TV Radio Mirror (Jul - Dec 1957)

INFORMATION BOOTH Confidentially — a Dick Please give me some information about the TV Richard Diamond, David Janssen. T. C, Somerville, Mass. Talent will out! In the case of David Janssen, star of CBS-TV's Richard Diamond, Private Detective, talent "outed" very early. At six months, he was "prettiest baby" in his home town of Naponee, Nebraska, and not long after that he went "on tour" — a stage baby accompanying his mother, who was in the cast of "Rio Rita" and other shows. . . . David grew up backstage and loved it. He learned to play piano and accordion and, altogether, acquired as much theatrical know-how during those childhood years as many stage veterans pile up in decades of trouping. . . . In Hollywood, after his mother remarried, David studied the three R's and made twice as many movies. The day he graduated from Fairfax High, he put on his first "straw hat" — or was it a sou'wester? — and took off East for a season of summer stock in Maine. Two Broadway plays he was cast for never opened, so back West, some more movie work and then the Army's Special Services division for two years. After discharge, he was cast as an Army captain in a Warner's film being shot at Fort Ord — his old camp. The newly acquired bars at the shoulder brought him all kinds of good-natured hazing from his old buddies — all enlisted men, naturally. . . . Television was beginning to pick up the drift of Janssen's talent when Dick Powell, who played Richard Diamond on radio, happened to notice his work in the movie, "Lafayette Escadrille." Powell tested 50 actors for the part of Diamond on TV, but Janssen won out easily. ... A bachelor, David lives at home with his parents. He's looking for a girl with "good common sense" who will love him for himself alone — not his publicity value. David is six feet tall, 175 pounds, with brown Perry Mason's legman (William Hopper, right) readies for action in tense conversation with Perry (Raymond Burr). Hopper's own life reads like top adventure fiction. Dick Powell, David (Dick) Janssen are radio and television "Richards," too. eyes and hair. This "private dick" actually was named Richard by his parents, but changed name to David for professional use. Janssen enjoys keeping up with a heavy reading schedule, and follows "most sports." Graham Feature Compliments and salutations on this month's (October's) issue of TV Radio Mirror for the many interesting resumes of our popular and entertaining stars. But especially commendable was the feature story on Billy Graham and his family. . . . Billy Graham's religion has helped so many people — especially young people — by taking the stuffiness out of religion, helping them to know faith is something to be lived with day by day, something which can be applied to all our problems, if it's only given the chance. The story on the Graham family does much to prove this. Mrs. L. R., Fredricton, N. B., Canada Calling All Fans The following fan clubs invite new members. If you are interested, write to address given — not to TV Radio Mirror. Mouseketeers Fan Club, c/o Sherrie Bargatze, 3802 Murphy Rd., Nashville 9, Tennessee. Future Stars Fan Club, c/o Carolyn Reaves, 5305 Acadia Terrace, Fairfield, Alabama. Sal Mineo Fan Club, c/o Lois La Charity, 31 South 5th Street, Zanesville. Ohio. It's No Secret Please write about William Hopper, who is Perry Mason's contact, Paul Drake. E. S., Cleveland, Ohio It's no secret Perry Mason's right-hand man is a private eye. And many people know that this "eye," in private life, is William Hopper, veteran film and TV actor. Bill has had a personal life as varied and adventurous as any Erie Stanley Gardner could ever dream up for Drake. An actor before World War II, when Pearl Harbor put a violent period to our neutrality, Bill enlisted in the Navy and served in the South Pacific with the O.S.S. underwater demolition teams. Then, a muchdecorated hero returned to Hollywood and a salesman's life for eight years — till a Warner Bros, director signed him for "The High and the Mighty." In "Rebel Without a Cause," he was Natalie Wood's father. On TV, Bill has appeared on Warner Bros* Presents and Cheyenne. FOR YOUR INFORMATION— If there's something you want to know about radio and television, write to Information Booth, TV Radio Mirror. 205 East 42nd St., New York 17, N. Y. We'll answer, if we can, provided your question is of general interest. Answers will appear in this column — but be sure to attach this box to your letter, and specify whether it concerns radio or TV. Sorry, no personal answers. 11