BROADCASTING FOR WEEK-END

TO-DAY

2UW - 267 METRES

8 p.m.— "The 2UW Frolies." Written by Coralie McKellar Produced by Vernon Sellers. Artists include: Charles Lawrence, Coralie McKellar, Vernon Sellars, Amy Ostinga, Clifford Arnold, Jim Donnelly, and Jack Win.
9 p.m. "Piebald Philosophy": Jack Win. Music.
....

Source: The Telegraph (Sydney), 5 May 1934, Page 10.

Her Heart Was Breaking While She Sang Over Air

Over the air last night from station 2UW came the brightest of radio sketches - the Frolics of 1934 - replete with the jolliest of songs, of laughter, and merry interchange of wit, and the most effervescent of them all was the principal actress - Mrs. Coralie Stanley McKellar, the writer of "Beach combings" in "The Sunday Sun" - though her eyes were streaming with tears and her heart was breaking.

At 6 o'clock Mrs. McKellar's mother, Mrs. Helen Stanley, died at her home In Billyard-avenue, Elizabeth Bay, and at 8 o'clock Mrs. McKellar was to appear in the sketch written and arranged by herself.

Frequently it has fallen to the lot of some artists that in a moment of their greatest sadness they have had to serve their public, and their friends. So, bravely, last night, Mrs. McKellar declared that the show must go on.

Before the microphone, her fellow actors and actresses were tense with anxiety. They feared that the task would be too much for her. Charlie Lawrence, that inimitable jester, grave and silent, placed a supporting arm about her shoulders.

For a moment Mrs. McKellar swayed, then in a flash was the artist again, singing, laughing, dancing - the gayest of the gay.

There was a brief respite during a pianoforte solo. Wearily, she rested on a couch. Then back to the microphone - kiddies' sketch. Then a rest again.

Agony of Strain

And so it went on for the duration of a sketch that occupied 55 minutes. To the public listening-in a happy diversion, to the artist providing their pleasure, an agony of strain.

All the time through the window of the studio office watched, whitefaced, Mrs. McKellar's daughter, Gloria. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she watched her mother's every gesture. Her quivering lips heard on several occasions the hard-fought catch in her voice.

Then it was the end.

Gloria took her mother In her arms and together they sobbed quietly.

"Was the show all right?" Mrs. McKellar asked, anxiously

For her daughter the gesture was too courageous to allow her to answer.

Source: The Sun (Sydney), 6 May 1934, Page 2.