Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1950)

j'W on an audition at fourteen which gave her her own program on a Memphis radio station. A bit later she came to Quincy, Illinois to live with her great aunt. There, too, she stood on her own feet, paying for her music lessons by singing on the radio. At seventeen she had her own show on a Shreveport station. From there she moved to : Cleveland, then to Chicago. Everything she had gained she'd ^earned herself. She had talent, to be sure, but in addition she had the in ' telligence and common sense to know what to do with that talent. She also had an objective. Each booking was a bit better than the last. Yet ambitious as she was, she also had a warmth and charm which made her a delightful person to see every day. It was I who broke up our foursome. As soon as Archie finished officers' training I rushed out to join him in California, and I stayed with him until it became too complicated keeping up with Army transfers. By the time I returned to Chicago I found things had changed. The daytime serials, which always offered acting roles to supplement my singing engagements, were moving out. Other shows too, were going to the two coasts. Performers were worrying whether to go or stay. For me the decision was ready made, for Archie's business was in Chicago. I picked up my Aunt Fanny role and went on to Breakfast Club. Jan took the opposite course and headed for New York. Just to play safe, she held onto her apartment in Chicago. When Archie returned from the Army, we sublet it. Her New York venture was a gamble, and I was almost as anxious as she. When she phoned to say she had that first solid booking on a sustaining network program, Archie and I celebrated. Since the program was not broadcast in Chicago, we hurried over to WBBM to hear it. We were delighted that Jan, who had worked so hard, was getting the chance she deserved. We were much more excited about that than we were about the first Godfrey show. At that time, it, too, was a sustainer — not a sponsor in sight. It makes us doubly happy now that it's built up into such a wonder. Jan felt the same way when Kukla, Fran and Ollie followed suit. Whenever KF&O or Breakfast Club goes into New York, I spend every available moment with Jan. For me, her apartment has been an oasis of quiet — a place where I can take my shoes off and put my hair up. Our reunions, however, haven't all been placid. Take for instance, the time she stopped in Chicago after being home to Shreveport and Pine Bluff. Archie and I returned to our carriage house one afternoon to find a huge heap of roses before our door. Puzzled, we hunted until we found a card which read, "Best wishes for continued success— Chamber of Commerce." We hunted some more before we found the other note which read, "I'm at the Ambassador. Jan." Dashing around the corner, we found her sitting solitary in the Pump Room. Close to tears, she demanded, "Why didn't you meet me? I told you I was coming Thursday." Archie whooped, "You're more forgetful than Fran. This is Wednesday." For all her farsighted wisdom about her career, she's the same old Jan — the girl who, like me, can make mistakes playing Idiot's Delight. This last visit, however, proved to be Easy as pressing a button! Hold bottle with one hand — press plunger — the right amount flows out. No more caps to remove. Take off regular cap, insert dispenser. It's ready for instant usel No mess, no waste, no spill. Saves time, money. More sanitary! Protect baby's precious skin this easy, economical way. Ask for soothing, flower-fragrant Mennen Baby Oil with handy, new easy-flo dispenser included, free.