Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1950)

peared not long ago in the nearby city of Rochester. When he opened the package and found an enlargement from a snapshot of the house where he had lived as a child, it just about broke him up. "Ten of us children were brought up in that old house," he tells you, looking at it fondly. The guest house is a separate structure in the corner of the Olsens' back property, and built to look like a small edition of the main house. Reservations from their respective families and their many friends have been pouring in, and they're booked up solid for months! The barbecue is at the other side of the yard, for backyard picnics. Penny has dubbed the white picket fence Olsen's Folly, because it has proved so costly. It's really for Lena, who's an excellent jumper and can't resist the lure of the world outside. Hence, all those pickets — exactly 1,608 according to Penny's count. A double row, now six feet high, because they under-rated Lena's jumping prowess at first. So a second row rises above and behind the first ones. Shade trees and pines keep the yard cool, marigolds and petunias and all the old-fashioned flowers flash their colors in the sun. Billie Pederson, the sixteen-year-old who is the Olsens' right hand on the shows and is treated like a son in their home, helps with the gardening. Bob Maurer, "Silverlips" of the shows, gets in a little expert advice. Fans write letters of advice on gardening, and sometimes send cuttings of their best blooms. Neighborhood children bring bouquets, ring the bell and drop them, and run away shyly. A few bolder ones yell for Johnny and Penny and beg autographs. One neighbor has given them cuttings of some very fine ivy. Another brings apple pies — and such pies! Johnny licks his lips when he talks about Mrs. Syska's pastry. Penny herself is no slouch in the cooking department. "I always seem to have a lot of men around to cook for, especially over week-ends," she explains, "so I have to give them the things I know they go for, like steak, fried chicken and roast beef, with all the trimmings." They use their best china and silver and linen, except for informal meals outdoors. "That's when I give them the paper napkin routine," Penny tells you. "But I don't hoard my good things any more, since the fire. I made up my mind we would use and enjoy everything while we still had them." Breakfast is a big meal. It usually starts with prunes, then either hot or dry cereal, plenty of bacon and eggs, toast and coffee. Lunch on weekdays is a quick snack at a New York City counter, between their television and radio shows. Dinner is hearty and a time for talk and relaxation. The housework is no problem at all to the efficient Olsens. "Johnny is so handy," Penny says proudly. "He helps with everything. We do the dishes together, make the beds, clean and dust. We're systematic workers so we have the indoor work done fast and get outside. Our home doesn't seem like any extra strain on us — in fact, I feel extrarefreshed now after the week-ends. "We really have no problems at all about the house," she says, "except the one we told you. We don't know what to name it. And we hope that Radio Mirror's readers will do that for us. We'll be so happy when we can put up the little sign at our gate that will give our dream house its final touch." the NEW SHAPE is the NEWS The new-shape "poncho" jacket. News because, though it takes its shape from the traditional blanket-like South American cloak, it's a high-style modern fashion. That's new design with an interesting inspiration! The new-shape Modess box. News because it, too, is an example of inspired design! Cleverly takes its shape from many kinds of boxes . . . you'd never guess the wrapped package held Modess. Another tactful feature . . . the new box is pre-wrapped before it even reaches your store. Only Modess comes in the new-shape, secret-shape box. ..pre-wrapped! R M 83