APRIL, 19 50

Vol. IX o.

$1 per year 10c per copy

Paid circulation during 1949 averaged over 12,000 monthly, notarized.

T he Dial is published the first of every month and serves radio fans in more than 100 counties in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, as well as former Ozarkians in other states who are old friends of Radio Station KWTO.

IE the numb r 4-50 appear after your name on the address label at the top of page 20, your uh cription expires with thi i ue. Address correspondence and renewals to Editor of The Dial, care of KWTO. Springfield, Missouri. The Editor will be happy to answer your inquiries about past and present KWTO personalities and fill your requests for pictures you 'd like to see in The Dial.

I ~

* HERO-OF-THE-MONTH

And why not a hero? Johnny 01 en and the entire cast of Ladies Be Seat d, heard on KWTO at 3 p . m. Mon. through Fri., will fly to Springfield and broadcast nation­wide from Springfield' Shrine Mosque for five days the week of April 10! Detail ar carried elsewhere in this issue.

* MEET THE FAMILY OF OUR POPULAR DR. GEORGE W. CRANE

In one short year " Guide to Happier Liv­ing," D r. George W . Crane' helpful pro­gram heard at 10:30 a. m. Mon. through Fri., has becom one of KWTO's outstand­ingly popular features. We are indebted to the makers of Holsum Bread for bringing

the discussions of this prominent Chicago psychologist, phy ician, author and lecturer to the O zarks area. Seated, left to right , are Dr. Crane, Mrs. Crane and daughter, Judy. Standing are the Cranes' fine boys, Dan, Philip, George and D avid.

•

APRIL, 1950 Page 3

KWTO DIAL CONTEST WINNE.RS ANNOUNCED LUCKY SUBSCRIBERS I . . . • •

Did you think you'd have to wait forever to learn the 18 winners of our Lucky Sub­scriber Contest, which closed on Feb. 1? Actually, we think it rather remarkable that we managed, in less than two months, to read every one of the 2,668 entries twice (and some of them many more , times), classify them, and prepare them for semi-final and then final judging!

The Rev. Carl Stillwell, Drury College Business Manager and pastor of. the Evan­gelical and Reformed Churches at Deepwater and Prairie City, made his final choices March 29. After a week of deliberation, with the help of Mrs. Stillwell, over 150 semi­finalists, he commented:

"The sincerity of the entries impressed us very much. They reflect not only KWTO's usefulness as a bringer of news, information and spiritual messages, as well as entertain­ment, but also the station's identification with wholesome Ozarks traditions and ~pirit. It is a wonderful experience to judge material written from the heart, instead. of with a calculating eye on what might sound im­pressive."

As the Dial went to press, final arrange­ments for the award of first prize, a $240 Maytag Dutch Oven Gas Range, to Mrs. C. ll. Dotson, RFD 2, West Plains, Mo., had not been made. Tentative plans are to bring Mrs. Dotson and a member of her family to Springfield on April 11 to receive the range from its donor, George Wise of Maytag Sales and Service Co. ; to attend the Ladies Be Seated broadcast at the Shrine Mosque that day; and to spend the night in the suite reserved for her by Manager Earl Moulder of Springfield's beautiful Kentwood Arms Hotel.

Additional prizes will be awarded to: A. R. Thurston, ·second place, Concordia,

, Mo.-an $80 Zenith Radio donated by Max Van Hook of F <:iur States Distributing Co.

Mrs. W. W. Paulding; Pratt, Kan., third place-a Bulova Watch from Shirk Jewelry Co. .

Mrs. Virgil E. Allen, RFD 2, Mountain Home, Ark., fourth place- a $30 Sunbeam Toaster from Ozark Motor and Supply Co.

Mae Traller, Everton, Mo., fifth place­a year's supply (48 cans) of Yellow Bonnet Coffee from Springfield Grocer Co.

Mrs. Vidra Murphy, Birch Tree, Mo., , sixth place-5 100-16. sacks of Lipscomb's 26% Hog Supplement from Lipscomb Grain and Feed Co. (And if she doesn't keep hogs, there's a ready market for it anyway!)

Mrs. H. G. Sandage, Fremont, Neb., sev­enth place-$10.

Meda Fern Adams, Star Route, Ava, Mo., eighth place-$10.

Doyne C. Warren, 935 W. Central, Springfield, ninth place- $10. \

Mrs. John Bradshaw, Houston, Mo., 10th place-$5.

Mrs. Vada Jones, Cabool, 11th place-$5. Mrs. Earl Callaway, 311 E . Dale, Spring­

field, 12th place-$5. Mrs. Bola Love, RFn' 3, Summersville,

Mo., 13th place-$5. The five runners-up will .receive I-year

extensions to their subscriptions, and auto­graphed portrait photos of whichever KWTO program's star or stars they select:

Fourteenth, Dorothy Jeanne Major, RFD ' 3, Seligman, Mo.; Fifteenth, Mrs. Randle Scheets, Yukon, Mo. ; Mrs. James McPheet­ers, Urbana, Mo.; John Larison, Buffalo, Mo.; Winston Conner, RFD 1, Alpena Pass, Ark.

Honorable Mention, and 6-month exten­sions to their Dial subscriptions: Claude Hartin, Ava; Nellie Wilson, Springfield; Mrs. J. A. Griffith, Monett; Mrs. V. W. Evans, Nevada; Mrs. C. O. -Hoµsley, Imo, Ark.; Mrs. Wayne B. Gottreu, Aurora; Regena West, Pittsburg, Kan; Mrs. Wilson Kelly, Diamond, Mo.; Mrs. A.H. Goodnight, Ben­tonville, Ark; Mrs. Nola Clayton, Mountain Home, Ark. ·

Other winners will be printed in subse­quent issues of The Dial. This is Mrs. Dotson's first prize winner:

I like to listen to KWTO because "you sing the song of the Ozark hills; present a well-balanced program of news, business, farm, home and religion. KWTO entertainers are tops-they reach for the stars, but have not lost the common touch. I turn a dial and my 'neighbors ' has come to visit!"

Thank you all , Dial friends-not just for · ·making our contest such a great success, but for your wonderful letters. They will help KWTO to be, even more, the· sort of station you want it to be. They have told us that our efforts to make KWTO a clean, wholesome, friendly and godly station have been· rewarded.

PRE-EASTER SERVICES Shoppers and business men will be inter­

ested in special First Baptist Church services at the Fox Theater, in Springfield, every noon hour from April 10 until Easter. KWTO will carry these services by tran­scription each afternoon at 4:45 for the two week period.

The Rev. William E. Dowell will be heard at an evening time until after Easter.

'

/

Page 4 APRIL, 1950

INSIDE AT THE STUDIO • • NEWS AND DOINGS OF KWTO PERSONALITIES

Signs of green-up time: Rhea Beth Bailey trotting along behind "Daddy Bill" as he puts out beans and corn, peas and potatoes in the acre of ground he will garden this summer at their home near Galloway . . . And Bill coaxing some of the spirit from his gelding, Valley Commando, looking over his berry' bushes (logan- and razz-), wish­ing his peach and apple trees were more than a year old . . . Lou Black rushing out to the Fair Grounds to watch a work-out of the handsome walking horse, Rockin' Rhythm, that he and Ralph Foster plan to enter in the spring and summer shows . . . . Anita Carter walking around the block with

' her black-and-white Pekingnese, Pudgy, be­tween programs . . . Helen and Glenn Jones, the newlyweds, sauntering up the front walk holding hands ·. · . . Lonnie Robertson testing a new fishing rod while Thelma opens mail.

* * * Aunt Martha in her new navy suit (it has

an extra gray skirt and she wears gray ac­cessories), walking around her front yard inspecting the sh.rubbery, including a new red · dogwood tree, and making plans with Everett, her husband, for ranch fencing around the back yard ... Dial Photographer Reuel . Haymes heading out his back door with hammer and saw, building the frame­work for an addition to his home that will house a new furnace, to replace the present floor-furnace arangement. (Reuel's hand­some home he built himself.) . . . Joe Slat­tery in a noisy new yellow knit necktie ... George Rhodes heaving a large sigh of re­lief because the oats are sowed out at the farm . . . Lee Stone, smart in -a slate gray dress and a new flame-colored coat, hip­length and full-sleeved, pursuas'ively talking over hopeful plans for another vacation trip to California this year, to see . the new grandchild that arrived last year.

* * * . In case you've wondered which of the

many Meek Lumber . Co. favors is currently most popular with George Earle's Man-on­the-Street "customers," it's the handy little· screw-driver his co-worker Selby Coffeen has been handing around during the show . . . Hollis Warren had a bout with old­fashioned "croup" the last two weeks of the month .. . His new show times, 7:45 a. m. Sunday and 7 p. m. Wednesday, were chosen so that evening and early morning listeners would have a chance to hear him, and so that at least one of his broadcasts each week would reach the larger audience in KWTO's daytime area . . . Chief Engineer Fritz Bauer tells us that the conductivity of the

soil during · sunlight hours is greater, and that's one reason why the KWTO signal travels farther during the day than it does at night. -

* * * Weatherman Williford calls a fan letter

he recently received "the wo.rld 's champeen!" It is 18, single-spaced, typewritten pages, 8,000 words long, and came from an Arkan­sas admirer . .. Remember when the Okla­homa City leopard was on the loose? Matt Matthews dropped in to transcribe his Sun­day "Guidepost" prgoram and chatted for a moment with Alta McElroy of the Con­tinuity Department. "Did they catch the leopa rd?" he asked. "Yes," she reported, " they caught it on this morning's 7:30 news!" .. . "That," said Sully, "is loyalty, when somebody gives the impression that some­thing hasn't really happened until our News Department says so!" ... A. great tribute to the hard work Don Dailey has done to build his 6: 15 p. m. Sports Spotlight into an increasingly useful program; His "Sports­men's March of Dimes" raised $1.185.30 for the Polio Fund, $12 more than was raised last year on the same program.

* * * Edith Hansen, whose friendly programs

are carried on many stations throughout the middle west, had quite a birthday-30,000 cards and letters from listeners! ... If you like "Young Dr. Malone," you'll be interested to know what top-flight talent is featured on these ·programs. Sandy Becker, who is Dr. M. himself, is currently portraying the radio roles of a detective, a gangster and a news commentator as well. And Barry Kroeger, who plays the role of Sam Williams, suitor for the hand of heroine Anne Malone, played in the Broadway production of "Joan of Lorraine" and will be featured in the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway production of "The Heart of the Matter."

* ·* * Any "West Virginny" ideas that June

Carter may have had about hot biscuits being the height of Red Star Flour crea­tions were amended when she received a gift from "Si" Siman's mother-a huge wedge of rainbow cake, pink, green and yellow, made with Red Star ... "Sure," June ad­mitted, " I know it's keen for cakes. But what's better'n hot biscuits and pork chop gravy?" . . . Uncle Carl . Haden, Junior, Charlie and all the rest have pitched in to help with the new home on Windsor Drive for Ellis and Mary Elizabeth Haden David-

( Continued on page NINETEEN)

A p RI LI

COME RIGHT IN THE SLATTERYS!

Joe .and M ary Sla ttery and carrot- topped Jimmy were as happy as any o ther young family when the opportunity came, last fa ll , to ge t aw ay from apartment living. But they got a special bonus w hen they leased the 4-room home, on Stanford, o f friends who were leaving the city: A big back yard complete with flower garden, trell ises , roses, perennials, grape v ines, attractive hedging, and fine (and productive ) straw­berry plants!

The red-roofed white frame cottage wi th red shutters and w indow boxes at the kitchen windows has a full basement, "but there's never, " M ary worries, "any room for Joe's golf clubs! " The long, airy living room is carpeted in sage green , has natural monk·s cloth draperies, and red shades on glowing brass table and floor lamps. Muted greens are repeated in the palm-patterned daven­port slip-cover against a warm yellow back­ground, and in the upholstering of one pull­up chair. A club chair is slip-covered in deep red.

The owners of. the home made th e blue­trimmed yellow kitchen a miracle · of effi­~iency with built-in cabinet space from floor to ceiling, and Mary has added blue and white checked ruffles around each window, wi th ba rred dimi ty glass curtains across the lower panes. T hey also built the modernistic furniture- desk. bed and dressing table- in one blue and white bedroom. Jimmy 's room is papered in dark blue with a gay pattern of airplanes, boa ts and "s ta tues of Liberty ,"

1950

MEDITATIONS BY AL STONE

Easter, to me, is more than a time of rebirth and rededication. I t is a lways a time to recall the denials and be trayals of Christ , and H is generous forg iveness. This poem, by Miss Mary Bayless of Springfield, helps us remember the meaning of E aster: 'Twas Peter that denied his Christ; And what a bitter thought-That he would turn away and say,

"I know him not." Yet Jesus' touch was on him still, Though he denied Him thrice, At last, with full acknowledgment,

Paying the price. When Jesus came to him and said, "Simon, lovest thou me?" He answered, "Yea, thou knowest, Lord,

How l love thee." We hear the story told, and are Amazed at such a one, Betraying Christ three times befo e

The rising sun! Blind world! Why do we never see

· We do the same today? The Savior comes to speak to us .

We turn away. Oh, that we might, as Peter did, Respond to all that's true And answer Him, with love: "Dear Lord,

W e live in you."

and Mary made, for it, unbleached muslin curtains trimmed with red ric-rac.

Jimmy tells you unhesitatingly what he likes about the place: 'The neighbors! " H e grins broadly. ·'They've all got kids, too! "

Page 6 APRIL, 1950

* COVER STORY Kindly KWTO advertisers cooperated

with Dial Photographer Reuel Haymes to bring us this bevy of beautiful· bonnets growing in our Easter garden. Do you recog­nize our lovely models?

Upper left i's Pat Baumann, comely KWTO continuity writer active in Spring­field Little Theater, wearing a perky, posy­trimmed straw from Killingsworth's Store No. 1. 316 South Campbell.

Upper right, Thelma Robertson wears a saucy sailor, flower-trimmed and haloed with veiling, from Heer's, corner of College and the Square.

Anita Carter, center, poses shyly in a be~ coming and girlish straw from Rubenstein' s, 201 South Campbell.

It's been a long time since we reminded you that Merle Martin, lower left, wife pf steel guitarist Doc Martin, is one of the prettiest creatures in the KWTO family. Another adorable hat from Rubenstein's helps us to do so. We like the close-fitting crown and curling feather.

Lower right, Penny Nichols, one of the stars of Morton Salt's "Visitin' Time," now heard at 6:30 p. ~- every Saturday, is par­ticularly fetching in another hat from Kil­lingsworth' s, with bow and veiling that 'set off her piquant features.

And incidentally (you men need read no further) , don' t they put you in the mood for something frilly, frivolous and feminine in the way of a sky piece?

INQUIRING REPORTER Bettie Low: How much of your program

is made up from requests you get? Zed Tennis: So many requests come in

that it's hard to fill them all, even though we don't read them . over the air. I do,

· though, try to have at least one hymn at the last of my programs. The most popular now is "Beyond the Sunset."

Junior Haworth: It's the personal interest of listeners that makes The Goodwill Fam­ily close to them, ro we go almost entirely by mail requests in planning a program. Since the popularity of a song changes from week to week, it's hard to say which is the most popular right now, but lately, on the Farm Hour, we've been getting a good deal of requests for Sugarfoot Rag.

Thelma Robertson: Although we don't read requests any more, I still try to watch for. the most popular and have them on the show. Before the restriction Lonnie and I tried to make our entire program from re­quests, but since all of them could not be read it wasn't hardly fair to all.

Maybelle Carter: The biggest majority of our programs ·are made up of requests. We try to do what the people ask for because mail from listeners helps us to de­termine not only what ·songs are best-loved, but what type of song is most popular. We had to be very careful about the songs we sang on the network show, that is, we had to know the author and publisher; other­wise, just about any song the listeners want!

* THE SPOTLIGHT - ON JOHNNY OLSEN'S SPRINGFIELD APPEARANCES

Ozarkians will meet "home folks" when ABC's 25-minute Ladies Be Seated pro­gram, heard coast-to-coast at 3 p . m. Mon­day through Friday, is broadcast from the stage of Springfield's Shrine Mosque through the week of April 10. For both Johnny and Penny Olsen are small-town products-he from Windom, Minn. , youngest of 10 kids in the Olsen clan, and she from . Wisconsin Rapids.

As .Johnny is fond of saying: "Penny and · I have come up the hard way too long to put on the big shot act now." So they don't discuss the prestige of being big-time radio, of having a handsome income, a Park Ave- · nue penthouse and a weekend home in the suburbs.

They keep alive the memories of their be­ginnings, especially of Johnny's hard-working days in his first real radio job in Mitchell, S. D., where he put the station on the air in the morning, swept out while records

played, preached a morning religious serv­ice, announced all the shows - and even wrote the scripts! They like to recall their meeting in Milwaukee, when Penny was a school teacher and he was chief announcer for WTMJ, developing, in street interviews, that kindly, bantering style that makes him so popular today.

The programs from the Mosque, features of the Exposition of Progress, will follow the usual Ladies Be Seated format-guessing

· games, prizes, plenty of audience participa­tion, and the "Kindly Heart" award to some­one who has performed an outstanding goog deed. The full cast will be here: Billy Red­ford, writer-director of the show; Al Greiner,

. musical director; Bob Maurer, announcer, whom Johnny teasingly calls "the most eligi­ble bachelor ever to leave Freeport, Ill."

In addition to their Philip Morris pro­gram on ABC, the Olsens, when in New York, do a daily half-hour television show,

APRIL , 1950

HELEN CARTER WEDS MARRIED MARCH 7 TO GL ENN JONES

A s dainty, blue-eyed H elen explains it: " It took the world 's own time for me to get my courage up! A s close as my fami ly 's a lways been, it 's not easy to be the fi rst to step out of the circle ."

P erhaps a less persistent sui tor than Glenn Jones, the smiling, sandy-hai red Georgian who has paid half a dozen v isi ts to the Carters since they came to KWTO , wouldn 't have won out. But on his last visit, Glenn was determined . H e took out the license (Helen 's first knowledge of it was w hen she read it in the paper) , and fina lly she said " yes. " The R ev. W. L. Murdaugh read the service in the parsonage of the Boule­va rd Baptist Church.

For thei r wedding shortly after six o 'clock the evening of March 7, H elen wore a be­coming sui t w ith a hip-length navy and w hite jacket, loose-sleeved, hanging full in back from a yoke. It has a white piqu e collar that buttons high with a single pearl button, and there a re matching buttons on each breast pocket. T he skirt is slim with a slit front and back. Her h at, a navy sheer straw w ith a faintly ripp led brim, has a

crown of w hite roses and forg et-me-nots and veiling that fa lls over each shoulder. She wore w hite blouse and gloves and navy kid accessories, and a single white orchid.

Only members of the fami ly were pres­ent- June and Anita in identical dresses of slipper satin, one in dusty blue, the other gray ; Mother Maybelle in a navy sui t with orch id hat and blouse and navy accessories. E. J. Carter gave his daughter's hand in marriage, and June carried the ring.

It was cold in the parsonage (during the few days Springfield was without gas) , R ev­erend Murdaugh w ore his overcoat for warmth, and during the cer emony , the lights failed. " I could barely see Glenn," H elen says. "N ot many people get married in the dark! "

After the ceremony they left for a w eek's visit with re la tives and friends in Bristol, Va ., w here the Carter gi rls were raised, Roanoke and Richmond , and h ad their beau­ti fu l w edding cake w hen they returned.

Glenn, a slight, clean-cut young man of 25, is the son of Mr. and M rs. Ja mes C.

(Continued on page EIGHT)

Page 8 APRIL, 1950

LO.OKIN' AT YOU ... BY FLOYD SULLIVAN

. In last month's issue of the Dial. I hap­pened to mention that when l was a child living in Christian County the hill folk made up ballads to preserve news stories such as "The Battle of Wilson Creek" and· "The Marshfield Cyclone." They were the type of ballads that lived only as long as there was public interest in the story they told. Consequently, many of them are completely lost.

* * * The paragraph regarding the ballads hap­

pened to catch the eye of the talented author and authority on Ozarks folklore, ballads and . legend{y, Vance Randolph, of Eureka Springs, Ark. Of course, Vance and I have been friends for twenty years and he did not hesitate to write me a note saying that he is vitally interested in that type of ballad. He has been collecting them for years and, no doubt, plans to use them in some of his forthcoming books. So if any reader of the Dial can remember a few lines of "The Battle of Wilson Creek" or "The Marshfield Cyclone" or any other almost-forgotten song of the hills, please ·copy them down on g piece of note paper and mail them to Vance Randolph at Eure~a Springs. ·

* * * Incidentally, since V ance has manifested

an interest in such things, I recall another ballad that was rather unique. ·It was "The Iron Mountain Baby," and told the story of a baby boy who was found in an old­fashioned canvas " telescope grip" or suit­case, as we would call it now, along the right-of-way of the Iron Mountain Railroad in Southeast Missouri. The child was adopt­ed and grew to manhood. Many years later I interviewed him while he was editing a small newspaper here in the Ozarks-it seems to -me that it was at Fair Grove, but I have forgotten. At the time I wrote the story, I used a portion of the old ballad, but I never was the type of newspaper man to keep a scrap book because I was never exceptionally proud of my literary efforts. Anyway, if Vance doesn't have a copy of "The Iron Mountain Baby," I'll bet he would welcome whatever verses you can supply.

* * * He might also be interested in a copy

of the musical score of "The Marshfield Cyclone" composed and played in concerts throughout the United States and Europe by "Blind Boone," the Negro pianist, famous at the turn of the century. Boone was well known throughout the Ozarks, usually pre­senting his concerts in schools or town halls.

SPONSORS' CORNER KWTO · is glad to welcome three new­

comers that contribute to the balanced pro­gramming we always try to offer:

Jack Hunt and his Rhythm Ranch Hands at 5 p. m. Mon. through Fri., making merry, down-to-earth music for Pillsbury Flour ... Carol Douglas, spry, smart fashion and beauty expert, whose tips for the ladies are sponsored by Toni Home Permanents and carried at 3:25 p. m. Mon. through Fri. ... Edwin C . Hill , dean of news commentators, whose 6:25 p. m. commentaries are sponsored twice a week by Miles Laboratories, will continue Mon. through Fri. · "

The LeBlanc Corporation, maker of Hada­col dietary supplement, is now sponsoring the Carter Family from 3:30 to 3:45 Mon. through Fri. . . . Sermons in Song, tran­scribed, will continue at 8:15 a. m. Sun., with a new Assembly of God program, Revival Time, at 12:30 ... Fred McMahon Appli­ances will sponsor a special Easter broadcast at 4 p. m. April 9 ... Nash Automobiles has ordered a spot announce~ent schedule on KWTO.

WEDDING' (Continued from page SEVEN)

Jones of Baxley, Ga. He served as a Navy radarman 2nd class during the war, went into the used car business in Richmond when he was discharged, later took a job with the War Assets Administration. He had flown before the war and took it up again in Richmond (has about 3700 flying hours and an airline transport · license) , and that intere§t led to meeting the Carter Family.

When Glenn heard Anita singing "Silver Wings of San Antoine" qver Richmond sta­tion WRVA some two and a half years ago, he was so delighted that he called to offer the entire Carter Family an airplane ride. H elen answered the phone, made the arrangements, but on the day he came by to pick them up, the weather was bad and they decided not · to go, Glenn met ac­cordionist Buster Puffenberger, who lived with the Carters, and they became wa.rm friends. On one occasion Buster arranged a date for Glenn with h·is sister, the sister had confused engagements, "and I," Helen says with a twinkle, "filled in." That began the romance that brought Glenn and his bright blue convertible to the Ozarks.

Glenn and Helen will live here, with her family, while he scouts for an opportunity tci start a small business. "I'd thought it would be flying," Glenn says with resigna­tion, "but Helen says, flatly, 'No!' ,"

APRIL, 1950 Page 9

CROSSWORD PUZZLE By Joe Slatt~

ACROSS 1. and 5. Pictured announcer. 9. Ex~lamation.

11. Not difficult. 12. The kind of "Ranger" you hear at 6:30

p. m. Mon. , Wed., Fri. ~ 13. Fuss and bother. 14. To rant. 15. Toward. 16. Part of a coat. 18. Preparation for smoothing hair. 19. Steamship (ab.). 20. Each (ab, ) . 23. Mythical land where a wizard lived,

visited by Dorothy and the .Scarecrow. 25. A means of taking internal pictures by

light radiation; used by doctors. · 27. Authoritative standard or pattern. 29. Prefix to many Scottish proper names. 30. Negative answer. 31. , Pile of wood for burning a body. 33. We prefer to sleep on 'these. 35. Suffix forming comparative degree of

adjectives, adverbs. 36. Latin for "and.". 37 . . Contraction of "I had." 39. Twine. 44. Inland bodies of water. 46. Reserve Officer (ab.). 47. Fee paid at a bridge. 49. To weep. 50. "Andy" is the other half of this team. 52. Bitter plant with medicinal properties. 53. Slang for "correct," "all right." 54. This Doctor, a famous psychologist, is

heard on KWTO at 10:30 a. m. 55. Infant. DOWN

1. One product advertised on Edith Han­sen's Kitchen Talks.

2. Automobile Association of America (ab.).

3. United States Veterans' Administration. 4. Strong alkaline used in soap-making. 5. Part sung by lowest female voice. 6. Last Judgment. .7. Article meaning "just one." 8. To combine and announce for a score,

as in rummy or pinochle. 9. Poems or.iginally meant to be sung.

10. Bread advertised on the Dr. Crane pro-gram.

13. Associated Press. 17. Eon (old spelling). 21. Military body of men. 22. Possessive case of " I." 24. A division of the earth 's surface. 26. Land measure. 28. Did not walk. 31. Make of refrigerator advertised , on the

I

Breakfast Club. 32. Scottish Gaelic. 33. To exist. 34. Sponsor of Zedric Tennis ' morning show. 38. Not light. 40. Title of pre-Soviet Russian ruler. 41. To press. 42. Facial feature. 43. Girl's name, title of a piano selection

popular some years ago. 45. Kentucky (ab.). 47. Projection from a card that aids in

filing. 48. Tennis shot. 51. Slang for "Mother." * TRAVEL.PROGRAM

Paul, Glynn's Travels, a resume of our KWTO news staffer's trip in the Assembly of God plane, the Ambassador II, to Portu­gal, Greece and India, makes a fascinating series of 13 nighttime programs. They begin on April 2 at 9:45 p. m., will run through April 16 (Fridays excluded), and many will be in interview form with Joe Slattery. These are sponored by Union National Bank.

* OZARKOLOGY

Eatherham Hobbs says he heared tell they wuz quite a field, in them big cities, fer the feller. that uses soft soap to git whar he 's goin ', but he wouldn't advise young'ns to pay much atte.ntion to ·the rumor. "Soft soap won't never," he reminds 'em, "take the place of good ole elbow grease." ·

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

Shorty Thompson .................. ............ April 8 Alta McElroy .......................... ...... ...... April 12 Ralph Foster ................. ..................... ,.April 25 Jean Lightfoot Kappell... ...... ............... April 27

FLASHES IN THE PANORAMA

"Mrs. Ike's" mail box in the luggage department of the Ike Martin s tore holds pleasant surprises and friendly greetings from listeners for Mrs. Martin and Ben J. , both of whom are heard, with Lonnie Robert­son, Junior Haworth and Dale Parker, on Saturday mor ning's Meet Y our Neighbor Show, broadcast di­rect from the ston . 2. Here's a brand new candidate for KWTO Beauty Queen, a challen!l r to Carol Lynn White, the Ha­worth girls and other lovely youngsters in our "family." This w s the third birthday picture of Merle Atkins, three-year-old daughter of Chet and Leona, taken just a couple of weeks ago. 3. If any KWTO personnel doesn't admire Chet Atkins' versatile . guitar style, it must be the mice! Here Carl Haden takes an early morning lesson following the Biederman show at 7 a. m., presenting Chet and the Carter Family with Carl as announcer. 4. A glimpse of the sort of shirt-sleeves session that puts together those marvelous Morton Salt Visitin' Time shows, now heard Saturdays at 6:30 p. m.: Bob Long (far left ), producer of the program, checks script with announcer Jack Holden of Chicago ( dark shirt) ' and "John Bailey," featured singer and emcee. Almost out of the picture, but very much in on the huddle, are Charlie Brown, director of the program, and Slim Wilson, who has an increasingly prominent part in the procee ·ngs. Holden is a former National Barn Dance announcer; "John Bailey" is really Charley Ackerson of St. Louis.

· Page 12 APRIL, 1950

HILLBILLY HEARTBEATS • • BY MAY KENNEDY McCORD "QUEEN OF THE OZARKS"

Greetings! And how are you this lovely month of

smiles and tears? How is life using you? In my childhood

I remember an old man who was always -naming over his troubles and saying "Life jist don 't use me right." Then he would look mournful and pious and say, "Only a few days more of trouble and, I'll be in_ that promised land." And you really couldn't kill the old skinflint with a meat axe! He lived to be almost ninety. If you met him and said "How are you, Uncle Lafe?" he'd look washed out and sad and say, 'Tm jist barely here-barely here!' ' I used to wonde:r what he would do when he got into the "promised land." He would be a dill pickle in i:he jar of heavenly preserves, for sure. He always said he was "a-livin' on borryed time." He lived on borrowed time for about forty years.

Well-a lot of us get the "willies" and get crabby sometimes, but we don't just stay that way like Uncle Lafe did. He got his face fixed and it froze like concrete sets, and he couldn't change it.

Do you know, I have already had crocuses up in my yard! Purple and white ones, and yellow. The ·brave little crocus is always first. Spring will be here before you know it. Spring with its awakening bird songs and its June brides. And then the matrimony business will pick up ...

One time an old chap down our way came into the store and asked the clerk if she had any dresses "for marryin' purposes." His daughter was going to get married.

One · time there was a good ,soul lived across the river from our little town. He had a whole family of children and a run­down, overworked, faded little wife, but he loved her-he certainly . did. One day he came into our little millinery store to buy her a hat. He said he wanted to buy a hat that would make Minty look like she did before she was so "pore and run down." He had all the faith in the world that a hat would do the trick. They sold him one all covered with pansies, and he went away happy.

Sometimes we women pin too much faith in a hat, ourselves, don't we1 We're a bit inclined to think that some pickle dish turned upside down on our noodle, with a sick bird on it or a handful of cabbage, will make us look like we did before we "was so pore and run down.'' But so long as we think it does, that's all it takes.

A great Oriental beauty culturist in New York, whom women pay about a hundred

dollars an hour to consult, tells them there is nothing on earth to beauty except · to THINK you are beautiful! Go fix your­self up, he says and go downtown and think

· you are perfectly beautiful . . . all perfec­tion and ·grace and lightness and beauty. Not old or wrinkled or fat or puffed under the eyes or stuffy or skinny, with hills and valleys in some places and bumps in others. So ladies, there's your spring recipe for beauty! Just think it-provided you can persuade yourselves. As for me-a ridge­runnin' hillbilly, I've got too much sense to talk to myself ·that way!

I had a letter from the famed Mirandy, radio star out in Los Angeles-bless her heart. She goes by the 'nam_e of Mirandy of Persimmon Holler. She used to be an Ozark gal when she was small, but she grew to be a great teacher of drama and speech and finally landed in radio. One time when I was on the radio in St. Louis she came to visit me and I asked her to talk on my morning broadcast. She went right after it and told about her Uncle Bud La"".son, that fine old pioneer who went to his reward. She said, "Well sir, they was another ol' man died this summer just right after my Uncle Bud. I'll bound ye a heap of folks misses him more'n they 'll admit. Hit was 01' Gum Shelton. He wasn't no sturdy oak -Law me-he didn't even have the sturdi­ness of a mullin stalk, but he ha d other vir­tues. My Uncle Bud made a success of everything he touched in life, but OJ' Gum ' never made a success of nothin'!

"He was the least of a success of anybody I ever knowed, and yet he had an awful good time out of life. You know most folks, in

. order to git interested in anything; they've got to be a-makin' a lot of money out of it. But with ol' Gum, his measurin' rod in life was to be sure that a thing WOULDN'T bring him in any money!

" Of course he wasn't over an' above · bright. He was just a little off center, you might ·say-He come of an awful one-gallus family to start with, and they · shore went to seed in Gum.

"He was plenty smart in a lot of ways though. He was good at fishin'. When the touristeers started co.min' down into the Ozark~ a-huntin' and fishin' they was allus glad to have OJ' Gum go with 'em. And he was glad to go. . But the minute they started to payin' him, he lost interest. He'd be off a-linin' a bee tree. He was a likable ol' cuss. Everybody in Persimmon Holler liked him. He had a talent fer music and

(Continued on page NINETEEN)

A P R I L , I 9 5 0 Page 13 * IF I WERE A COLUMNIST, THIS IS WHAT 1'0 LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT

By Paul Adams

If I should write a column, I should do well to answer some of the questions which I am asked as to how I happened to seek a career in radio.

Most people are fascinated with this busi­ness and its personalities. And, they, like

1 I a number of years , ago, try to find the answers by listening.

When I was a boy on a small farm near Long Lane, Mo., I wanted to become either a doctor or a newscaster. I'll agree a vast . difference separates the two, but financial conditions greatly alter our progress at times, don't they? .

My father died when I was 16, and, the youngest of ten children, I was faced with the problem of caring for my mother and finishing the last year of high school. To earn much-needed money after graduation, I taught school, believe it or not, but, again

- something beckoned to alter what plans I · might have had to continue that worthy

profession. Nadine was a teacher too, much better than I-better qualified. We decided we could teach each other something. Re­sult: After boy met girl-married same.

And then Uncle Sam needed another sailor; that big forefinger p~inted my way. A hitch with · the · flying men in blue proved valuable, even though it was cautiously accepted at the time. After that coveted discharge, an audition with a California radio station was successfully passed, but the GI bill for vet­erans' education appealed more. With Na­dine gently, but firmly pushing, I enrolled as a freshman at the University of Missouri in June, 1946.

Working shifts around the clock at KFRU · in Columbia provided extra money and much valuable radio experience,• do_ing everything from announcing and writing to sweeping out. A full load of courses leading to a degree in journalism from Missouri's famous school }<;ept my mental appetites well nour­ished.

Another coveted paper, the Bachelor of Journalism degree with a major in radio, was gratefully accepted in June, 1949, three years after I set foot on the school campus. I spent a short time with another station last summer before coming to KWTO last fall.

To me, radio is a trust of which you, the listener, are the custodian. Whatever my success has been, or whatever I accomplish in this business, will depend also upon you and you.r success. Radio, too, is people like Eatherham Hobbs, Slim Wilson and the Carters, whom we cannot ·help but like

because they are like so many of my friends and neighbors in the Ozarks. When, with them, I say "'Howdy" each day, I feel that even I am accomplishing a wee bit more toward greater usefulness, as well as security, in the land which we all love.

FROM THE FILES . . . A DIAL REVIEW

6 Years Ago This Month A picture of the "'Ozarks' Farm Hour" tal­

ent, Violet and Vesta Gamble, Benny Ed­mondson (still · in Springfield), Jim West (now with KOMO, Seattle), and many others . . . Letter from Lee George, written "'somewhere on the Anzio Beachhead," print­ed in The Dial. (Lee is now with KFEQ, St. Joseph, Mo.) 5 Years Ago This Morlth

Abner Weaver says, in "'Hillosophy" col­umn, "'As long as folks keep talkin' 'bout you, there's still somethin' good-'er bad­that you're doin' that interests people. " . , . News Editor Floyd (Sully) Sullivan agrees to make "'rare" speech in . observance of National Radio Week, May 13-19. 4 Years Ago This Month

The Big Three on KWTO's Farm Forum, C. T. Patterson, John Kirby, and C. C. Keller, pictured on page 1 . .. KWTO's George Earle plays host for Breakfast in Hollywood party in Shrine Mosque, is pie~ tured interviewing oldest guest . . . Peanut Butter Chiffon Pje recipe given in the Home-Keeper's Korner (yum, yum). 3 Years Ago This Month

The Kid from Calico Rock, Lou Black, is back with KWTO after a several months sojourn in the tall Corn of Iowa, during which time he was homesick for the sweet corn of Missouri . . . Series of pictures shows George Earle neglecting Percy to attend to more personal matters, those of ·a "'papa." i2 Years Ago This Month

Goo Goo Rutledge featured in the "Spot­light. " (Goo Goo is now working in Spring­field as a salesman) .. . Inquiring Reporter, Violet Gamble Morton, asks, "'How i does the coming of spring affect your thoughts?" 1 Year Ago This Month

Chuck Bowers looks worried; on the cov­er, as many hands dive into his gift box of candy. (Chuck is now working with his small orchestra in Kansas City) . . . Richard Haymes dreams fondly of little boy adven­tures just before bedtime as Baby of the Month . . . Penny Nichols and husband, Tharol, pictured in Come Right In Column in thei.r trailer home.

Page 14 APRIL, 1950

SCHEDULE FOR APRIL

' WHAT5GOING ON AT KWTO? --WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAY

5:00 a. m.-Yawn Patrol 5:45 a. m.-Rev. Dowell 6:00 a. m.-Lonnie and Thelma 6:15 a. m.-Down Home Folks 6:15 a. m.-R. F. D. Roundup (S) 6:30 a. m.-Goodwill Family 6:30 a. m.-Robin Hood Hoedown (S) 7:00 a. m.-Carter Family 7:15 a. m.-Slim Wilson 7:30 a. m.-Newscast 7:45 a. m.-Yellow Bonnet Show 7:45 a. m.-Goodwill Family (S) 8:00 a. m.-Zed Tennis 8:15 a. m.-Lexie White Show _ 8:25 a. m.-Weatherman Williford 8:30 a. m.-Breakfast Club-ABC 8:30 a. m.-Jordanaires (S) 8:45 a. m.-Rev. Hitchcock (S) 9:00 a. m.-Freddie Martin Orchestra 9:00 a. m.-Breakfast at Keller's (S) 9:15 a. m.-One Man's Opinion-ABC 9:20 a. m.-Program Notes 9:25 a. m.-Betty Crocker-ABC 9:30 a. m.-Farm News, Markets (S) 9:45 a. m.-Newscast

10:00 a. m.-Saddle Rockin' Rhythm _ (M-W-F)

10:00 a. m.-Robin Hood 'Hoedown (T-Th) 10:00 a. m.-Meet Your Neighbor (S) 10:15 a. m.-Kitchen Talks 10:30 a. m.-Guide to Happier Living 10:30 a. m.-What's New (S) 10:45 a. m.-Slim Wilson 11 :00 a. m.-Ozark Farm Hour :11 :00 a. m.-Lonnie and Thelma ( S) 11:15 a . m.-Markets 11:15 a. m.-Hillbilly Hit Tunes (S) 11 :20 a. m.-Ferm Hour 11 :30 a. m.-Ark. Conservation Comm. ( S) 11:45~.m.-Farm Front (S) 12:00' noon-The Carter Family 12:15 p. m.- Goodwill Family 12:30 p. m.-Newscast 12:45 p. m.-Man on the Street

1:00 p. m.-Linda's First Love 1 :00 p. m.-Let' s Go to the Opera-ABC ( S) 1:15 p. m.-Ma Perkins 1 :30 p. m.-Young Dr. Malone 1:45 p. m.-Judy and Jane ·2:00 p. m.-Bride and Groom 2:30 p. m.-Korn Kobblers 2:45 p. m.- Lonnie and Thelma

3:00 p. m.-Ladies Be Seated-ABC 3:00 p. m.-Horse Race-ABC (S) 3:15 p. m.-Old, New, Blue-ABC (S) 3:25 p . m.-Carol Douglas- ABC 3:30 p. m.- Carter Family 3:30 p. m.-Treasury Band Show- ABC (S) 3:45 p. m.-Cornfield Follies 4:00 p. m.-Creamo News 4:15 p. m.-Markets 4:25 p. m.-Do You Know 4:30p. m.- Weatherman Williford 4:35 p. m.-Everett Mitchell (M-W-F) 4:35 p. m.-interlude (T-Th-S) 4:45 p. m.-Rev. Hitchcock 4:45 p. m.-Tea and Crumpets-ABC (S) 5:00 p. m.-Jack Hunt 5:00 p. m.-Four Knights (S) 5:15 p. m.-Ozark Newsettes 5:30 p. m.-J. Armstrong-ABC (M-W-F) 5:30 p. m.-Sky King-ABC (T-Th) 5:30 p. m.-Here's To Veterans (S) 5:45 p. m.-Christian Science Program (S) 6:00 p. m.-Newscast 6:15 p. m.-Sports Spotlight 6:25 p. m.- Edwin C. Hill-ABC 6:30 p. m.- Lone Ranger-ABC (M-W-F) 6:30 p. m.-Counterspy-ABC (T-Th) 6:30 p. m.- Visitin' Time

SUNDAY PROGRAMS 6:30 a. m.-Pipes of Melody 6:45 a. m.-Sunday Morning Reveries 7:00 a. m.-Rev. Hitchcock 7:30 a. m.-Jelly Elliott 7:45 p. m.- Happy Hollis Warren 8:00 a. m.- Newscast 8:15 a. m.-Sermons in Song 8:30 a. m.- May Kennedy McCord 8:45 a. m.-Al and Lee Stone 9:00 a. m.-Message of Israel-ABC 9i30 a. m.-The Southernaires-ABC

10:00 a. m.-Voice of Prophecy-ABC 10:30 a. m.- Hour of Faith-ABC 11 :00 a. m.-Guidepost for Living 11 : 15 a. m.-First Baptist> Church 12:00 noon-Voice of the Army. 12:15 p. m.-Cote Glee Club 12:30 p. m.-Sermons in Song

1 :00 p. m.-Newscast 1:15 p. m.- Drury Quarter Hour 1 :3D p. m.-Mr. President-ABC 2:00 p. m.-Senator Kem 2:15 p. m.-Natiorial Guard Show 2:30 p. m.- Southern Baptist Hour-ABC 3:00 p. m.-Cavalcade of Music 3:30 p. m.-Voices That Live-ABC 4:00 p. m.-Think Fast-ABC 4:30 p. m.-Greatest Story-ABC 5:00 p. m.-Drew Pearson-ABC 5:15 p. m.-Monday Headlines-ABC 5:30 p. m.-Music With the Girls-ABC 6:00 p. m.-Where There's Music--:-ABC

APRIL, 1950 Page 15

6:30 p. m.-Amazing Mr. Malone-ABC 7:00 p. m.-Stop the Music-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Walter Winchell-ABC 8:15 p. m.-Jergens Journal-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Chance of a Lifetime-ABC 9:00 p, m.-Lutheran Hour-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Newscast 9:45 p. m.-George Sokolsky-ABC

10:00 p. m.-News of Tomorrow-ABC 10:15 p. m.-Thoughts in Passing-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Papular Orchestra-ABC 1_1 :00 p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC MONDAY NIGHT

7:00 p. m.-Ethel and Albert-ABC 7:30 p. m.-Henry J. Taylor-ABC 7:45 p. m.-Spotlight on Industry 8:00 p. m.-Treasury Show-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Solo and Soliloquy_..:ABC 9:00 p. m.-Ralph Norman-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Strictly From Dixie-ABC

10:00 p. m.-Newscast 10:15 p. m.-Ted Malone-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Gems for Thought-ABC 10:35 p. m.-Orchestras-ABC 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC TUBSDA Y NIGHT

7:00 p. m.-Challenge of the Yukon-ABC 7:30 p. m.-Gentlemen of the Press-ABC 8:00 p. m.-America's Town Meeting-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Proudly We Hail 9:00 p. m.-Time for Defense-ABC 9:30 p. m.-This Is Our Town-ABC 9:45 p. m.-As We See It-ABC

10:00 p. m.-Newscast 10:15 p. m.-Ted Malone-ABC 10: 15 p. m.-Gems for Thought-ABC 10:35 p. m . .:.._OFchestras-ABC 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC WEDNESDAY NIGHT

7:00 p.m.-Hollis Warren 7:15 p. m.-Tommy Dorsey 7:30 p. m.-Casebook of Greg. Hood-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Shedock Holmes-ABC 8:25 p. m.-Mo. Savings Bond Division

HOMEMAKERS • •• BY EDITH HANSEN

Radio friends of Edith Hansen, whose Kitchen Talks for Perfex and GlossTex are KWTO's 10:15 a. m: bright spot, will be delighted with her new plan for making printed recipes available.

She has prepared a cook book in sections for loose-leaf binders, and the first section will include tested cake recipes. · All sec­tion will be offered for 10 cents each plus

· a box top or label from any Perfex product. The first section includes two recipes that

will interest many of you who remember formulas for various kinds of "Scripture

8:30 p. m.-Buzz Adlam's. Playroom-ABC 9:00 p. m:-Salon Serenade 9:30 p. m.-On Trial-ABC

10:00 p. m.-Newscast 10:15 p. m.-Ted Malone-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Gems . for Thought-ABC 10:35 p. m.-Orchestras-ABC 11:55 p. m.-News-ABC

THURSDAY NIGHT 7:00 p. m.-Challenge of the Yukon-ABC 7:30 p. m.-A Date With Judy-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Origlnal Amateur Hour-ABC 8:45 p. m.-Robert Montgomery-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Author Meets Critic-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Murder and Music-ABC 1

9:45 p. m.-George Barnes-ABC 10:00 p. m.-Newscast 10:15 p. m.-Ted Malone-ABC lQ:30 p. m.-Gems for Thought-:-ABC 10:35 p. m.-Orchestras- ABC 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC

FRIDAY NIGHT 7:00 p. m.-The Fat Man-ABC 7 :30 p. m.-This Is Your FBI-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Ozzie and Harriet-ABC 8:30 p. m.-The Sheriff-ABC 8:55 p. m.-Champion Roll Call-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Gillette Fights-ABC 9:30 p. m.-American Sports Page-ABC

10:00 p. m.-Newscast 10;15 p. m.-'ted Malone-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Gems for Thought-ABC 10:35 p. m.-Orchestras-ABC · 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC

SATURDAY NIGHT 7:00 p. m.-Challenge

1of the Yukon-ABC

7:30 p. m.-Hollywood Byline-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Rayburn and Finch-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Saturday at the Shamrock-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Voices That Live-ABC

10:00 p. m.~Newscas.t 10:15 p. m.-Tops in Sports-ABC 10:30 p. m.-'-Popular Orchestra-ABC

Cake" that have been handed down in your family. Whether you care to try this par­ticular one or not, you may enjoy the "game" of figurlng out its ingredients from the Bible references.

2/ 3 c. 2 c. 3 °c. 2 t. 1/t t. 1 c. 1/2 t. 6

Scripture Cake Psalms Ecclesiastes Exodus I Corinthians Matthew I Corinthians Jeremiah Job

Chapt. 55 5

29 5 5 3 l 6

Verse 21 12 2 6

13 2

11 6

Combine ingredients and bake as you would any similar cake.

Page 16 APRIL, 1950

"FAIR AND WARMER" . . . COLUMN OF COMMENT • By C. C. WI L LI FORD

If I were asked to name the Number One hard luck creature of all the various shy inhabitants of our Ozarks woods, I'd quickly name Billy Opossum. On two occasions my vast and greatly varie~ fan mail has brought inquiries regarding the birth and conception of these queer, furry, animals. It would seem that Old Mother Nature stacked the cards against them right from the start and all through their rather brief existence. (I say brief, for I doubt seriously that there ever was an opossum that lived to die of a ripe, ol_d age, · as 'possums go.)

.The strange thing about it all is the fact that so few have the slightest knowledge about the life and habits of this only mar­supial (the only pouched animal) of the American continent!

At birth the baby opossum is an incredibly tiny, pitiful, semi-embryonic form of animal life, little larger than a honey bee, the whole litter weighing less than one ounce. Not only blind but also deaf. its first task is to find its way to . the small opening in the mother's pouch, hidden among the hairs on her abdomen. At times he may have as many as nineteen other tiny brothers and sisters competing with him in that race to find a refuge and food , but worst of all, a seemingly cruel nature has provided only 12 teats in the mother opossum's pouch, so it's purely a matter of first come, first served. The first dozen tiny babies attach them­selves like a snap button to the food supply and hang on for goqd, and the other eight are doomed to drop off and die of starvation, without even getting a single meal on this cruel, cold earth.

Even the luck of the fortunate dozen little 'possums that finally find refuge and food on mamma's breast is destined to be only a passing fancy, for after a few weeks, when they have grown ten-fold in size and are large enough to crawl out on mother's back

-for a ride in the open, their troubles have only started. There is always the danger

' that some one will start a fire in the woods which will rout the family from its home in the hollow tree, perhaps even suffocating both mother and young:

Escaping this tragedy, there are a hundred other dangers lurking unseen for both the mother and her babes in the woods. There will be bre'r fox, the wolf, the dog, the bob­cat, the owl. the hawk; and other creatures, including man, who like to lunch on young opossum, all waiting to swoop down on this most unlucky family. As if matters were not bad enough for the survival of Billy Opossum when he has only a ruthless na ture to con-

tend with, now comes the modern age when the automobile takes a heavy toll of these hapless creatures, for their habits are noc­turnal and the lights of an oncoming car at night blind and baffle them as they lumber across the highway. 1 Billy often stops dead still, his beady eyes shining like fire as the wheels swiftly crush his soft body into pulp, there to lie until the crows come and devour all that is left of one of the Ozarks' most unlucky creatures.

Most everyone has seen or heard of the death feint of Mr. Hard Luck 'Possum, how he hopes, when danger threatens, to play dead, so that even the most hungry of. his enemies wlll pass him by as being unappe­tizing. But in this, perhaps the only fun he has in "playing 'possum," he is always the loser. So shed a tear of pity for the poor opossum. For even a centipede with a bad case of ingrown toenails is far more lucky than poor little Billy, the creature that Lady Luck forgot.

.WHO ARE THEY? ... NAME THE STARS

As Dial readers get more and more adept at guessing the identities of our quiz char­acters, we try harder and harder to keep this little game tantalizing and exciting. See how you fare with these:

1. What KWTO personality hails from Little Rock, spent his first two years of college at Notre Dame University? In case you don't remember, the nanie of the Notre Dame football team may give you a clue.

2. This lad hails from Oklahoma, and was often identified by a set of false chin whiskers during his pre-war years at KWTO. Who is he?

Answers to last month's teasers: George Rhodes is the KWTO-er who used to teach a c~untry school. And Hollis Warren, the February cover boy, was the second quiz character. Several years ago, when Chet Atkins was on KWTO, Hollis admired and copied his unique style. C.het gave him much of the inspiration for developing his musical talent against the stern odds of invalidism.

First arrivals with the correct answers were Mrs. Herman Disheroon, Green For­est, Ark.; Peggy Lou McMullen, West Plains; Mrs. Raymond Otis, Rolla; Mrs. Hattie Tannehill , Halfway; Mrs. W . C. Russell, Springfield; Mrs. Roy Pare, Ro­mance; Mrs. Ernest McGuire, Plato; Mrs. Howard Homan, Drury; Eva Crank, Hattie, Mo.; Mrs. Ellis Bohannan, Eureka Springs.

APRIL, 1950 Page 17

PORTSIDE PATTER BY GEORGE EARLE

Have you finished your spring house­cleaning? My wife has put me through the . usual traces-clean this, wax that, polish something else and haul _out that trash­and oh, my aching back! And now, with venetian blinds looking fresh and everything painted, it's almost lawn-mowing time.

House cleaning .chores inspired me to · tackle my desk drawers at the office. It's

a wonderful feeling, to tidy things up for spring. Let 's see now . . . Half a pack­age of Tums-I'd better save those. All those mechanical pencils, out of lead-but I might get them fixed up some time. The speech I started to write for the writers ' conference at Drury-wonder if it'll get finished in time? Shouldn't throw away those scattered paper clips, and no use to gather them up-they'll just get scattered again. A box of keys. To what? Can"t remember, but they must be to something, so they can't go. A recipe for salmon salad with chopped cabbage. Good, too. Ought to take that home when I think about it. Copy of the Junior High School test on the Constitution, borrowed from my sister-in-law. Ought to save it for a Kiwanis quiz program. Here's a clipping: "How to Tell Your Girl Friend'.s Age." Kinda cute. I'll hang onto that.

What about the right hand drawer? A dozen metal typewriter ribbon spools, to be saved for my little boy, Rickie, who loves to play with them. My electric shaver, un­used for a year and a half. Might be able to sell it? A practically empty bottle of nose drops-surely I can throw that away ... But wait! I sneezed this morning. Where on earth d_id I get this can of snuff? Oh, sure. At the Country Store at the Fair last summer. I'll trade it for a new word for Percy the Parrot to say. Any takers? And what else? A clothes brush, an envelop~ of blue and white campaign buttons, a box half-full of .32 blanks, bought to use in a Shrine Mosque show, two books on magic. All of them might come in handy.

And the bottom drawer? Hundreds of pictures of children, sent in way back when I read the funny papers on the air and had the Kiddie Club broadcasts 10 or 15 years ago. Cute youngsters-and lots of them grown now, with .children of their own. Don't use that drawer for much anyway ...

Well, I'm glad that's done. Now if I can just get Dickie to do the same thing, go through closets and drawers at home and get rid of . all the stuff that isn't absolutely needed, maybe we'll have a little more order around our house!

* MARCH COVER CONTEST

The youngsters walked away with _ orig­inality ponors in last month's competition for the best 25-word cover essay. Winners of one-year extensions to their family Dial subscriptions are Marlene Sisney, 11, of Pontiac, Mo., and Betty Cockrum, an eighth grader of Gainesville> No entries were even similar to theirs.

Three-month extensions go to Mrs. T. J. Enix, Green Forest, Ark.; Mrs. A. F. Brown, Jenkins, Mo'.; Verna Oneth, Springfield; Claude Hartin, Ava; Mrs. Edmond Stout, Aurora.

Honorable mention, and complimentary . copies of this issue to any friend they care

to designate: Mrs. Della Offield, Stockton; M.rs. Carrie Shaffer, Miller; Eva Hardy, Eureka Springs, Ark.; Hazel Lemley, Dunne­gan; 0. G. Russell, Aurora; Ollie Layton, Branson; Mrs. G. Montgomery, Lebaµon; Guy McMillin, Everton; Mrs. A. T. Dean, Jasper; Mrs. Miriam Denby, Springfield; Mrs. Fred Champlin, Greenfield.

And this, Dial friends, was one of our biggest cover contests!

Betty's entry was scholarly: "March was named for Mars, Roman war god. When Mars and a lamb compromise it must end war - or winter - and bring peace - or spring." ·

And from Marlene: "A la,mb and a lion may symbolize spring, but to me, ole Slim 'Pickin's' is our hillbilly 'Bing.'!"

And from Mrs. Brown: "Slim got a little lamb, it make big ram. Ram fight, Slim run-us see much fu9. .Slim look like ghost; Ada cook ram roast! "

Only subscribers are eligible to enter Dial contests.

* MARCH

Page 18 A P R I L , I 9 5 0

DEAR DIAL: ADA RECUPERATES

QUESTION CO~UMN

Q. ( 1) How old is Aunt Fanny and is she married? _(2) When will the Church Page be back on the air? (3) Why can't we

. have more transcriptions of the Jordanaires? (Mrs. R. L .. Purdy, Mo.)

· A. ( 1) I don't have that information about Aunt Fanny, but have written to " Breakfast Club for it. From her pictures she doesn't look over 30. (2) . News Chief Floyd Sullivan says he doubts that Church Page will go back on the air. It was dropped when Ozark Newsettes was given a full 15 minutes Mon. through Sat. at 5:15 p. m. (now sponsored by People's Furnitur~ Store) . Newsettes serve the same purpose, besides handling other news, and the only differ­ence is that now church announcements

I are

on six times a week instead of only once. There are no church announcements left off the air. (3) As you know, the Jordanaires are now on at 8:30 Sat. morning for .Mid­west Rug and Linoleum, and on the Morton Salt Visitin' Time at 6:30 Saturday night. I'd like to hear them oftener, too.

Q. Are Carl ' Haden and his wife in Springfield? Does Anita Carter go to high school? (W. B., Stockton, Mo.)

A. The Hadens are here, devoted to the care of their fine youngsters, and giving a good deal of time to religious work. No, Anita Carter is not attending high school.

Q. Did Culley Holt get married? (B. A., Jefferson City, Mo.)

A. Culley and Betty Houghton were mar­ried last December.

Q. (I) How old is Bunny Hesington? (2) Who were the Ozark County Four? (3) Could we have a picture of Hollis War­ren 's mother and sister in The Dial? (J. N., Nixa, Mo.)

A. (1) Bunny, Chuck's wife, is 25. (2) The Ozark County Four, not now on the air as such, were Lonnie and Thelma Robert­son, George Rhodes and Junior Haworth. (3) We'll get the picture you ask for in the next few months.

Q. Does George Morgan sing on the Robin Hood program and go to Nashville for Grand Ole Opry on weekends? Is he married and how old is he? (D. C., Nevada.)

A. George, who was married last August and is 25, is not now on Grand Ole Opry.

Q. What was Junior Haden's wife's maiden name? When did they niarry? (Mrs. M. J., Harrison, Ark.)

A. Junior's wife is the former Doris Starns, and they were married just over a y l!ar ago.

Q. Where are the Whippoorwills? (M.

/

Slim Wilson's wife; Ada, entered St. John's Hospital in Springfield March 24 for a goiter operation, which was performed the following morning, and is convalescing com­fortably. It will be some time, however, before she can return to a very active part in their farm work. Slim, incidentally, has been too worried about her to complain about all Jhe extra milking and chicken-tending he's had ,to do.

N., Bolivar, Mo.) A. The "Whips" are broadcasting over

a radio station in Middleton, Ohio, close . to home for most of the boys, and doing very well there.

Q. ( 1) How many children has Zed Tennis? (2) Did Shorty Thompson play in any movie other than "Eldorado Pass?" ,(3) Is Lou Black going to quit announcing? (D. B .. Rich Hill, Mo. )

A. ( 1) Zed has two girls and two boys. (2) "Eldorado Pass" is' Shorty's only movie to date. (3) Lou's doctor has advised him that since his duties as Talent and Program Director are demanding, he should nof take on announcing as well-as least not now.

Q. Where are the Hadens? Could the Editor's program in the afternoon be made a little longer? (R. C., Fordland, Mo.)

A. Uncle Carl is back with KWTO as an announcer; they are all still here in Springfield, but have no immediate plans for returning to the air. As for making the "Do You Know" program longer, so long as it remains between the markets and the weather, both of whicl,i are very important to

. our listeners, it will have to s,tay the length it is-pending the invention of rubber clocks.

Q. Is Chet Atkins wife in Springfield? Did Chuck Bowers' wife go to Kansas City with him? (D. L. F., Fair Play, Mo.)

A. Yes, Chet's wife and baby are here with him. Chuck's · wife has stayed in Springfield, and he comes home on week­ends.

Q. Is Zed Tennis' son-in-law, Jack Dix­on, any relation_ to Sue Thompson's sister, Sally Dixon? (M. T .. Mountain Home, Ark.)

A. None. Q. How about pictures of Sgt. Preston,

his dog, and the Lone Ranger and Silver)? Mrs. J. E. H ., Springfield.)

A. I'll clip your question, send it to ABC. and we should have your . request filled within a few weeks.

In answer to M. P. H., Stella, Mo.: _ "Brother Bill" was the old Carter Family'

announcer. As to your second question, yes. In answer to D. B., Sleeper, Mo.: Bob and

. Lexie ·White are no relation to each other.

APRIL , 1950 Page 19

* FAMILY PORTRAIT - THE LEXIE W HITES A RE HANDSOME NEWCOMERS That Lexie White biography we've been promising will appear in the May issue. Meantime, here's a chance to. meet the missus, D orothy, of our 8:15 a. m. Taystee show star. Lexie is also heard on the Farm

HEARTBEATS (Continued from page T WELVE)

could play anything that had strings on it. "A long time ago, when the railroad first

come to the country, they used to run ex­cursions to Kansas City every few weeks. 01' Gum heer'd so much talk about Kansas City that he got to hankerin ' to see it. So he worked and cut ties all winter and saved his money and went up on one of them ex­cursions.

"H e was gone three days and come back jist goggle-eyed from the experience. Folks asked him how he liked the city and what all he'd see 'd. 'O , hit was fine ,' he said, 'but I never seen nuthin ' but the depot. I reckon they was a-havin' a reunion there. T hey was so much a-goin' on and so many folks to talk to, I never did leave!'

"They asked him, 'Where did you sleep?' 'Sleep?' he says. 'I never slept at all­nobody else was a-sleepin'!' Well, that was old Gum. "

Goodbye-and God love you. I send you my very best.

I'm jist as full of love fur ye As my head is full of prunes, As my grandpap's full o' w hiskers, Or a fiddle's full of tunes. MAY

Hour, is custodian of KWTO's transcriptions. His new program for Newport Stores is heard every Saturday morning at 8:15, also with Paul Mitchell, Z ed T ennis on mandolin, and Bob White.

(Continued from page FOUR) son, a 6-room, ranch-type residence of buff brick and siding ... Among successful recent personal appearances in the Carter Family engagement book: Eureka Springs, Ark. , Eugene, Iberia, Bakersfield, Buffalo and Mountain Grove, where 1400 crowded into the high school building and 500 were turned away. We asked June about the dance she does as part of their stage show. "Tain't much. Kinda of a sort of a little ole clog-hop thing." ,,. ,,. ..

The Goodwill Family is already at work on a new song book, which will include two most-requested numbers, "Looking for a City" and "Is There Anybody Here That Knew Him?" as well as Slim's song, "My Friend is Jesus," the first he ever had copy­righted . . . A favorite among Goodwill personal appearance audiences is Junior Ha­worth 's solo, "When My Savior Reached Down for Me" .. . Aunt Martha reported an audience of over 3,000 in the building, and 600 turned away, when the Family sang at the International H arvester Family Party in Ava last month. The group has also enjoyed appearances at S t. Jo, Ark .. H ouston, and Lebanon-twice in a month.

Sec. 34.66 P. L.& R. l l - ~0 U. S. POSTAGE

PAID MISS PEGGY CARNER 1452 SUMMIT AVE. CITY ( ZONE 2') Returr Postage Gu&'anteed

,pr ngfield, Me.

Springfield, Mo. Permit '\Jo. 7 53

* PORTRAIT OF THE MONTH - THAT MORGAN BOY CAME UP FAST! /

No one could be more modestly surprised than George Morgan, the "Candy Kisse " composer, at his own quick climb to fame. In less than two years in radio he has reached the million-record class as a recording tar for Columbia, finds himself in demand all ov.er the country for such programs a Robin Hood Hoe-D own, a KWTO favorite heard Tues. and Thurs. at 10 a. m. and Sat. morn-

ing at 6:30. Thi Waverly, T enn., boy worked a a dish-washer, waiter, surveyor, oda jerk, bread alesman and even took a

tum in a rubber factory, before disk jockey Cliff Rogers of Akron, Ohio, spotted his voice as one of the most promising talent to emerge in the postwar period. George has been married since last August to Anna Pari­don, whom he met at an Ohio quare dance.