Radio varieties (Sept 1940-June 1941)

JJOWDY EWYBUDDYl You know it's kinda nice to be able to talk to you cityfolk direct like this, almost as big a thrill as I get when I'm watten out from the "little five waiter" down in Rosedale. Of course, all you folks know that people say that I'm owner, operator, manager, announcer, copy writer, program director, engineer, and janitor of the mythical station familiarly called "the jumping jennywren". Truthfully it may be mythical but I tell you right from my heart that my Saturday night program to me is the highlight of the week, and I hove lived with it so long (goin' on ten years now) that sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize that Cecilia, Aunt Fanny, and the Sons of The Pioneers ore not watten out from the Rosedale station, instead of the NBC studios. It's a real thrill for me to write this little piece for Radio Varieties, and it's a great feeling for me and Cecilia to get down here to our farm away from the big city of Chicago. For it's here on this farm, where I'm able to pick up most of my material for our Saturday evening shows. Really the folks of Hebron might just as well live in Rosedale, because "the friendly little city" is typical of small towns in every section of the country. Our principal characters can be seen strolling down the main street of Hebron almost any Saturday night. You know it was from listening to stories and anecdotes at countryside gatherings that I was first able to create my character, Uncle Ezra. Of course my vaudeville experience is largely responsible for the success of my "little five-watter". I guess I just naturally fell into a theatrical career, as all my associates were with the stage. My father was a musician and my mother an actress, travelling with their own company and playing many of the well known melodramas of RADIO VAMETIES — MARCH GUEST COLUMN by UNCLE EZRA (PAT BARRETT) Star of the ALKA-SELZER WLS BARN DANCE that era. There's nothing like having been an old man since you were sixteen years old... but that's me. It all started accidently when I heard of a new show that was to start on the road very soon. 1 immediately applied for a role, and was given the lines of on old man. Afterwards they told me that ttie reading was satisfactory but needed polishing. So, equipped with a script, I went hotne, polished up on my reading, and won the part. I guess that this was really the beginning of my character of Uncle Ezra, as I found myself after this in demand to take the parts of old men, though I really didn't begin to appear as Ezra until 1930. My first experience as Ezra was in the famous WLS Bam Dance in Chicago. Coincidently, it was in that city that I met Nora Cuneen, who was to become my wife. For five years we worked together on the Ezra show, and Nora created the character of Cecilia. Then we brought the mythical station E-Z-R-A to NBC. I have had so many letters and comments from my listeners saying that one of the things they enjoy most about my programmy is my "thought for the day" that closes every Saturday night show. So I think it only appropriate to sign off this guest column wife, my thought for the day, and also thank you for this grand chance to talk to you readers of Radio Varieties... I've gotten a big kick out of it. So-long for now... When two old friends are faring down The road of life together, It's only natural now and then That they meet some stormy weather; But if the friendship's right and true It never goes down to defeat, But somehow or other survives the storm And comes through on Happiness Streetl Page 3