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Next stop for Silvers was Broadway. Assigned a small role in the musical “Yokel Boy,” he stepped into the lead when the star stepped out. The critics thought he was great. And, from Hol¬ lywood, M-G-M beckoned. Phil an¬ swered the call. For months at M-G-M Phil just sat around and cashed his pay check ($500 a week). Then he was dropped. Called to Republic Pictures, where they were casting the screen version of “Yokel Boy,” he was told, “We’re looking for a Phil Silvers tyi>e—but you’re not the type.” He wound up playing bellhops. Good Humor men, barkers and “people called Blinky.” In 1945 Silvers toured the Mediter¬ ranean war theater with a USO unit. Back home, he got the lead in a Broad¬ way musical, “High Button Shoes.” Then came another musical, “Top Banana,” in which, prophetically, he played a successful TV altimnus of the btirlesque circuits. And Phil was made. This brings vis practically up to date and back to Youil Never Get Rich. Was it true that Phil kidnaped Nat Hiken from The Martha Raye Show to write and produce the new opus? “Not guilty,” says Phil, his glasses gleaming with righteous indignation. “NBC wasn’t quite quick enough to sign up Nat to a new contract. So, somehow, Nat came over to CBS.” How does he feel about competing with Miss Raye, Milton Berle and Bob Hope for the Tuesday night au¬ dience? “I gotta be honest. I’d rather com¬ pete with a lecture on polyps. But I think we have a show that will give anyone a battle in the ratings.” Has he any other plans? “That depends. If all goes well, I may do a couple of spectaculars for CBS. If not—well, maybe you’ll come and see me sometimes at Minsky’s. “And if you do, please bring soft fruit. No coconuts .”—Frank De Blots At last—the fabulous redhead himself tells the whole Godfrey story! Millions of words have been written about Godfrey. But this is the first time Arthur himself has told his story. It’s all here — from his first childhof)d memories to his current TV shows. He pulls no punches. He tells of his triumphs and doesn’t omit his troubles. (“I’m tired of reading the twisted tales concocted for the papers by the press agents of former a.ssociates.’’) Don’t miss “This is My Story’’ by Arthur God¬ frey, in the POST on sale Nov. 1. Be sure to watch Arthur Gotlfrey’s shows on CB.S-'rV'. The Saturday Evening POST November 3, 1955 / 5 <^ A CURTfS MAGAZINE