Radio and television mirror (Nov 1939-Apr 1940)

* PHIL SPITALNY and his All-Girl Singing Orchestra * "WOMAN OF THE WEEK' Today's outstanding personalities * JOHN ANDERSON Brilliant New York dramatic critic, Master of Ceremonies for "Hour of Charm" EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT AT 10 P. M. Eastern Standard Time— NBC Red Network (consult your local newspaper to get correct broadcast time for your station) TRY BETTER LIGHT It takes only 20 seconds and 20 cents to start "light conditioning." Just put a 150-watt G-E MA/-DA lamp in your I. E.S. floor lamp and begin to enjoy better light. TONIGHT // y GENERAL ELECTRIC • MAZDA fly/ G£ MAZDA LAMPS GENERAL A ELECTRIC G-E also makes a line of lamps for .... 1 fl r> In 1% 15,30 ami f>o-watt sizes. marked n F '" 58 What Mickey Rooney Means to Judy Garland (Continued from page 12) that nothing can break. Something a lot stronger than the "crushes" on other boys which come and go in Judy's life with clocklike regularity, something stronger than the differences in their temperaments and backgrounds. It isn't love, yet, because Judy doesn't consciously know what love really means, and if you suggested that's what she felt for Mickey, Judy would only become indignant. But she wouldn't even try to deny that there is a bond between them. It's good, seeing these two together, enjoying every moment of their existence. For life has been wonderful lately where these two are concerned. Their astonishing success in Hollywood and now — for Judy — a new radio program each week. You have perhaps already heard her this fall on the Bob Hope broadcasts Tuesday evenings, listened to the fresh, joyous voice bringing you the latest popular songs. She has, in just a few appearances, already become radio's newest important personality. As her friend, Mickey is one of the four most permanently important people in Judy's life. The other three are her mother and her two older sisters. MOT that Judy hasn't any other ' ^ friends, because she has. Dozens — scores — hundreds of them. Practically everyone she meets is "friend" to her, because she has a healthy sixteen-year-old enthusiasm for people. Along with this enthusiasm goes an equally healthy ability to adore someone today and be only mildly interested in the same person tomorrow. If you've ever had a kid sister, you know the routine. On Tuesday, say, Judy's thoughts and conversations will be packed to bursting with a certain— oh, call him George, the name doesn't matter. Along about Friday her mother will get a chance to meet George, who proves to be a pleasant, undistinguished youngster with no apparent quality in his make-up to inspire such whole-souled devotion as Judy lays at his feet. He remains the love of her life until somewhere near the middle of the following week, and then, mysteriously, her mother finds the name of George cropping up less and less often in her daughter's remarks. And within another seven days, George has become just one of "the bunch", and Ralph or Lief or Chris is the most wonderful person who ever lived. But Mickey remains in his special place of honor in Judy's heart. You see, Judy has never had a brother. Since her father died, just one month after she first signed a contract with M-G-M, the inner circle of her life has been filled with women, her mother and sisters. Nor has Mickey any real sister, and so it came about that these two youngsters really needed each other. Impulsive and generous, but at the same time clearsighted and fiercely honest, Judy is an ideal balance to Mickey's precocious and rather undisciplined character. In his turn, his matter-offact boyishness and realism helps Judy over many a rough spot. They both have Mrs. Garland, Judy's mother, to thank for their friendship, although almost certainly neither of them realizes it. Ethel Garland is something pretty special in the way of mothers. She knows well enough the dangers of the fame and adulation which are heaped upon her youngest daughter, but she also has the wisdom to realize that Judy, not she, is the only one who can combat these dangers. So, instead of laying down laws, "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots," for Judy to follow, she lets her do exactly as she pleases, meanwhile concentrating on bringing her up in such a way that she'll always please to do the right thing, rather than the wrong one. For instance, here's a sample of Mrs. Garland's tactics. A few months ago Judy looked around her and noticed that most other girls her age smoked cigarettes. Well, most of the girls in her crowd did, anyway. A bit resentfully, she pointed this fact out to her mother, and inquired why she couldn't do likewise. "Well, I don't know why you shouldn't, if you want to," Mrs. Garland said calmly. "I certainly don't see anything wrong in smoking. Your two sisters smoke, and I would if I enjoyed it. Of course, it won't be very good for your voice, but on the other hand, I don't suppose it would ruin it either. So, if you'd like to, go ahead." Judy thought that over for a day, looking at the question from every angle with those big brown eyes of hers. At the end of which time she imparted her decision to wait a while. "Until I'm eighteen, anyway. I don't really enjoy smoking — I've tried a few cigarettes and they're really not much fun." Her decisions are usually just about that sensible. In all her life, Judy has never been forbidden to do anything, or ordered to do something else, nor has her own impulsiveness ever led her into an act which she later regretted. GIVEN a mother like Mrs. Garland, then, there were not the obstacles to a friendship with Mickey Rooney which might have arisen otherwise. It's no secret that Mickey went through a stage, about a year ago, when his nuisance-value assayed almost one hundred percent. He was high-spirited, he was young; and he was a little intoxicated with success — all of which made him do and say things that he is probably ashamed of now. Other mothers, less trustful of their daughters' good sense than Mrs. Garland was of Judy's, might have forbidden a too-close friendship with him. Luckily, Mrs. Garland did nothing of the sort. The result of her wisdom is that there is now a perfect relationship between Judy and Mickey. It's wholly unsentimental, the way teen people are, very matter-of-fact, and cute as the dickens. Flattery and tender feelings play very small parts in it. Mickey quite frequently criticizes Judy with a terse candor which, coming from anyone else, would send her into tears. Like any sister, Judy often feels her hands itching to slap Mickey's mocking grin. And yet, when they stand together before a microphone or camera, singing a duet, Mickey's arm will be protectively around Judy's waist, unseen RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRROR