Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

Every Tuesday It was big news, terrible news— the tidal wave that brought New York's skyscrapers crashing to earth ! It was Jeff Shannon, world-famous television reporter, that saved this great city from disaster. A breath-taking story adapted from the British L-ion picture which stars Ralph Byrd as Jeff Shannon THE PINEAPPLE NOT i:\v iioilli uf llio New York medo- polilan bomidaiy, (licio is n iiliue called Willie I'liiins. It is a pretty town—cicuti and modern. And the most up-to-dato featuifs in its main street are two new white huildings which tower upwards into the sky. 'Phosc hiiildings aie owned hy rival tele- vision coinpanie.s, who l)roa<lrast daily to tile teennnp millions of New York the licws and entertaiinnents of the ho\ir. One of the television companies is broad- casting now. A small crowd has gathered outside a shop in White Plains. A dozen pairs of eyes are focnsed on a small screen, while above their heads a londspeaker blares a cominentaiy "This is your newsrecl reporter, JefT Shannon!" the loudsp<'aker said. "I've got a good bag for yon this time, folks! Hero is the start of another transatlantic flight. There goes the machine, lacing across tho flying field for the take-off. The wheels are leaving the'gronnd—the pilot is trying hard to clear the nuiway. With a thonsand gallons of fuel in his tank, will he get his nose up in time?" Tlie crowd gathered closer, staring at the screen. The plane could be seen struggling to rise. It got up to fifty feet, then suddenly stalled. A gasp went up. "It's a crasli !" blared the loudspeaker. "Look, the pkuie has turned over! It's bmst into flames! And there goes the crash wagon!'' A pause, then: "It's all riglit. folks! The pilot has been thrown clear. He's on his feet, unhurt: Well, that's the end of another transatlantic attempt, but althoueh it's no happy landing, it won't stop the progress of aviation.'' The picture on the screen changed. Tho huge Lincoln warehouse on New York's water- front was seen ablaze. That flashed oflf, and a line of army tanks, their guns flaming, was shown on manoeuvres. The ciowd pressed closer still. A cop came along the sidewalk. He saw the knot of people, and went up behind them. "Keep the sidewalk cleai-, please!" he said. " Move on. there !" A man in tho crowd turned. "It's JefT Shannon's broadcast," he sSid. "Oh. that's difi'erent!" replied the cop, and joined the scone to look. Scene after exciling scone followed on the screen. Jeff Shannon's voice keeping up a quick-fire commentary all the time. "Then, at last, Jeff Shannon appeared on the screen himself. "Well, folks, you've soon the latest news events brought to you as usual by your tele- vision new-sroel reporter, Jefl Shannon," he said. "Look for me again to-morrow at this time." He broke oflF as a hand came in and gave iiim some slips of paper. He took them and read them quickly. "One more item, folks," he said. "We've just received the official returns on to-day's primarv elections. On the Citizens' Ticket— Clifford Farrow, 427,383. James Ross. 422,423. So there's the line-up. Farrow against Ross in the elections next month, and may the best man win. Good-bye until to-morrow," And then he faded from the screen. In the studio lu'gh up in the television build- ing in which he worked, Jcf? Shannon stepped away from the microphone and called across to his operator: "Don't be late for dinner to-night. Peaches. We're eating early on account of Buddy's BOY'S CINEMA 13 birthday." He chuckled. "Imagine my kid having a sixth birthday party already." Peaches Jackson nodded. He was a comic- looking guy—his face had to be funny even when he meant it to be serious. "Yeah," he replied. "The sands of time certainly do run under the bridge." Jeff walked towards tlie door. At it he stopped and turned. "By the way. how are you getting along with the girl friend?"' he asked. "Have you got her to say ' Yes ' yet ?" "Well, no," Peaches lepliod. "But she'd marry me any time if 1 just put my foot down. But you know how love is. You've got to give it time to ripen. Some day, I'll give her the ring." "Uh-huh!" .=;aid Jeflf interestedly. "Dia- monds?" "W'ell, some guys seem to like them," said Peaches. "But personally, I like atheists and satires." JefT grinned and went on his. way. He lived in a small but delightful villa in the subiu'bs. He walked theie briskly and let himself in with his key. Hardly had he closed the door and hung up his hat than somethitig hit him in the chest, and two small arms clung around his neck. "flallo. Buddy!" he said. "How's tricks?" "Come and see my cake, daddy," said Buddy excitedlj', "It's got six candles on it, and it's all covered with sugar icing." Jeff laughed and carried him into the living- room. There his wife was waiting for him. She got up when he came in, kissed him, and indicated the table. It was laden with all the right things for a party, "It's a good job you've come. .Jeff," she said, "I've hardlv been able to keep him in order." Jeff gave Buddy a dig in the ribs and put him down. He found his pipe and started to fill it, "The moment L^ncle Dan and Peaches get here,'" he said, "we'll start right in. And seeing that it's your birthday, you needn't eat any hread-and-butter before you start on the cakes," He turned to his wife, "Broadcast come over all right, Laurel?" She nodded, "It was marvellous," she said. "It always is." He laughed, "Well, so long as you stick aroiuid, I know I've always got at least one fan,'' he said. Peaches and LTncle Dan arrived shoitly afteiwards. Uncle Dan also worked in the tele- vision studios. He was a clever ventriloquist, an<l he had brought with him his dummy— nam<>d Feli.x. Buddy and Felix were gieat fiiends. "My, what a grand cake!'' Uncle Dan said. "We'd better get Felix to help you blow all those candles out. Buddy." He was carrying Felix at tlie time. Felix promptly replied: "The last time yon made me blow some candles out, uncle, your breath lit up like a noon sign." Peaches thought he saw a joke in the offing, and roared with laughter. Then he blinkeil. "Say, I don't get it," he mumbled. Jeff sat him firmly in a chair at tho table. The others-sat down also, and Laurel went away to make the tea. While she was gone, Uncle Dan turned to Jeff and said: "I've got something I want to ask yovi. Farrow looks like being elected mayor again. He's rotten from the boots up. and so long as he's in power, the city's going to be riddled with graft. How about you giving me a hand in keeping him out?' Jeff sighed. "Are .von still harping on that?" he said. "I'll never stop harping on it.'' Uncle Dan replied. " You've got more influence than anyone I know. You can reach a huge public. You're more powerful than all the newspapers put together. How about itT' Jeff shook his head. "It's no good. Uncle Dan." ho said, "Tho rea.son I've got so much influence is that I don't take sides. My business is getting news arid putting it over on tho air. Folks listen to me because they know I haven't any axe to grind. They can watch my screens and know they aren't going to bo pestered." "You'd have the thatiks of tho whole city if you'd do something," said Uncle Dan persuasively. / "I can do without their thanks," Jeflf retorted. Laurel came back just then. At the same moment the front door-bell rang. January 20tli, 1040.