Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1951)

so we could heat Ronnie's bottles. Ronnie thrived on his "road routine" and was as healthy as could be. One of the most wonderful things about my old man is his great sense of loyalty. It's something he was just born with, I guess, and he's never lost it, thank goodness. While the Weems band was playing in California, Perry received several good offers for radio. One came from Fibber McGee and Molly, who wanted him to be the regular singer on their program. I wanted Perry to take it because it would mean the chance for us to stay in one place. But he refused, because he didn't want to leave Ted Weems. He felt Ted had given him his first big break and had had confidence in him and that he would be letting Ted down if he left the band. Then, too, Perry wasn't sure he was quite ready to step out on his own as a radio soloist. I talked and talked, but the old man is very determined, once he makes up his mind to something. So he remained with Weems until Ted joined the merchant marine during the war, and the band broke up. By this time Perry and I were really tired of traveling and we thought it was time for Ronnie, who was now four years old, to be playing in a backyard instead of a hotel room. So Perry turned down several offers from name bands and we headed home for Canonsburg. We had saved a little money and Perry was thinking about buying a shop and going back in the barber business. I wasn't at all enthusiastic, even though I wanted to settle down too, because I sincerely believed that he should stay in the music business. I wanted so badly for him to go into radio — I just knew he could become a soloist. One day Tom Rockwell, who was head of the General Amusement Corporation, a big talent booking office, called Perry from New York. He said he had heard Perry wasn't going to join another band, and he was calling to offer him a sustaining radio show over CBS. The salary wouldn't be great to start with, but we wouldn't have to travel, and Tom was convinced he could get Perry something better before long. So the decision was made and the Comos took off for the big city. This was in 1943, just at the height of the crooner craze, and there was plenty of competition on the air. But he worked hard at his program, and before long Perry was set for better things. He sang at the Copacabana, got a record contract with Victor (his first release, "Goodbye Sue," was a hit), he landed the Supper Club radio program, and was signed by Twentieth Century-Fox for three pictures. Quite a few "better things"! So now the name Perry Como finally meant something in the entertainment world and his popularity zoomed, complete with fan mail, fan clubs and all the othertrimmings that go with a successful career. But the person, Perry Como, I'm grateful to say, hasn't changed one single bit from the sweet, wonderful boy I married. He still works around the house, helps me get dinner and wash the dishes when we have no help, and pitches in when there are special chores to be done. Though it sounds like press agent stuff, my old man is truly a home guy. We rarely go to night clubs — in fact Perry's never been in the Stork Club, 21, El Mo WIN A HOLLYWOOD VACATION! Learn how you can win the trip of your dreams in the new— the exciting may PHOTOPLAY SPECIAL TRAVEL ISSUE NOW ON NEWSSTANDS If you are one of the lucky winners your HOLLYWOOD VACATION will include: • Round-trip transportation by SANTA FE RAILROAD, GREYHOUND BUS LINES, HAPPINESS TOURS • A complete travel wardrobe as selected by PHOTOPLAY'S fashion editors from the lines of America's leading manufacturers of women's wear Summer Wardrobes KORDAY, DORIS DODSON, MINX MODES, NANCY TUCKER. Beach Ensembles SEA NYMPH, BRILLIANT, SEA GODDESS Footwear ACCENT, HONEYBUGS, HONEYDEBS Underclothes MILLER GIRL, BARBIZON, ™AR™^™1™™ MILLS, POWERS MODEL, MAIDEN FORM, PLAYTEX, EXQUISITE FORM, FORMFIT Hosiery HOLEPROOF Jewelry DELTAH Nightwear LADY BERKLEIGH • Complete accommodations for a traveling companion, meals, hotel and entertainment in Hollywood • PHOTOPLAY-sponsored tours of the city, studio tours, luncheon and night club dates with the stars, TV appearances and many other dream-world surprises in the glitter and glamour of the luxurious city of stars. FOR COMPLETE DETAILS GET YOUR COPY OF THE COLORFUL MAY TRAVEL ISSUE OF PHOTOPLAY NOW ON NEWSSTANDS! 87