N

Arts & E

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

Thursday, October 23, 1975

Page Five


WUOM:
By DAVID BLOMQUIST
Soft music reverberates continuously
throughout the fifth floor of the LSA
Building. But this music is not the
mindless Muzak that fills in the back-
ground at department stores and res-
taurants. Indeed, the 25 people who
work there are proud of it, for the gen-
tle aural intrusion represents the final
product of their relentless, if some-
times quixotic, labor of love: the
broadcast signal of radio station
WUOM.
The University established WUOM
in 1948 essentially as a public relations
device - a means to send events and
opinions from Ann Arbor to the rest
of the state via the then-new medium
of FM radio.
And while WUOM still partly serves
as a conduit for information from the
University to residents of the Lower
Peninsula, it has also evolved into a
popular institution on its own merit:
a publicly-owned radio station where
the program staff regard the listener
with unusual respect.
In an era of increased specialization
in radio programming, WUOM is
among the most specific - a distinc-
tively different voice emphasizing cul-
ture and information, targeted at a
minority of listeners lost in a radio
band saturated with "top 40" rock and
"easy listening" as music.
The staff of WUOM knows that the

The slow climb upward
one recent afternoon, for exam- "Noon Show" news hour. struction of the LSA Building studios,
music and cultural affairs director And football sportscasters Tom including installation later this year of
hen Skelley paused after routinely Hemingway and Dave McKay recently a new control panel to accommodate
luncing a Haydn string quartet as began to use a TV instant replay sys- live stereo music broadcasts.

On
ple,
Step
anno

the upcoming offering. "It's subtitled
'The Frog'," he chuckled. "And maybe
if we listen closely, we'll find out
why."
To assure that the music selected
for broadcast reflects a distinctly per-
sonal touch, the station permits each

tern that lets them watch each play
over again to check referees' rulings.
That special human element seems
to be extremely successful. Small poc-
kets of listeners have built up over the
years into a dedicated regular audi-
ence of thousands of Lower Peninsula

Small pockets of listeners have built up over the years
into a dedicated audience of thousands of Lower Penin-
sula residents . . . "We have everyone from factory
workers to research scientists to students to nurses in
our audience - anyone with an interest in classical
music," says Skelley.
.s.m.4.?:.:... : . .M .."S:." . S.. a".....:."s.?:r 9.: ...W.. . . . . . .

STEPHEN SKELLEY, music and cultural affairs director of WUOM1, takes a telephone call
between records during the broadcast of his "Afternoon Musicale" program.

CAMPUS FLICKS:
Film season

That facility will finally make possi-
ble one of the staff's fondest dreams-
a late evening broadcast of chamber
music live from the WUOM studios.
A second marathon fund raising ses
sion is scheduled for November.
Yet despite the financial instability
and apparent dearth of glamour, the
broadcasters and technicians at WUOM
remain firmly committed to public ra-
dio.
"I'm going to stay on in public clas-
sical radio after I graduate, because it
gives me the opportunity to grow with
a medium that is just being rediscov-
ered" says Evans Mirageas, an LSA
senior who works part-time at the sta-
tion and hosts several evening pro-
grams. "There's never a dull moment
in radio. It involves the kind of behind
the scenes work that 'is next to cha-
otic."
Stephen Skelley agrees, declaiming
a sense of enthusiasm that visibly bub-
bles through the entire staff. "You
kind of live a job here, rather than
think of it as something that runs from
9 to 5," he says.
Armed with little more than this
ever-present optimism, the men and
women of WUOM have taken on a
fickle radio audience - and, slowly but
surely, seem to be inching their way
to the summit of success.
David Blomquist is the Arts and Fn-
tertainment Editor of The Daily.
Wt UOA will be holding an open
house tomorrow and Saturday, offer-
in,- listeners an opportuniy to view

promises
y lineup

air personality to prey
gram from the musi
16,000 albums.
"A lot of the other
have separate persons
ming, and then tap(
ments to be inserted
is broadcast," saysS
didn't want to sac
mid-

a

0

an

intriguin~


By JAMES VALK f A feature of current note- leases that more than made up present format of classical music and Greenquist's morni
For those who have recently worthy interest is Sidney Pol-1for the tripe that tends to oozeserious discussion will never earn them on its personalized, p
dcddtchcouthco-lack's 3 Days of the Condor,! into the theatres when the onieriousaizdpo
decided to check out the com- which boasts the headline cast weather gets warm, the top spot on area FM ratings he calls "a civilized
br- oit area, the slctions of Robert Redford, Faye Duna- The most significant contribu- charts. "We won't ever get a majority ting up."
have been, to say the least, way, Max Von Sydow and John tion to the summer list would be audience, admits Peter Greenquist, "I hate to get up n
havm 'ntHouseman. As long as the script Robert Altman's Nashville, a host of the station's morning program. keep a certain variety
grim.. by Lorenzo Sample Jr. (Parralax stunning patchwork of inter- Consequently, there isn't the oppor- quist says. "My show
But the bleakness of the situa- View) and David Rayfiel doesn't woven vignettes that unite to tunity for individual fame and fortune ket basket." His pr
tion is not so much a reflection become too much of a hinder- serve as a metaphor of contem- on WUOM that personalities on com- includes taped com
on the state of the motion pic- ance in viewing, the film re- porary mores. Roughly based
ture industry as it is a normal mains simple enough to be on the structure of Altman's eventlpopuar W music stations enjoy- subjesitacuty on a
seasonal slump that preceeds thoroughly entertaining. Nothing somewhat flawed Brewster Mc-ent, extending f
every Christmas holiday. less, nothing more. Cloud (where the Astrodome pids affiliate, WVGR, potentially reach fin ice to world polit
T h e September-to-November The real story of this cine- served as his metaphor of some- nine million listeners. But the 25 pro- The station's news 
period has become the house- matic calendar year, of course, thing), Nashville is the most fessional broadcasters and part-time mients also believe in
cleaning period for the motion awaits us this December 26, solid and complex film from the student assistants at WUOM find some- approach to broadcas
picture industry, allowing the when Stanley Kubrick's long director since his masterpiece 'thing more rewarding in their work: tor Fred Hindley on
major studios time to prepare awaited Harry Lyndon hits the Thieves Like Us. an immense sense of personal satis- night taping segment
their December barrage of en- selected theatre circuit. Of course, Woody Allen's Love faction. short wave program
tertainment. It's been four years since Ku- and Death and John Schleis- "It's fun to work here," says stationp
brick's last film (A Clockwork singer's The Day of the Locust
It can be noted, however, that Orange), and mysterious rumbl- contributed to the extension of imanager Neal Bedford. "It's a worth-
the range of new product being ings from beings who have' quality that typified the sum- while cause for the benefit of the us-
released is somewhat impres- claimed to see the film assert mer, balancing out such garbage tener."
live, even though- themacl that it is beyond comparison n as Mandingo and Rollerball. Concern for the listener, in fact, al- LIFE
merits of the films themselves cinematic history. But the summer was perman- most seems to be a preoccupation at
may be somewhat questionable. Kubrick, noted for his dom- ently marked by Steven Spiel- WUOM. But Bedford believes that in-
Ken Rusell's Llzstomanla can inance over every aspect of berg's incredible effort in Jaws, timate interest in and resect for the _
typically be summed up by the production and distribution re- a totally successful adaptation broadcast atdiece gives the station a .
ads that claim it "out-Tommys fused to screen the film for of Benchley's trashy novel. Jaws less esoteric sound than other classi-
Tommy." If that claim is indeed several Warner Brothers execu- was a first rate thriller that cm c ts
true, I certainly wouldn't show tives a few months ago, simply far exceeded the hopes anyone a usic outets we're d fferentfrom
it in public. because he wanted the film to ever had for it. "thisi herewedifferentjfro
Rooster Cogburn, a semi-sequel be a total mystery until it was In light of his successful di- the others,"' he explains. "Our object C
to True Grit, features the per- released. 'rection of action sequences in is to preserve and enrich the listener's
sonas of John Wayne and Kath- There is indeed something The Sugarland Express, Spiel- dignity. Rather than talking to people
erine Hepburn in a dismal mysterious at work concerning berg was given the task of film- from pillars on high, we sit in the
script that is unfortunately left the film, my primary concern ing Jaws by producers Richard studio and react to the music with the
unattended by producer Hal being why Kubrick cast Ryan Zanuck and David Brown. This listener."
Wallis., O'Neal in the lead role. Per- move ultimately produced land---------- -
-- ---- ---; haps he wants to do to O'Neal' mark in cinematic history, as
what Mike Nichols thought he'the film has surpassed The * * * *
Arts Briefs: did to Ann Margaret (remember Godfather as the highest gross-
Carnal Knowledge?), or maybe ing film of all time.
- -- he just wants to prove that he Jaes Valk is the ovie cri- O G
By The Associated Press is the only real force in con- av
Producer Sam Spiegel, a temporary cinema who can turn Iti of The Daily. A LFRED HITCHCOCK'S
throwback to the free-wheeling water to wine.
era of film making, is preparing As summers go, the past one CHARING CROSS
a movie- version of F. Scott. has been a period of unusual anjutiatOJWSKLkethOflk
Fitzgerld'se LIast FTycoon bndanca e ritscmmecilOKHO The original and ultimate JAWS. Like the folk
But when it was suggested that releases. Generally, one legiti- Used, Fine and Scholarly Books tale, the film arouses our fear of nature-
he himself fits the title, Spiegel mate film may surface over the 316 S. STATE-994-4041 strange houses in dark places where the animals
June-August period. Thisya, OpenMon. ri10-8' have minds of their own. "Beware, and don't
"Ied' however, there were several re- __flcn , amiss it."-N.Y. TIMES. ROD TAYLOR, TIPP
quite a simple man with occa- . .... ... HEDRON, SUZANNE PLESHETTE.
sionally lavish tastes, some of in AUD. A ANGELL HALL
which I am able to satisfy." FRANCIS FORD COPPOL'S 1967 n D:A5NG1.H L
His tastes include an ocean- "v " " A7 and 9:1I5 $1.25
going yacht and other amenities. YU'E A BIG BOY NOW
But the Spiegel career proves A film rap will be held immediately after the first show
that his abiding passion is mak- The director that brought you The Godfather,_____
ing movies, and he has produced Parts I & 11 and The Conversation first directed
some great ones: The African ( this wacky '60's comedy about a young man
Queen, On The Waterfront, The!T ES NP EE T
Bridge Over the River Kwai, looking for the meaning of life and love in a THE SUN PRESENTS
Lawrence of Arabia, Suddenly \ zany New York City. In color with Elizabeth
Last Summer also some bombs: Hartman, Peter Kastner, and Geraldine Page,
The Strange One, The Swimmer,'Kseran Gelde
THE AFTER.
The Chase. and musiclby the Lovin' Spoonful. -
The Last Tycoon proved a;E V F FS AUE" %N
heavy challenge for Spiegel. It M DEA IMFSIA
was Fitzgerald's last, unfinished FRI.: Eisenstein's Alexander Nevesky
work, pieced together after his
death by Edmund Wilson. Spie TONIGHT AT OLD ARCH. AUD.
gel is not the first to attempt 7:00 & 9:05 Admission $1.25
a film version. "It has been
frequently planned, frequently' ____
announced, and frequently aban-.
doned," he admitted. i_ T' j
"It is a lean, concise script- tR.C. PLAYERS presents
117 pages, the shortest I have -
ever had," said the producer.'
"This is the tree on which Di- I
rector Elia Kaan can hang JLJ P 8 8V J
beautiful foliage. He is great at
getting the best out of actors."jI
The cast: Robert DeNiro as "".
producer Monroe Stahr (pat- -
terned after Irving Thalberg); 'F
Robert Mitchum as studio boss .
Pat Brady (Louis B. Mayer);
Jean Moreau and Tony Curtis as
movie stars; Jack Nicholson as FRIDAY
a radical organizer; Donald MICHIGAN
Pleasance, Ingrid Boulting, An- - NOVEMBER 7
geiaHuston. ? rTHEATRE

pare his own pro-
s library of over
classical stations
do the program-
e the announce-
when the show
Skelley. "But we
crifice the live
ng show thrives
otpourri style that
approach to get-
nyself, so I try to
coming," Green-
is kind of a mar-
rogram regularly
entaries by Uni-
wide variety of
rom business and
ics.
and sports depart-
an individualized
ting. News direc-
ce stayed up all
ts from overseas
s for use on his

residents as evidenced by the steady
increase in monthly - program re-
quests. "We have everyone from fac-
tory workers to research scientists to
students to nurses in our audience -
anyone with an interest in classical
music," says Skelley.
Nevertheless, success hasn't been
easy. Although the University provides
funding for most of the full-time staff,
only limited appropriations - until re-
cently, just $53,000 per year - have
been made for operating expenses.
Small grants from the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting, the Depart-
ment of Health, Education, and Wel-
fare, and private sources permitted
the station to install stereo tranmis-
sion equipment in 1971. But that almost
created as many problems as advan-
tages: suddenly, most of the station's
record library and studio technical fa-
cilities were virtually obsolete. "We
could take $1 million just to bring us
up to date," Bedford notes.
An on-the-air marathon fund raising
drive last year generated enough sup-
port to spark some preliminary recon-

the station
ties. For

and meet the air personali-
further information call

WUOM at 764-9210.

4-
UNIVERSITY SHOWCASE PRODUCTION j
N. R Davidson's
A Play About MALCOLM X
OCTOBER 22-25 8 P.M. TRUEBLOOD THEATRE
ADVANCE TICKET SALES THROUTH PTP TICKET OFFICE
Located in Mendelssohn Theatre Lobby - Mon. thru Fri. 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., 2 - 5 p.m.
TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR - For information-call 764-0450
THIS PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY MICHIGAN COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
"

SOVIET
JEWRY VIGIL
There will be d vigil at the
performance of the Moscow
State Symphony. Protest of
the oppression of Sa v i e t
Jews. Hill Auditorium (Front
Doors)I Saturday, Oct. 25,
7:30 P.M
Oppressed Jewry
663-3336

eclipse

jazz presents

McCoy

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