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RADIO STARS
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Tommy McLaughlin has a strange superstition
Tommy Mclaughlin won't sing without a ring on his little finger. Why? It's just another characteristic of another star.
Meet this Tommy McLaughlin, an Irishman through and through. His mother was born in Donegal, his father in Belfast, and Tommy, according to himself, is "just a crazy Irishman who likes to sing."
Notice that he is stocky, grey-eyed and has an infectious grin. Know him intimately — that he loves classical music best and is convinced people are
slowly becoming educated to it ; that he would rather eat potatoes and gravy than anything else; that his favorite colors are black, brown and grey; that he is a bachelor; raves about football ;' is a fight fan ; and that his favorite book is "The Story of San Michele."
"You've Got to Quit Kickin' My Dog Around," "Trail of the Lonesome Pine," and "When It's Apple Blossom Time in Normandy" were the first three songs he knew. At three tender years he lost himself from his family at a bazaar and was found airing his repertoire to an astounded audience.
Tommy attended school in Los Angeles, sang on a California station, later went to Loyola College where he played football, and then entered the University in Detroit in 1926.
After completing study in New York, he sang with Vincent Lopez on tour. Returning, he joined Major Bowes at the Capitol Theatre. There he is now.
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A disheartening experience made him more absorbed in his work. His favorite brother died and Tommy returned to Detroit to sing the Requiem. Determined to realize the full benefits of his possibilities, he received an audition at the Columbia studios, made good, and is now featured in "Threads of Happiness" each Tuesday night — sponsored by J. and P. Coats and Clark's O. N. T. Thread — with Major Bowes Capitol Family on Sundays and occasionally on the Columbia Guest Review. It is rumored that he is the Romantic Bachelor of the air.
Though neither parent, to quote Tommy, "could carry a tune in a basket," all five children can sing. Tommy the baritone, however, is the only one singing professionally.
Tommy is one of the favorite stars around the WABC studios. More often than not you can find him in the publicity department chewing the rag with this or that newspaper writer or with out-of-towners. A story teller of the first water is Tommy McLaughlin.