner's hAcry counter. auh their windows tor dch;littul new ideas in hiking based upon those tempting and nour ishing foods--baked wheat prodiuts. - I pi f Vt .' - Martha Moade's New Book f0 Pritife-Winnittg Puitries Pis !s4-rte new hook iboul piilt, nu liniitMt l'jni I ton t Ntitri irv ip t.'( pif, tri. vhfce lira., melt rej. piruc hf liv Frfiii h p'!'. etc, Set tirgnn otiet in toupon. SPFRRY FLOl'R CO.. Sn Frartciico. aiifofnia Fltiit tend me Mifthi Meade t book, "60 Ptiiic-Winninx Ptittiti," I cm low 10 CffiH, mmp ot com, and itocer lalct Mip showing putthiw ot Drifted Snow Flour, any me ink. (Renulat price of book n rtnn without wle hp.) . Simr . ,, - - Utt 4 -FB Plem write m mirim the nimc of rout r PAGE EIGHT-B
