4 ~

....I' M A Y , 1950 * COVER STORY You'll see plenty of Johnny and Penny Olsen in this issue of The Dial. so it's appropriate that you should meet them on Vol. IX N o. 10 the cover of the magazine they 're in the very act of admiring. Dia l Photographer Reuel Haymes took this picture of them in $1 per year 10c per copy the Dial booth at the Traveling Men"s Paid circulation during 1949 averaged over Booster Club Exposition at the Shrine 12,000 monthly. notarized. Mosque, where Johnny and Penny and their Ladies Be Seated gang played to 15,000 The Dial is published the first of every Ozarkians the week of April 10. The month and serves radio fans in more than booth was lined w ith pictures of KWTO 100 counties in Missouri, Kansas. Arkansas executives and personalities- some of whom and Oklahoma. as well as former Ozarkians you can glimpse in the picture: Ralph Fos­ in other states who are old friends of Radio ter, Les Kennon, Art Johnson, Slim Wilson, Station KWTO. Dale Parker. Penny could be exclaiming If the numbers 5-50 appear after your name over the picture of Johnny on page two of on the address label at the top of page 20, the April issue, (or she could be looking your subscription expires with this issue. for a picture of the KWTO-er she most Address correspondence and renewals to enjoyed, Slim Wilson). Editor of The Dial, care of KWTO, Springfield, Missouri. The Editor will be HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO : happy to answer your inquiries about past Al Stone...... May 2 and present KWTO personalities and fill Hollis W arren ...... May 6 your requests for pictures you· d like to see Ruth Sherwood ...... May 7 in The Dial. Junior Haworth ...... May 16

* CONG RA TULA TIONS FOR MRS. C. H. DOTSON , DIAL CONTEST WINNER Not all the activity on the stage at the is introduced to the $240 Maytag range she Shrine Mosque on T uesday, April 11, had won in the Dial Contest, and to its donor, to do with the Johnny Olsen show. H ere George Wise of Maytag Sales and Service. Mrs. C. H. (Cora) Dotson of West P lains, A t left, Jean Kappell, Dial Editor. MAY, 1950 Page 3 THEY'RE ALL OUR THE OLSENS & CO. .• . . . . KIND OF PEOPLE! As we glance back over that happy, chilly days; Penny in dark, feminine, full­ h~ctic, hurried second week in April when skirted frocks, often flower-sprigged, gay nobody had time to be "Seated" except hats, a dark mink cape, fingertip-length. the "Ladies," there are many glistening mo­ But you are never conscious of their smart­ ments during the Olsens' Ozarks visit. ness, nor of Bob "Silverlips" Maurer's natty Would you like to .know that 15,000 sport shirts, nor of writer-director Bill Red-. people saw their afternoon programs at the field's homburg and pince-nez. You notice, Traveling Men's Booster Club Exposition instead, Johnny's twinkle, his grin, his sym- at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield? That . pathetic voice (and how he hates to shave) the whole -cast drew deep, relaxed breaths ... Penny's glowing eyes, the dimples in for the first time that week during the drive . her quick and almost constant smile, her through our rolling, smokey hills, clouded vitality and smallness (and the relief with with first blossoming, to Rockaway Beach which she kicks off her shoes after a hard on Thursday evening? That they were day's work) ... Bob's obliging, friendly guests, there, of the Ralph and Bud Coughen­ way of looking after every one ... Bill's ours, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor McMasters, enthusiasm for friendly people and friendly Ernie Williams, Laban Patterson, Harold countryside . . . The clowning good nature Smith and Cap'n Bill for an out-of-this-world of Jack Field and Ray McNulty . . . the chicken dinner at Hotel Rockaway, and that courtesy and considerateness of Ron Cor­ each one ate five and six pieces of chicken? bett and Jimmy Duane of Philip Morris, and Perhaps you'd like to know that the Dave McAnany of the agency. cast stayed an hour longer, after each Some top-bracket entertainers (it's no exhausting broadcast at the Mosque, to shake Secret) turn one face · to the public and hands with new-found "neighbors" from another, less shining face to their co-workers. many states, and to give them warm thanks Certainly the truest and finest thing that for such assorted gifts as "drinkin' gourds," can be said of Johnny and Penny Olsen wild strawberry preserves, bits of embroidery & Co. is that each of them· has one bright, wo.rk, and even-from Mr. Smith of the honest face apiece-no more. Johnny doesn't Duchess Company-gold-plated spark plugs? do his "Johnny Crooner" act just because Would you like to know that they gave it's entertaining; he loves kids. So does hours and hours of their miraculously rub­ Penny, and they fill their New York TV berized time to do shows at O'Reilly Vet­ shoW- with them. Johnny and Penny weren't erans' Hospital and Burge Hospital Polio having an old-fashioned good time with Ward; to share their sunny personalities Mrs. C. H. Dotson, Dial Contest winner, with business men at Rotary and Chamber the day they awarded her Maytag Range of Commerce luncheons; to square dance on their program, just because they hap­ with Springfield youngsters; to sign auto­ pened to be on the air coast-to-coast. The graphs; to pay courtesy visits to many whole Olsen crew loved her, and "ganged" KWTO programs? her for a dozen kisses on the cheek that same That besides keeping five and six ap­ night in the lobby of the Kentwood Arms. pointments each day and evening and work­ And we hope they'll all come back next ing like lumberjacks for two-and-a-half year not just because they've given the hours every afternoon at the Mosque, they Ozarks a million dollars' worth of adve·rtis­ still had to begin the next day at 10 p. m. ing over their ABC-KWTO program-but each evening, with two and three hours' because they're our kind of people! work on the .following afternoon's show? That Johnny and Penny and the rest gave * NEW . RING PROGRAM of their time, their smiles and their energies until, by plane-time Saturday night, they Your cards, your letters and your fond­ were in a state of pallid exhaustion? (All, ness for our old friend Bill Ring have that is, except big, shaggy-haired pianist returned him to KWTO, by transcription, for Al Greiner, former Nebraska All-American, Taystee ' Bread at the same old time- who has the architecture of a Firpo and 8:15 a. m. Sorry we couldn't " bring him the temperament and touch of an angel.) • back alive," but Bill is too valuable to the What were they really like? Like small Taystee organization in his present capacity town folks-which most of them a~e. Johnny as entertainer-sales-builder in Texas. and Penny, for instance, are always bec1u­ The program you will hear is also heard tifully-although quietly-dressed, Johnny on stations in Houston, Beaumont, Dallas, usually in blues and grays with a camel­ Fort Worth and Wichita Falls, Texas, Mus­ hair overcoat and _yell,ow yarn gloves on kogee, Okla., and Sedalia. MAY, 1950 NEWS AND DOINGS OF INSIDE AT THE STUDIO • • KWTO PERSONALITIES Two new babies are due in the KWTO f.rom Saline County sent him 5 lbs. of sliced family next fall. Want to guess whose? ... hickory-smoked ham the next! Those of you asking for more Bob White . . . solos will want to know that he often sings The occasional rivalry between Lonnie lead on the 7:45 Prairie Playboys show for and Eatherham Hobbs came to a head last Springfield Grocer Co., and that he alter­ month at Pittsburg, Mo., at a pie supper nates solos at 4:40, for Allied Chicks, with that followed the Robertsons' p_rogram. Lon­ Zed Tennis, Junior Haworth, Slim Wilson nie sold pie wedges with fair success until and Lexie White . .. B.M.O.C. (Big Man · somebody in the back of the hall cried, on Campus) would be Don Dailey's unof­ "Let Eatherham try!" Eatherham went to ficial title at SMS, where he graduates in work and tripled the price the ·next slice May. Don is president of the senio.r class sold for! . . . A helpful sciul who signed and an outstanding student . . . An even himself "Tooterin' John" of Hermitage sent closer knitting-together of the KWTO fam­ George Earle a whole can of motor oil with ily has come with increasing activity by the request: "Please oil those swinging doors Aunt Martha and Everett Baty and Junior at Heer' s so we can hear something beside and Wanna Fay Haworth in the High Street 'squeak! squeak!' on your Man-on-the-Street Fundamental Baptist Church of the Rev. W. program!" • • • E. Dowell ... Marge and Zed Tennis are The pockets of James Turner, handsome also deeply interested in Baptist Church young KWTO engineer, bulged with candy work. bars and cigars in late April when a girl­ Of all the "playlets" featuring Eatherham baby, Rebecca Louise arrived, weighing in Hobbs on the Fa.rm Hour, the story about at over seven pounds . . . June Carter re­ the "widder Abernathy" drew the most ports: "There's lots to be said about livin' laughs from KWTO-ers. Lou Black and out of a suitcase, but I'd be ashamed to Joe Slattery split their sides laughing. Seems use them words!" The Carters, Mother May­ the "widder," Eatherham's "girl friend," Belle and Chester have . been as far north fell overboard on a transatlantic trip and as Milwaukee and as far south as Nashville was found, days later, with a priceless fish to play personals the past few weeks . . . attached to the body. Eatherham cabled In Milwaukee they helped wind up a week­ instructions for its disposal: "Sell the fish, long dedication of a new Municipal Audi­ send me the money and re-set bait!" ... torium, sharing star billing with such enter­ Thelma Robertson is researcher and writer tainment "greats" as Eddie Arnold, Lawrence of these stirring dramas, Lonnie is director, Welk, Paul Whiteman, the cast of Life of Doc Martin does the narrating, Junior is Reilley, Tommy Bartlett, Smiley Burnett, emcee ... That tenor you heard on Goodwill Dennis Morgan, Ethel Smith and the Okla­ Family programs while Aunt Martha was homa Wranglers ... In Nashville they sick was Slim Wilson. Everbody moved up swapped "howdies" with the Jordanaires, a notch, with George Rhodes singing bari­ now 'regularly on Grand Ole Opry. tone instead of bass ... Slim was told Aunt Martha had a virus infection. "Tell her," * APRIL CROSSWORD PUZZLE -he quipped, to "virus when she gets better!" * Eleven-year-old David Baker, son of Mr. and- Mrs. Frank Baker of Wentworth, Mo., won the $50 prize in the "Millie Norton" contest, is the admiration of his fellow-fourth­ graders; David's ambition is to be another Slim Wilson . . . Willie-the-Weatherman Williford will probably suffocate this sum­ mer from wearing a vest to show off the Master Conservationist em&lem on his watch chain- a gold bauble in the shape of the ' state with a hawthorne and bluebird insignia on it . .. Six hundred attended the Columbia banquet where he received his honor on April 22 ... No wonder he's well-fed: A Mr. Stubblefield of Jenkins gave him a dozen double-yolk eggs one day; another chap MAY, 1950

KISS FOR "CINDERELLA" Surprises kept COjlling for Mrs. C. H. Dot, son of White Church Community near West Plains after she arrived in Springfield April 12 with Mrs. George Eldringhauf of Hick, man Mills, her sister, and Mrs. T . L. Doss, a neighbor, to receive her prizes as Dial "Lucky· Subscriber" Contest winner. She thrilled to the beautiful suite furnished her by the Kentwood Arms Hotel; to her lovely gifts, the following day, from Springfield merchants-gorgeous gardenias from florist Joe Gelvin; a black faille Evans bag with a gold frame from Heer's; smart gloves and a silk scarf from Rubenstein's. But her big moment came with the "bonus" kiss on ABC network from Johnny Olsen himself.

* IF I WERE A COLUMNIST, THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT (Editor's Note: Ever since the "hillbilly" The hillbilly has a native wit that is was described on the 4:25 Do You Know celebrated ... a love of laughter ... a love program, many, many requests have come in for songs that borrow the spirit of the ballads for copies of the broadcast. Certainly, if of Elizabethian England and the folk dances I did write a by-line column · for the Dial, that are more than 500 years old- for the I could write about nothing closer to my hymns that sustained pioneer peoples when own heart-and nothing closer to the guid­ life was very hard and dangers many. ing .principles of KWTO.) H e has a profound sense of community, What is a Hillbilly? of neighborliness. For generations he relied That's a good question, friend, and we ort that neighborliness, not only for enter­ get it asked often in these parts. There are tainment and spiritual sustenance, but for even some right here among us who don't help in time of trouble- a death, a crop like the word "hillbilly." They say it gives failure, a burned-out cabin, the threat of strangers the impression that this is 'coon frost before his barn was full. It makes him dawg and feudin' country full of folks as ready to le.nd a hand to anyone in need. backward as a M exican mule. H e is well described as God-fearing, una:f, Our guess is that they're a little ashamed fec.ted and-perhaps to the surprise of some of being Ozarkian, a little bemused by arti­ - increasingly progressive. ficial standards of "sophistication." · He has taken the marginal and sub-mar­ And that's odd. Ozarkians who have ginal land in this part of the country and achieved national prominence in business, made it productive. H e has made Spring, journalism, the theater, radio, are-almost field the Jersey cattle capitol of the world, without exception- proud of being "hill­ the center of the nation's largest high-grade billy." They take with them a rich store milk producing region, heart of the nation's of hillbilly tales, often in dialect, and capi­ egg and poultry industry, third in the nation talize on their background. in cheese production. He has built its stock­ What is a hillbilly? In the Ozarks, he yards into a multi-million dollar operation. is all around you. He is the man who sells H e follows the news of the world with you groceries, repairs your bridgework, avid interest, usually by radio. H e listens, banks your check, guides your float trip and with earnest concern about national prob­ serves you country ham. If you're lucky, lems, to Washington commentators and such he's your next-door neighbor. programs as America's Town Meeting. And He's a fellow with a rich heritage in song, if he prefers an ancient hymn to the Metro­ custom and folklore- so rich and highly re­ politan Opera broadcasts, and a ballad or spected a heritage that home-grown authori­ a hoe-down to the Ameripn Arts Orchestra, ties on it, such as May Kennedy McCord, he seldom begrudges others their oppor­ are listed in Who's Who and sought after tunity to listen to them. by professors, language experts, Ph. D.'s You may say a lot about us, " fer and and such leaders in arts and letters as Carl agin," but call us "hillbilly" and watch us Sandbu_rg and the late Grant Wood. glow with pride! .'

MAY, 1950

OUR SOFT-VOICED BALLAD "'I 1i11E SPOTLIGHT • • • • • SINGER, L~XIE WHITE i'{ ou hear him now on the sprightly 8 a. m. like to try ,adio, and, after aq audition, got show for Staley Milling Co.-that happy-go­ his first job on KWK. lucky, good-looking Lexie White, with a Lexie's poise broke down completely the voice as soft as a butterfly's kiss on'., ve1vet first time he was on the air. and a guitar that is both intimate and inef­ "My fi.rst vocal solo," he recalls, "was fably pleasing. 'Whispering,' and I got so scared. I com­ "This guitar playing came not by choice, pletely forgot the words.'' (He laughs about but more or less by accident, because it was it-now, 12 years later.) "Anyway, I kept the only thing I could make music out making up new, ones as I went along and of!'' says Lexie. "My dad has played violin they seemed to come out all right." Lexie since he was a boy, and he always wanted was with the same station off and on for me to be a fiddler. 10 years, as featured singer, playing rhythm "Well, I practiced and practiced until I guitar and singing in a trio, so he must have was 13 years old, but never seemed to get passed that first crucial "words" test with anything but awful squeaks out of the fiddle flying colors. -and it was a good one, too. I guess Dad Lexie continues his story: was pretty disgusted," Lexie adds wistfully. "Sometime in 1938, a couple of fellows "We both decided that maybe I ought to try named Mac and. Ed came up for an a1.1dition, something more simple, so he bought my first · and we.re hired. The boys were from Ten-· guitar for $3. nessee and didn't have a place to · stay, so "You know, I didn't seem to. have any I put them up at our house. We had a grand trouble learning to play the guitar!" he con­ time working out tunes in the basement, then tinues. 'Td sit in front of the radio at night driving back arid forth to the station and and listen to Jimmy Rogers and the Lone­ putting them on the air," Lexie reminisces. some Cowboys and I would try to copy · "Had you guessed? Ed is now the coun­ their style. I liked the guitar so much that try·s number one folk singer, Eddy Arnold. I could hardly wait to get home from school Lexie adds, with a grin: "Those were the to practice. Funny, I never had that kind days. Eddy would dress in ragged clothes of feeling for the fiddle. After I had picked and do comedy with Mac on the fiddle, and up a few chords, dad and I began playing I'd sing with the guitar. The program lasted for squa.re dances and house parties. Gosh, about a year and a half and-boom!-we those were rough days for me! I'd have !ost our jobs. No sponso.r! Mac and Ed blisters on my fingers the size of straw­ went back to the Tennessee hills while I got berries, and how they would hurt!" a job in a ·shoe factory as a sole cutter. I Lexie began dreaming of the _day that felt kinda bewildered there-something of a he'd be good enough to play in front of lost 'soul,' you might say.'' large crowds until . . . "The neighborhood Lexie ·stuck it out for a couple of months theatre was having an amateur contest, and and was about ready to go back to_ the I figured this was my chance. I told every­ hills when he was recalled to KWK for a one I knew to be at the theatre that night network show with the Buckeye Four. And and .really roll the roof off when they an­ except, for a tour in the infantry, he's been nounced 'Lexie White, the hillbilly trouba­ in radio ever since. dor.' Lexie was born 32 years ago in Cotter, "Well, I played ,md sang a few numbers Arkansas, the son of a .railroad man, James and was waiting for my friends to come Claude White, and named-according to through, but apparently they didn't show old hill country custom-after the doctor up. At least, I didn't win any of the who delivered him. It was a musical family. prizes. I felt pretty heartbroken, too. What Besides his violinist father, his mother played were friends for? Then · the man running the piano and an older sister, with a goo,d th~ contest suggested that I enter another ·voice, taught him to carry a tune as soon show and, believe it or not, I not only won as he could talk. They left Cotter when second prize-but I didn't even know any­ Lexie was three, then lived in Bartlesville·, one in the neighborhood!" Okla., and Poplar Bluff, Mo., before moving All this took place when ou.r young hopeful to St. Louis. His father is retired, and his was 15, living in St. Louis, and working out pa.rents now live in Graniteville, Ill., and on guitar in a basement playroom fi xed up are farming there. Cotter friends remember for him by his violin-loving parents-in his mother well as Mary Ellen White, a order, probably, to spare the family ear­ go?d Ozarks neighbor. drums. A few years later he decided he'd (Continued on page SEVENTEEN) MAY, 1950 Page 7 BY MAY KENNEDY McCORD HILLBILLY HEARTBEATS • • " QUEEN OF THE OZARKS" Greetings, friends! One of those freakish weather happenings This is the lovely month of May! Can which often come along in our charming anything be more entrancing than May in the and variab'le Ozark hills. I remember that Ozarks? D ogwood, redbud and service berry! I was visiting down at M arvel Cave Lodge M a ry Elizabeth Mahnkey, bless her departed in Stone County. soul, said in a little verse: You reall y never know what it's going I love the vining bittersweet to do in the Ozarks, but there are always All gold and ruby red, so many things to remember. The old ways It brightens up the landscape and customs, the fireside gatherings, the When all around is dead. old-time reunions of families, the deep ice Granny Blair loves bittersweet, frozen on the rivers in winter- which we But different views we have, never see any more. The picnics, the har­ She mixes hers with 'taller,' vesting with an old-time "cradle," which And makes a smeary salve! many farmers used when I was a child, and W e have beautiful weather in the month all the customs that have passed into the of M ay, but I'll have to tell you this one: limbo of things which we do not count as In May, about 1909, as closely as I can "progressive" nowadays. I wonder just what remember, we got up on the twelfth day progress is, anyway? And I wonder, some­ to find one of the deepest snows the Ozarks times, if we are really going forward or ever had. W e waded to our knees but it backward. But there are those of us who was a soft, fluffy snow and perfectly beau­ still cling to our memories, and many of tiful. It was gone by three p. m. and the them a re a shelter and an escape from much day was not cold a t all, almost like summer. (Continued on page SIXTEEN)

* MAY McCORD ADDS A FAMOUS "FAN" TO HER LIST OF ADMIRERS Here's one of the many good reasons why American folk heritages, met Johnny on a Johnny Olsen has been telling his coast-to­ special KWTO program at 2 p. m., April 9. coast radio audiences on the Philip Morris Later she sang Ozarks ballads for Johnny, Ladies Be Seated program that he and Penny Penny and others at a barbecue at the R. "never had such a good time anywhere as D . Fosters' country place, Lake of the we had in the Ozarks!" May Kennedy Mc­ Woods. Said the Olsens: "She's magnifi­ Cord, our nationally celebrated authority on cent!" Johnny reciprocated-sang for May. Paqe 8 MAY, 1950 COLUMN OF COMMENT "FAIR AND WARMER" • • • BY C. C. WI L LI FORD The Springfield Chapter of the Missouri silently steal away," as Longfellow put it. Conservation Federation, under the guidance * * * of President "Bud" Carroll, is to be com­ Who was this Izaak Wal ton, whose name mended on its successful efforts to have the is always connected with fishing, the Izaak Springfield City Park Board approve the Walton Leagues (the conservation leagues establishment of a pond or lake in Doling which also bear his name) whose purpose· Park to be stocked and set aside purely it is to plant forests to replace those which for boys and girls to fish in. The top age have been cut down and burned out, and limit will be 13 years, and adults will not restock and restore polluted and fished out be allowed to wet a line-except to give streams and lakes? Some think he must Bobby or Susie instructions as to how to have been as famous an American as our adjust hook, sinker ' and bobber for proper beloved Abe Lincoln. action, and also how to hook the worm. As a matter of fact, . Izaak Wal ton was It is the intention of the local organiza­ not an American at all-he was an English­ tion of sportsmen and conservationists to man. Like our own Lincoln, he was born keep the lake well stocked with blue-gill, in backwoods poverty, with no advantages, perch an·d cat fish so that the youngsters can little or no formal education. Still he be­ really catch something, and perhaps become came such a successful business man that true followers of that famous angler, Izaak he was able to devote much of his time to Walton. It is hoped that other towns fishing and, in spite of his extremely limited· throughout the region will have their various education, to write one of the deathless books civic organizations follow in the steps of in ~nglish Literature.:._··The Compleat Ang­ the Springfield Federation, and that little ler. boys and girls of most every Ozark town Get a copy from your library and read can become interested in this fascinating it. It will make you a better man or woman! sport, one that draws tens of thousands of· It is a simple book, and he points. out that tourists to our beloved Ozarks, noted for most all fishermen a.re simple, everyday its fine lakes, streams and ponds. men-just common folk. And he also re­ Such a move would be one of the finest minds us that the lowly Man of Galilee chose movements possible toward combatting His disciples among fishermen. juv.enile delinquency, which, as we all know, Izaak 'Walton, strangely enough, did not is now ii major problem over the entire learn to fish as a boy. In fact, he never country. To allow these youngsters to fish went fishing until he was well along in years, and at the same time to observe rules of and after death of his first child. No doubt fishing etiquette and obey the rules and this solace, to be found beside any stream regulations; to learn not to be "meat hogs" or lake, helped him to forget the sorrow and not to take more than the prescribed in his heart. But fate was very unkind to limit; to learn not to hurt, and to return Izaak; all of his children, born afterward, to the water, any fish that is not large died in their youth; and then his beloved enough to clean and cook. And to learn wife was also called to the Great Beyond. that Goe;! put thes_e fish on earth, like all Even his beloved King Charles was beheaded other creatures, for a purpose, and that -in fact, it would seem that he lost every­ while man presumably has greater power thing that was close and dear to his heart. than s\Jch things, he should be a user, not But Izaak kept his chin up, married again, an exploiter or a waster. What a chance and raised two fine children. His King for children to grow up to respect the other Charles' son was restored to the throne. His rules and laws of life, and become the best son and daughter both became famous. He of citizens! lived to the ripe old age of ninety, and While your little boy .or girl is fishing, fished right up to the last. His name be­ it is unlikely he or she will be planning mis­ came immortal as the patron saint of the chief. It was Izaak Wal ton who said: most wholesome and noblest of all outdoor "There is no more wholesome, clean and sports-just fishin'. uplifting sport than fishing," And it's an established fact among us old-timers that one cannot fish and, at the same time, have SPONSORS' CORNER his worries and troubles on his mind. Some­ Spot announcement campaigns are run­ how or othe~ the fascination and anticipa­ ning on KWTO for Veto, Eskimo Coconut tion connected with fishing blots out all Bar and Eskimo Pie. other thoughts, and "the cares that infest Old Judge Coffee has renewed the gay the day, fold their tents like the Arabs and Korn Kobblers program at 2:30 p: m. MAY, 1950

A CROSSWORD PUZZLE I By Joe Slattery ACROSS I. and 4. Pictured star. 10. Mister (ab.). 11. Pay attention to. 13. Used to propel a boat. 14. Complete in all parts; whole. 16. Partition. 17. City in Japan. 18. To recognize .or understand (Old Eng- lish) . 19. Man's first name (Scotch) . 21. Lee Stone is whose wife? (Possessive.) 23. Pretty and clever. 26. Medicinal plant. 27. This magazine. 30. Woman's first name; also a Missouri town. 31. French for "here." 33. Distinguished Service Medal. (ab.). MEDITATIONS 34. Arabic for "cape" as "Cape Girardeau," "C ape Hatteras." BY AL STONE 37. Plural of "radius." The thoughts expressed by the unknown 40. Escaped. author of this poem are shared by every 41. Hiding place. peaceful mind as it grows older. For what 43. Sticky black substance. we learn is that we receive rewards on 44. Weapons (pl.). earth, not alone in heaven, for kindness and 46. Either, - ..:__ thoughtfulness and helping those in trouble. 47. Come out from. The "earthly treasures" of which the Bible 48. Printer's measure (pl.). speaks are small comfort, in later life, to those who have been miserly with the riches DOWN of the soul and spirit. But the good neigh­ I. Continent. bor, however, poor in wordly ways, is never 2. V essel for holding flowers, ashes. . A friendless and never lonely. vase. 3. Pronoun referring to something at hand. TREASURE IN HEAVEN 4. Sponsor of Man-on-the-Street. "Every coin of earthly treasure 5. Opposite of B. C. We have lavished, on the earth, 6. Tick, - - - - -, said the clock. For our simple, worldly pleasure, 7. Rabbit. May be reckoned, something worth; 8. Sphere of action; amphitheater. For the spending was not losing, 9. May McCord's sponsor. Though the purchase were but small; 12. Age or period. It has perished with the using; 15. Indian friend of the Lone Ranger. We have had it, that is all! 20. Pertaining to a court of hall (Greek) . 22. Fibbers. All the gold we leave behind us 24. What the little woman is supposed to When we turn to dust again, say when she sees a mouse. Though our avarice may blind us, 25. To total up. We have gathered quite in vain; 28. Containing iodine. Since we neither can direct it, 29. Last name of sponsor of KWTO's Mon- Bv the winds of fortune tossed, day evening Spotlight on Industry. Nor in other worlds expect it, 32. Angry, incensed. What we hoarded, we have lost! 35. First man. But each merciful oblation- 36. Brown and withered. Seed of pity wisely sown, 38. -Distinguished Conduct Medal (ab.). What we gave in self-negation, 39. Indicated Air Speed (ab.). We may safely call our own; 42. Abbreviation for "honey." For the treasure freely given 44. Agriculture (ab.). Is the treasure that we hoard, 45. Pertaining to; about - stenographer's Since the angels keep in Heaven symbol. What is lent unto the Lord." REUEL HAYMES HI LIGHTS THE OLSENS' WEEK IN THE OZARKS

1. The crowd at the Springfield airport the night of April 8 was thicker than grandma's ham gravy as Johnny and Penny Olsen alighted from an American Airlines plane t begin a breathless week. Among the hundreds there to greet them were Gus Wickman, left, with wel­ coming flowers; Ralph Nelms, Springfield advertising man and man­ ager of the Exposition which featured the O lsens' Ladies Be Seated Show throughout the week. Next are Johnny and Penny, and Mary and Joe Slattery, who represented KW TO, and you may be sure there were plenty of Philip Morris representatives on hand, too! 2. Bob Maurer, handsome y oung Ladies Be Seated a nnouncer, Penny- in rustling black taffeta, wearing an orchid and a be-flowered Easter bonnet-and Johnny attended church the following Sunday morning with the Slatterys. 3. Brightest spot in Hollis Warren's quiet days since his own Shrine Mosque appearance at the March of Dimes benefit in Febru­ ary was a visit from Johnny, who was delighted with the talents of our "Singing Shut-in" and joined him in "I'd Have Baked a Cake." 4. Sunday afternoon recreation fbr the Olsen cast at the R. D . Fosters' garden spot country hom1/ including Johnny's lesson, from Ralph, in barbecuing freshly-caught) trout over charcoal. 5. Penny, Johnny and Bob Maure . made a dozen guest appearances at KWTO microphones throughout the week of the 10th, one of the most hilarious with Shoo, the 4:25 p. m. Do You Know cat. Shoo enjoyed them so much he scarcely " talked" at all-just purred! 6. Highlight of an hour's v isit to the Burge Hospital Polio Ward April 13 was a chat with Bobbie W ebb, 13-year-old West Plain lad who was recently honored on a George Morgan program for Robin Hood Flour and has since received hundreds of cards and letters. Bobbie, given his choice f a dollar, a song or a poem­ took the poem! {And he got the dollar, too! ) Bob recited, for him, a beautiful little poem by Robert Frost. Page 12 MAY, 1950 PORTSIDE PATTER FROM THE FILES BY GEORGE EARLE ... A DIAL REVIEW One of the most difficult kinds of suc­ 6 Years Ago· This Month cess to achieve is successful song writing. After being on a station in Iowa, Lonnie Scarcely a day goes by that someone doesn't Robertson is glad to return home to the write me asking how to popularize a song Ozarks with Thelma Bill Mason and he has written. Believe me, it is almost Lennie Aleshire join staff (both are now impossible. That's a very discouraging thing in Springfield). to say, I know, but here are the cold facts: 5 Years Ago This Month The major song publishing companies are George Rhodes in Spotlight . . _. Movie affiliated with one of the three great asso­ Star Lynn Bari pictured on front page with ciations, ASCAP, (American Society of George Earle . . . Red Belcher returns to Composers, Authors and Publishers) , radio after illness, (now working in Vir­ SESAC, ( an European society of the same ginia) ... Milton Dickey (now with KCMO, nature) or .8MI (Broadcast Music Incor­ Kansas City), says h.e doesn't smoke, is porated )-associations which pretty well very distressed over the chewing-gum short­ control most of the music. today. age. Milton, 6 feet, 4 inches tall, afraid Song publishing houses, for the most part, smoking would stunt his growth. have their own staffs of lyric and music 4 Years Ago This Month writers who keep them well supplied. Ralph Nelms, on the KWTO staff ever Add to these the major picture studios since the station came into existence in which now maintain thei.r own song writ­ 1935, takes over as Manager of Radiozark ing staffs and publish their own rriusic, Enterprises. (Ralph now has an advertising which they have the advantage of popular­ agency in Springfield) ... Leslie L. Kennon, izing through pictures, and) you get an idea KWTO National Sales Manager, (now As­ of what the amateur song writer has to buck. sistant Genera_! Manager), pictured with son, Well, how . about radio, you ask? And Leslie Gene, in Passing Parade. television? 3 Years Ago This Month Radio and television stations are provided Fred (Axelbender) Warren (now on radio professional copies of all music published in Shenandoah, Iowa) , in Spotlight with by major publishers, free of charge. How­ picture and story . . . Al · Stone pictured ever, radio and television stations have con­ where he is most usually found- in KWTO's tracts with ASCAP, SESAC and BMI, to transcribing studios . . . Boys' Club gets whom they pay a yearly royalty fee, a cash for finding Percy the Parrot. percentage of gross re~eipts each year, for 2 Years Ago This Month the privilege of using music from affiliated Dial snapshot section pictures Bob White, publishing houses. Zed Tennis, Chet Atkins and Slim Wilson Meanwhile, there are many small, hole­ . . . Lou Black emcees "Hayloft Frolics," in-the.:Wall publishing houses that make a new KWTO gang party program ... Two­ comfortable living preying on gullible, would­ week survey proves KWTO by far the be song writers. They advertise in maga­ dominant radio station heard in the Ozarks zines for song lyrics which they agree to . . . Dale Parker pictured receiving happy set to music for a certain charge. They also news that his "No Children Allowed" is promise to place the finished product in ' crowding the half-million mark in sales. the hands .of well-known singers throughout 1 Year Ago This Month the country, radio stations, etc. This, of Aunt Martha's lovely ranch-type home course, they do. That is, they do mail copies featured in "Come Right In" column . . . to the aforementioned, thus fulfilling their C. C. Williford and his assistant, Jim Hosey, obligation. But siQ.ce these copies are not admire the Weather Bureau's new "ceilo­ ,from a recognized music publisher, the·y are meter" which measures the "ceiling"-the promptly tossed into the wastebasket. The distance of cloud base from the ground. hopeful song writer soon 15ecomes a dis­ illusioned one. Beware of these agents! will strike the public fancy. Not even the Without a doubt, there are many beauti­ highest paid song writers can tell. With ful songs that never have a chance simply each new song, they, too, wait with crossed because the writers did not have an . "in" fingers and a prayer of hope. with the right people. How can you go So if you hope to become a successful about getting that "in"? I wish I knew, too! song writer, better hang on to your regular I'd use it myself! job in the meantime. · Finally, no one knows, even-after a song (P. S. You should see the stack I've hurdles these many difficulties, whether it written!) MAY, 1950 Page 13 WITH LOYD EVANS FARMING AT ·560 • • • • • • FARM DIRECTOR If iny memory serves me correctly, I' work on flowers, shrubs and the ·garden. believe the Dial Editor told you in an There are a number of new spray materials earlier edition that Revay and I were look­ on the market this year that we'll be trying. ing for a ' country home for the summer Let's hope they do the work the mild winter months. From the "ribbing" Slim and the failed to do in killing . those green leaf- boys have given me you might, believe life lovers. for us has been terrible! It has been work, * * but a real joy to get back to the soil. Our KWTO Farm Service Department Hill Top Farm, south of Springfield, celebrated its first anniversary the 25th of owned by E. J. Sieger and sons, is the sort April. We hope to visit many of you at of place you just have to enjoy if. you like your fairs and other community activities Mother Nature and the wonderful things of during the summer months. This second year life she is able to produce. Mr. Si_eger is . is going to be busier and even more enjoy­ a · lover of flowers,' shrubs and trees that able since we are back on the soil. blend in to more of a scene of beauty than I must go. Revay just called and said the average home-on-the-farm, and so it is the hogs were out! a real pleasure to have a part in it. · The farm is stocked with Registered Aber­ HILL TALK deen Angus. I truly believe the farm is an example of the program suggested by all HOW WE SAY IT agriculture authorities-producing what is How would Dial readers like to contribute ,best suited_ to the crops and crop land to a column of colorful. Ozarks expressions? available, considering the man-power and Send in your own favorites, figures of ' time required and available. None of the speech, learned in childhood, that afford a land lays well for farming, so it is gradually deep insight into the character and ·spirit being sown to lespedeza, ladino, blue grass of our part of the country. The most · and other grass and hay crops. Angus are original and unusual will be printed in this well suited to such a pasture plan, with no column ·each month if enough of you are hired help required for crop work. interested in it and will keep it going. It does, perhaps, look like a small harvest To start things off right, we scouted crew in action when Mr. Sieger, sons Jim­ around the studios for favorite expressions mie and E. J., Jr., return from work· and of our hill-born radio people, folks steeped school in town to help me thresh out the in tqe folklore of hillbilly regions. few chores required. There is hardly room Mother Maybelle Carter: "Some of them enough for ·all four of us to watch while city alecks can poke all the fun they want, Mrs. Sieger and Revay do up the chores! at folks in the hills that cain' t read er write. We are growing a few young Guernsey But we got plenty of what they ain't-and heife.rs as future protection should the price that's a heap uv time to think!" of milk and a change in -beef prices require Zed Tennis, who used to do two days extra income. That, again, is important in plowing in one during his "growin'-up' ' days setting up a farm with the idea of making near Nixa, swears he had the strongest mule it pay. Plans for a switch in types of pro­ in the county. "That mule was so mighty," duction are necessary as we just can't tell he says, "you could h\tch him up to mid­ what the future holds. night and he'd break da~n!" If the' picture so far sounds "rosy," we Bob White, describing the road west from have our problems too, just as others do. his home town, Eureka Springs: "That At the time of this writing we are anxiously stretch is so crooked a gnat could break his . waiting for a good rain cloud over Hill Top. neck just going around a curve." Oid you ever see a spring as backward? Slim Wilson, whose height is often dis­ kadishes and lettuce still just a dream with cussed: "Shucks, I ain't tall. Tallest feller us. Fried chicken is going to be a little I ever did see was gettin' a haircut in heaven late, too, as we couldn't see much economy - and a shoe shine in that other place." in starting brooders too early with chickens Lonnie Robertson: "I was feelin' so low raised only for our own consumption. the other day, I could-uv set on a ·dime with Lawns (and we have several) are ready both feet hangin' down." for their first mowing ( thanks t.o a slow Floyd Sullivan, after a night of camping growth), and it won't be ·long before the near the Arkansas line: "It was so dark, old sprayer will go into operation if the a raindrop knocked on my tent and asked promised heavy rain run of insects goes to for a light to see how to hit the ground." Page 14 MAY, 1950 SCHEDULE FOR MAY 2 :30 p. m.-Korn Kobblers 2:30 p. m.- WhereThere's Music-ABC (S) 2:15 p. m.-Lonnie and Thelma 3:00 p. m.-Ladies Be Seated-ABC WHAT5GOING' 3:00 p. m.- Treasury Show-ABC (S) ON AT KWTO? 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.-Cornfie!d Follies WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAY 4:00 p. m.-Creamo News 5:00 a. m.-Yawn Patrol 4:15 p. m.-Markets 5:45 a. m.-Rev. Hitchcock 4:25 p. m.-Do You Know 6:00 a. m.-Lonnie and Thelma 4:30 p. m.-Weatherman Williford 6:15 a. m.-Down Home Folks 4:35 p. m.-Everett Mitchell (M-W-F) 6:15 a. m.-R. F. D. Roundup (S) . 4:35 p. m._.lnterlude (T-Th-S) 6:30 a. m.-Goodwill Family 4:45 p. m.-Rev. Dowell 6:30 a. m.-Robin Hood Hoedown ( S) 4:45 p. m.-Roger Dawn-ABC (S) 7:00 a. m.-Carter Family 5:00 p. m.-Jack Hunt 7:15 a. m.-Slim Wilson 5:00.p. m.-Four Knights (S) 7:30 a. m.-Newscast 5:15 p. m.-Ozark Newsettes 7:45 a. m.-Yellow Bonnet Show 5:30 p. m.-J. Armstrong-ABC (M-W-F) 7:45 a. m.-Goodwill Family (S) 5:30 p. m.-Sky King-ABC (T-Th) 8:00 a. m.-Lexie White 5:30 p. m.-Here's To Veterans (S) 8:15 a. m.-Bill Ring Show 5:45 p. m.-Christian Science Program (S) 8:25 a. m.-Weatherman Williford 6:00 p. m.-Newscast 8:30 a. m.-Breakfast Club-ABC 6:15 p. m.-Sports Spotlight 8:30 a. m.-Jordanaires (S) 6:25 p. m.-Edwin C. Hill-ABC 8:45a. m.-Rev. Dowell (S) 6:30 p. m.-Lone Ranger-ABC (M-W-F) 9:00 a. m.-Freddie Martin Orchestra 16:30 p. m.-Counterspy-ABC (T-Th) 9:00 a. m.-Breakfast at Keller's (S) 6:30 p. m.-Visitin' Time 9:15 a. m.-One Man's Opinion-ABC SUNDAY PROGRAMS 9:20 a. m.-Program Notes 6:30 a. m.-Pipes of Melody 9:25 a. m.-Betty Crocker-ABC 6:45 a. m.-Sunday Morning Reveries 9:30 a. m.-Farm News, Markets (S) 7:00 a. m.-Rev. Hitchcock 9:15 a. m.-Newscast 7:30 a. m.-Riders of the Purple Sage 10:00 a. m.-Saddle Rockin' Rhythm 7:45 p. m.-Happy Hollis Warren (M-W-F) 8:00 a. m.-Newscast · 10:00 a. m.-Robin Hood Hoedown (T-Th} 8: 15 a. m.-Sermons in Song 10:00 a. m.-Meet Your Neighbor (S) 8:30 a. m.-May Kennedy McCord 10:15 a. m.-Kitchen Talks 8:45 a. m.-AI and Lee Stone 10:30 a. m.-Guide to Happier Living 9:00 a. m.-Message of Israel-ABC ' 10:30 a. m.-What's New (S) 9:30 a. m.-Negro College Choir- ABC I 0:45 a. m.-Slim Wilson 10:00 a. m.-Voice of Prophecy-ABC 11 :00 a. m.-Ozark Farm Hour 10:30 a. m.-Hour of Faith-ABC 11 :00 a. m.-Lonnie and Thelma ( S) 11 :00 a. 111.- Guidepost for Living 11:15 a. m.-Markets- 11: 15 a. m.-First Baptist Church 11 :15 a. m ...... :..Hillbilly Hit Tunes (S) 12_:00 noon-Voice of the Army. 11 :20 a. m.-FRrm Hour 12:15 p. m.-Cote Glee Club 11 :30 a. m.-Ark. Conservation Comm. ( S) 12:30 p. ni.- Revival Time 11 :45a.m.-Farm Front (S) · I :00 p. m.-Newscast 12:00 noon-The Carter Family I: 15 p. m.-Drury Quarter Hour 12:15 p. m.-Goodwill Family I :30 p. 111.-Mr. President-AB.C 12:30 p. m.-Newscast 2:00 p. m.-Senator Kem 12:45 p. m.-Man on the Street 2:15 p. m.-National Guard Show 1:00 p. m.-Linda's First Love 2:30 p. m.-Southe~n Baptist Hour-ABC 1 :00 p. m.-Let' s Go to the Opera-ABC ( S) 3:00 p. m.-Cavalcade of Music 1:15 p. m.-Ma Perkins 3:30 p. m.-Fine Arts Quartet-ABC 1:30 p. m.-Young Dr. Malone 4:00 p. m.-Think Fast-ABC 1:45 p. m.-Judy and Jane 4:30 p. m:-Greatest Story- ABC 2:00 p. m.-Bride and Groom 5:00 p. m.-Drew Pearson-ABC 2:00 p. m.-Old, New, Blue-ABC (S) 5:15 p. m.-Monday Headlines-ABC 2:15 p. m.- Horse Race-ABC (S) 5:30 p. m.-Music With the Girls-ABC MAY, 1950 P-,ge 15 . '· 6:00 p. m.-Stop the Music-ABC 8:25 p. m.-Mo. Savings Bond Divisioµ 7:00 p. m.-Voices That Live-ABC 8:30 p. m.-Buzz Adlam's Playroom_:ABC 7:30 p. m.-Amazing Mr. Malone-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Salon Serenade 8:00 p .. m.-Walter Winchell-ABC 9:30 p. m.-On Trial-ABC 8:15 p. m.-Jergens Journal-ABC 10:00 p. m.-Newscast 8:30 p. m.-Chance of a Lifetime-~BC 10:15 p. m.-Sports Report-ABC 9:00 p. m,__:_Lutheran Hour-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Popular Orchestra-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Newscast 10:55 p. m.-Gems for Thought--'-ABC 9:i5 p. m.-George Sokolsky-ABC -1 I :55 p. m.-News-ABC 10:00 p. m.-News of Tomorrow-ABC THURSDAY NIGHT 10:15 p. m.-Thoughts in Passing-ABC 7:00 .p. m,-Challenge of the Yukon-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Popufar Orchestra-ABC 7:30 p. m.-Tune Inn 11 :00 p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Original Amateur Hour-ABC 8:45 p. m.-Robert Montgomery-ABC · M.ONDAY NIGHT 9:00 p. m.-Author Meets Critic-ABC 7:00 p. m.-Ethel and Albert-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Murder and Music-ABC 7:30 p. m.-Henry J. Taylor-ABC 9:45 p. m.-George Barnes-ABC 7:i5 p. m.-Spotlight on Industry 8:00 p. m.-Melody Rendezvous-ABC I 0:00 p. m.-Newscast 10:15 p. m.-Sports Report-ABC 8:30 p .. m.-Solo and Soliloquy-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Popular Orchestra-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Ralph Norman-ABC 10:55 p. m.-Gems for Thought-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Strictly From Dixie-ABC 10:0() p. m.-Newscast 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC 10:15 p. ni..-Sports Report-ABC FRIDAY NIGHT 10:30 p. m.-Popular Orchestra-ABC 7:00 p. m.-The Fat Man-ABC 10:55 p. m.-Gems for Thought-ABC 7:30 p. m.-This Is Your FBJ..,...... ABC 11 :55 p. m ...'..._News-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Ozzie and Harriet-ABC 8:30 p. m.-The Sheriff-ABC TUESDAY NIGHT 8:55 p. m.-Champion Roll Call-ABC 7:00 p. m:-Challenge of the Yukon-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Gillette Fights-ABC 7:30 p. m.-Tune Inn 9:30 p. m.-American Sports Page-,ABC 8:00 p. m.-America's Town Meeting-ABC 10:00 P.· m.-Newscast 8:30 p. m.-Proudly We Hail 10:15 p. m.-Sports Report-ABC 9:00 p. m.-Time for Defense-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Popular Orchestra-ABC 9:30 p. m.-It's Your Business-ABC 10:55 p. m.-Gems for Thought-ABC 9:45 p. m.-Let Freedom Ring.:__ABC 11 :55 p. m.~News-ABC • 10:00 p: m.-Newscast SATURDAY NIGHT 10:15 p. m.-Sports Report-ABC 7:00 p. m.-Challenge of the Yukon-ABC · 10:30 p. m.-Popular Orchestra-ABC 7:30 p. m.-Tune Inn 10:55 p, m.-Gems for Thought-ABC 8:00 p. m.-Rayburn and Finch-ABC 11 :55 p. m.-'--News-ABC · 9:00 p. m.-Sleepy Hollow Show-ABC WEDNESDAY NIGHT 9:30 p. m.-Saturday at the Shamrock-ABC 7:00 p.m.-Hollis Warren 10:00 p. m.-Newscast · 7:15 p. m.-Tommy Dorsey 10:15 p. m.-Tops in Sports-ABC 7:30 p. m.-The Cliche Club-ABC 10:30 p. m.-Popular Orchestra-ABC •8:00 p. m.-Sherlock Holmes-ABC 11 :55 p. m.-News-ABC * CUBS ON KWTO Week-day games are running from 8 p. m. until completion, with the 10 p. m. news­ Although. KWTO is unable to broadcast cast following. Sunday games are sched- midwestern major league baseball games be­ uled from 3 to 5 p. m. · cause of its firm policy against carrying Write Don Dailey's 6:15 p. m. Sportscast, alcoholic beverages advertising, we have sponsored by Sass Jewelry Stores, for a copy worked out a different type of sponsorship of the schedule. schedule in order to bring you the games Baseball fans in the KWTO area have of the Springfield Cubs. the following sponsors to thank for these These broadcasts, which begari April 24 summer-long broadcasts: Dutcher-Williams and will continue through Labor Day, are Paint Co.; Edwards' Farm Store and Turkey originating from the Press Box on top of Hatchery; Hunter 5¢ to $1 Store; Killings­ the grandstand at Springfield's Memorial Ball worth's; Ike Martin's; Outlet Furniture Co.; Park. They will feature Lou Black as aii­ Rubenstein's; Sass Jewelry Stores; Mitchem nouncer until KWTO Sportscaster Don Tire Co.; Sherwood Furniture Co.: Sullivan Dailey graduates from SMS. Shoe Store; Turner's Department Store. Page 16 MAY, 1950 HEARTBEATS INQUIRING REPORTER

(Continued from page SEVEN) Bettie Low: What is your idea of an ideal of the haunting sadness through which we way to retire and spend your old age? often must pass, "these many winters and June Carter: I would like to have lots and these many snows." lots of money and travel f.roni one vacation Thomas Drier said: spot to the other just soakin' up sunshine, "After all, when the chimney corner years ridin' horseback, and, as we say in Virginny, come it will not he our adventures in husi~ "eatin' off the top of the hawg." One thing ness or our fightings with tough enemies sure . though, I wouldn't stop singin' and or the money we have made that will enrich gabbin' till my voice gave out! our lives; It will he the days we can remem­ · Doc Martin: Well I haven't seen much of h~ with love. The adventures in friendship the world, so I would like to do some travel­ and neighborliness. The little letters we wrote ing. But most of all, I would just like to take to friends, the clusters of flowers we gave a good long rest in the Ozarks, on a pretty them, the almost insignificant acts of .kind­ little farm by a stream_and spend my spare ness and love-these are the treasures we time making electric guitars for young kids lay up to warm our hearts against the hitter trying to get a start in radio. year." Joe Slattery: Mary and I would get a Now, something else: Do any of you nice house trailer and new car and travel carry a buckeye in your pocket for good very leisurely through the country, stopping luck and to "keep away the rheumatiz'?'' at every golf course! I read something which reminded me to ask you. The Kiwanis Club of Boonville, Ind., ' met recently under a spreading buckeye tree * OZARKOLOGY - on the Kiper farm place and put a marker Uncle Carl says that everytime he hears there in memory of Judge Roscoe Kiper, city slickers sayin' how funny we look, "I who made the buckeye tree famous through­ jes wonder! If every one of them high­ out the nation. collered, fly-weight dudes had sense enough Back in 1926 the Judge started distributing to set down to a big dish of turnip greens, buckeyes to his friends. People who got poke sallet and hawg jowl, he might sweat them became members of the Hoosier Buck­ enough of that talcum powder off to look eye League. He sent them to politicians a little like a man!" who carried them in their pockets at election time for good luck. First the Judge gave one to Herbert Hoover and he car.ried it a,nd what a pity we can't all write good in his pocket all through his campaign when poetry. It is one of the great emotions of he was elected President. • This news got the human race. What stark truths are out, and th~ demand on Judge Kiper for uttered in poetry! What sermons are charmed bucke·yes became an avalanche. (He preached, what· mountains of thundering gave them for just the postage.) . Members . facts! Since the beginning of recorded his­ of Congress and Governors began sending tory, poets have starved in attics and died for buckeyes. The Judge is dead now and of .broken hearts because no one bought they still send to his widow for buckeyes. their fragile wares, which to them were their She sends them a little printed story about very heart's blood. It is one of the tragedies the buckeye or horse chestnut tree, as the · of all time. And yet their songs live on, Judge used to tell it. He stole our Ozarks marching down the centuries, when all costly thunder about the buckeye, didn't he? baubles and the gold of Ophir are lost or Mother's Day comes this month. I wish perished. What would the world be without all mothers a happy day with their loved poetry? The same as it would be without ones and I send my love to them. And to · music and temples and cathedrals and little the grandmothers too. Sermons will be children and birds' . . . and mothers. preached for them and songs will he sung And so I am thinking, this month, of and cakes will he baked, and Mother de­ mothers. Mothers who will receive, on serves it all ... It is her day. And the Mother's Day, telegrams and letters and Ozark poets will start like a spring freshet, candy and flowers and gifts. Mothers who -writing poems to Mother; But let them will wear orchids on their breasts to a gay· alone. Let them sing all the songs they can fiesta, and mothers who will wear crosses for mother and keep making poetry for her. in their hearts to an altar, to pray. It's a She will love it whether anyone else reads big, big, world! it or not. · Goodbye and all my love. The human heart loves to write poetry, MAY MAY, 1950 Page 17 LOOKIN' AT YOU 2ND PRIZE WINNER A. R. Thurston, Concordia, won second· ... BY FLOYD SULLIVAN prize in the Dial .. Lucky Subscriber" Con­ To my way uv thinkin', th' month uv . test with this entry: May is one uv ·th' purtiest times uv th' I like to listen to KWTO because ... "its year down here in th' hills uv South Mis­ rich variety of programs constitute the First souri an' North Arkansas. 'Course, that word in world and local news, the Good may be 'cause my weddin' anniversary comes word of Bible teaching, the Advance word up in June, remindin' me each year uv a of profitable farm and home practices, the lotta things like to think _uv. Last wo~d in wholesome entertainment, and * .• * the 'Buy' word of the best bargains to be Anyhow, back when I wuz a young'n found anywhere." growin' up down in tQ' hills an' hollers uv Christian County, th' first day uv' May wuz th' recognized date fer sheddin' yer long THE SPOTLIGHT underwear an' takin' off yer shoes an' stock­ (Continued from page SIX) in's to go barefooted. 'Course I'm talkin' Froi:n the time he first plunked his guitar 'bout us kids. Most uv th' gr9wnups didn't go barefooted, only now an' then, an' they over the air, Lexie has been playing with some mighty fine network artists. He was had to keep wearin' lighter underweai; plumb on Mutual network for four years with an thru th' hottest part uv th' summer! * * act called the Shady Valley Folks, besides Now as I recollect, in our neighborhood, doing stints on KXOK and WEW, St. Louis. .it wuz th' boy young'ns that got th' breaks Among the luminaries who have worked on on th' first day uv May, 'cause we didn't · his pt'ograms in the past are Eddii; Arnold, wear nothin' frum then on 'ti! first frost but The· Buckeye Four, Jack Dunnigan (now a pair uv bib-overalls an' a jumper with with MBS in New York), and Johnny Hill. brass buttons on it. Th' girl young'ns had · In 1943 Lexie came to KWTO with his to wear bloomers under their calico dresses own band, the Ozarko Rangers. He left (an' sometimes th' dresses wuz starched so here when ,he was drafted into the infantry stiff they rattled like wrappin' paper), an' for a .. boat ride" that got him as far as they had to wear hpir ribbons, tdo. · Girl the Philippines. After the war, Lexie went young'ns-then as now-had it sorta totigh, back to school and was graduated from 'cause their folks wanted 'em to look purty McKinley High School, St. Louis. He also so as to ·catch 'em a feller an' marry 'em attended the Ludwig School of Music there. off as quick as they could. "I couldn't read or write a note of music * * * up to then, and I figured it was about time I We useta make May baskets outa ol' learned how," Lexie remarks. ..But still­ pasteboard boxes, cover 'em with colored no violin." tissue paper, ' fill 'em with wild flowers­ Lexie's phrasing of a _song is , best com­ like Sweet William an' violets an' butter­ pared to that of Pinza . singing the tunes cups-an' leave 'em on th' front porches uv from .. South Pacific," although his baritone folks we liked, after knockin' on their doors is decidedly not operatic. However, he sings on th' night uv May th' first. 'Course, us each word and phrase exactly on the note kids always run an' hid in th' brush after for which it was written, without flatting, we knocked on th' door, so when our · sharping, shading or adding other crooner­ neighbors found t}l ' flowers they might figure like curlicues. somebody they hadn't been too friendly-like He married pretty Dorothy Margaret Hut­ with had left 'em, an' they'd start neighborin' ter, whom he met at a dance, seven years with 'em again. ago. His two children, James and Lexie * * Leola a.re staying, at present, with his parents. A lotta times we left May baskets at th' He's quite a baseball fan. "Used to pitch doors uv folks· that didn't;, like young'ns, er in high school. I wasn't too good, although even dogs an' cats-er other things, like · I could get 'em across the plate now and blue-jays, cat-birds, woodpeckers an' crows, then," he modestly points out. In fact he's that's always makin' a hef p uv noise. It such a baseball bug that he used to tran­ sounds sorta funny, but some uv them folks scribe his radio show so he could see his tore up th' baskets an' throwed th' flowers favorite St. Louis Cardinals play! And don't a·way. Some, though, I recollect, wiped _ get him started on those Redbirds, because their eyes, blowed their noses an' held th' he'll talk your ear off. . flowers close to their hearts, sorta pitiful­ Lexie is also heard on the Farm Hour and like, as if they'd 'most fergot thyre ever is custodian of KWTO' s transcriptions. wuz a first of l'v:'!ay. f Page 18 M A Y , I 9 5 0 DEAR DIAL: WHO ARE THEY ? QUESTION COLUMN ... NAME THE STARS Q. Does Helen plan on leaving the Carter If you've been a Dial reader for a couple Family now that she is married? Where are of years, and your memory is keen, then she and her husband living? (Mrs. A. S., you'll know almost at once who these peo­ Mansfield, Mo.) ple are. The first 20 co;rect guesses to A.. No. Glenn and Helen are making reach the Dial office will be numbered, their home with the Carters. Assistant General Manager Leslie Kennon Q. Is Lexie White any relation to Bob will draw a corresponding number from the White? Is Junior's wile expecting a baby? , pot, and that person will receive .an auto­ Is Mother Maybelle the girls' real mother? graphed picture of his or her favorite (L. C., Sparta, Mo.) KWTO star. It is fairer tci all to hold a A. Lexie and Bob are no kin. The new drawing, since some · readers receive their Haworth baby · arrived late last ·December, Dials a day later than others. Now, start is a boy. Yes, Maybelle is the girls' mother. thinking: Q. Where were the Carter girls born and 1. A little ~2-year-old girl from Kansas raised? Do they own a home there? What came to visit relatives, and took quite · a High School did Anita go to? (J. C., Stock­ shine to the 11-year-old,boy next door when ton, Mo.) he asked to take her to the movies Satur- I A. E. J. Carter took his bride, Maybelle, . day afternoon. The only hitch was-he to his home in Mace's Springs, Va., when bought the tickets, handed her one, and let they were married, and the girls were born her go in by herself so the other boys there. They own a home in Richmond, wouldn't tease him about having a girl. You where they were on the air for several years. hear him on KWTO every day. Who-is he? Helen attended schools in Richmond, Hilton, , 2. This KWTO "character" used to be Va., and Nashville. in the tire business, and· was once cele­ Q. Could the Hadens have a musical brated in advertisements all over the coun­ program once more? (L. G. R., Republic.) try as part of an early radio .tct called the A. Mary Elizabeth and Junior are mar­ Rubber Twins. ried ,md busy with their own affairs, the Answers to last month's quiz, Joe Slattery younger children have their school work, (from Little Rock) and Bill Bailey (from and Carl has no plans for bringing the fam­ Oklahoma), were first sent in by these: ily back to radio at the present time. He Mrs. Frank J. Pfitzer, Verona; Mrs. Her­ feels they've earned a little rest! man Disheroon, Green Forest, Ark.; Mrs. Q. Are George Earle and Slim related? Ernest McGuire, Plato; Carl Crank, Moun­ When will you feature Mother Maybelle in tain View; Mrs. Florence Still, Bentonville, the Spotli·ght Column? Is Slim older than Ark.; LaVerne Stephenson, Berryville, Ark.; Aunt Martha? When will you run a picture Mrs. Lester W. Sisney, Pontiac; Mrs. Ada of the Haden Family? (L. L., Brunswick.) Keck, Purdy; Geraldine Akin, Mountain A. No, our two "Wilsons" are not re­ Grove; Etta Molder and Mary Bayless, lated. Mother Maybelle and the girls were Springfield. Each can send a complimentary in the Spotlight last November. Aunt Mar­ copy of The Dial to a friend by writing tha is older than Slim. We'll try to picture us that friend's name and address. the Hadens in a few months. Q. Where is Carl Zomar? What has for? (Mrs. C. E. J., California, Mo.) happened to GoocGoo? (C. W., Crane, Mo.) A. So sorry to disappoint you, but The A. Last we heard, Carl was in Denver, Dial has neither space· nor facilities for and was very successful at transcribing and featuring personalities outside the Ozarks selling programs to stations throughout the region. Williams records for MGM, Allen . country. Goo-Goo has been in California for Capitol. and returned a few weeks ago to Springfield. In answer to M. P. H., Stella, Mo.: Won't ' Q. How tall is Chet Atkins? Can't we you please give full name and address for have pictures of Doc Martin's anp Joe answers to extremely personal questions? Slattery's familie~? (L. McG., Lynchburg.) Billy is the only child of George and Alice A. Chet says he hasn't measured since Rhodes. Some of these days, Reuel will get 1945; but thinks he's six feet tall. We try a big picture of Shoo, as you request. to cover. every KWTO family once a yea'r, Q. What musical instrument is used on so these will be along in due time. the Sgt. Preston program? (Mrs. M. K. A, _ Q. Will you please put in pictures of, Keltner, Mo.) Hank Williams and Rex Allen and their A. A full orchestra plays the theme of ages, if they are married, whom they record this program, Challenge of the Yukon. M AY , 1950 Page 19

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* THE PASSING PARADE - KWTO PHOTOGRAPHS BY REUEL HAYMES Above-Another picture of the Carter Fam­ -Although Happy Hollis Warren, KWTO's ily and Chet Atkins for their fans: Back singing shut-in, is a self-taught guitarist, this row, June and Chet; front row, Anita, Mother picture will tell you where his inspiration Maybelle and Helen, the newlywed. Bieder­ came from: His mother also plays guitar. man's, MFA Mutual Insurance, Red Star They try a duet together with sister Maretta Flour, Hadacol are Carter Sponsors. Below Sue and her Pekingnese for audience. MISS PEGGY CARNER Sec. 34.66 P. L. & R. 1 1452 SU MM IT AVE. -tiPs. POSTAGE CITY ( ZONE 2) PAID Return Postage Guaranteed Springfield, Mo. Permit N o. 753 Box 1217 SSS Springfield, Mo.

* PORTRAIT OF THE MONTH - HESINGTON, THE "JOISEY HILLBILLY" From KWTO President R. D . Foster right 1 to 7 for announcing duties that include the down through the ranks, Chuck Hesington's 4:15 markets for Union Stockyards, and the co-workers are of one mind about him: "One 5:15 Newsettes for People's Furniture Co.; of the finest, most likeable lads I've ever nights, study. Bunny, his lovely wife, keeps known," is what they all say. Chuck's smile almost as busy, gardening, making Chuck's is so quick, his manner so sincerely friendly, shirts and clothes for six-year-old Bonnie that he's a constant joy to have around. His Sharon and two-year-old Craig Charles. schedule is a full one: Mornings, classes a t Chuck hails from Camden, N . J., but he seems Drury College; afternoons at KWTO from as Ozarkian as any of your neighbors!