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irigs!
/ Say Retail Mgr. C. G. Yount, and Ad [ Sears, Roebuck S. Co., Memphis, Tenn.
arranged for the program by staff pianist Bob Horsley, and a WMC orchestra accompanies the chorus.
Membership in Young America Sings is open to any boy or girl in Memphis or the midsouth who is not over 15 years of age. Auditions are held once a week at WMC studios, after school hours. An acceptable applicant may not be taken into the chorus immediately, for membership is limited, and newcomers often have to wait for vacancies.
When an applicant has been accepted, he or she is asked to report at the next rehearsal. After three or four weeks in the chorus, the new member is auditioned for a solo spot. Those who pass this test successfully win a place on the Young America Sings floor show which follows each half-hour Saturday broadcast. Five or six floor show solo spots get the youngster ready for a solo part in the broadcast program.
A talent fee paid each week to the Young America Sings ensemble accumulates a considerable amount of folding money in its coffers. But in a group of 90 members, each youngster w^ould receive a small pay check if the money were distributed equally between them. To overcome this, the group organized itself into a co-operative, and instead of a salary, the pooled money is spent for the enjoyment of the chorus as a whole.
In this manner, the chorus is almost constantly treating itself to a picture show, the circus, a road show at the Auditorium, and other kinds of fun that a bunch of youngsters enjoy.
In addition to their own treats, the chorus is guest about twice a year at dinner parties given by Sears, Roebuck & Co. At Christmas time, Se.\rs' presents each member of the chorus ^vith a handsome gift, all the boys getting the same gift, and all the girls getting another.
As to the operation of the program, Sears, Roebuck & Co. maintains a strictly hands-off policy. There is no attempt made to. influence what songs will be sung or how, and no pressure is exerted to getting memberships in the group. On the other hand, Sears goes much more than half-way in giving special consideration to members of the organization. During the summer months, many of the young singers are given regular jobs, and during the school term many are employed on week ends.
More than 1,200 children have been auditioned since the WMC Talent Foundation was established in 1939. Everyone connected with the program is proud of the opportunity it has given to thousands of youngsters to perform before the public. And without question, the community pride in the success of a radio program as pretentious as this reflects favorably on its sponsor. While lack of sufficient talent to keep such a program going has put the skids on many amateur shows, we ha\e found that at least in our community there is talent a-plenty, and you don't have to put on an elaborate search for it. The talent comes to us, and each brings new friends and customers for our business.
MAY, 1943
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