The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-17
RAISING JUNIOR
SKIT ON RADIO
BRINGS FAME
Newspaper Man, Wife Hit
New York Two Years Ago
Broke; Rise Fast.
BY Fl. ALLEN SMITH
United Press stat Correspondent

NEW YORK, NOV. lf.--FeOel
Dixon and his wife, Aline Berry
spent a couple Of hours today
opening their fan mail, which is de-
livered to them in bags, and talking
about the vicissitudes Of life, espe-
ciallv the time when their future
hinged on a monkey wrench
The story Of the Dixons' rise IN
the world is another Alger tale and
a good one.
TWO years ago. when they ar
rived in New York they didn't nave
a dime.
Today their radio skit. Raising
Junior" broadcast daily over the
NBC network, is one Of the most
popular features Of the air.
Former Newspaper1nan
Dixon is a former newspaper man.
He worked on papers in Houston,
Galveston, San Antonio, FL Paso,
Tucson, Tulsa, Oklahoma City,
Louisville and other cities.
Two years ago he and his wife
decided to take the big leap and
come to New York. They drove east
from Oklahoma and, finally, one
night found themselves in jersey
City.
Difficulties presented themselves.
Here they were, within rifle range,
as they say in Oklahoma, of Man
haitian. Yet they didn't have
enough money to buy ferry tickets.
Friendly Cop Helps
They sat In the car and considered
their problem. Finally, Dixon dug
into his tool kit and brought forth
p monkey wrench. He would try to
sell it to some one for enough money
to get across the Hudson.
He got out Of the car and started
TO walk up the street, carrying the
wrench in his hand. A policeman
kaW him, suspected that he was bent
npon Draining some one with the
wrench, and stopped him.
our hero explained his predica-
ment to the officer, who grinned and
handed him a. quarter. SO, after
all, Peter did not have to sell his
monkey wrench down the river.
In New York, he worked on a
newspaper and then got job as
q press agent for the National
Broadcasting Company.
Skit Is Created
The Dixons never were very pros
porous. The birth Of a son did not
improve the economic horizon for
them. But the birth Of an idea
did.
Dixon wrote a Raising Junior
skit. He and his wife rehearsed 1t.
Then they went over to New Jersey,
to the plant of breakfast food fac
tory. They got permission to put
on their act for the executives Of
the company.
A number of women employees OF
the place were called in to have. a
look at their offering. The execu-
tives figured that a feminine audi
ence would provide the best reac-
ton. 1t did.
IT'S Little Things That Count
Right in the middle of the per-
Torrance, which simply depicts the
ups and downs of young couple
engaged in rearing a child, one Of
the women auditors jumped up,
burst into tears and ran out Of the
room. She had had baby and the
child had died.
The breakfast food people were
impressed. The Dixons were signed
up to broadcast the skit. They fin
ished their second month Sunday.
THE moral of the story" said
Dixon, smiling at his attractive
Young wife. els that the little things
in life are the things that count. If
you have a monkey wrench around
the house, don't give it away or let
the kids carry it of. 1t might come
In handy some day"