IAL Page 2 JUNE, 1949

560 KC

Vol. VIII No. 11

$1 per year 10c per copy Paid circulation for the month of May issue as o f May 26th, 12 .398 notarized.

The Dial is published the first of every month and serves radio fans in more than 100 counties in M issouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, as well as former Ozarkians in other states who are old friends of Radio Station KWTO. If the numbers 6-49 appear a ft er your name on the address label at the top of page 20, your subscription expires with this issue. * BABY OF THE MONTH Address correspondence and renewals to Editor of The Dial, care of KWTO, Donna Fay Haworth, three, younger daugh­ Springfield, Missouri. The Editor w ill be ter of Junior and Wanna Fay, is as fond happy to answer your inquiries about past of playing "dress up" as is her sister, Shirley and present KWTO personalities and fill Jean. Mother's feathered black hat on her your requests for pictures you· d like to see head, and a mirror in which to admire her­ in The Dial. self, produced this coy smile.

* MILKING TIME AT THE WILSONS-AND THE WHOLE FAMILY "CHORES" " Slim's registered cows get more care than dentally, you'll not find Ada in the Foster a palace full of princesses," Ada Wilson birthday picnic picture on pages 10 and teases, but she's as proud of them as he 11, although she sent the angelfood cake the is. Morning and evening find all three guest-of-honor holds aloft. " Where's Ada?" of them, Slim, Ada and John Wesley, head­ Slim was asked. " Why," he said, "some­ ing for the barn, pails in hand, for milking body's got to look after those cows." They duty. His herd now numbers 50. lnci- had flipped a coin: Ada lost. JUNE, 1949 SPEECH-MAKERS OFF THE CUFF KENNON, KELTNER ... STUDIO GOSSIP MAKE ADDRESSES A rousing. korny, KWTO welcome to KWTO Goodwill Ambassadors this past still more new stars-Homer and Jethro, vet­ month have been Assistant General Man­ erans of radio, stage and recording, whose ager Leslie L. Kennon, who made a fine talk latest platter for King Record Co., "Money, at a Springfield Board of Realtors meet­ Marbles and Chalk" with Chet Atkins, is ing; Local Sales Manager Ray Keltner, selling like bubble gunm. They've recently who told students in the Drury Night School. been signed by Victor. H. &. J. play mando­ Advertising course how radio does merchan­ lin and guitar, do folk-singing, hillbilly, nov-· dising; Promotion Manager Mrs. Lon Kap­ elty and cornier m1mbers, have had 20 years' pell, who attended the Ozark Playgrounds experience . . . Ditto the welcome for Assoc. Convention at Rockaway Beach. promising young Betty Lou Jones, who sings, · Kennon told realtors that radio today ranks yodels, plays rhythm guitar, replaces Penny _second in the number of facilities installed Nichols, who's baby-having. Betty Lou is in American homes (next to cooking equip­ fresh from high school, and her family has ment) . and traced not only its Ozarks moved from Eureka Springs to Cabool . . . history'. but the whole fascinating history of Winners on recent · Man-on-the-Street con­ the "slow and tortuous progress in the tests: Mrs. Anna Ram'ey of Republic and Mrs. attempts of men to communicate with each Edward Uhlman of Buckhart, on the word other from a distance." He spoke of the fire puzzle; Wayne Stafford of Fair Grove, who beacons of the ancient Greeks and later, won a bicycle, over 800 other entries, for of the American Indian; of Pony Express, guessing the name of a famous person. telegraph, and finally, "in the revolving, revealing scientific age, radio, the grea'test Shorty arid Sue Thompson-. plan to build, of all media of communication ever known on their new 70-acre farm near Walnut1 or used by man." Grove, which has three springs, a cemetery· He discussed the role of radio as a com­ and fine pasture land. Meantime, they fish munity service; told how it is used "to pro­ the nearby Sac river constantly, took George mote goodwill and friendliness throughout and Dickie Earle down one we.ekend and the Ozarks, give aid to those in distress and caug-ht _seven catfish, the largest 25 pounds, pleasure to all . .. Nearly all of the faiths on limb lines. even though it rained catfish and creeds in this community are repre­ and dogs. The Herb Glazes and · Gene sented" ·on Springfield stations' programs. Lemmons ~ere in the party, which camped They are used by schools and colleges to out . . . Wayne and Gary Thompson are . publidze their activities, they offer news, horse-crazy, especiaJly since they saw the weather and farm service features, send out movie. "Red Pony," and have been prom­ word of closed schools, report on road con­ ised one of their own as soon as the family ditions, . promote the fine activities of the moves to the farm . . . Listen for Breakfast Red Cross Bloodmobile, State Division of Club news of a novel charm bracelet-at Health and the like. a big bargain! . . . Funniest sight at the ".All of these services," he reminded, "are Foster birthday-nic: Joe Slattery running a provided without cost to the people of the "gauntlet of strings." He was allowed to Ozarks." He also discussed variety in study the strings, held at various heights, radio · fare, ·radio's usdulness in building (Continued on page NINETEEN) prosperity through advertising. "Over one million listeners," he concluded, " are inter­ C<;)YER CONTEST locked in the forward-march program of * this great community." From the wild , guesses as to the identity Keltner, at the Drury session, toid the of last month's cover character, this is cer­ students of Adelaide Haseltine Jones of the tainly a fine way of familiarizing our reac\ers reliance of rural areas, especially, on radio, with KWTO faces. No, it wasn't Zed and of the time, thought, research and staff Tennis, Chuck Bowers, Dale Parker. It used by KWTO to tailor programs to fit was Buster Fellows, dreaming over his fiddle each specific type of audience. He explained in a fine fettle of spring fever. Winner of that KWTO maintained an unusually large the free Dial subscription is Kathryn Pease, staff for a -mid-western station, not only who wrote the best entry of the 95 we re-. talent, but news and continuity writers. This ceived. Her story: "Dream on, Buster. It's is done not only ,to serve the listeners, but ; wonderful world. whether you're fiddlin' . to do the best possible job for the advertiser. or fishin'!" Page 4 JUNE, 1949 DEAR DIAL: FROM THE FILES QUESTION COLUMN ... A DIAL REVIEW Q. I would like to see the pictures of 7 Years Ago Tliis Month Slim Wilson and family and George Rhodes Howard Lee Arthur is radio veteran of and family in the Dial. (Mrs. A. S., Buf­ eight years at the age of · 16 (now here in falo.) Springfield) . . . The Schaffer Sisters are A. You'll find one request filled on page featured in the spotlight (Ann now at WKY, two, the other in July or August. Oklahoma City, Dora in Cincinnati) . •.. . . Q. How long has Aurit Martha been Mike Dosch returns to KWTO staff (now married to Mr. Baty? (Mrs. T. M. D ., liv!ng in Strasburg, N . D ., on his farm) . Birmingham, Ala.) 6 Years Ago This Month A. A little over a year and a half. Lonnie and Thelma Robertson buy a new Q. What has happened to Lou Martin, suburban home in Springfield (now in Pitts­ Goo-Goo and the Haden Family? (L. S. H.) burg, Kansas) ... Hugh Aspinwall joins A. Lou Martin has taken a job with announcing staff (now at KMA Shenandoah) : KOAM, Pittsburg, Kan. Goo-Goo is still 5 Years Ago This Month in Springfield, but I don't know what his plans are. The Hadens are devoting full Milt Dickey helps swell Navy's rolls (now time to a family business. at KCMO, Kansas City) ... Popular an­ nouncer Don Harvey returns to KWTO Q. Did Shoo get to be at the Dial Edi­ (now in Hollywood doing movie work). tor's wedding?- (D. J. G., Hartville.) A .. ,No.t:,onlyr,wassthe-·cat··at-the wedding, 4 Years Ago This Month but he prowled around the fireplace during Blessed event in Bailey Family (a girl the entire ceremony, esthetically sniffing name Rhea Beth) . .. Bill Ring in spotlight at the flowers. . . . Wartime restrictions removed and Q. How old is each member of the Mat­ KWTO resumes "Man on the Street" pro­ thews Quartet? (Mrs. A. M . M ., St. Jam~s.) gram, with George Earle. A. Bob Money and Hubbard, 20; Monty, 3 Years Ago This Month. 21; Bill, 26; Culley Holt, 24. Coast-to-Coast Network show. KORN'S­ Q. What color is Joe Slatt~ y's hair? A-KRACKIN' to visit Ozarks towns week­ (Mrs. R. C., Springfield.) ly starting June 29 . . . Dial snapshot section A. Sandy-red_. pictures Dick Witty (now at WLW) . Q. Would like to see pictures of Buster ·2 Years Ago This Month and family in The Dial. (Mrs. L. H. W ., Bob Rector featured in Stars of the Stars Sedalia.) (now in radio in Miami, Oklahoma) . .. A. It may be a mont!) or so after such Betty Hindman in the spotlight (here in requests come in before we can fill them, Springfield) ... Bill Chatham is newest but all are kept on file and worked out addition to KWTO news department. as soon as it is possible to . do so. I'll tty 1 Year Ago This Month to have this family group in the July issue. "Town Meeting of the Air" broadcast Q. Is there any chance of The Dial being coast-to-coast from Springfield via KWTO made bigger? (Mrs, E. C., Eureka Springs, . .. Baby of the month is Rick Allen Wilson, Ark.) ...... son of George Earle ... Myrtie Dean Litle A. That, as the Prof. said when he didn't is new switchboard operator. know the answer, is a very interesting ques­ tion. The Dial, as you may know, is pub­ lished at a loss of several thousand dollars * COVER STORY a year as a service to KWTO listeners. It would make money if it carried advertis­ George Earle, emcee of the !.3-week Stars ing (which it doesn't) , and the advertising of Tomorrow competition, leans wearily on would probably double or triple the size. his stack of mail-11,640 votes cast for the Most publications you get do carry ads, contestants. The fresh, ;;weet young thing which make up 60 to 70 percent of the in the inset picture is Joanne Van Noy, 16, magazine. If our policy changes, The Dial daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fay. Van Noy of might grow to twice or three times its present Norwood, Mo., grand prize winner of the ~ize, but I couldn't guarantee that it would contest, whjch was sponsored l:,y People's carry more pictures cir reading matter. Outfitting Co. JUNE, 1949 Page 5

NEW SATURDAY PROGRAM BREAKFAST IS SERVED. · . FEATURES CLUB GROUPS

Carry ing on in the tradition of the late county chapters (usuall y at the Court Tom Breneman, George Earle has begun a House) , or may phone 1994 in Springfield new series of programs Saturdays a t 9 a. m. , any week day. They are especially needed Breakfast at Kelle rs, 315 ½ E . McDaniel. now because summer brings an · increase in The 3hows offers a wonderful opportunity accidents, a lag in donations. Relatives and for civic, service and church groups to friends of out-of-the-county patients in publicize their activities. Ozark Anima l Springfield hospitals {more than 50 per­ Haven and Co-Operettes have been honored, cent) are urged to replace blood such pa­ and the largest attendance to date, over 90, tients have needed. gave welcome publicity to the Greene Mrs. Orpha Cla rk, 76, a great-grand­ County Red Cross Blood Program. mother, won the orchid for being the oldest Mrs. Harry Wise, program chairman, Mrs. guest on Red Cross morning. Other gifts Opal Louzader, four times a blood donor, included a wishing ring from Zales, a cake a nd Mrs. Al McGarvey, .wife of a recipient from Payne's grocery, a lamp from Outlet whose life was saved by the blood ban\c Furniture, U nion Biscuit Co. cookies, Yellow service ( 14 pints last fall) were interviewed Bonnet peaches and co'ffee. KWTO has by George, who saved some of the -regular added an award: A silver bread tray for features on the show until a ft er the broad­ the subject of best "Good Neighbor" letter cast so that their touching stories might be engraved, "KWTO Good Neighbor Award." more fully told. It was brought out that A fine breakfast, served at 8:30, is only since the Blood Center really got underway 60 cents. Although a special group is fea-, last August, 5,128 volunteers have offer­ tured each Saturday, the general public is ed blood, 655 of whom were rejected because more than welcome to attend. Plan to see the physician in attendance believed it would the Breakfast-at-Keller's show the next Sat­ be safer if they did not give. The Center urday you're in Springfield. Cooperating serves 31 institutions in 33 counties, only sponsors are Colonial Baking Co., Quinn seven of them in Greene County, and sends Coffee Co., B. F . Goodrich Stores, National its Bloodmobile to other communities Tues­ Paper and Hotel Supply Co., Cavin's days and Wednesdays and sometimes on Ready-to-Wear Shop, Will James Music Fridays. Donors may contact their local Co., Quinn Sales Co.

* AGE WINS A KISS, AN ORCHID; A WISH WINS A RING, ON NEW SHOW The Co-Operettes, ardent supporters of Gelven's Flower Shop on Mrs. Charles Springfield Boys' Club, were honored on Gray, 73, of Springfield, for being oldest George Earle's firs:t Brreakfast-At-Keller's guest. At right, Grace Magers of High­ program May H at Keller's, 315½ East landville wins a $12.50 birthstone ring from McDaniel. In the picture at left, George Zale's fo the best wish. Radiozark's E . bestows a kiss and an exquisite orchid from E. Simao, Jr. (center) is assisting George. Page 6 ' JUNE, 1?49 '• I / MEET KWTO'S NEWEST THE WHIPPOORWILL$ , • SO~G, RHYTHM TEAM ; "Whippoorwill," according to the Dial a blond moustache the size of a Chiahuahua office dictionary, is "an American bird with whisker. They recalled a crack bass player variegated plumage, whose rlrythmic call they knew, an ex-merchant marine, orig­ is heard at nightfall and just before dawn." inally from Cincinnati, then living with his When it comes to KWTO's four Whip­ wife and cocker spaniel in New York, and poorwills, who dropped around to pay a called him up. That added- small call on Zed Tennis late in April and Bernie, who does everything . with a bass are still with us, only a part of the definition fiddle except climb into it, and is a superb seems to apply. The plumage is variegated, vocalist in the "intimate" manner. all right . . . You should see blond Gene These four started out without an ar­ Monbeck's bright red sweater, Roy Lanham's rangement in the books, playing the swank green shirt, the extrovert ties favored by Esquire Lounge in Dayton. As soon as Bernie Wullkotte and Doug Dalton. The they'd worked up enough instrumental num­ "rhythmic" description is an understatement. bers to carry them through their 8 p. m. But as fqr nightfall and pre-dawn serenad­ fo 2:30 a. m. stint, they started vocalizing, ing, it doesn"t fit at all. Our Whippoor­ experimenting with pseudo-comedy, bur­ wills make marvelous music at night, in lesqued hillbilly numbers, exaggerated ". bop" the morning, mid-day, mid-afternoon, often (loosely defined as advanced jazz)-kidding into the very small hours. If they're on almost every kind of music. These varia­ the blacklist of Whippoorwills' Local No. tions on the stock entertainment theme were '67 for working too much overtime, we combined with highly danceable music and wouldn't be at all surprised. Even an an unusual technique-modern arrangements industrious canary would resent it_! played on typically hillbilly instruments. You're hearing them on the air at 7:45 Whether you like modern music or not.­ a. m. Mon. through Sat'., again on Bill if you respect hard work, . exuberance and Ring's Taystee show at 8:15, on the 11 :35 individuality in any field, you can't help portion of the Farm Hour, at 3:30 Mon., but enjoy the Whippoorwills., They are Wed. and Fri., at 3:15, (with Shorty widely admired by such KWTO-ers as Thompson) Tues. and Thurs. And that's Chuck Bowers, Dale Parker, Doc Martin, not all. The Drury and SMS college crowds Lou Black and Bill Ring, as much for these are so Whippoorwill-happy that they keep things as for infecting everyone with a the quartet busy three and four nights a sense of fun about the often-serious busi­ week playing for sorority and fraternity ness of entertaining. One of their most groups, in addition to their appearance on ardent devotees is Zed Tennis, who worked Korn's-A-Krackin' every Tuesday at 9. P. M. with Roy at WLW, Cincinnati, heard the act there a few months ago, and calls them Collectively, this rhythm-crazy crew is a '' fine instrumentalists.'' joy to have around because of its contagi_ous high spirits. Individually, the boys are gay, The ''Whips," as they've come to be entertaining, cooperative among themselves called, were on their way to the west coast and with other staff members. You'll find where disk jockey Hank Penny had "in­ them introduced photographically elsewhere vited us out to starve," as Roy puts it. in this issue, probably in this order: "He played some of our recordings on his program, liked our stuff, suggested we try Doug, c\ stocky, blond native of Middles­ Los Angeles." The pause to say hello to boro, Ky., has been married 13 years, has Zed got tl\em invited to a Korn's-A-Krackin' four children, plays mandolin. Before the rehearsal where, as Bernie says, "instruments war he was teamed with- were just lying around, and how could ·we Roy, who hails from Corbin, Ky., and leave them alone?" To shorten the story: plays electric standard guitar. They worked • President Ralph Foster and Radiozark's Si for some three years with Gene Austin, of Siman were sold after three numbers, and "My Blue Heaven Fame," backing up the decided, after further consultation with· Lou, whispering baritone in a tour of supper clubs Bill and Les ~ennon, to see how they'd "go." and theaters. When war came they went From the sound of the praise and the their separate w;iys, but Doug and Roy got applause, they seem to be "going" very well, together in ·Dayton, Ohio, seven months ago wouldn't you' say? What's the gossip among with a third lad- the honest-to-goodness whippoorwills in your Gene, 27, . unmarried, a hot guitarist with _neighborhood ( those that have radios)? JUNE, 1949 Page 7 BY THE EDITOR INSIDE AT THE STUDIO OF THE DIAL

May visitors included former KWTO-er guitar, the low moan by Bob White's bass, John E. Pearson, here for a fishing trip . . . the squeaking door is Zed Tennis on fiddle, Russ Davis, another alumnus who has and the reverberating howls are Doc Martin pioneered in television . . . Lennie Aleshire, playing steel guitar ... All of which is a all dressed up in new grey suit and senatorial pretty fair example of the cooperation and tie, who plays with Connie B. Gay's radio practice it takes to produce so many easy­ ranch act on WARL, Arlington, Va., and sounding KWTO numbers .. . The last night has done personal .appearances recently with Korn's-A-Krackin' played the Mosque found the actor who does radio's Dagwood, and Chuck deserting his spot with the orchestra with Jack Dempsey. Lennie reported that to square-dance with his best girl, Jean another alu'mnus, Pete Cassell, now one of . Wickersham. Marge Tennis and Waneta the top artists on WARL, was comfortably White also joined in, with Russell Stout covered by insurance when his new car as caller, to help make the square a pro­ caught fire a month ago .. . Matt Matthews' fessional-looking act. twins are named Timothy Allen and Thomas * * Arlen, and are a great source of excitement It was like pulling dinosaur teeth (and to Daniel Bruce, two-and-a-half, who tells there are so few dinosaurs these days) to all visitors: "I got two brubbers at once!" get the Dial schedule from Program Directot Bill Ring this month. A pair of pigeons have * * * nested right outside his · window, Mrs. P . The Goodwill Family and fiddlin" Buster has laid one egg, and he can't turn from Fellows have been dodging disasters of as­ his naturl! study for more than a few min­ sorted sizes on recent personal appearances utes at a time . . . "Now," says Bill, ··1 . .. Their trip to Brockwell, Ark., May 21 don't mind so much when Thelma asks me to started off happily, with a stop in West dry the dishes or empty the trash. Papa Plains for cheese, ham and picnic fixin's, Pigeon is worse off-he has to sit on that and an outdoor feast at Mammoth Springs, egg about a third of the time!" ... Precious with, as George Rhodes reported, "no ants." litt'le loving-hands-at-home help is enjoyed Farther along, however, they found them­ by Thelma and other wives of the golfing selves running a frightening race with the KWTO-ers. Ten of them put up $1 each, tornado funnel. spouting lightning, that bought a · handsome silver trophy, and are finally descended oyer Cape Girardeau . .. competing for it in a two-day tournament at Slim was so nervous all evening he broke Municipal Golf course early this month. As two guitar strings, omitted a song chorus, we went to press, "Si" Siman and Bill were and left his fanciest western "show shirt" best scorers in· qualifying rounds, Bill Bailey behind ... Trips to Bona, Mo., Bruno riding caboose. He may have been distracted and Viney, Ark., were without mishap, but by bright, brainy Rhea Beth's fourth birth­ they were almost late for an appearance day celebration. before a fine crowd at Mt. Judea, Ark., several weeks ago. They forded two swollen streams in Junior Haworth's car, which got * MAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE so over-heated the fan belt broke, and then got stalled in open range country, behind .a mule loose on the road, and had to follow it at a stately pace for a half mile. Ac­ cording to Buster: "You'd have thought it was a Missouri mule practicing for a Tru­ man parade!" * * Alice Rhodes has been canning strawberry jam and greens, Mrs. Fellows and the girls are putting up berries . . . Cross your fingers for the success of Chuck Bower's song, "'The Noise You Hear on a Dark, Dreary Night," which has been accepted by Hill and Range ·Music Publishers. You may want to know, next time you hear it on the air, that the 'gh.;stly shrieks are Chuck"s, the mournful "horror sounds". are made by Dale Parker's P(lge 8 JUNE, 1·949 "BROADCASTING" HONORS KWTO THE SPOTLIGHT • • • PRESIDENT RALPH D. FOSTER (Editor's Note: The following article is talent and with a definite personality of condensed and reprinted from the "Our its own-"not just another chain station, Respects To--" column in the· May 9 issue but one the people of the area would feel of Broadcasting, Newsweekly of RadiQ . and was a part of the Ozarks scene." Television, the outstanding national maga­ First came a complete news department zine in the radio field.) under a veteran newspaperman of the hills, Back in 1924, when radio to most people John E . Pearson, now head of KWTO's was a mysterious gadget that "could never national representative, John E. Pearson Co. amount to much," Ralph Foster closed off Next Mr. Foster developed a staff of 4 x 12 feet · of space in a corner of his St. homespun talent. Since weather means Joseph, Mo., tire shop, set up a microphone . everything to the highly diversified O zarks and opened a radio station. What at that region and since it had played an important time was strictly a hobby has developed into role in Mr. Foster's life, he induced the local a life's work. Today Mr. Foster is presi­ U. S. Weather Bureau to broadcast several dent and general manager of the highly times daily via remote control lines, as well successful ·· KWTO Springfield, Mo. as provide copy for newscasts. Ralph Fos­ Born in St. Joseph on April 25, 1893, Ralph ter is generally credited with conceiving the Donald. Foster came by his pioneering spirit idea of regular remote weathercasts. The honestly. His father was one of the first chief of U. S. Weather Bureau in Wash­ persons to start weather forecasting in this ington soon established the format of the country. The Washington Weather Bureau Springfield bureau as a standard for other archives still hold many reco_rds of the early bureaus throughout the country. .forecasting ideas of the elder Foster. Dream of a station that ~ould reach every His first radio venture was developed pri­ deer lick, rabbit warren and "hawg waller" marily as an outlet for his vocal talents and in the Ozarks, brought KWTO into being those of his . tire store partner, Jerry Hall. in 1933. Unable to get more power, for Operatjon began with 15 w power and a KGBX, Mr. Foster obtained the license of home-built panel. designed by Fritz Bauer, a station north of St Joseph at Grant City, who is still with Mr. Foster as KWTO chief Mo. Changing its frequency to 560 kc and engineer. raising the power to 500 w, he tagged the Partners . Foster and Hall were the an­ station KWTO - "Keep Watching the nouncers and entertainers and anyone who Ozarks." Foster continued to increase came in the store and could sing, whistle or KWTO's power. act, served as talent. .Programs v.zere fre­ Separate ownership of KWTO-KGBX quently interrupted and the air left dead as was ordered by the FCC in January 1944, the announcers stepped outside to patch an so Mr. Foster turned his full attention to, ' I inner-tube. "Keep Watching The Ozarks." Fame soon came to the two young men, Mr. Foster's emphasis on personalizing however, Firestone dubbed them the "Rubber the KWTO operation also extends to his Twins" and featured them- and the myster­ business office and community activities. ious new radio medium-in newspaper ads He is one of the area's most enthusiastic all over the country. Lucky Strike cigarettes boosters and is tireless ,in his efforts to used their pictures on posters and billboards. introduce "outsiders" to the sports and scenic charm of the hill country. In 1930 ~he cubby-hole operation changed to the commercial station of KGBX and late Ralph Foster's hunting lodge on Lake in 1932 Mr. Foster's~brother-in-law, C. Ar­ Taneycomo and his fishing shack on Beaver thur Johnson, bought out Jerry Hall's stock Creek serve as a Shangri-La for many of in the station.' Both partners long before had radio's luminaries. fallen in love with the Ozarks of southwest Don McNeill gets the brunt of one of Missouri and northwest Arkansas while on Mr. Foster's favorite stories that illustrates fishing and hunting trips. In 1933 they his thesis: "The people around here care decided to mix b1,1siness with pleasure and m_ore for KWTO's Slim Wilson than they moved KGBX to Springfield, Mo. do for famous network personalities." Mr . . Foster started building his "ideal As Mr. Foster tells the story, he and a radio station." His theory about the indus­ party of frie1J,ds, including Don. McNeill, try was-and -still is-that if a station was were making a float trip on the White going to survlve, it must be built with local (Continued on page EIGHTEEN) JUNE, 1949 CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS I. Pictured KWTO announcer's last name. 9. Not high. 11. Above. 12. Medicine for bruises, sprains. 14. Rodent. 15. News service. 16. Cudgel. 17. Mountain. 18. Brawl. 19. Recovery Program (ab.) . 20. Volcano in Sicily. 23. To maintain. 24. Greek prefix meaning "well" or " good." 25. Canadian-type beverage. 26. Possess. 27. Butter substitute. 28. Speedy. 34. Same as four down. (Tired, again.) 29. Legal Right (ab.). 35. Girl's name {common in Russia) . 30. Diminutive sometimes used for "orches- 36. Alcoholic's Anonymous. tra." 39. ------'grams are harder to work than 31. Turning instruction to a plow-horse. crossword puzzles! 32. Dry. 41. First name of wife of KWTO reporter 35. Implement for steering boat. Paul Glyn. 37. Seventh note of the scale. 44. Exclamation. 38. Prefix pertaining to the stomach. 45 Brand of chewing gum. 40. Sixth note of the scale. 41. Nothing; non-existent. 42. Latin suffix attached to verb stems to INQUIRING REPORTER form adjectives. 43. Tooth on the rim of a wheel. Bette Evans: What are your plans for 45. To combine resources. a vacation? 46. Coarse fil es. Lou Black: One thing about us hillbillies 47. Last name of young hero of Steven­ -we don't have to go anywhere. There's son's "T reasure Island." vacation land all around us! I'll do a lot of fishing-close to home-because Pat DOWN and I love to fish. W e'II take in the horse 1. Sponsor of 11 a. m. Saturday "Girls shows at Richland and Greenfield, as well Corps" program. the ones here in Springfield. With en­ 2. Last name of Australian Foreign Min- couragement, I may even do a little work ister and Security Council representative. around home. 3. To place or put. 4. International Relief {ab.). Dale Parker: Dixie and the kids and I 5. Open-mouthed stare. will take a Jong-anticipated trip to Penn­ 6. Printer's abbreviation for " transpose." sylvania and Virginia, to visit relatives of 7. One time only. hers I've never met. 8. River in Egypt. Leslie Kennon: Ruth and I bought a new 9. Where experiments are made. home recently, so there'll be no time for a 10. N ew KWTO act. trip like our junket to the wilds of Colorado 13. Cubic (ab.). last year. Yard work, fishing and golf are 15. Morning. on ou~ vacation menu-mostly yard work. 19. A great disclosure. Chuck Bowers: Back home in Wichita 21. Programs which feature Joe- Slattery there are fishin' and swimmin' holes I used and pictured announcer. to go to as a kid. I'll try them out again, 22. Female relative. plus a lot of loafing. 23. Willie-the-Penguin's sponsor. 26. Same as 35 across. (We got tired here.) Slim Wilson: The chores go on. I'll"put 28. Judy and Jane sponsor. up hay-and lie in the shade when·'~da.isn't 33. Route (ab.) . watching. · · · · -- · REUEL'S PHOTOS OF BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR R. D. FOSTER Far left: KWTO President Foster, Bob White, Zed Tennis and Shorty Thomp, son (back to camera) form an impromptu quartet . . . Left: Engineer Homer Goatcher (background) balances a full plate while KWTO maintenance man Orville Price helps Lou Black to coffee ... Below, back row: Lou, Orville, Chuck Bowers ( and mouthful), Goo-Goo, Slim, John Wesley, Evelyn Rhodes, Homer, Joe and Mary Slattery, Fritz Bauer, George Earle, Ruth Sherwood, Liz Cole, Shorty, "Si" Siman, Jimmy and Violet Morton, Harry and Jean Scherner, Tharon and Bette Evans, Luke and Lily McNeley and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Mc­ Gruder. Second row, seated: Wayne Thompson, Myrtie Dean Litle, Vesta Gamble, Alta McElroy, Genie Cain, Carolyn Hughes, Pat Baumann, Beulah Nunn, Bill Ring, Les and Ruth Kennon, Mrs. Keltnet and Ray, Andy Lawrence's daughter, Joy, and Mrs. Lawrence, Andy, Mrs. Evans and Lloyd, Wallis Fender, Jane and Mrs. Fender, Floyd Sullivan, Leonard Rayder, Virginia Sullivan and Bill Chatham. Front row: Dale Parker and his three youngsters, Chuck and Bunny Hesington, Junior and Wanda Fay Haworth and daughters, Louise and Bill Bailey, Ralph Foster (with cake) , Har­ riet Foster, Pat Black, Roseanne Siman, Sue Thompson (standing), Marge Tennis, Doc and M,erle Martin, Zed Tennis, Bus, ter Fellows, wife and two daughters, Selby Coffeen and wife, the Marvin Tongs and the Paul Glyns. On the ground: Waneta, Carol Lynn and Bob White and assorted small fry including Carl and Billy Ring, Terry Fender and the children of Zed and Doc. And some 10 other employees couldn't be there! Fried chicken, salad, Brook's potato chips, Taystee bread and Coca-Cola were on the menu of the picnic, held the night of April 25th at Lake-of-the-Woods, Fos­ ter's new farm. It was a complete surprise to R. D ., whose wife persuaded him to drive out "just for the ride." Not only was he amazed to find a crowd there, and at first a little offended that he hadn't been asked to their party- he'd even forgotten that it was his own birthday. High point of the evening wa;s the "scrambled shoes" contest for the kids. Dale Parker, Jr., won, though he got his on backwards. Page 12 JUNE, 1949

BY MAY KENNEDY Mc:CORD HILLBILLY HEARTBEATS .. "QUEEN OF THE OZARKS"

Greetings, dear friends: the Devil-Beezlebub has a good one marked up against that old philandering man! This is June! Where on ea~th are the 0 months going? Time flies on swift feet ... I knew her well. She knew a lot of But "there's nothing -so bad that it couldn't superstitions, too. She always told me that be worse, · if a hoot owl came and sat on the roof of your house, it was an awful omen! You There's little that time cannot mend, must throw salt on the fire, and set the And troubles, no matter how thickly they children to tying knots . in a string just as come, fast as they can. This does away with Most surely will come to an end." any of the old hoot owl's voodoo business. So this is the month of brides-and of Well, superstitions die hard in the v·ery bees and birds and blooms and bonny young remote backhills. They need no apology things pledging their troth forever, "so long from me. A man may believe what he likes. as they both shaH live." I was at a meet­ That"s the beauty of this great and rugged ing of a group of women from nine states country. I never question a person's sin­ recently, and they wanted me to tell them cerity about what he believes. about Ozark superstitions. I fold them This month will have Father's Day. bride superstitions, how they always salute you, men! We can't live without wrapped a bride, for a moment, in a new you and sometimes we can't live with you quilt that had never been used, because· . . . I hate to take Father's Day too seri­ it brought prosperity to her home. ously for there is no father in my home, and Here is one of the strangest old super­ it makes a lump come in my throat. I can titions. They used to believe that when a have a little fun about it, though, by giving woman"s husband deserted her, if she could you men a little essay that IO-year-old give him a drink of spirits in which her Agnes wrote in school: fingernail trimmings had been soaked for "Men are what women marry. They an hour, she would get his love back. Well, drink and smoke and swear. But they I wou'ldn't give a yellow dog a drink of don't go to church much. If they didn't whiskey in the first place. At least I have have to take their hats off they might go obeyed the Bible in one admonition all my more. They are more logical than women. life, if never another: '. 'Woe unto him that Also more zoological. Both men and women putteth the bottle to his neighbor's lips!" sprung from monkeys. But the women And I'm sort of afraid of that word "woe." sprung farther than the men!" It leaves so many things unsaid .. . ! ! How's that for little Agnes? Well, Paw I'll never forget one dear old soul I knew is all right. Bless his heart. A fellow said, when I was about 18 years old. Her hus­ "Crop failures? Yep, I've seen a heap band had just "up and left her" for a woman of 'em in my day. Now, in 1884 the corn over in "Swag Holler." They had brought crop was bad. We had corn for dinner one up eleven children together, and he didn·t day and Paw et up fourteen acres!" - give h~r a penny or a foot of land. (Used love our men of the mountains, a fine, to be you could do a hill woman that way, I rugged race. Men who plow and plant and but you can't any more. Don't try it. ) reap . . . who treat their neighbor as they Well, some of Aunt Katzy' s friends were would like to be treated. "The earth is trying to get her to work this whiskey­ your_s. You conquer it. And it will render fingernail racket on him, but the brave little slave and Caesar -each his own. Oh, sturdy old soul had a world of good, hard sense, race, mute servants of the clods, your king­ and a lot of {,ride. She straightened her dom is as durable as God's!" wiry little body and said, "Well sir, I got And so to all you ·men of this great Ozark my man in the days when I was young Uplift, y·ou fathers-God speed you! Here and enticin'. I sure don't aim to· try any you have pitched your tent and found your nonsense now. If I cain't git him back by sky, and we love you. You find your enticin' him, he can jist go where the whang­ niche fo the great scheme of things. You doodle mourneth!" She never got him back'. are kind, and ; you are the backbone of the He outlived her, (the old buzzard) and she died ~of quick pneumonia one cold winter. good earth . . She lies buried in the little Lone Pine Grave­ i pray that we have a great suiumer and yard at the foot of Bro~ers Mountain. And · ··· (Conti~~ed on page EIGHTEEN) JUNE, 1949 Page 13 DIAL EDITOR MEDITATIONS

WED IN APRIL This is the "thoughtful" season of the year-a time when we see deeply into the It was a quiet home wedding April 22 meaning of things. School is out, and we for Jean Lightfoot, KWTO Promotion Man­ pay tribute and attention to our finest ager and Editor of The Dial, and Capt. possessions, our children. Gardens are Lon Kappell, U. S. Air Force Reserve, who lovely, flowers blooming everywhere, and is on extencjed duty as a project engineer they bring to mind the everlasting quali­ in charge of experimental high speed flying, ties of the soul of man: "Life is. Science Wright Field, D ayton, Ohio. cannot create it and man only imagines it The Rev. Herbert Rand of Benton Ave. can be destroyed." Jesus tells us: ".I am the Methodist Church read the vows at 7:30 resurrection and the life." And there are, p. m. before an improvised altar at the at this glorious season, life and resurrec­ home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. tion, sermons in children and in gardens, all Murchison D . Lightfoot. Bowls and baskets about us. They confirm our faith in im• of wild plum and crabapple blossoms, gath­ mortality. ered that afternoon by her friends, were banked high before the fireplace, surround­ * TWO NEW ANNOUNCERS ing two 16-branch candelabra entwined with euonymus and holding lighted tapers. Wild Lloyd Evans comes to us from WIBW, blossoms and Regal lilies were used on the Topeka, and Mark Hauan (pronounced mantle, flanking antique silver candlesticks "Howan" ) from Carthage, as replacements tied with white satin ribbon and gardenias, on the announcing staff. Lloyd is a Cowgill, and reflected in a mantle-length mirror. Mo., boy who attended· Kansas State Col- M. D. Lightfoot, Jr., was best man, and ' lege, and has served at.KIUL, Garden City; Lynda! Mustian and Katie ,Holland lighted KFNF, Shenandoah. He was the Topeka the tapers. station's F arm Service Director, has been The bride wore a navy sheer alpaca, married seven years to the former Revay street-length, wfrh a full skirt and elbow­ James of Hamilton. He'll take over early length circular sleeves, and a four-strand morning schedule and the Farm Hour. choker of small pearls. A wide band of Mark is a pleasant, personable, rather shy heirloom lace was set into the skirt, and young man just getting a start as an an­ the same lace banded the sleeves. Instead nouncer. His only previous experience was of carrying flowers, she wore a Juliet cap as a newscaster. He replaces Jim Lowe, covered with fresh gardenias. who is being given a tremendous build-up .Following the ceremony, a few friends of by station WIRE, Indianapolis, as its new the couple were entertained at a small recep­ daytime disk jockey. Wayland Fullington, tion. The dining table was covered with a another ex-KWTO-er, is his new boss. cloth of yellow linen with a centerpiece of ecru lace. Seven tapers in Dutch silver candlesticks flanked a silver bowl of yellow roses and carria, and the three-tiered ·wed­ ding cake• was surrounded with gardenias. Capt. and Mrs. Kappell left the follow­ ing day for a two-week stay at Hollister. For the time being, they will make their home in Springfield. Mrs. Kappell is a graduate of Greenwood and the University of Missouri, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi, has been a · featured writer for Scripps-Howard syndicates in Cleveland and New York, a member of the editorial staff of the Post-Dispatch in St. Louis and Washing ton, and a Washing ton corre­ spondent for the New York Post. Capt. Kappell is the son of Mrs. Ludda Louise Kappell of New York and Woodstock, Conn., is a graduate of South Woodstock Academy and Yale University, was with Associated Press in New York and London. Page 14 JUNE, 1949 SCHEDULE FOR JUNE 2:15 p." m.-Horse Races (S)-ABC 2:30 p. m.-House Party-ABC 2:30 p. m.-Treas. Bond Show (S )-ABC I 3:00 p. m.-Linda,'s First Love WHATS GOING 3:15 p. m.-Hayloft Frolic ON At K.VVTO? 3:30 p. m.-The Whippoorwills 3:30 p. m.-2 Billion Strong (S)-ABC 3:45 p. m.-Cornfield Follies 4:00 p. m.-Creamo News WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAY 4:15 p. m.-Markets 5:00 a. m.-Yawn Patrol 4:25 p. m.-Do You Know 5:45 a. m.-Rev. Hitchcock 4:30 p. m.-Weatherman Williford 6:00 a. m.-Southland Echoes (M-W-F) 4:35 p. m.- Everett Mitchell (M-W-F ) 6:00 a. m.-Morning Melodies (T-Th-S) 4:35 p. m.-Interlude (T-Th-S) 6:15 a. m.-R. F. D. Roundup 4:45 p. m.-Goodwill Family 6:30 a. m.-Goodwill Family 4:45 p. m.-Ozark Newsettes (S) 6:45 a. m.-Goodwill Family (M-W-F) 5:00 p. m.-Sammy Kaye (M-W-F) 6:45 a. m.-Lula Belle, Scottie (T-Th-S) 5:00 p. m.-Mike Mysteries (T-Th-S) 7:00 a ." m.-Shorty Thompson 5:15 p. m.-Ozark Newsettes 7:15 a. m.-Yellow Bonnet Show 5:15 p. m.-Eddie Duchin (S) 7:30 a. m.-Newscast 5:30 p. m.-Jack Armstrong and Sky King 7 :45 a. m.-The Whippoorwills 5:30 p. m.-Here's To Veterans (S) 7:45 a. m.-Goodwill Family (S) 5:45 p. m.-Christian Sciene Program (S ) 8:00 a. m.--Chuck Bowers 6:00 p. m.-Newscast 8:15 a. m.-Bill Ring Show 6:15 p. m.-Sports Spotlight 8:15 a. m.--Church ,Page (S) 6:30 p. m.-Lone Ranger-ABC (M-W-F) 8:25 a. m.-Weatherman Williford 6:30 p. m.--Counterspy-ABC (T-Th) 8:30 a. m.-Breakfast Club-ABC 6:30 p. m.-Relaxin' Time (S)- ABC 8:30 a. m.-Matthews Quartet (S) 8:45 a. m.-The Whippoorwills (S) SUNDAY PROGRAMS 9:00 a. m.-Pleasure Parade 6:30 a . m.-Goodwill Family 9:00 a. m.-Breakfast at Kellers (S) 7:00 a. m.-Rev. Hitchcock 9:15 a. m.-Saddle Rockin' Rhythm- 7:30 a. m.-Goodwill Family (M-W-F) 8:00 a. m.-Newscast 9:15 a. m.-What's New- (T-Th) 8:15 a. m.-Sermons in Song 9:25 a. m.-Betty Crocker-ABC 8:30 a. m.-May Kennedy McCord 9:30 a. m.-Markets 8:45 a. m.-Al and Lee Stone 9:45 a. m.-Sunshine News 9:00 a. m.-Message of Israel~ABC 10:00 a. m.-Matthews Quartet 9:30 a. m.-The Southernaires-ABC 10:00 a. m.- Korn's-A-Krackin' (S) 10:00 a. m.-Fine Arts Quartet-ABC 10:15 a. m.-Guide to Happier Living 10:30 a. m.-Hour of Fai-th-ABC 10:30 a. m.-Ted Malone-ABC · 11 :00 a. m.-Guidepost for Living 10:30 a. m.-What's New (S) 11: 15 a. m.-First Baptist Church 10:45 a. m.-Slim Wilson 12:00 noon-American Almanac-ABC 11 :00 a. m.-Ozark Farm Hour 12:15 p. m.- Senator Kem • 11 :00 a. m.-Girls' Corps-ABC 12:30 p. m.-Sermons in Song 11 :15 a. m.-Markets, Slim ·wilson 1:00 p. m.- Yellow Bonnet Newscast 11:30 a. m.-Ark. Conservation Comm. (S) 1:15 p. m.-Drury Quarter Hour 11 :45 a. m.-Penny Nichols , 1: 30 p. m.-Mr. President-ABC 11 :45 a. m.-Farm Forum (S) 2:00 p. m.-Harrison Wood-ABC 12:00 noon-Baukhage Talking-ABC 2:15 p. m.-Honeydreamers- ABC 12:00 noon-Farm Forum (S) 2:30 p. m.-Tr~asury Band 12:15 p. m.- Matthews Quartet-MFA 3:00 p. m.-Ted Malone-ABC 12:30 p. m.-Newscast 3:15 p. m.-Armed Forces Radio 12:45 p. m.-Man on the Street 3:30 p. m.-Opera Album-ABC 1:00 p. m.-Welcome Travelers-ABC 4:00 p. m.-Music For Today-ABC 1: 00 p. m.-Ranch Hands-ABC 4:30 p. m.- Cavalcade of Music l :30 p. m.-Bride and Groom-ABC 5:00 p. m.-Drew Pearson-ABC 1:30 p. m.-Meet Your Neighbor (S) 5:15 p. m.-Monday Headlines....:_ABC· 2:00 p. m.-Judy and Jane 5:30 p. m.-Greatest St0ry-ABC . 2:00 p. m.-Ballad Box (S)-ABC 6:00 p. m.-Stop the Music-ABC _., 2:15 p. m.-Kitchen Talks 7:00 p. m.-Curt Massey Show-ABC , Ju NE I 1949 Page ts· i ( 7 :30 p. m.-Sunday · With You-ABC 10:00 .p. m.-Newsca'St 8:QO p. m.-Walter Winchell--,-ABC 10:15 p. m.-Orchestras-ABC 8:15 p. m.-Jergens Journal-ABC 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Theater yuild-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Newscast THURSDAY NIGHT 9:45 p. m.-George Sokolsky-ABC 7:00 p. m.-Challenge of Yukon-ABC 10:00 p. m.-Revival Hour 7:30 p. m.-Spotlight on Industry t I :00 p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC 7:45 p. m.-Sully's Spotlight 8:00 p. m.-Go for the House-ABC MONDAY NIGHT 8:30 p. m.-Prayer Meetin' In the Ozarks 7:00 p. m·.-The Railroad Hour-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Personal Autographs-ABC 7:45 p. m.-Henry J. Taylor-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Proudly We Hail · 8:00 p. m.-Cavalcade of Music 10:00 p. m.-Newscast ' 8:30 p. m.-Labor League 10:15 p. m.-Orchestras-ABC 8:45 p. m.-Pipes of Melody 11 :55 p. m.-News~ABC 9:00 p. m.-Keynotes by Carle 9:15 p. m.-Earl Godwin~ABC FRIDAY NIGHT 9:30 p. m.-On Trial~ABC 7:00 p. m.-The Fat Man-ABC 10:00 p. m.-Newscast 7 :30 p. m.-This Is Your FBI-ABC 10:15 p. m.-Orchestras-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Break the Bank-ABC 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC 8:30 p. m.-The Sheriff-ABC TUESDAY NIGHT 8:55 p. m.-Champion Roll Call-ABC 7:00 p. m.-Chalknge of Yukon-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Cavalcade of Sports-ABC 7:36 p. m.-America's Town Meeting"'----ABC 9:30 p. m.-American Sports Page-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Blue Barron's Oreb. 10:00 p. m.-Newscast 9:00 p. m.-Korn's-A-K;ackin' 10:15 p. m.-Orchestras.:.._ABC 9:30 p. m.-Meet the Band 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC 10:00 p. m.-'-Newscast SATURDAY NIGHT 10.:15 p. m.-Orchestras-ABC 7:00 p. m.-Challenge of Yukon-ABC 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC 7:30 p. m.-Famous Jury Trials-ABC WEDNESDAY NIGHT 8:00 p. m.-;-Quiet Please-ABC 7:00 p. m.-Original Amateur Hour-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Little Crossroads Store ·l 8:00 p. m.-It's Time fbr Music-ABC ' 9:00 p. m.~National Barn Dance-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Groucho Marx-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Hill_billy Hit Parade 9:00 p. m.-Bing Crosby-ABC 10:00 p. m.-Newscast 9:30 p. m.-Milton Bllrle-ABC 10:15 p. m.-Orchestra-ABC

YOUR STARLORE natives so versatile, and which may-be either their strength or their weakness. Sometimes BY OPAL PORTER ·they ·scatter their forces by being Jacks-of­ Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was a native , all-trades, and running around in circles. of our subject sign, .said: "Whoso would Once.they get in the groove and quit ogling be a man must be a ·non-conformist." That fate, they usually go places. · . is what every son or daughter of Gemini For the past seven years, their Sun has seems to think, for above everything else he received the support of Uranus in · Gemini desires to be hims~lf. to be different-and is: and the trine of Neptune in their house of Gemini is a dual sign, symbolized by the Expression. Hope they made "hay," during twins, ·and the complex nature of it's chil­ this windfall, for Uranus moves to a Square dren is as baffling as is the birth of twins. of Neptune, ruler of their career house, These natives, never acclaimed for their June 16th. (Better tie the Eagle, so he affection, have a reputation for supporting can't fly away with your dollars!) Reno. Most of them would as soon lose Saturn square to their Sun-Sign cautions their lives as lose their· individuality; ditto them to keep close ta,b on their health a~d their freedom. They must have sufficien.t that of their households. scope to be themselves to be happy, and too often marriage appears to be a quick­ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: sand which they want to sidestep. Chuck Hesington ...... June S • ' Gemini is. a ·mutable air sign, · it's birth­ Don Dailey ...... June 18 days May 22 ro June 21. ruled by Mercury, Paul Mitchell ...... '...... _June· H It. is this mercurial Influence that makes its Marvin Tong ········ ····················;···········June 26

! Page -16 JUNE, .1949 LOOKIN' AT YOU SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

...• BY SULLY ... BY LEE GEORGE - I enjoy recalling the days when, as a There'll be some changes made at the youngster, I roamed the Ozark Hills before conclusion of the 1949 baseball season. This concrete slabs replaced rocky roads and fact is very evident from the showing made cars and trucks crowded horses and· buggies so far by some one-time stars, such as Bob · into the background. Naturally travel was Feller, Stan Musial, Whitey Kurowski, ' a bit difficult, but the countryside was beau­ Marty Marion, Enos Slaughter, Ewell tiful. In the early spring, when the dog­ Blackwell, and others. These players are wood . and redbud were blooming, native just a few of the season's disappointments Ozarkians never stripped the trees of their so far. Of course they may straighten up boughs to ca,rry the blossoms home. The and start playing as they formerly did, but roadsides were not littered with tin cans, none of the group has given any indication broken bottles and other rubbish. Travelers of finding a corrective for an early-season did not abandon puppies and kittens to flop. starve to death along the trails. , In those • • so-called unprogressive days it was safe The -Springfield Newspapers-sponsored to take a refreshing drink from any Ozarks Soap Box Derby is going to have a KWTO­ spring, because our streams were unpolluted. sponsored entry this year, if this department - If night overtook the traveler on the trail can find a promising youngster. The Soap he could find lodging and food,. without cost, Box Derby is one of the finest things that at any farm house. Yes, times have changed kids can compete in, and we'll be tickled in the Ozarks, for better or for worse, ac­ pink to be behind ·s.9me youngster and all cording to the way you look at it. And out to get him in a winner, too. The Spring­ looking at it another way, our standard field Junior Chamber of Commerce is again of living has risen steadily, praise be. There co-sponsor with' the News and Leader-P~ ss. are mor-e jobs, more small industries, more • • • conveniences in our hills. And there is an A, J. McDonald, basketball and golf coach ever-greater sense of Ozarks com_munity and at Southwest Missouri's State college, has neighborliness. had a big year. His basketball team had • • a winning season, copped the conference Nevertheless, I still enjoy my two mile title, drew nationwide attention with a big walks each morning accompanied by Laddie, winning streak. Now his golf team has the miniature pinscher. Perhaps it is because played an unbeaten season and copped the Springfield is not so citified that the doves, conference golf championship for the sec­ cardinals, blue-jays, robins and squirrels shun ond season in a row. it. F,urthermore, if you walk the streets • • of Springfield before six o'clock in the The Rev. Gilbert will not be back as mqrning it is possible to breathe deeply with­ coach at Crocker high school next year; out inhaling fumes of gasoline. The few he's been transferred ... Clyde Ruble will ·people you pass on the street will smile not be at Conway; He.rb Weston has _landed and speak, whether they know you or not, that job . . . Phil Crawford has resigned as probably because they have not yet en­ assistant to Russ Kaminsky at Joplin High countered the worries. of the day and their School . . . Randy Pitts, former Lebanon ulcers haven't started pinching. Most of High School basketball coach, has resigned Springfield's property OVl(ners have beauti­ and accepted a job at Washing ton, Mo., ful lawns and flower gardens. The flowers High School . . . Buck Hedgepeth will be are especially attractive in the early morn­ basketball coach at Ava ... Bob Kula is ing before the scorching sun has robbed the leaving Richland to complete his college -pearls of dew of their luster. · · education at SMS . . . Eddie Miller has • • • resigned as coach , at St. Agnes and all­ Of course, the real reason for these early MIAA conference lineman Kerin of South­ morning walks is to lose weight before the west Missouri State has taken Eddie's· jolt summer heat of July and August shoots the of coaching the Irish .footballers. old blood pressure to · dangerous heights. Nevertheless, I have discovered that these CONGRATULATIONS TO: little jaunts help me lose some of the dis- Joe Slattery, recently appointed chief of . trust I am sometimes inclined to have in KWTO'S announcing staff o( six. Asked ' myself-and even Laddie. Jimmy: "Is Daddy a boss now?" 1

I \ JUNE, 1949 Page 17 GEORGE EARLE'S VERSE PORTSIDE . PATTER • • • • RELATES ABNER'S STORY Folks, of late I been a,thinkin' 'bout old So he cotched the mule and led it right on . Abner Halliday back fo Abner's place• Whut lives acrost the holler, t'other side Then he set about a-lookin' fer old Abner of Widder Bray. high and low, Now Abner's dispersition ain't the kind yu'd And he fin'ly found him down thar by the brag about; _ timber, as you know. He's been hateful and cantank'rus, like a Then he seen whut wu:z: the trouble, mean feller with the gout. old Abner almost dead, He ain't never tried to neighbor, allers lived So he toted thet old critter up and put him onto his-self, on his bed. And he's guarded all his treasures like they's Then he jumped into his buggy and he driv everlastin' pell. off right away He · has worked jest like· a sinner, early And the fust place .thet he come to wu:z: morn till late at night, the home of Widder Bray. And he'd got a narrer notion 'bout whut's So he sent her on to Abner's while he wrong and whut was right. phoned fer Doctor Brown He'd got his land all posted with "no huntin'­ And had him come a-gallopin' from up at fishin' !' signs, Middletown. And he'd set up nights a-watchin' water­ Then he notified the neighbors as he rid melons on tlie vines. along his route • • • He ain't had no time fer churchin', er fer Them as never hear'ed his phone call never sosherbility, · knowed whut t'wu:z: about! Never had no time to set a spell and talk All the neighbors come· a-runnin' to s~ whut with you er me. they could do, He wouldn' have no 'lectric lights and nary To lend a hand to Abner and to help the telerphone; cuss pull through. ' Jest lived alone and liked it. Well •.• at The women cleaned the house up, scrubbed least he lived alone! the kitchen and the floors, He had allers been suspicious of whoever While the menfolks all lit in and. s~eated come his way, ••• out old Abner's chores. Jest a mi:z::z:er'ble old hermit was old Abner They took turns at stayin' with him, tryin' Halliday. hard to ease his pain, Now, fer forty y'ar he's lived thar, never And they done it all right cheerful, 'thout mixin' with the throng. a single thought of gain. Never thinkin' his philoserphy wu:z: wicked, Wal, hit kinda got old Abner-never knowed mean and wrong. jest whut to say, Us folks has stayed away from him, As he watched the folks a-doin' all his a-knowin' how he stood, chores the livelong day. A-thinkin' allers to ourselves his soul-it · ain't no good. But when little Tommy Wadlow with the short and twisted limb Well • . • jest t'other day it wu:z:, old Abner Come a-limpin' in one mornin' and stood hitched the mule aside of him And rid down to the timber, to cut his-sell And handed him some flowers that he'd some fuel. gathered on the way, Now, somethin' must a-skeart the mule and A funny look come on the face of Abner Abner he got throwed. Halliday. He landed on his noggin, an

Page 18 JUNE, 1949

* OZARKOLOGY THE SPOTLIGHT George.Rhodes says he recollects, when he (Continued from page EIGHT) was a boy, the "gossipin'-est woman in nine River deep in the north Arkansas hills. A counties, including Pulaski. She was so nativ_e, who had heard of the trip, stuck busy talkin' all the time, it's a shame she his head out of the brush on the bank and didn't use that long tongue to catch flies .. called, "Thet thar the KWTO fishing .Used to worry some folks a lot, but there party?" "Sure is," Mr. Foster replied, and, was one wise old duffer up the road who pointing to a man in the next boat with said he didn't believe she could do any . John Pearson, he added, "And there's Don harm. 'Everybody with any sense knows,' McNeil!." "So what," the native returned. he used 'to say, 'bett;r than to pay any "I want to know what ever come of John attention to ,her. Always remember that Pearson. Is he with you?" gossip works just like a blotter . . . it Mr. Pearson had left the station five years may pick up every word, but it always gets previously, after nine years with KWTO. it backwards.' " The atmosphere of the Foster hunting lodge also is found in the Foster business HILLBILLY HEARTBEATS office. There among moun'.ed fish and stag ( Continued from page TWELVE) horns he combines 'his ro'es of radio execu­ tive and civic leader. A typical day's scene great crops-I believe everything looks that in his office · finds · a couple of fellow Ro­ way now-and that we may fill our barns tarians or Shriners, a· fello.;,,, director on the and granaries and have "cattle on a thous­ Salvation Army Board, a float guide from, and hills." Lower White River, two ·hillbilly guitarists "Because men plow, these are the golden who want to borrow one of his bird dogs, yields. an announcer with a new program idea, a Because their silver shares have pierced yodeler, and his talent chief. the sod, Ralph Foster lends a hand and a sense And they have worked together with their of showmanship to the tailoring of all God. KWTO programs, but his pet is .Korn's-A­ The ancient furrows all are fresh-turned Krackin', a half-hour jamboree parading most now-- of hls live talent, and now in its third year There will be bread while men have faith on MBS. Another favorite project is to plow. ' Radiozark Enterprises, which transcribes We thank God for the heartening thought shows for national advertisers seeking west­ of men ern and hillbilly type programs for spot ad­ Sowing and plowing and reaping, to plant vertising. again/' Although still in his early fifties, Mr. Goodbye and I'll be seein' you next month, Foster pioneered a proving ground for much the Lord w illin' and the creek don't rise. now-famous talent. His alumni list includes With my love, MAY the Brown Brothers of Nashville; Paul Phil­ lips, producer of the Phil Harris show; Russ PORTSIDE PATTER Davis, TV groundbreaker now with WBKB (Continued from page SEVENTEEN) (TV) Chicago; Tom Moore, Ladies Be 'Cz misery and helplessness will ' git you Seated m. i:.; Thomas R. Reid, vice president in the end; of McCormick & Co. of Baltimore; Joe Rex Thet folks wuz made to neighbor with, to Hainline, chief news commentator on WJR \ - lean on in distress; Detroit, and John Pearson. Thet helpin' others is the way to peace and His hobbies, obviously, are hunting and happiness. fishing, and, he adds, "raising the best dog­ And ' as the tears rolled down his face he goned bird dogs in the United States." felt a heap o' shame, The Fosters-she is the former Harriet And knowed he never had no one except Johnsoh also of St. Joseph-have no chil­ his-self to blame. dren. Their home is in Springfield and is as m~ch a mecca for persons interested in Now Abner Halliday's resolved hereafter he antiques and collector's items as the hunting would be lodge is for his sports-minded friends. A better man in ever' way-real kind and . neighborly. · He learnt his lesson ·then and thar, to live A lesson thet was give him by an old the Golden Rule . . . · Missouri mule. JUNE -, 1949 Page 19

OFF THE CUFF MORE NEW FACES ( Continued from page THREE) Friendly, fatherly Everett Mitchell (left) then was blindfolded and told to make his may not tell you how to build that better way through them without touching. The mousetrap, but his advice has helped farm­ laugh comes a ft er the blindfolding, when the dwellers all over the country to greater strings a re removed, and the v ictim goes efficiency and prosperity. You hear him through fantastic contortions- unnecessarily! at 4:35 p. m. Mon., Wed. and Friday for ... Watch for the July picture of Chuck Armour and Co. At right, Lloyd Evans, Hesington in the egg-in-a-pla te relay .. . Bill new KWTO announcer, a WIBW alumnus. Bailey got a smearing in the banana-feed­ ing ... N ew Whippoorwills sponors a t 7: 45 a. m. Mon. th rough Fri. is Kingston Buckeye Leslie Gene Kennon, son of KWTO"s H ome Canner .. .' Other new accounts in­ Assistant General Manager, is making a clude M exsana and Spencer Chemical Co. brilliant record at Oklahoma Baptist Uni­ (fertilizer) . • • • versity. As editor of the OBU "Bison," he"s built it to a 6-page publication. His Louise Bailey, as active as her husband in wife, Carolyn, also a student there, is one Little Theater W ork, is one of three in­ of his "Bison" staff members . . . If you structors in the group's summer school fo r needed further evidence that the Whippoor­ youngsters . . . T wo new voices at the wills ha ve more origina li ty th an Queen switchboard: Bob Costello, who is also help­ M a ry"s hats, you should have heard their in g Bette Evans with Dial circulation, and farewell song to Jim Lowe- or did you? Bill Bryant . . . Our beauteous Myrtie Dean Litle, pictured in the May issue, was "' re­ * PERSONALS SCHEDULE printed "" in the Humansville Sta r-Leader ... Shrine Ceremonial day pa rade found Aunt June 16, Whippoorwills, Springfield Sad­ Martha's husband, Everett Ba ty , in a fl am­ dle Club; June 18, Goodwill F amily and boyant green and yellow, Bill Ring clowning Buster, N orfork, Ark.; June 24, Chuck, Z ed, beneath a huge green and yellow parasol, Bob, Dale and Doc, Sedalia; June 25 , Good­ Ralph Foster riding in an open car as _High will F amily and Buster, Gainesville. The Priest and P rophet . . . Al and Lee ha d a Ma tthews Qua rtet and Bob Money spent beautiful California vaca tion, a whole month, June 3, 4, 5, playing N ashville, will be a t but missed the birth of their daughter's the Eureka Springs all -night sing June 10, second son, Jack, by two weeks. She is with W a lly Fowler (Grand Ole Opry star) , M rs. Woodrow Nickle, the former Jean a nd in D allas, T ex., on a similar p rogram Stone. June 25. 5-50 . s r,.1 '3(::-.,. ~\ ·_1,•.·: •• son UR. & ll, r{ • . ..,. Sec. 562 P. L. & R. WAL"-lu,·111 - · ,,;.,' " ·v· VE , MO. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Return Postage Guaranteed Springfidd, Mo. Permit No. 753

THE WHIPPOORWILLS PAYCHECK CORNER KWTO's clowning music-makers (above) It's high time Dial readers had a formal got their fables slightly mixed, but the effect photographic introduction to Ruth Sherwood is funny just the same. Gene Monbeck, of the KWTO business office, whose help­ Doug Dalton and Bernie Wullkotte are tar­ fulness and quiet charm are rare in com­ gets, with flash bulbs in their mouths, while bination with so much mathematical ability; Roy Lanham plays a combination of Wil­ C. Arthur Johnson, Vice-President and liam Tell and Robin Hood and tries to shoot Treasurer of KWTO, ha ndsome enough to the flash bulbs out of their mouths. With · be a radio star instead an official check, so little success at such close range, he'd signer. They are pictured in his newly better stick to guitar, at which he's expert. redecorated office, furnished in walnut. I