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  BROADCASTS IN FRENCH  

Aunt Francine and Uncle Roland during " childrens " hour at Christmas.
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Uncle Roland and his " fan club ", the children and friends
 

In spite of protests from listeners associations, the government introduces a tax on wireless sets on the 31st March 1933. The revenue must finance state transmitters. The private stations are, largely, financed by adverts. The advertising slogans, or "ads", are remembered:  " a piece of furniture signed Lévitan is guaranteed for a years", "Stop there? Who quick? Saponite, the good laundry "!, "André, the shoemaker knowing how to shoe "...  

Francine Lemaître (Aunt Francine)  
and Roland Violette (Uncle Roland)

Every evening at 6pm, children have an appointment with Aunt Francine and Uncle Roland. 16 year old Francine Lemaître, a stenography typist, joined Radio Normandy to type the news broadcast from Paris. Two months later, Fernand Le Grand was given another role, out of the studio, and asked Francine to replace him. The listener's were pleased with the new presenter’s voice, and sent in lots of fan mail.

Aunt Francine climbed the new aerial, the highest one (on the right) at 113metres, just to win a bet. 
 


Incredible but true. Newspapers ran the story, and the photo is opposite – great publicity for the station and what a brave lady.

Francine, was the first female TV broadcaster in France,
taking part in the first  television tests in the studios
of Radio Normandy.

Uncle Roland and his two assistants get ready to record their report with the “resonant ribbon" (the first tape recorder)- as previously described. 

“We have special equipment installed in a van, which allows us move fast. The equipment is virtually ready to use on the spot. In the end of year 1933, some difficulties emerged, the telephone circuits that we used since 1930 have been withdrawn, so, even with our stationary studios in Le Havre and Rouen, thanks to this van, we can play back live concert broadcasts..."





The station innovates in many areas and launches the "listeners concert", during which songs chosen by listeners are broadcast to their parents or friends, "on behalf of... for the pleasure of... you will be pleased to hear..." Uncle Roland and Aunt Francine" launch the broadcast; they became friends of the listeners, talking about everyday life. The idea will be broadcast nationally with "On the bench " by Raymond Souplex and Jeanne Sourza, or the "Duraton Family" with Ded Rysel and Jean Carmet. Radio Normandy broadcasts out of the studio to the public. 2 July 1934, the duo setup on the stage of the Grand Theatre at Le Havre. Listeners can finally put a face to the voices. In 1935, the radio - hook up with Saint – Granier, is where amateurs sing on Radio Normandy and its an great success

.

Another famous person is Uncle Roland.
Roland Violette, a typographer and amateur comedian.
He is going to travel the country and broadcast
at outside events, working with Francine.


 

Below, the reporters van, in front of the
offices of Paris-Soir newspaper in Paris

Broadcast from the Rouen auditorium 
(inaugurated the 26/6/31 at the city hall)
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The reporters van back to the studios of Fecamp

Office of the radio, at 102 Joan of Arc Street in Rouen;

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Rouen today, nr 102 is a tapestry maker / decorator shop
(photo Google) 

 



In 2006, the van is gone...

In this same street Georges Cuvier, the station owned,
in addition to this building, "the House of the Radio"
on the opposite sidewalk (to the photographer's back). 
(see preceding pages)
 

The presence of Radio Normandy at numerous exhibitions in the region, requires the use of this van for the transport of material. A sign painted on the van mentions towns where the radios - clubs affiliated to the station exist. On every trip a tourist car follows with Aunt Francine and Uncle Roland on board, going to meet their listeners - young and old for the childrens session, or for the evening concert.  

Fernand Le Grand made Radio Normandy a model station achieving quality broadcasts, where one heard artists like Henri Laverne, Adrienne Gallon, Marie Dubas, André Bellet.  




< On this contemporary plan of Fécamp , the two red marks show
    the site of the two pylons. 

The French broadcasters
Miss Francine Lemaitre (Aunt Francine), Messrs. Roland Violette (Uncle Roland), Mr. Bénard (Cousin Maurice),
Mr. Bécasse (Cousin André), René Malandain, Mr. Nicolas, Pierre Garnier and Roger Olivier. 

Technicians (studios and transmitter) 
Albert Drelangue, Jean Lageix, André Charbonnier, Monchy, Joseph Malandain, Mr. Janssen, Rémy Picard,,  
Mr. The Deunf, Jean Griffen, Mr. Of Rotalier, Mr. Ferhenbach, Pierre Legros, Joseph Bouffay, Jean Lenormand
and Mr. Michel