TV Guide (March 14, 1953)

JEEPERS, CREEPERS MR. PEEPERS (Continued from Page 17) No one who knew Wallace Maynard Cox as a school youngster (he at¬ tended nine different schools in 12 years) would have tabbed the half-pint with glasses as a future comic. Not even a grim young fellow named Mar¬ lon Brando who chummed up with Wally when they were together in a grammar school in Evanston, Ill. “When I first met Marlon, he mut¬ tered something about a game of chess, of which I knew very little being only a fourth grader. Before I knew what was happening he laid out the chess men, defeated me in three moves, picked up his equipment and left with¬ out saying a word.” Cox’s life with his divorced mother and older sister brought him finally to New York City, where his fondness for plant life resulted in his enrolling in a botany course at City College of New York. In 1942 he went the way of all males at that time—into the army—only to be discharged four months later because of succumbing to heatstroke. With discharge papers in hand, Wally took one of those aptitude tests which led his future life into manual activities. Dutifully, he enrolled in a handicraft course with aspirations of becoming a silversmith. In 1946, his craft learned, he took his soldering iron in hand and went to work in a cold water flat making cuff links, tiepins and tie clasps, which he wrapped in cloth and set out to sell to exclusive Manhattan haberdashers. Science may still be right, but his occupation netted him only $40 a week. As hindsight has borne out, Wally’s fourth grade friendship with Marlon Brando was his biggest break. Brando, just coming into his own as an actor, and Cox met after 12 years and became close friends. Introduced at theatrical parties through Brando, Wally spun some of his humorous monologues for the audience. He developed more ma¬ terial, finally landed an engagement in 28 the Village Vanguard nitery in Man¬ hattan, then swankier clubs and hotels. Presented with an eight minute seg¬ ment in a Broadway revue, “Dance Me a Song” (which was a financial bust), Cox stole the show, bagging unanimous personal raves. TV viewers are all familiar with his pre-Peepers guest stints which kept him busy the past two years—the perplexed soda jerk, the harassed candy store owner, the over-bearing bank executive and the scoutmaster. Although he could go on forever por¬ traying the milquetoast Mr. Peepers, Wally would secretly like to make a living at writing. He has submitted some devastating satires and allegories that even New Yorker magazine with its liberal attitude called “frightening.” A small sampling of the dialogue from one reads thus: Child: Why is all the furniture six inches high? Mother: Don’t criticize your father. Wally’s other main hobby has a more practical aspect. Twice a week he hikes out to Rockland County in New York where he is building his own house, piece by piece with his own hands. While out there he’s able to steal a little bird-watching at the same time. The spectre of Mr. Peepers will al¬ ways be hovering over Wally Cox to the extent that he may never success¬ fully be any one else. But as an insider pointed out, “Wally has retained all the endearing qualities about Peepers —modesty, gentleness, consideration— and has ferreted out the rather pathetic ones like stupidity, muddled thinking and an inferiority complex.” Which means there’s still a chance for you, Mr. Peepers. “Mr. Peepers” is seen on Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on channel 5 (KSTP-TV). Bungling J?obinson Peepers finds life more bear¬ able because of his girl friend Nancy, ably played by Pat Benoit. TV FORECAST AND GUIDE