Radio-TV mirror (July-Dec 1954)

Johnny Desmond (Continued from page 42) applied to me at a time which was just ahead of the unhappiest period of my life. Like all "ten-day wonders," I woke up on the morning of that eleventh day puzzled and hurt and feeling like the close relative of the grandfather of all hangovers. But this is a story about a hangover with a silver lining. Basically, I've had a happy life, although in some respects it differed considerably from the life of the average kid in Detroit, especially in its early stages. You see, I was pointed toward the entertainment stage from childhood and, while other youngsters were learning to cover third base, I was learning to cover the C-scale on a piano. My folks ran a little grocery and fruit store right across the way from one of the public school playgrounds, and any time I stopped on the sidewalk to watch what went on across the way I could usually bet on hearing the same roll of thunder from inside the store. "Johnny! Sweep the floor! Rack up the fruit stand!" I don't think that a grain of dust had a chance to stay on that floor for more than five minutes. I never kept track of the brooms that I wore out, but there must have been enough in the course of time to start a nine-hosecart blaze. There was plenty of reason for my helping out. I was one additional set of arms and legs to help a struggling business — and, in my individual case, to help pay for lessons in piano, voice and dancing. Between sessions with the broom and the fruit stand and deliveries to folks who had ordered groceries, I helped add to the family income with a paper route. "op was a wonderful cook. I don't know whether he had any professional experience with the pots and pans, but he could certainly make food interesting. Sometimes, in kidding my mother about Pop's cookery, I've said that he had to learn to cook in self defense — Mother always seemed to be so busy with bill collections that the culinary department had to be handled by Pop or we didn't eat. Of course, that wasn't really the case. He liked to mess around in the kitchen and, as long as he had real genius for it, there was no reason why he shouldn't prepare the food. Theoretically, with all that good food I should look like an old-style version of an Italian tenor, but Pop apparently kept the family diet balanced, because I can still tie my shoelaces with no trouble. I was a little over eight years old when I got my start in the entertainment business. There was a Mrs. Ferguson, who was one of our customers, and she became interested enough in me to get her son Harold to set up an audition at Station KMBC. Harold was an announcer at the station, so it was easy to arrange a hearing for me. I auditioned for the Uncle Nick Program, a kiddie show and, at the time I went up to face that microphone, the accompanist was out of the studio, so I had to furnish my own music on the piano. I'll never forget the song I auditioned: "Just a Little Street Where Old Friends Meet." It had a picture of Arthur Tracy on the back of the sheet music. I don't recall that I was nervous or anything. In a short time, they were billing me as "The Italian John McCormack" — although how that title was supposed to fit a boy soprano, I have never been able to figure out. Uncle Nick's program was on the air during after-school hours, so it didn't interfere with my education or the paper route — or sweeping the floor — or racking up the fruit stand. I was singing for Uncle Nick and the How MM iteH k I (and how much she'll love you for it I) Christmas time! Trim your tree with a most precious gift — a handsome, dependable watch for the most wonderful girl in the world. There is no better way to say how much you care — and it costs far less than you think. New Hamilton Illinois watches are value LADY GAY BE ..$39.95 Available in choice of yellow or white. Matching expansion bracelet. priced from just $33.95 — other Hamiltons from $57.75. Here are just a few of the truly fine watches in the new Hamilton Illinois series. Each is fully jeweled, each has a guaranteed unbreakable mainspring. See these and many other fine Hamilton watch values at your jeweler's tomorrow. FREE: Christmas catalog of 1954 watch styles. Send name and address to Dept. RT-12, Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster, Pa. LADY GAY E... $33.95 In yeUow or white. With matching expansion bracelet, $39.95 LADY GAY A . . $42.50 Available in yellow only. With silk cord, $37.50 'Provided original seal is restored if opened for servicing. All prices include Federal Tax. ssjpp^jr It means so much more W* to give — or get — a HAMILTON MOST TRUSTED NAME ©HWC WATCHES 69