Radio stars (Oct 1934-Sept 1935)

RADIO STARS Everyone looks at your &Lfe£ first Death Gives an Audition until EYE BEAUTY AIDS BLACK, BROWN AND BLUE BLACK AND BROWN BLUE, BROWN , BLUE-GRET, VIOLET AND GREEN COLORLESS BLACK OR WHITE BRISTLES • You cannot be really charming unless your eyes are attractive, and it is so easy to make them so instantly with the harmless, pure Maybelline Eye Beauty Aids. First a light touch of Maybelline Eye Shadow blended softly on your eyelids to intensify the color and sparkle of your eyes, thenform graceful, expressive eyebrows with the smoothmarking Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil. Now afew, simple brush strokes of harmless Maybelline Mascara to your lashes to make them appear long, dark, and luxuriant, and presto — your eyes are beautiful and most alluring I Care for your lashes by keeping them soft and silky with the pure Maybelline Eyelash Tonic Cream — to be applied nightly before retiring, and be sure to brush and trainyour brows with the dainty, specially designed Maybelline Eyebrow Brush. All Maybelline Eye Beauty Aids may be had in purse sizes at all leading 10c stores. Insist on genuine Maybelline Eye Beauty Aids to be assured of highest quality and absolute harmlessness. {Continued from page 54) That's what I thought, too, until I heard the story about Ray Heatherton. You see, Ray was a rich man's son. You know the type. Irresponsible, happygo-lucky and just a bit spoiled. But four times in his carefree life he was faced with momentous decisions . . . four times he was at crossroads with himself. And because of the decisions he did make, today Ray is one of NBC's most popular young baritones. He got there in spite of his money. When you learn his story, you'll understand what I mean. Life was just one gay round of fun and parties to Ray. He lived in a big, rambling house in Floral Park, L'ong Island, and he tore around with the young Long Island crowd. I marvel every time I realize that Ray had the nerve to think for himself instead of falling in line with the rest of his friends who merely stepped into soft jobs in their fathers' establishments. It would have been so easy. His father already had a place for Ray in his prosperous building business. But since the first time Ray had sung in the Floral Park Choir, he knew where his future lay. "A singer? What a silly idea," scoffed his parents. They tore his dream apart with the calloused fingers of scorn and ridicule. On and on went discussions and arguments every night. Never had Ray had to fight for anything in his life. Since he was a baby, he had merely to ask or cry for a toy and it was deposited right in his lap. That's how it had always been. But if he were to continue in his crazy idea to become a singer, he would have to battle for it by himself. That was the first important decision Ray had to make in his pampered life. Don't think it was an easy one. Try to put yourself in his place. What would you do? That he chose the harder road— the one that led to a career he would have to pioneer by himself — is one fact that almost knocked my harsh ideas about rich men's sons right into a cocked hat. I wonder how many of those sons would have had the nerve to go ahead with their plans in spite of the powerful persuasions of their parents? He hung around Floral Park theatres and the lesser radio stations until he got small jobs here and there. Then came the Paul Whiteman auditions. Remember the time Paul was holding these auditions in towns all over the country? Well, there was a storm in the Heatherton household when Ray announced that he was entering it. "This is going too far," said Heatherton Senior. There were words on both sides, but in the end Ray won his point. He could enter the auditions, but if he failed — no more foolish ideas about becoming a singer. Those were high stakes to Ray. As he sat in the audition room waiting his turn, he looked around at the other anxiouseyed, frightened kids there. What a peculiar setup! All these others had to win because they needed the money. He didn't need the money, but he had to win to trample down the big objections to his career. You can imagine the nervous strain of going through any audition. All of his hopes, all of his ambitions he put into the song. There was a plaintive fervor and determined ring to his voice. That intensity must have made a hit with the judges, for — you guessed it — he won. His parents stood by their word. Now they were firmly in back of him, with all of their worldly resources to make things smooth. Ray blithely stepped into a few small jobs at WABC. With all of the obstacles out of his way, his old carefree spirit returned. He thought that now he would soar to the top in one swift swoop. He didn't know that careers aren't made so easily. How could he? So far, he had uprooted every snag. His old selfindulgent, cocky mannerisms returned. Once again he was Ray Heatherton, the rich man's son. Life was sweet and rosy to Ray now. He was riding on the crest of a wave — and heading straight for a fall. He was a gay spender and a good sport, you know, the fellow who always picked up the checks in the restaurant. He was constantly surrounded by hangers-on who told him what a grand guy he was. What he didn't hear were the comments of the older, radio-wise folks who were saying, "Ray Heatherton could be an excellent singer, but he has had things too easy. His voice lacks character. He must suffer and struggle and live to give it a mature, dramatic strength." Those folks, I guess, were right. Before he realized it, Ray found that his programs had dwindled away to nothing at all. It seems strange, doesn't it, to think that every time Ray was under the influence of money it proved to be a drawback to him' He rushed home to seek the advice and comfort of his family, but the scene that confronted him stopped him short. His father looked pale and drawn, his mother had a false cheerfulness. Then he learned the whole wretched fact. His father's real estate and building investments to which he had clung during all those tumultuous years were suddenly wiped out. His white face told more than words what this disaster had done to him. "You'll have to be the man of the family now, son," he told Ray. Now, Ray Heatherton was a poor boy ! How would he take it? How would most rich men's sons act? Bewildered? Arrogant? Bitter? Blustering? Ray looked for a job. He stormed the radio portals just like any fervent newcomer. But his luck had deserted him, just when he needed it most. Even the audition doors were closed to him. He knew now that if he were to have another chance, he'd hold on to a job. But nobody was willing to give it to him. Every night when he returned home weary and heartsick from a discouraging day, he would summon a forced smile for the benefit of the family. One day he bumped into the family doctor coming out (Continued on page 58) 56