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18
Effect of Pinch Hitting for
^loyd (Ribbon
By H. L Phillips
New York Sun Dialist (left) and Floyd Gibbons.
EDITOR'S NOTE — Following is the deposition of H. I. Phillips, more or less known as a Radio announcer and substitute for Flovd Gibbons. Mr. Phillips also conducts "the Sun Dial" in The New York Sun.
THEY tell me I spoke, or nearly so, on the Radio. In the Literary Digest hour ... or something. I can't say, personally. I dunno anything about it. 1 remember being escorted down a cold corridor, taken through a little green door into a brilliantly lighted chamber . . . there was a chair ... 1 sat in it ... I don't recall being strapped. . . . Then everything went black, your Honor!
My name is Floyd Phillips . . . beg pardon . . . H. I. Gibbons. . . . No, that can't be right, either.
The following is a true confession: A fellow called me on the telephone. He said his name was Sullivan. He was an official of the National Broadcasting company, he said. He wanted to know if 1 would take Floyd Gibbons's place on the Literary Digest program. I looked at the calendar. It was too late for April Fool's day. I asked him to repeat what he said. He said: "Will you take Gloyd Fibbons's — my mistake — Floyd Gibbons's place on the Literary Digest hour?" I said: "I can't."
He asked me why not. I said I was busy every night taking the place of Amos and Andy. He said they don't amount to anything. I said I know, but if 1 ever give up being Amos and Andy I will be Graham McNamee.
(At this point the confession zvas halted while the accused look a cjlass of 'water.)
"Well," he said, "will you take Harry Gibbons's — excuse it — Floyd Gibbons's place first and then go on with your Amos and Andy? Floyd comes first, anyhow?" I had never thought of that before.
I SAID: "How about Rudy Vallee?" He said: "What do you mean about Kudy Vallee?" I said: "I take Rudy's place, too. I thought you knew it." He said he didn't know it for a fact. He said would I manage to take Floyd Gibbons's place as a special favor? I said as a favor to who? (Or to whom? I'm not quite sure about that.) He said as a favor to the Literary Digest. I said what's the matter with Gibbons? He said he talked so fast last night he stripped his gears. I said how do I know I won't strip my gears? He said what difference would it make? He had me there.
I said: "How much do I have to pay?" He said you don't have to pay. He said we pay you. This sounded interesting, if true. I came up for air and asked: "How much do you pay me?" He said $.">00. I said no. Not a cent less than $300. He tried to argue with me. I stuck to my figure.
I didn't realize I had done a great wrong at first. Not the day .before the first broadcast. Then I got nervou. couldn't sleep, eat or drink. 1 lost thirty-five pounds betsunrise Sunday and sunrise Monday. I thought of running' (Continued on page 65)