Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1950)

A short time after the war was over >ny old school principal at Murray Vocational, Mr. John Clark, asked me to -ome back to the school in the capacity 3i what he called a "maintenance" man. Now the only difference between a ^maintenance man and a janitor is that a janitor just purely cleans up a place and a maintenance man has to fix anything that goes wrong from a blownout fuse to a blown-off roof. My real reason for taking the job was that it was my school and it looked shabby and that's reason enough. I stayed on as school janitor for three years. Happy as could be, too. Then on January 2, 1949— a date I'm not likely ever to forget— I was told that an advance scout for Horace Heidt, name of Jim Rankin, was in Charleston to audition talent. I couldn't for the life of me see what 1 this had to do with me until my friends —and my boss, John Clark— urged me to audition for Rankin. At first I just laughed. They urged some more: Well, sir, they never let up on me until they wore me down to a Yes. Even so, at five minutes before seven, with the audition scheduled for 7 P.M., I still didn't know whether or not I'd enter that audition hall. But I did. I sang "Thine Alone." When I was asked to sing again (this was unusual but I didn't know it) , I sang "Old Man River" (that's the one that proves whether you're a baritone or not) and I won the show — or I wouldn't be writing this story. A few days later I'm notified that I am one of the five chosen to audition for Horace Heidt upon his arrival in our town. When I sang for the boss, I sang the same songs I'd sung at the first audition. I also sang "All The Things You Are." I won the the show that night, too, and the boss wanted me to go to Savannah with him right away, that very night, to be guest star on his local talent contest there. He was offering me a job with his traveling "Parade of Stars" show, he explained, which meant a chance at the radio competition. But I told him no, I couldn't go. I said it was too quick. I told him I'd have to get someone to take over my job as janitor before I could quit. "There are six hundred students there at the school," I said, "I can't walk out on that." I went on to say that if I could make it, I'd meet him in Savannah within the week, and be glad to. If that didn't do, I said, why, thanks kindly just the same . . . But I went to Savannah bright and early the next morning. They got someone right off to take my job and Mr. Clark, the principal himself, drove me to Savannah in his car. It was the first time I'd ever crossed the line out of my state. I was crossing more than a dividing line between states, though, and I knew it. I was crossing the line that divided my old life from my new life and I prayed I was doing right. It comes to me here that some kids may not know how the Heidt set-up works. I didn't. So I'll try to explain what we call "Operation Heidt" with the belief that if I can help one talented youngster to the chance Horace Heidt gave me it will be a small down payment on my life-time debt. It's like this: Horace Heidt keeps eight advance scouts on the road seeking out talented young people who are looking for their first big break in show y HI-imllJilcMj . ".' The *x«ittna different* U this simple *moB wire jf STYiS 801 Embroidered Nylon Marquisette cups with satin frame and back. A Cup, sizes 32 to 36 B Cup^ sizes 32 to 38 C Cup, sixes 32 to 40 White and Black 00 *3< EXQUISITE fORM BRASSIERE, INC. New York 16 • Los Angeles 14'Toronto Jester Ange Pretty enough for hostess-ing your own television party. All-over quilted nylon with genuine leather soles, faille lining. In a bevy of delectable colors. Royal, light blue, red, green, navy, pink, white, and black. *« qq Sizes 4 to 9, medium width. 5l/2 to 9AA. q>Z.7Y (At your favorite store, or write to Honeybugs, Dept. 28 — 47 W. 34+h St., New York I, N. Y. R M 79