TV Radio Mirror (Jul - Dec 1962)

couldn't shake off his feeling of depression. He would have been completely without hope, except for one thing. He began to receive letters — cartons of them — from the fans he'd gained on "The Lawrence Welk Show." They wrote to tell him they missed him and were praying for his complete recovery. They made him realize he was wanted and needed. So, finally, he went back to work. But, aside from his hours with the Welk band, life was bleak and lonesome. The nights seemed endless. . . . Until, one night, it happened. Dusk was falling, as he sat alone in his San Fernando Valley bungalow. He DICK VAN DYKE (Continued from page 57) Without Marjorie there would have been no driving need. I wouldn't have had to make a living. We had so many tough times that if she weren't around to build my confidence and pick me up when I hit those tailspin depressions, I would never have lived through it." Although he occasionally "clowned around in high school," Dick had no plans whatever for show business. Fact is, he had no plans for anything — period. His dad, a public relations man for a freight line, his mom and his kid brother Jerry, who is now a comedian, never encouraged him. Nobody, including Dick, ever figured this sad sack of 1945 would be a redhot TV star in 1962. Nobody, that is, except Marjorie Willett Van Dyke, who says, "I'm not at all surprised. I knew it straight along. I always said he had a lot of talent. He needed only confidence. In the early years when we were young, had no security, no money, he lacked courage. That's what I tried to give him." It all started in Danville High. That's where he met Marjorie. However, prior to grabbing either a marriage license or a high-school diploma, Dick joined the Air Force. "This was the beginning of why I never thought I'd make it," sighs the lanky Dutchman. "Never thought I'd make success. Because even with the Air Force ... I enlisted in '44, trained to be a pilot till the war was over, then they let me out. I never saw duty." In the last stages of Army life, Cadet Van Dyke transferred into Special Services. Still an amateur (junior grade), he was entertaining in service clubs when they tapped him to be a radio announcer for an Army program. Since he'd done some announcing in high school, somebody handed him a script and, in the manner the Army often selects volunteers, barked. "You! Read this!" Then the somebody said, "Good. You're hired." That somebody who aimed Van Dyke at the road to fame, glory and CBS turned out to be Byron Paul, who subsequently worked for CBS and is today Dick's manager. In 1947, easygoing, mild-mannered Dick hit Hollywood — an event which Hollywood has mercifully forgotten. As felt weary . . . very weary ... for there was nobody now to share the long evening that lay ahead. . . . Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared before him. There was no mistaking who it was. His Louise had come back. She spoke to him . . . gently, in the quiet tones he had come to love. What she said, he has never revealed to anyone. But surely she must have told him that he would never be alone . . . that she would never really die. Not so long as love endures, and the heart remembers. — James Gregory "The Lawrence Welk Show" is seen on ABC-TV, Sat., from 9 to 10 p.m. est. The Welk group also records for Dot. "The Merry Mutes," he and a partner performed their snappy songs and fancy patter in any saloons that were willing. At this time only a small matter stood between Dick and his sweetheart of five years. It was finances. They had none. Finally, in '48, they were married on the "Bride and Groom" radio show. Ask "Why were you married on a radio show?" and he'll answer, "Because it was cheap, that's why. They provided the apartment, furniture, honeymoon, everything. "I was working the Zephyr Room of the Chapman Park Hotel in Los Angeles and I met the emcee of the program. He made all the arrangements, but we selected our date and where we'd honeymoon. We picked Portland, Oregon. "Then we went through one of the lowest points in our lives. I was still doing this comedy act. We'd gotten four weeks at the Blue Angel, a New York night club. They fired us the first week. We were kind of hokey, you know. Not really too funny. "So we were scratching around looking for work. My partner and I would drive all night to pick up a one-night job for twenty-five dollars. In half, less ten percent commission, my share was $11.25. Just enough for a week's groceries. We were three months behind on rent. The day I rushed Marjorie to the hospital for a miscarriage was the day they picked to evict us. She didn't know. I discovered it when I returned from the hospital. What a terrible time it was when I had to tell her. I had no money. I had no job. No prospects. Not even a place for us to stay. It was the most depressing period of our lives. The jinx continues "If there's a bright spot to find. Marjorie finds it. She's the one who buoys us both up, but even she couldn't smile her way out of this one. I managed to have a running charge-account at the hospital. I never actually paid any sum of cash. I couldn't. We didn't have it. "Anyway, I found us a motel with a hot-plate affair and an icebox. She was bedridden, so I did the cooking. All we could afford were hamburger and beans. And we had that every single night for supper." Finally, "The Merry Mutes" landed a job and three days before they opened the club burned down. They landed Now! Life Insurance Birth to Age 80 1000 First 30 Days ONLY 25< Per Policy CASH FOH YOUR FINAL EXPENSES. AVOID BEING A BURDEN TO YOUR FAMILY Introductory Offer. Answer these 9 questions on a plain piece of paper and mail with only 25c for 30 days' protection. Regular rate shown on policy. Amounts usually Issued without doctor examination. NEW LOW RATES. Ages Amount Ages Amount 0 to 80 $1000 15 to 60 $2500 1. Print full name and address. 2. Date of birth? 3. 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