Radio mirror (May-Oct 1934)

la Newburgh, lilies of the valley and sapphires? Do you hate people who say "Guess who this is?" when they telephone you, and have you a loathing for turnips, pekes and dial phones? Do you get a kick out of reading Mark Twain, Corey Ford, Frank Sullivan and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? If you can answer an enthusiastic "Yes!" to all these questions, then radio holds a man who has been searching for you. He is none other than that philosopher — that great lover — that dashing Romeo, viveur and friend of the oppressed — Colonel Lemuel T. Stoopnagle, who, by the way, was being the rather serious F. Chase Taylor when he made up this list of likes, and said that he preferred girls whose tastes were similar to his. But if you detest sapphires and like turnips, the Colonel is not for you. ■•LAIN men appeal to Ann Leaf, the "mitey" organist, who has no fondness for the handsome ones, which gives you and me a break, brother. "Good looking men," says Anne, "are too conceited, and I could never fall for one. Give me a homely man every time — one with personality, brains, wit and a sense of humor. I like the type that writes." Now Anne! Is there a clinging vine in the house? If so, Arthur Godfrey (Uncle Arthur on CBS children's programs) loves you, and believes that there are all too few of you in this world. "1 like intensely feminine girls." Arthur will tell you, "neither too forward nor too conservative, but sensibly conventional. 1 prefer them to be cultured, intellectual, poised and understanding, and while they need not be beautiful, they should be physically fit." "Does marriage bar me from having an ideal?" asks Alice Joy, who then proceeds to answer her own question with a loud "No!" Alice confesses that she has always been associated with brunettes, but says that a blond man once left an awful dent in her heart. We'll spare you the details, but whether you're light or dark, you'd still have a chance. The specifications laid down by Tony Wons are practically impossible to fill, for Tony wants a girl to do two things: i.e., always mind her own business and always agree with him. Sounds pretty tiresome, if you ask me. Interesting, young-looking blondes who, as he puts it, are "thin in the ankle and hip", appeal to Ted Husing, star sports announcer. But this is not enough to snare the elusive Husing heart. She must also, "constantly look RADIO M IRROR • as though she had just completed her toilette, and must have a good disposition, though not to be one of the sort that's always laughing. Above all," Ted concluded, "she must have the lure of Mae West — at least as far as I'm concerned." Ex-army officers, from buck privates to generals, have that certain something which vocalist Vera Van craves. They have the military carriage without which no man can be completely perfect in Vera's eyes. If, added to this, a man is tall, courteous, immaculately clad, sincere and jolly — well. Vera is interested. Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone were together when I third-degreed them. "Jack's my ideal man," said Mary, "for I like 'em tall and dark; amusing, yet able to be serious once in a while." Jack said, "I like tall, thin, serious girls, with charm. They must be understanding and appreciative, and they ,must like babies. Mary is the grandest girl I ever knew, and while she's not tall, I wouldn't change her for the tallest, thinnest, darkest girl in the world." Jimmy Wallington wouldn't swap, either. He's married to a 95-pound blonde, who's only an inch over fivefeet tall. But, after her, come girls who can wash dishes and who like kids. Dark girls, of the distinctively American type, about five feet six inches tall, and weighing between 120 and 130 pounds. Not pretty girls, mind you, but "just a plain, clean, honest girl — one who's a good sport," says Jeems. Voices mean a lot to Lowell Thomas, who likes women to be tall, beautiful and languorous, with soft voices. She should be agreeable — willing to go anywhere— uncomplaining — a good listener and a good athlete, but not too good. (Lowell wouldn't like a girl who could beat him at sports.) "My wife," he says, "fills the bill exactly." »UDY VALLEE'S statement was one of the most conservative, for all he said was, "I have no particular preference among women, though I have usually preferred brunettes." Well, Fay was a brunette and Faye is a blonde, so write your own ticket. Bright women — bright but sincere — are the sort who appeal to Guy Bates Post, leading man of the Roses and Drums program. "I'll discuss anything at the proper time," he says, "but people who are always analytical bore me. I like to get some fun out of life — and you can't have fun if you're always arguing." But, when radio stars begin discuss ing their favorites of the opposite sex, what could result but an argument? So let's just take a few of the others and, in a few words, sum up their dreams. Nat Shilkret, the orchestra leader, likes women who are sympathetic, intelligent and easy on the eyes; Jimmy Melton says that as long as they're very feminine they'll do; Nino Martini prefers girls who are neither too carefree nor too dreamy, and "who know how to conduct themselves"; Phil Harris has a yen for those of the sort Nino suggests, but adds that they should please look like Constance Bennett; another ork-pilot, Jacques Renard, goes for tall, thin brunettes, who are good cooks and know how to take care of a house, and Bunny Coughlin, the third Funnyboner, says, "I like all sorts of girls except those with pink hair. And don't laugh; I've seen some. Tall girls are preferred but not too tall for 1 don't want to have to climb onto a chair to kiss 'em." MOAKE CARTER, news commenta■^^ tor, likes girls who have plenty of personality and depth of character; Bing Crosby likes to listen and has a predilection for girls who are easy conversationalists, good raconteurs, and have a well developed sense of humor (but Bing is out of circulation) ; Emery Deutsch says only that they should be simple and unaffected, while Morton Downey sums his ideal up in just one word: — "Brainy". Sandra Phillips, the pianist, wants her man to have charm above everything else, by which she means he must have an interesting character and a magnetic personality; Donna ("Marge" of Myrt and Marge) Damerel likes all dark men. Helen Pickens craves brunettes with gray eyes. Sister Jane likes all "nice" men, and Patti's mind is open. She says she hasn't given any thought to it. but she'll know what man she likes when she meets him. Jean Sargent agrees entirely with Jane Pickens. Ted Fiorito, another bandmaster likes intelligent girls who are alert and good talkers — but only if they know when to keep still. Tenor Ben Alley likes blue-eyed blondes. George Burns insists on a sense of humor, as does Gracie Allen. The Easy Aces (Jane and Goodman Ace) say the same. John White, the warbler, merely grins and says, "My wife suits me!" And all that's only part of the story. There are dozens and dozens of other radio boys and girls, whose tastes differ just as much as those we've mentioned. MEET RADIO'S CRAZIEST STAR They coll Joe Cook the "Crazy Man of Sleepless Ho low" and you ■II learn why in next mon+h's RADIO MIRROR when Herb Crulksh< ank takes you along with hi m through the years of Joe Cook' s successful < career which eventually brought h im to nnillions of radio listeners. • 68