New Britain herald., 1930-02-20
M'NAMEE PERFORMS
 DESPITE SICKNESS
Radio BroadCaSter Feature Of
 Lions Club Frolic Program

Graham McNamcc proved himself a real trooper last night when he braced himself under the handicap of a severe illness to take part in the Lions Frolic of 1880 at the Senior high school auditorium last night.
 The worlds famous radio an nouncer, who was engaged as spc- Cial opening night attraction for the frolic, was ill all day yesterday and Q at times it seemed almost necessary 10 cancel his engagement here, but he decided to make a sacrifice be- cause of the fact that the show was for charity.
 Upon arriving in New Britain shortly after o'clock yesterday he apepared to be seriously ill but he was determined that the Lions club should not be disappointed.
 He shook off his attack Of illness, stepped out on tho stage when in troduccd by William C. French and began to take the audience into the spirit of radioland. He sang two numbers. accompanied at the piano by John J. Crean of this city.
 He was schCduled to put on q Ia mlnutc performance and he did it. This was in accordance with the un- written law of the theatrical world which provides that q trooper go through with his act regardless of heart breaks, physical handicaps or personal inconvenience. His per formancc started at S:55 o'clock and ended at 9:l0 o'clock.
 Nervous Before Audience
 He sang an Irish song and "The Road 10 Mandalay." Then he gave an informal chat in which he told of his nervousness before a visible audience and of the letters he re- ceives criticising his work. He spoke of the roses in California; and of letters telling of poor work in an- nouncing the world series game. He then took a letter. from his pocket which was sent him after q world series contest.
 Joke on Phillips Carlin
 He said his old friend. Phillips Carln was sitting beside him when the letter was tossed on his des.;. Mr. McNamec quoted -scvcral$ un- complimentary lines and while he Was reading it Carln was "grinniIrs all oyer.' He said Carlin is d stout man and q stout person can gria much better than q thin person" Finally he came to the end Of the letter and he happened 10 sec q post script And everything l sail about you goes for that fellow Car lin too"
 He praised Baby Rose Marie the five year old radio performer. who will be the feature attraction at to- tonight and tomorrow's shows. He said he believed there was only one child performer who compared wi.h her and that was Louise Hermann. the little toe dancer of this city who had appeared prior 10 Mr. Me Namcc's turn.
 He received q great ovation from the audience although it was un- aware of the fact that he was not in his usual health. When he came back stage he was the center Of at traction and besides receiving con- gr atulations he signed his auto- graph on many programs.
 It was necessary for him to eaten the 9;3S o'clock New York boun1 train at the Berlin station and about 9:20 o'clock he stepped in.o a waiting automobile and was hur- rlp1 tO tho station
 Two Supreme Moments
 Asked before his departure what he considered the most thrilling mo- ments in his career in radio broaI- casting Mr. McNamec said he hal two. One was the landing of Col Charles 1,indbergh and the other was the long count" in the Tunncr- Dempsey heavyv boxing cham pionship bout in Chicago.
 His latest work is with news reel in which his voice is synchro- nizCd with the action of the picture The most important event he has dcscgibed in the reel was a Chica3o fire ill which nine out of 10 persons who jumped eight stories from :, burning building were saved and the tenth suffered injury when sine missed the net.