Ozarkology Cover Story

160 IC

Vol. VII, No. 8 SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI MARCH, 1948 I

OZARKOLOGY COVER STORY

"Buzz" Fellows says with everybody Charlie Haden, who stars on this first talkin' politics, he's reminded of the page of the first issue of The New Dial. smart aleck down near his old home in in his silk hat, symbolizes the way we feel Polk County who told a candidate, "I about our monthly magazine-dressed up! wouldn't vote fer you if you wuz St. But, underneath the elegant new format Peter." "Don't worry friend," said the we're the same folksey gang. Hence candidate, "If I was St. Peter, you Charlie's favorite levis, lariat and ,cowboy wouldn't be in my district." boots. Page 2 THE KWTO D I AL THE KWTO DIAL

fl per year IOc: per copy

The Dial is published the first of every month by Radio Station KWTO as a service to its listeners in more than 100 counties in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, and to former Ozarkians in other states. If the numbers 3-48 appear after your name on the address label at the top of page 16, your subscription expires with BABY OF THE MONTH this issue. Address correspondence and No. I glamour girl of the KWTO family renewals to Editor of The Dial, care of is blue-eyed, blonde Carol Lynn White, adorable daughter of bass fiddler Bob KWTO, Springfield, Missouri. and Juanita .

BY THE EDITOR .INSIDE AT THE STUDIO • • • • • • • • • OF THE DIAL

Slim Wilson took a leery look at the tered over it thick as stars in Texas ... picture of the house and outbuildings of Evert, her husband, said admiringly: his new farm as it appears in this issue, "Just look at her-'most as pretty as her and compared it with the original, about biscuits" . . .Pele and Ruthie Cassell have twice as wide and twice as deep. "I moved into town, amd have an apartment was thinkin' I'd need a tree surgeon to with one inconvenience: the bath is out top some of that _timber around the their front door and up stairs. The house," he drawled, "but from the looks Cassells laughed fit to shatter the win of that picture, you've saved me the dows the other morning when small trouble" . .. You've heard Dale "Plun Jeannie turned up with an old show kett" Parker playing his favorite banjo business expression. Pete was starting number, "Round the World," with the out the door, razor in hand, towel over locomotive sound effects and the deadpan his arm. "So long, Daddy," she caroled. muttering of "Hoot Mon" in the middle of "Write us when you get work." the musical visit to Scotland. But what you've missed is the sight of Dale sol * * * emnly puffing his pipe as he plays it, Tommy Haden, who'll be our " Baby of the smoke puffing up like steam from an the Month" in the April issue, was prou engine as the banjo choo-choo hurries by. der of striped shorts "just like Daddy's" . . . Slim says it reminds him of his first than of any other Feb. 1 birthday gilt . train ride - Ash Grove to Lockwood He's also sporting new sox, a pair of red round trip-taken just six years ago last overalls, books, and toy saxophone from December. Mary Elizabeth . . . Biggest treat of all, • * * * Mary Jane reports, was getting to help Lennie Aleshire and "Goo-Goo" Rul• bake his birthday cake the day before. ledge have been singing "Oh, Dem Sil He lighted the candles and bl~w them ver Slippers" to Aunt Martha ever since out seven times, and was too winded by the Shrine Potentate's Ball last month. 7 :45 a . m. that Sunday morning to sing She wore woven silver scandals and an a song on the program .. . Junior Baden's aqua crepe dress, draped low at the opinion of the red overalls: " He looks just neckline, with sparkling rhinestones scat- like a dirty-faced Valentine." MARCH , 1948 Page 3 THE HADENS INTRODUCING ••• J~XED? ••• THE NEW DIAL The talented tribe that turns out the Three months of planning, dreaming folksiest show anywhere in radio is tem and head-aching bring you this fancy porarily known around KWTO as " The dress Dial, and all our fingers, " t's" and Hard-Luck-Hadens." Junior's accident at all switchboard lines are crossed il)- hopes 7 p . m., Feb. I , Tommy's third birth you'll like it.. A dozen formats were ex- · day, was just the latest in a series of perimented with until we found what w e mishaps that included Sharon Kay's ill wanted--and thought you would want. ness and Junior's tonsilectomy, which re And here it is, thanks to the hard work of fused to heal for a time. Topping them our staff and ingenuity of engravers, off, Uncle Carl says he has had such Burger-Baird, St. Louis, and our printers, sniffles the past few weeks, " Mary Jane Young-Stone, Springfield, thinks I'm practicing harmonica . .. when There were several reasons for chang I'm not!" ing Dial style. First of all, we wanted one that would enable our going-on Riding wi:th Junior to Eminence was his seven-year-old KWTO baby to grow, not " best girl," Eileen Smith, who lives there, just to 16 pages, as in this issue, hut and Bill Hollis. The highway iced up someday to 20 or more. That meant more abruptly. When they were almost there, printing, engraving and publishing ex. Junior's '46 Plymouth sedan skidded on pense, and raising the subscription price the pavement, turned over on its side, and to $1 a year. Pages are easy to add to landed upside down in the ditch. A a magazine, such as this one. farmer, who was out hunting, saw the ac You might like to know that we do with cident and pulled them out through the The Dial what a farmer sometimes does back seat because the front doors were with land he wants to enrich. He plows jammed. A Mountain View ambulance under a soil-feeding crop. And every took them to Willow Springs for emer time The Dial comes even close to making gency treatment, and an Alma Lohmeyer expenses or showing a slight profit, we ambulance brought them to Springfield plow that right back under. Baptist Hospital. "We're lucky our necks were spared," was Junior's opinion after an inventory of injuries. Eileen: small cut on head, bruises and scratches. Bill : neck and back injuries, cuts and bruises. Junior: cuts and contusions, and a bruise the color of horse meat the length of his right thigh. They were in the hospital from 2 a. m . Monday morning until the following Thurs day. Junior still has little use of his right leg. Uncle Carl reports that the car was damaged about $850 worth and will need a new top. " So will I," he added, "if the kids get in any more scrambles like that one." Nothing, however, dims his enthusiasm for the new Lipscomb 36 o/o Hog Supplem¥,t Feed bags with full color reproductions of famous Currier and Ives prints on unusually high-grade fabric. " In all my years in radio, I've never seen anything like them," he says." They make beautiful drapes, slip-cover material or peasant skirts." Uncle Carl is shown in the picture at the right admiring one of the Currier and Ives sacks. Page 4 THE KWTO DIAL

BETTY HINDEMAN DOES I REMEMBER WHEN • • • • • • • • SOME REMINISCING

Five years can be a long time, on most mained pretty permanent over the five jobs. But if you're doing work you love, years. Fritz Bauer was the Chief Engin five years can flit by with speed of a eer, as he is today; Floyd "Sully" Sulli spring-time butterfly. van was Chief of the Newsroom, of course; It seems hard to believe that five years and the "Big Chief", genial Ralph D. have passed since the day I timidly en Fosler, was behind his General Manager's tered the doors of Radio Station KWTO desk, smiling as usual. for the first time, and uncertainly took · Beginning in 1943, I lost myself in the up my post behind a desk in the Program file of back copies, and let my memory Deapr!men!. run rampant. Names leaped out at me Radio looked like a glamorous new from the stories, and pictures smiled up world lo me then - and it still does! at me from the pages of the old Dials. For, unlike most occupations where the Bob Page . . . "brings you the news of novelty seems lo rub off after a few the moment." Bob is in Coffeyville, Kans., months, radio indefinitely retains its al now, still newscasting. B i 11 Ye a rout lurement for those who make it their . . ..pictured with his young son, William life's work. Peter Yearout, III. Bill, currently with Few who have taken radio seriously WREN in Topeka, is now the father of a are ever satisfied in any other business. daughter, loo .. Once the bug bites us - we slay bitten! I had no trouble remembering Ruth And, though members of the radio pro Kirby and Marvin Tong, of the Newsroom fession may chang,:, their geographic lo Staff - two competent behind-the-scene cation from time to time, they're still in workers. Ruth, who answers to the name the family - the big family of Radio, of Mrs. Larry Hall these days, is with the with branches in every community from Associated Press in France. Marvin edits one coast lo the other. the Gainesville newspaper, "Ozark Along with our KWTO listeners, I've Cqunty Times.'' seen many radio friends come and go in And there were the "Three Maids and the past five years. Gone - some of a Mike," a trio of pretty lassies, whom I them - but a long way from forgotten. think of every time I hear "The Surrey It takes only· a sentence, a line from a with the Fringe on the Top," one of the song, or a picture to recall them vividly. songs they did so well. Dorothy Dillard . . . lo start a whole rush of memories and Janice Stone (Mrs. Gene Harper) are that begin with, "Why, remember now in Springfield. Margaret Johnson is when-" making music in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Dial has long been !he Official Speaking of Cincinnati, that's the home Record of this radio station, marking the of Jerry Thraikill (Mrs. James Fusco). You comings and goings of KWTOites and haven't forgotten "Jerry's Jukebox" and listing the important events in our lives. her fine scripts, have you? Bill McCord So, I decided lo have myself a holiday of and Ann Ryan are there, too, at Radio memories with our big Dial Scrapbook. station WLW. You've probably done it, loo, and you By this time I was deep in the 1945 . know what fun it is! Dials. I'd ·enjoyed a recollection or two June, I 943 ... the first Dial I saw go of my own about the "High Noon with lo press. Ralph Nelms was editor, then, the ~ome Folks" show, which I wrote for as well as program director of KWTO. some months. That made me think of CRalph and Way Fullington have their talented Hugh Aspinwall (now Production own Advertising Agency now, you know.) Manager at KMA in Shenandoah, Iowa); Sally Briggs .. remember yodelin' Sally? of Al Stone's "Old Man" voice; and of was a favorite with Ozarks dialers, Don Harvey, who announced the show. and so were Slim Wilson, Aunt Martha Don is a dyed-in-the-wool Hollywoodite, and Goo-Goo Rutledge, who have re- (Continued on PAGE NINE) MARCH, 1 948 Page 5

PHOTOGRAPHS BY FLASHES IN THE PANORAMA . • • • • REUEL H A Y M E $

I. George, Alice and Billy Rhodes spend a q uiet evening al home with cutouts and crochet. 2. Monty Matthews blows himself lo a trombone solo-very solo-and blows everyone else from the studio. 3. Buzz Fellows, mouth and all. 4. The Rev. Floyd Hitchcock's family all together: Ila Jean, Rev. and Mrs. Hitch cock on the davenport, Dale Lewis at the radio, Mary Lee and Josephine on the floor, Rebecca Anne and Floyd Milton in the right foreground. 5. Slim Wilson (right) warned "Kentucky Jess" Gaddis against itchy-foot, but Jess look off a gain in his trailer. Page 6 THE KWTO DIAL

SLIM WILSON THE SPONSOR'S CORNER .•• HIS HEW FARM The Wilson family-Slim, Ada and John New spot announcement schedules on Wesley, Ada's mother, Mrs. Verna Reeve, KWTO' are being carried by Lever Bros. and her brother, Glen Hancock - are for "Breeze" soapflakes; by Gland-O-Lac finally moved from the old farm to the and Shasta Shampoo. new one, three miles southwest of Federal Southwest Wholesale Co. and Martin Hospital, pictured above. Moving was a Senour Paints are now sponsors of the mighty chore, involving work until mid Monday, Wednesday and Friday Sports night many nights. Slim has 35 Guern Spotlight at 6:15 p . m. Radio Special has sey cows and calves, 26 hogs on feed, 8 taken over 15 minutes of Haden Family brood sows, a 5-gaited registered Pal Saturday and Sunday mornings, S minutes omino and 425 white Leghorns-and that of Goodwi'il Family at 6:10 Tuesdays, takes a lot of moving. All of it went Thursdays and Saturdays. E d ward s smoothly, with the wild sow lassoed on Hatchery has the Goodwill Family from the first throw, and Slim's prized two 6 a . m. to 6:05. American Supply Co. toned Apache saddle, bought on a "Korn's is sponsoring Slim Wilson from 7:15 to A-Krackin' " trip . to Texas last summer, 7 :30 a. m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sat coming through unscathed. urdays. "We're farming on contour," Slim ex plains, sowing 35 acres rust-resistant oats, 25 to corn, 85 to orchard grass seed. One WHO ARE THEY? hundred tons of lime and six of fertilizer are to be used, and Slim is working to .... NAME THE STARS ward alfalfa and broom grass, not used much this far south. He is also experi In radio, everyone takes literally the menting with bird's foot triofole for per question asked by Shakespeare's Juliet, manent pasture, having bought 10 pounds "What's in a name?" Most of the KWTO at $33. "Glen picks up a lot of fine new stars are more familiarly known by nick ideas taking GI on-the-farm training," names or abbreviations of their monickers. Slim reports, "and that 160 acres is going Would you like to play a guessing game, to get a crack at 'em all." with a few helpful hints attached, on who The farm includes a 9-room house, a they really are? Only first names and 28-stanchion dairy barn, a large hay and middle names are listed, but all the hints horse barn, two chick houses, tool shed, as to their true identity have appeared milk house and tenant house. The in previous Dial Stories. You'll find the Wilsons sell their ROP-sired, pullorum answers in the April issue of The Dial. tested eggs to the MFA hatchery. (Continued on PAGE ELEVEN) MARCH, 1948 Page 7 THE SPOTLIGHT ... By DIOGENES

"Aunt Martha" was a "corn-fed and hand-spanked young'n" if ever there was one. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Wilson, of stern and handsome Tennessee stock, brought up their seven children in wholesome respect for hard work, in fear of the Lord and in sight of the rod. Few modern children get such exposure to cast-iron virtues and rigid concepts of right and wrong .. . which might have a new-fangled lot to do with what's the matter with the world today.

Martha was born in an humble home in Petros, Tenn., 40 miles east of Knoxville, and the family moved to Nixa when Aunt ·Martha she was still a little girl. There were farm with religic;ms songs, there was a gener chores for all of them, with only one ous sprinkling of such graybeard favorites boy, "S?im," in the family, and two sisters as "Bury Me Beneath the Willow," "The older, three younger than Martha. Milk Drunkard's Child," and "There Lies Our Own Flo-Ella in the Dark and Silent ing and corn-planting, field-clearing and Tomb." sprouts-cutting, the making of clothes and Aunt Martha hums a snatch of it. butter and hominy left few idle hands. "That's the oldest ballad I can remem Twice a week, and sometimes oftener, ber," she says. "I made a recording of there were two-and-a-half mile walks to that and 'Red Wing' on a neighbor's old the Missionary Baptist Church for Sunday cylinder recorder back in Tennessee when services and prayer meetings. And for I was eight years old. You had to put your mouth in the horn to sing, and put fun? " It was simple and plentiful.'' a sheet over your head to keep out noises Martha likes to recall. " We'd get to that didn't belong. Why, I started in gether with other girls from Harmony or radio with that song, Slim and Junior and Rosedale or Line School, whichever we me, with Junior standing on a cracker box happened to be attending, and have candy because he wasn't tall enough to reach makin's. Or maybe a lot of folks would the microphone." make a big dishpan full of oyster stew. I No KWTO executive has a shrewder loved to ride, and used to borrow a race head for business than Aunt Martha. She horse a neighbor owned. And there were started out with nothing, with a nervous box suppers, pie suppers, picnics, and breakdown and her home not paid for. far back as I can remember-family sing Into radio in 1932, the "Goodwill Family," ing at · the organ.'' with Junior just ten, guitar-playing and The Wilsons were " broadcasting" by yodeling soprano, played 6 a. m. pro courtesy of Alexander Graham Bell in grams at the first station in Springfield, stead of Marconi, long before radio was made personal appearances all over the developed. They moved the organ over Ozarks, and saved their money. Since to the wall telephone, took down the re then Martha has bought, built up and ceiver, and played and sang for hours to sold, at profits up to $6000, five restaur all the neighbors on the party line. Along ants and three homes. Page 8 THE KWTO DIAL

4:15 p. m.-Markels, Meditations SCHEDULE FOR MARCH 4:30 p . m.-Weatherman Williford 4:35 p. m.-Do You Know, News Briefs 4 :45 p. m.-Haden Family ' 4 :45 p. m .-Decision Now-ABC (S) Wl-4AT5 GOING 5:00 p. m.-Songs by Morrison (M-W-F) ON AT KYVTO? 5:00 p. m.-Haden Family {T-Th-S) 5:15 p. m.-Terry and the Pirates-ABC 5:15 p. m.-Voice of the Army {SJ 5 :30 p. m.-Jack Armstrong; Sky King-ABC 5:30 p. m.-Man on the Farm {S) WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAY 6:00 p. n:i.-Newscast 5:00- a. m.-Aunt Martha and PaTs 6:15 p. m.-Sports Spotlight 5:30 a. m.-Carl Haden 6:30 p. m.-Lone Ranger-ABC (M-W-Fl 5:45 a. m. -Rev. Hitchcock 6 :30 p. m.-Green Hornet (Tl 6:00 a. m.-Southland Echoes 6 :30 p. m.-Spotlight on Industry (Th) 6:00 a. m.-Goodwill Family (T-Th-S) 6:45 p. m.-Music You Like (Th) 6:15 a. m.-R. F. D. Roundup 6:30 a. m.-Haden Family MONDAY NIGHT 7:00 a. m .-Hillbilly Homesteaders 7:00 p. m.-It Pays to Listen 7: 15 a. m;-Slim Wilson 7 :30 p. m .-Twelve Players-ABC 7 :30 a . m.-Newscast 8:00 p. m.-On Stage America-ABC 7 :45 a. m.-Matthews Brothers 8:30 p. m.-Want to Lead a Band-ABC 7:45 a. m.-Haden Family (SJ 9:00 p. m.-This is Adventure-ABC 8:00 a. m.-Bob Wills and Playboys 9:30 p. m.-Earl Godwin-ABC 8:15 a . m.-Bill Ring Show 9 :45 p . m.-Buddy Weed Trio-ABC 8:15 a . m.-Matthews Brothers (S) 10 :DO p. m .-Newscast 8:25 a . m.-Morning Melody 10:15 p. m.-Best By Request 8:30 a . m.-Breakfast Club--ABC 11 :OD p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC 8:3 0 a. m.-Church Page (SJ 8 :45 a. m .-Southland Singers (SJ TUESDAY NIGHT 9:0 0 a. m.-Barry Wood Show 7:00 p. m.-Easy Listenin' 9:00 a. m.-YourHomeBeautiful -ABC (SJ 7 :30 p. m .-America's Town Meeting- 9:15 a. m.-Weatherman Williford 8 :30 _p. m.-Boston Symphony-ABC 9 :15 a . m.-Dialing the Editor (SJ 9:30 p. m.-It's Your Business-ABC 9:20 a. m.-Slim Wilson (M -W-F) 9:45 p. m.-It's In the Family-ABC 9:20 a. m.-Thornton Quartet (T-Th-S) 10 :0 0 p. m.-Newscast 9 :25 a. m.-Betty Crocker 10:15 p. m.-Best By Request 9 :3 0 a. m.-Weather, YomCar, Mark'ts (SJ 11 :DO p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC 9:45 a. m.-Newscast 10:00 a. m.-Breakfast in Hollywood-ABC WEDNESDAY NIGHT 10 :00 a. m.-Sat. Morning Roundup (SJ 7:00 p. m.-Mayor of the Town-ABC 10 :30 a. m .-Galen Drake- AB C 7:30 p . . m.-Vox Pop-ABC 10:30 a. m.-Pete Cassell {SJ 8:00 p. m.-Abbott and Costello--ABC 10:45 a . m.-Ted Malone-ABC 8:30 p. m .-Groucho Marx-ABC 10:45 a. m.-Rev. Hitchcock's Scrapb'k (SJ 9:00 p. m.-Bing Crosby Show-ABC 11 :OD a . m.-Hym for the Day, farm Hour 9:30 p. m.-Tony Martin Show-ABC 11 :OD a. m.-Meet Your Neighbor {SJ 10 :00 p. m.-Newscas! 11 :15 a. m.-Markets, Farm Hour 10:15 p. m.-Bes! By Request 11 :30 a. m.-Markets, Slim Wilson {SJ 11 :DO p . m.-News, Orchestra-ABC 11 :45 a. m.-Man al Stockyards THURSDAY NIGHT 11 :45 a. m .-Farm Forum {S) 7 :00 p. m.-lt Pays to Listen 12 :00 noon-Baukage Talking-ABC 7 :30 p. m.-Henry Morgan-ABC 12 :0 0 noon-Farm Forum {SJ 8:00 p. m .-Willi Piper-ABC 12 :15 p. m.-Matthews Brothers, MFA 8 :30 p. m.-The Clock-ABC 12 :3 0 p. m.-Newscast 9 :DO p. m.-Candid Microphone-ABC 12:45 p . m.-Man on the Street 9:30 p. m.-Easy Lislenin' 1 :OD p. m.-Welcome Travelers-ABC 10:00 p . m.-Newscast 1 :00 p. m.-Metropolitan Opera {S) 10:15 p. m.-Besl By Request 1 :30 p. m.-Bride and Groom-ABC 11:00 p. m .-News, Orchestra- ABC 2:00 p . m.-Judy and Jane 2:15 p. m.-Kitchen Talks FRIDAY NIGHT 2:30 p. m.-Linda's First Love 7 :DO p. m.-The Fat Man-ABC 2 :45 p. m.-Ladies Be Seated-ABC 7:30 p. m.-This Is Your FBI-ABC 3 :DO p. m.-Hayloft Frolics 8:00 p. m.-Break the Bank-ABC 3:30 p. m.-Telephone Quiz {M-W-F) 8:30 p. m.-The Sheriff-ABC 3:30 p . m.-Pete Cassell {T-Th) 8 :55 p. m.-Champion Roll Call-ABC 3 :45 p. m.-Cornfield Follies 9:00 p. m.-Calvacade of Sports-ABC 4:00 p. m.-Newscast 9:30 p. m.-American Sports Page-ABC MARCH, 1948 Page 9

10 :00 p. m.-Newscast 11 : 15 a. m.-First Baptist Church 10:15 p. m.-Best By Request 12:00 noon-Sunday Showcase--ABC 11 :00 p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC 12:15 a . m.-The Editor at Home-ABC 12 :30 p . m .-National Vespers-ABC SATURDAY NIGHT 1 :DD p. m.-Newscast 7 :00 p. m.-Ross Dolan, Detective-ABC 1 :15 p. m .-Here 's To Veterans 7 :30 p. m.-Famous Jury Trials-ABC 1 :30 p . m.-Drury Quarter-Hour 8:00 p . m.-Gangbusters-ABC 1 :45 p. m .-Congressman Bennett 8 :30 p. m.-"Korn's-A-Krackin' " 2 :00 p. m.-Lassie 9:00 p. m.-Etchings in Music-ABC 2:15 p. m.-Sam Pettengill-ABC 9:30 p. m.-Excursions in Science 2 :30 p. m.-Sermons in Song 9:45 p. m.-Newscast 3:00 p. m.-Sound-Off-ABC 10:00 p. m.-Best By Request 3:30 p . m.-Metropolitan Auditions-ABC 11 :DD p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC 4:00 p . m.-Guy Lombardo Show 4 :30 p. m.-Counterspy-ABC SUNDAY PROGRAMS 5:00 p . m.-Drew Pearson-ABC 6:30 a. m.-Haden Family 5:15 p . m.-Monday Morning Headlin es 7:00 a. m .-Rev. Hitchcock 5 :30 p. m.-Greatest Story-ABC 7 :30 a . m.-Carl Haden 6:00 p . m .-Child's World-ABC 8 :00 a . m .-Newscast 6:30 p. m.-Lutheran Hour 8:15 a. m.-Sermons in Song 7 :00 p. m.-Detroit Symphony-ABC 8 :30 a . m.-May Kennedy McCord 8:00 p. m.-Walter Winchell-ABC 8 :45 a . m.-Al and Lee Stone 8:15 p . m .-Louella Parsons-ABC 9 :DD a . m.-Sunday Bouquet 8:30 p. m .-Theater Guild-ABC 9 :30 a. m.-The Southernaires-ABC 9:30 p . m.-Newscast 10:00 a . m.-SMS Players 9:45 p . m.-Buddy Weed Trio-ABC 10 :30 a .. m.-Hour of Faith-ABC 10:00 p . m.-Revival Hour 11 :DD a. m.-Guidepost for Living 11 :DD p. m.-News, Orchestra-ABC I REMEMBER WHEN INQUIRING REPORTER (Continued from PAGE FOUR) Violet Gamble Morton: What is your now. He 's appeared in several movies favorite sport, a nd why? and is active in broadcasting there . So ma n y others marched across the Jack Matthews: Basketball is my fav pages of those Dials. Jerry Fronek with orite - na turally because I used to play his accordian; Fred "Elmer Axlebender" it. It's a fast-movin g game,. as bea utiful Warren (both now at KMAJ ; Wee Willie to wa tch a s it is to play, and I li ke Wells, who strums his guitar and warbles something that moves fast. at WKY in O klahoma City; a nd Skinny Thomas, who blow s his trumpet in Fair Bob White: Fishing! There's some mont, Minn. thing entirely d iff erent in excitement t There was Vern Williams, now Manager about the feeling you get w hen you see of WCLO in Janesville, Wis.; Vince Hard what you have on the end of your line. ing, who sends his voice out on the I just like the wide open spa ces, espec airwaves from Nashville, Tenn.; and ially along the banks of a g ood fi shing Walk Clarke, who teaches a t Ohio State stream. ' University a nd announces over WAKR in Benny Edmondson: Shooting- at any Akron, Ohio. thin g, any target from wild g ame to pa It was like watching a story u nfold - per bullseyes. My favorite hunting is but, I d on't have to tell those of you who for white-tailed d e er. I just like to sit keep The Dials in a scrapbook, w hat fun out there, frozen until one comes by, and it is to read the stories over and over then bust him. and to add a new chapter each month. Now that The Dial is changing form, Lee George: Baseball! I've refereed it will be handier to keep- even more a lot of basketball, but baseball has more packed with pictures and filled with fun excitement and appeal for me, maybe be and news. And since you're a listene r cause something new a nd often some to KWTO and a reader of The Dial, you're thing funny happens e very year, a nd a part of radio, too. every game is different. Page 10 THE KWTO DIAL

BY MAY KENHEDY McCORD HILLBILLY HEARTBEATS . • • • • "QUEEN OF THE OZARKS"

Greetings, Friends! hick'ry che'r an' he wanted to set in the How were you same corner whar he coula spit in the during the c o 1 d fa'r without a-gettin' up to do it!" He w i n t r y weather? didn't believe in any change and he Was the backlog didn't like progress. He dreaded to see on and the blaze "them steam en-jines a -cuttin' away the leaping high? Are roads that grandpappy drove over, an' the barns full and a-spreadin' concrete over 'em.'' He said the cellar stocked "they run the wild turkeys all outen the and can you say hills and they spHed the fishin' holes " soul, take thine a-buildin' them big dams (and he meant ease?" If so, then DAMS !l He had his own coffin made you're lucky! May McCord and sitting under the bed. He had his And, what do you care for winter's will made and had even carved and fixed blasts? The winter has to come. It puri up his own tombstone out of a native rock. He didn't fraternize with progress fies the world and freezes all the meanness out of it. It clears the brain nor make his bed with modern ideas. and fills the lungs with pure air and Well, he's gone to his reward and I ex puts the pep and ginger into you. You pect his reward is just about as good as know "a warm winter makes a fat grave yours and mine will be, who knows? yard," is one of the oldest sayings. And One time there was an old woman we I never saw it fail. all knew and liked, but she was plenty "quare" as we might say. Her ol' man However, takin' it all in all, as Mirandy says-"thar's nothin like a warm died and she was true to his memory. No new-fangled husband for her. She really summer night and a moon and a nice should have had a second try at the game feller a-settin' on a log a-playin' the for the first one was "mighty pore per gittar, and all the angels a-listenin'." (I believe she's "got sumthin' there!") taters, and few in the hill!" We used to tease her about getting And, how do you like the new Dia.I? married again to some good old plug, but Don't you think it's a honey? The Dial she would say, in her kind, whiney voice is undoubtedly the _finest little paper in -"Now folks, don't twit me about mar America for the price. Everybody should ryin' ! The name I've got right now will subscribe to it. It has a world of inter be cyarved on my tombstone!" And be esting stuff and gives you a lot of in lieve me, it was. She didn't believe in formation about your favorite stars. I like progress either. the new Dial. Aller all, you know I can fall in with progress, believe it or not. February was the month of heroes: of Washington, who was born to a great An old chap I used to know said he destiny; of Abraham Lincoln, who was wanted his coffee "a hundr'd percent" born to a great milepost in civilization (never did find out what he meant-) and and a tragic martyr. Of Edison. So many he wanted. it "made in the same biler and of the great were born in February. The poured from the same spout into the same world is full of Lincoln stories. It is said cup an' sasser" and he "didn't want no that he is to this day the most written-of new fangled perky-laters nor fumin' up man in history and the one on whom the sorta coffee pots run by no electricity!" most research has been concentrated. I He said "there wasn't any Bible fer it." have a couple of Lincoln stories recently That wa_s always his objection to every dug up that I never heard before, and they thing under the sun-there wasn't any are good. One day Lincoln was walking Bible fer it. He said he wanted to sleep along a street in his home town of Spring- in the same bed with his head turned "to the risin' sun." He wanted his "ol' (Continued on PAGE FIFTEEN) MARGH, 1948 Page 11 PORTSIDE PATTER EVANS SPONSORS OUIZ SHOW By GEORGE EARLE One of the brightest new programs on KWTO is the happy combination of Welcome to the gay, new DIAL! musical show and guessing game spon Refreshing as a breath of spring! sored by Evans Drug Stores and heard Changed to make it more worth while, each Monday and Wednesday evening at What happiness its pages bring! 7. Entry blanks are obtainable at the It comes to you a bright surprise; Evans stores. Contestants write to the We hope you readers will agree program, receive one prize if their letters The new and handy pocket-size are selected as one of the evening's win Is just as nice as it can be. ners, and a second if they answer the And so, a toast without delay, question Bob Morrison telephones them. When you have read these pages Questions are about KWTO, and quiz through, prizes may run as high as $50. You'll want to join us when we say: " An orchid, Editor, to you!" BOOKLET OFFERED * * * Speaking of the "breath of spring", Available by writing Lee George, care reminds me that spring is not too far KWTO, is the Martin-Senour Paint Co. '1way. As someone has written: booklet, "Painting?-Here's How." The My, days are fraught with trouble booklet not only tells you how to paint And my nights are full of woe; or refinish floors, walls, furniture and ex What a wet and weary bubble terior surfaces, and how to prepare those Is the winter world below! surfaces. It also offers decorator's tips on But there's one redeeming feature making a small room appear larger, a For a poor, benighted creature large room appear smaller, and otherwise When this cruel month is over choosing and blending colors to get the -Comes the spring! most harmonious and modern effect. Architectural detail and color treatment Sometime after February of adjoining rooms are discussed. When I smell the violet I can possibly, and probably, WIN, PLACE OR SHOW These icy days forget. Though that bright and festive Don McNeill, the toastmaster of ABC's season Breakfast Club, recently observed that Hasn't really happened yet, few horses can go as fast as the money In the not too hazy future bet on them. Comes the spring! Oh, my days are full of sadness WHO ARE THEY? With a minimum of bliss, (Continued from PAGE SIX) And the only ray of gladness In a snow-bound world, is this: I. His name is Aura Luther, he was bom I am recollecting daily in Plano, Iowa, and was a salesman be• As I twang my ukelele fore he entered the radio field in Kansas In the wake of February City. Comes the spring! 2. His name is Clifford R.. and his boy• hood dream of playing pro baseball was FICTION AND FACT almost realized-then blitzed by a shoul• de_r injury. Sam (Clowning) Cowling of ABC's 3. His name is Clyde Carol, he's Ozarks Breakfast Club has entered the following born and reared, and he plays his favor Fiction and Fact in Sam's Almanac: "Bar ite musical instrument left-handed. bers are constantly in fouch with the Who are they? Watch for the April heads of big business." Dial. Page 12 THE KWTO DIAJ.. LOOKJN· AT YOU EAVESDROPPING ..• BY FLOYD SULLIVAN . . . BY TERMITE" Paul Glynn, KWTO news reporter, has Diogenes, I notice, neglected lo mention been . keeping other members of the staff Aunt Martha's and Slim's parents, the entertqined with thrilling stories of the J. C. Wilsons, now living down near Bol Mardi Gras, since his recent . trip to New ivar and still singing in their church choir. Orleans. However, his best story had to And that Martha and Evert are -"doubled do with the theft of his auto license, up" with Junior, his wife and the two which he promptly reported to the New little girls in Brentwood, since Junior came Orleans police. He then telegraphed the back from Colorado, but will move to a · Springfield office of the Missouri Highway handsome ranch house soon .. . Among Patrol to confirm both his license number Junior's thrills during his work with the and his motor number in a telegram, '"Saddle Rockin' Rhythm'' crew was play which he could show to other officers who ing a Jack Benny show in Pueblo, Colo. might stop him. The local police answered ... The Dial is indebted lo Joe Gangle the telegram in less than three hours. hoff and the General Mills publication, Incidentally, he had plenty of use for the "Modern Millwheel," for the picture of confirmation . before he got back to Mis the nosey little man at the lop of the souri. He was stopped several times by schedule on page 8. Lou Black, however, officers while enroute home, but the mes swears it's Dale Parker with chick~n-pox. sage from the local patrol cleared the Does Io·ok like him, doesn't it? ... Jack way. Matthews and his attractive wife have moved from rented apartment to a new * * * 24-foot house trailer. "A rolling home," An interesting incident occurred during Jack suggests, "gathers no mossbacks'' .. . a recent snowstorm, when most of the Two of the most receptive audiences the schools in Southwest Missouri were call Matthews boys have had since they ing the KWTO News Department asking started their heavy schedule of personals: us to announce that there would be no Ash Grove MFA; Mansfield Lion's Club. school on that particular day. As you They had sweet potatoes, sweet ham, can see, the list of schools would natur green beans, butterscotch and coconut pie ally be long and it was next to impossible at the big feed !he MFA wives put on at for us to remember all the names we had Ash Grove. "If the woman who made written. While the newscast was still on this pie isn't married,'' Bill Hickman an the air, a woman called to say that she nounced, 'Tm going lo do something about it" ... After lunch the trio sang had turned in the name of her school and again, but Matt had lo come back for his it had not been included. We hurriedly new announcing duties ... The boys wrote a special announcement · and got it have made four personals at Ash Grove in on !he newscast. When Dick Witty, the two months, one oj them al the coronation newscaster, brought the copy back to the of the high school beauty queen. "I kept news room, he told us that the special wiggling my ears," Monty reported, "but announcement was a repeat. The school she saw my Herkimer act and picked in question had been included in the another Prince Charming" . original list. While we were talking the telephone rang again and the same woman complained that she had phoned her school in twice and it had not been used. We informed her it had been used twice on the newscast that had just been completed. The answer - She was telephoning KWTO, but listening lo another station Saturday, March 27 2 p.m. and, therefore, quite naturally did not SHRINE MOSQUE 8 p.m. hear the stoxy she had given us. l MARCH , 1948 Page 13

PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE PASSING PARADE • • • • • • • • • REUEL HAYMES

1. Bill Matthews learns with Ricky what Dick Willy is now used to: mix ing formula. 2. Goo-Goo and Selby Coffeen, star fiddler, dedicate a tune to Selby"s new baby. 3. Junior Haworth often brings his oldest daughter to the studio at "Hay• loft Frolics Time.'' 4. Waneta (Mrs. Bill) Matthews is prettier than ever since Ricky arrived. 5. Virge Phillips puts himself in the doghouse. "Goo-Goo."' he mourns., ..carries more weight around here than any of us. '' Page 14 THE KWTO DIAL Homekeeper·s Corner MY STARS! • BY OPAL PORTER (Editor's note : We are indebted to Edith Hansen, whose 2:15 p. m . "Kitchen Talks" As I looked at Pete Cassell's fine are such favorites, for two of the recipes picture in last month's Dial, " Virgo" fell her listeners most often request.l orally from my lips. I'm tempted to w rite at this face he has never seen. So much is revealed in it's sensitive, classic fea tures. But his stars also have much to say. Pete made a wise choice in careers. Law, regardless of his love for Blackstone, was not for him. Jupiter, legal planet, opposed the moon in Sagittarius, govern ing law. His moon did denote success in artistic pursuits, however, but its sextile to Venus and Mercury in Libra, artists' sign; it's trine to Saturn and Neptune in Leo and the sextile of these two planets to Libra, or his money-house planets. A grand trine in the air signs also pointed to an artistic career. These com prise his money, work and career house. Jupiter's presence in the latter looked like money in the bank. Uranus, boss of the workshop, fairly shouted radio. Mercury, Edith Hansen Pete's ruling planet, interposed its will and steered him into the right groove. Best Ever Cookies Pete's chart looks like a writer's bon Sift together 3 cups flour, 2 teaspoons anza. His books would touch a respon baking powder, 1 scant teaspoon soda, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg. Cut one cup of sive chord in the hearts of the public. shortening into these dry ingredients as if Virgos are perfectionists. Pete is young making piecrust. Beat 2 eggs, add one but he should start soon. He'll write and cup sugar, 4 tablespoons sweet milk and re-write before it meets his own approval 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add to first mixture and mix thoroughly. Roll out to desired and Pete could reach old age before his thickness, sprinkle with sugar, cut with writings pass his censorship. cookie cutter and bake about 10 minutes A man's wife is described by the moon in a 375adegree oven. This recipe makes in his chart. Where could Pete have a quick and pleasing sweet, and is a good found such a one as Ruthie, save in a one for children to learn when they first begin to cook. Sagittarius-moon! Kindness, understand Angel Food Dessert ing, loyalty, enthusiasm all are traits of Part one: Scald 3 cups milk, add ¼ the Sagittarius-moon-wife. Pete dedicated teaspoon salt. Beat 4 egg yolks, add 1 to Ruthie on their sixth w ed ding ann iver cup sugar, the hot milk, stir, bring to the sary the song "You're So Di fferent." In boiling point, remove from fire and add deed she is!, 2 tablespoons plain gelatin, which has been dissolved in ½ cup cold water. Let Statistics say Virgo has given us more this cool. great men (Scientists excluded) than any Part two : Cut or break a small angel other sign. food cake into small pieces and place a Pete's business ventures were under bad layer of the cake bits into a large, flat, slightly greased pan. Place a layer of planetary aspects. However, his dra the custard over the cake, then add a matic talent for reading and singing, layer of any desired fruit (drained, diced presaged by Neptune and Saturn in Leo, and sweetened), and chopped nutmeats. and his writing-composing ability are Repeat layers. Chill several hours. Cut into squares and serve topped with surer roads to success. whipped cream or ice cream. My best to you and Ruthie, Pet.e l MARCH, 1948 Page 15 SPORTS SPOTLIGHT Hillbilly Heartbeats BY LEE GEORGE (Continued from PAGE TEN) Basketball fans are wondering what field, Illinois, with his two small sons, sets the Ava High school team on fire when they play in the annual Greenwood both of whom were bawling lustily. A high school tournament at Southwest neighbor stopped and inquired " what's Missouri State. Last season Ava was the matter with the boys?'' And Lincoln the upset team of the tournament, and said-"Just the same as what's the matter this year they knocked off Springfield with the whole world. I've got three High School and Lebanon and only bowed out to Joplin in the Class "A" Finals by walnuts and each one of the boys wants the narrow margin of one point. two of them." When Bob Garrison, Versailles High Peter Cartwright was one of the old School court star, was injured in a recent time very great preachers, as you know. game at Lebanon, it was at first feared I have heard stories about Peter 0::rrt he had suffered a concussion, but the wright since I was a child. He lived in injury proved to be only a bruise. Inci the same neighborhood with Lincoln. dentally, the substitute for Garrison Lincoln was one of the most devout Chris scored the free throw that gave Versailles tian men and one of the strongest believ the game by one point margin. ers in prayer that ever lived. But he did not belong to any church in particular. Nixa and Verona High School teams Very few people ever downed Peter Cart have an important Southwest Central wright, but one time Lincoln did. Cart league game to play that will probably wright was running for Congress against decide -the league championship. The Lincoln, when one evening Lincoln game has already been postponed twice dropped in at a revival meeting Cart and with the SWC league tournament wright was holding. Lincoln came late rescheduled, the game again had to be and took a seat in the rear so as not to put off. Therefore, it appears the teams disturb. may not be able to decide the league championship until sometime in March. At the close, Cartwright made his ous- . tomary proposition to the audience that Coaoh Johnny Grayson of Springfield they always used to make, and I believe High School is sweating out the opening some do yet. They did always when I of fishing season. He is a fly fisherman was a child, I remember. "Everyone here and is anxious lo find out how those who wants to go to heaven, stand up." Ozark fish bite. Everybody stood up but Lincoln. Then Three minor league baseball teams he. said " everybody who wants to go to will have about ldO youngsters trying out perdition stand up." Of course, nobody at the Branson, Missouri, baseball park stood. Cartwright pointed right at Lincoln this spring. All the boys will be mem and said-" ! see Mr. Lincoln here, but he bers of the New York Yankees farm sys failed on either proposal. I would like tem. Tom Greenwade of Willard, for Mr. Lincoln to tell this audience just Missouri, New York Yankee scout, will where he wants to go." The angula:r, be in charge of the camp. long-limbed Lincoln rose to his feet, his Clyde McConnell, Chairman of the head almost touching the ceiling, and in State High School Athletic Association a clear voice, replied: " I am glad to board, believes that 20,000 persons will answer Reverend Cartwright's question, attend the State High School tournament I WANT TO GO TO CONGRESS." Anti at Southwest Missouri Stale college field he did. house. If attendance is that large, the Well, verily the years fly by as a tale take will be somewhere between $22,000 that is told, don't they? Goodbye, and and $27,000, a new all time record. That I'll see you next month. And wifh a11 my would really set the state board up with love, I am, faithfully yours, enough cash to do a lot of things. -MAY. Sec. 562 P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Springfield. Mo. Permit No. 753 AT HOME WITH PICTURE VISIT • • • • • THE WILSONS

It's a long, hard morning at KWTO. and a busy farmer's afternoon with his land and stock for Slim Wilson. Cold evening"s find the family around the fire, young John Wesley listening to "Terry and the Pirates/' "Sky King;· "Lone Banger" and "Jack Armstrong," his favorite programs, and whittling and drawing. Ada takes up her needlework, Slim his farm journal, until 9 o"clock bedtime. There"s a story and picture of Slim"s new farm on page 6. THE FIRE of typewriter, and dashed into the ham burger restaurant next door . . . . POST MORTEM "I'll cover the fire from here," he an After inventory was taken on the nounced breathlessly to the cook a n d the damage done by the fire, and it was waitress, obviously expecting the b uilding found to be limited_to a wooden partition to burn down before their eyes, yet de in the basement, everyone had a good termined to do his reportial duty, even if laugh about the evening's excitement. there was no radio station left to b road But it wasn't very funny at the time cast the story. to Lee G eorge, who happened to be sports And it wasn't funny to the thousands of casting w hen the fi re engines rolled up ; friends of KWTO who heard Lee George's to the announcer on d uty, Bob Morrison; emergency announcement, who were at to the boys laboring away in the third their radios when the station went dead, . fl oor newsrodm. One of them tore out of and who jammed the .switchboard and the the building carrying, at remarkable home telephones of KWTO stars and ex spe·ed, . a good many burdensome pounds ecutives asking nervously for news ..