Radio mirror (July-Dec 1946)

DECEMBER, 1946 ky^M IF you're anxious to locate Mercedes McCambridge, it's easy: just look around New York City for a convertible station wagon with a brunette behind the wheel — who's obviously reciting a part! While she speeds she shouts in anger, murmurs in sorrow — and both hands gesture in tempo! That's Mercedes, all right. The same Mercedes you hear on Big Sister, Inner Sanctum, Grand Central Station and The Thin Man. Further statistics are that her curly brown hair is very short, her eyes are also brown, and she has an infectious grin ... all of which explains why her "rehearse while you drive" ritual doesn't get her in terrible trouble with the New York police force. You couldn't possibly find her except in her car or behind a microphone, because she has no home. She hasn't had a home for two years now, thanks to the housing shortage. For one year she lived (with her five year old son John) in the New York house of her friends Mr. and Mrs. Sam Wanamaker. But they finally sold their house, thus sending Mercedes scurrying into Cpnnecticut to corent a house with radio actress Elspeth Erick. This haven only lasted a few months, though. So now Mercedes and son John are hotel hopping whenever they aren't hopping into friends' guest rooms. Mercedes' husband and John's father? Oh, he has a home — he's a writer, busily at work on a book ... in Haiti! Mercedes hails from Jolief, Illinois. She was bom on St. Patrick's Day; ever since then holidays have had important meanings for her. One Christmas Day five years ago, for instance, she was in Hollywood and of course on a radio program. She was due to be a mother any minute, but nevertheless, dressed in a flapping maternity dress, she staunchly recited "Tiny Tim" before an audience of 700 people. Her friend Bing Crosby improved the shining hours by rushing around NBC taking bets on whether she'd have her baby on the Red or Blue Networks. But she outwitted him. She had John exactly four hours after she finished reciting "Tiny Tim," and she had him in the proper hospital atmosphere. Since he was bom on Christmas Day, she found him a cocker spaniel with the same history. Named "Noela," he's been part {Continued on page 77) VOL. 27, ISO, 1 Facing the Music by Ken Alden 4 What's New From Coast to Coast by Dale Banks 10 Have a Beautiful Christmas 14 About Marriage by John J. Anthony 19 If Every Day Were Christmas by Joyce Jordan 20 What Silent Night Means to Me by Bing Crosby 22 Lorenzo Jones — In Living Portraits 24 Room With View by Alice Reinheart Tremayne 28 Between the Bookends by Ted ^Malone 32 s i Lum 'n' Abner Mind Somebody Else's Business 34 ' Maisie and the Lion Hunter 36 J Jonathan Trimble's In-Law Trouble 38 ? Henry Aldrich Takes a Trip — A Picture-Story 40 Come and Visit Penny Singleton 44 Life Can Be Beautiful by Papa David 48 ' Very, Very Merry by Kate Smith 50» Inside Radio 51 ' ON THE COVEB — ^Mercedes McCambrldre, radio actress. Color portrait by Martin Mnnkacst; story on pase 2. Miss McCambridge's hat by Walter Florell; furs by Harry Trencher, Madison Avenue, New York. Fred R. Sammis Editorial Director Evelyn I#. Flore Associate Editor Doris McFerran Editor Marjorie Wallace Assistant Editor Jack Zasorln Art Director Frances Maly Associate Art Director RADIO MIRROR, published monthly by MACFADDEN PUBLICATIONS, INC., New York, N. Y. General Business, Editorial and Advertising Offices: 205 East 42nd St., New York 17, N. Y. O. J, Elder. President; Eiarold Wise, Senior Vice President; S. O, Shapiro, Vice President; Herbert Drake, vice President: Meyer Dworkin, SecretaiT and Treasurer: Edward F. Lethen, Advertising Director. Chicaeo Office: 221 North LaSalle St.. Leslie R. Gage, Mgr. Pacific Coast Offices: San Francisco, 420 Market Street: Hollywood, 8949 Sunset Blvd., Lee Andrews, Manager. Reentered as Second Class matter March 15, 1946, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of ^ , March 3, 1879. Subscription rates: U. S, and Possessions, $1.80 per year. All other countries, $3.00 per year, f Price per copy 15c in the United States, 25c in Canada. While Manuscripts, Photographs, and Drawings are sub ' mitted at the owner's risk, every effort will be made to return those found unavailable if accompanied by sufficient first class postage and explicit name and address. Contributors are especially advised to be sure to retain copies of their contributions; otherwise they are taking unnecessary risk. The contents of this magazine may not be reprinted either wholly or in part, withou.*: permission. (Member of Macfadden Women's Group) Copyright 1946 by Macfadden Publications, Inc. Copyright also in Canada. Registered at Stationers' Hall, Great Britain. Printed In U. S. A. by Art Color Printing Co., Dunellen. N. J.