Hollywood (Jan - Mar 1943)

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Please rush sample of "PRESS-ON" Tape, also 64-page Wonderhook. I enclose lOe for handling and mailing Print NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE By JANET HAYES Little Freddie Mercer is Hollywood's newest boy wonder. He not only sings and acts, but he's every bit a real roughand-ready boy. He's in R-K-O's Gildersleeve series \ Jlfliniaf lire Marvel H Freddie Mercer is a boy soprano who plays football and fights! This twelveyear-old miniature marvel from Detroit is a child actor who is not a brat. In fact, to use one of his own favorite phrases, "He's super!" Although Freddie was originally signed for movies because of his true, clear singing voice, he has so far played straight dramatic roles on the screen. Now, however, under a three-year contract to R-K-O, he will sing out in the Gildersleeve series, featuring Hal Peary. Freddie's mother, who was a church singer and talented musician, recognized her son's unique singing gift and trained his voice from early childhood. When he was six, he and his parents spent a year traveling around the country. They stayed for several months near San Diego and there Freddie heard many Mexican folk songs. He didn't know Spanish, but started making up his own lyrics which sounded like Spanish and turned out to be his own brand of doubletalk. When he returned to Detroit his novelty songs had become so amusing that he was signed for radio and sang over WXYZ and WWJ for two years. Meantime he was also a soloist in St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral and later with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra — but not, of course, doing doubletalk. A few years ago Freddie came to Los Angeles to sing at the National Music Conference. Helene Byers, one of the sponsors of the Turnabout Theater in Hollywood, heard him and sent for him. She then built an entire matinee show, with a circus theme, around him. There Freddie was spotted by director Harold Schuster, who immediately signed him for the second lead with Roddy McDowall in On the Sunny Side. Shortly after that he played young Poe in The Loves oj Edgar Allan Poe. These roles gave him no chance to sing, but R-K-0 is not wasting that talent. The very first scene he does for Gildersleeve has him singing. Freddie likes making movies, but he's more interested in guns and planes than in acting. He is one of the servicemen's favorite entertainers in Southern California camps, not only because of his singing, but because he always becomes "pals" with the men. He amazes them with his knowledge of relative merits of Garand and Springfield rifles, P-38's and Grumman Wildcats. Planes are no novelty to Freddie. He had his first ride in a plane at the age of six. At camps he is allowed to inspect new fighters and bombers. He has ridden in Jeeps and was permitted to sight and aim a .37 millimeter anti-tank gun. He was itching to fire it! Mechanically minded, he knows what makes these things tick. They're no toys to Freddie. United States Marines are his idols. They are "super" on his list of servicemen, and he wishes he were about eight years older so he could be a member of the corps' air force. He's not quite sure whether he would like to continue as an actor or be a chemist when he grows up. Chemistry is 52