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.
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TRY IT
Vf'fami'n B
Hot Cereal
It Tastes Good!
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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
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