Radio and television mirror (May-Oct 1940)

Anson Weeks, and Phil Harris, storaging a fund of dance band knowledge without revealing his well-laid plans. "They teach me so I keep very quiet." When he needed additional funds, Cugat turned to another of his talents: drawing caricatures, and sold them to many Los Angeles newspapers. When he made his debut in Hollywood's Montmartre Cafe with a band of American and Cuban musicians, the reaction to this weird combination was decidedly mixed. Most of the patrons stared incredulously at the bongos, maracas, wiros, claves and other unique instruments and stayed off the dance floor as if it were sprinkled with porcupines. The date-minded Cugat was almost ready to give himself another stand-up, when the more traveled movie stars like Dolores Del Rio, Lupe Velez, Charlie Chaplin, and Doug Fairbanks, Jr., came to the cafe. Their early preference of pampas, instead of campus tunes, helped immeasurably. However, certain assorted events like swing music and show-off rhumba dancers won Castilian contempt. "Those semi-professional dancers almost ruined me. They made the rhumba look so difficult that all the other dancers would sit c.own, scared stiff." Cugat explained that the rhumba and all its sisters and brothers — congas, boleros, sons, zambas, and the new danzon — are very simple. "You dance the rhumba just like the foxtrot. Only the rhythm is accentuated. Just remember to keep the top of your body rigid." If you see any couples hogging the floor like Sunday drivers, give them an icy stare. They are wrong, according to Senor Cugat. "Cuba is very hot. When people dance there they are too tired and warm to hop all over the place. They try to stay in one spot." Tunes like "Peanut Vendor," "Carioca," and "Siboney" and those weekend cruises to Florida and Havana were allies of pioneer Cugat. When radio listeners and dancers heard those tunes they were surprised that rhumbas could compete with any other popular tunes. Vacationers to warmer climes would see the dances performed and rush home looking for the Main Street Madame La Zonga. Hotel managers watched the trend develop and booked small rhumba bands to serve as relief units to the big orchestras. Cugat got {Continued on page 81) DECEIMBER, 1940 /^////y/zyi'//'///''-'/ WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? IN THE radio world, where time is generally calculated in terms of thirteen weeks, it's somewhat a feather in one's cap to remain on the same program for ]our entire seasons. Though she rarely wears a hat, nevertheless we've got the feather for Miss Linda Lee, vivacious vocalist on the Robert L. Ripley Believe It or Not program heard over CBS every Fridav night at ten o'clock. The attractive Miss Lee was born in New Orleans, Louisiana — of nonmusical parents, and sang her way all through school — just for the joy of it. But when school was over and she found working in a department store not too much fun, she decided to go to one of the small New Orleans radio stations for an audition. They liked her and gave her a weekly fifteen-minute spot on a sustaining basis, of course. Then she received an offer from a Basin Street nightclub and took the job with the understanding that her real name was not to be used. One night came the inevitable mistake, and Linda's parents insisted that her contribution to the entertainment field was completed. Little did they know what really lay in store . . . such as a trip to St. Louis; a four-week engagement at the Ambassador Theater; radio work at KMOX; New York and appearances with Russ Morgan and Paul Whiteman; summer stock at Ivoryton, Connecticut; and several roles in various productions on Broadway. In 1937 she appeared on the Ripley show as a guest . . . and before she turned around once slowly, she was a permanent member of his cast. And what a busy young lady she's been ever since! There are music lessons, dramatic lessons, rehearsals, and in addition, she is appearing in the current Broadway show, Louisiana Purchase. She's little, dark and sparkling . . . loves to laugh, loves the movies and loves to knit ... in just that order. And we love to hear her sing! * * * Miss Phyllis Giatnmateo, Bristol, Conn: We'd like to comply with your request and publish a picture of Fletcher Wiley, but because he is something of a mystery man, there are no photographs available. It's just that he insists he would like to keep his personal life . . . well, personal. His real name is E. Mclntyre de Pencier and he was born in New Orleans fortyfour years ago. He knocked about the country for years, doing all sorts of odd jobs, making money, losing it, living everywhere. Six years ago he walked into a Los Angeles radio station, introduced himself and insisted that he had a radio idea with a lot of possibilities. The station gave him the air time, and it took seven long months before he found a sponsor. Today, his is one of the highest incomes in radio; to millions he is a well-loved and trusted friend, and in his down-to-earth personal manner, he's ironed out countless problems for his unseen listeners. Virginia Hobson, Pittsburgh, Penna: Bonnie Baker's real name is Evelyn Nelson and she was born twenty-two ■ From one guest appearance to star for four consecutive seasons — Linda Lee, vocalist on the Bob Ripley show, can be proud of her achievennent. years ago in Orange, Texas. She is five feet tall and weighs 92 pounds. M. L. Bennet, Alhambra, Calif: The part of Lynn Edwards in Mystery House is played by Chester Stratton, and Teresa Dale portrays the role of Mrs. Pendergast. Mrs. Clara Ortell, Los Angeles, Calif: Here's the cast of Pretty Kitty Kelly: Kitty Kelly Arline Blackburn Michael Conway .... Clayton CoUyer Bunny Wilson Helen Choat Slim Artells Dickson Inspector Grady Howard Smith Mrs. Murger Charme Allen Mr. Welby Dennis Hooey Mrs. Welby Ethel Intropidi FAN CLUB SECTION Patricia McCarthy, 524 Garfield Avenue, Jersey City, N. J., has organized a Count Basic Swing Club. All Dick Jurgens fans are requested to communicate with Miss Dorothy Suhr, 927 Kishwaukee Street, Rockford, Illinois. There has been a new fan club formed for Marlin Hurt of the Showboat program. You can join it by writing to Lois Pallesen, 1637 No. Springfield St., Chicago, Illinois. The official Fred Waring Fan Club is just one year old, and though the membership is quite large, they'd like to keep growing. If you are interested, write to Miss Ruth Stanford, 508 Eighteenth Street, Union City, New Jersey. There's a very interesting fan club known as the Radio Echoes. They have not one president but five honoraries, including Lanny Ross, Alice Frost, Johnnie Johnston, Winston Ross and Alec Templeton. Miss Marie Des Chenes, 72 Dehsle Street, Fitchburg, Mass., will be glad to tell you all about it. 37