Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-25
RUDY FEARS "CRUCIFIXION,"
HE TELLS MAINE HOME FOLK
81 Want to Think | Can Al
ways Return, Even if in
Disgrace" He Says.
Some on Broadway Would
Ruin Him for a Few DOL
lars, Crooner Asserts.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, Mass, July IS (N,A.N.A).
-Obsessed with the fear of some i'm
pending disaster. Rudy Vallee. radios
greatest crooner, played and sang and
laughed Wednesday night at Marlboro.
Mass, but that was the Snowman He Is
nervous He works and plays under a
strain. Broadway has left mark on
him which he cannot erase, until he
bids Broadway good-by forever. And
he doesn't want to do 1t.
II have enough money" he told the
people of his home town, WeStbrook,
Me, the day before. Il could retire to-
morrow. But I want to go on working,
There is happiness in music If you put
happiness into it, and 1 want to go on
doing that. But think that II / knew,
few years ago, of flames drawbacks
and the price one must pay, l would
have hesitated before accepting 1t. l
might have taken :: different course.
Likes Crowds of Friends.
ct am not referring to the crowds
around me or the people who rush me
to shake hands. I love that. 1t makes
me feel that I am bringing to people
some happiness in life. l love to read
the mail they send me, folks whose
days are spent gazing at ceiling. 1
love to put more and more into music
for them. 1t isn't the envious orchestra
leaders who sometimes go out OF their
way to make trouble for me. 1 don't
mind them. Most of the leaders are
my friends. Paul Whiteman is one Of
my best friends.
" II am referring to a power which I
cannot combat. Fame has brought
fear of disaster, and no matter what
7 IN think
home to you, even though IN disgrace,
and always find a welcome here"
Roar Welcome to Him.
Maine men and Westbrook citizens
roared their intentions of always well
coming him, but it did not take the
worried look from his face. Speaking
before the University of Maine men,
| who honored him last week, Rudy
touched again on the fear of disaster.
| Speaking later before 600 of the men
and women of Westbrook, he went even
| further.
II am referring to a power somewhat
akin to that of the Columnists, who
| continually dig at me and poke fun at
me-" he said. Il mean a greater power
| than that, a power that is continually
| searching and seeking for something to
twist and turn and sensationally print
| for monetary gain, regardless of the
cost to me or my family. There are
men in New York, who would stop at
nothing to drag down one who has
achieved fame.
| Says Maine Folks Called clicks"
"On Broadway they call us folks from
Maine hicks. hope you'll never
change, never lose that home spun
simplicity, that honesty and character
of small-town people. In New York,
| people live in a world bound in by
sideways, high buildings, ferry boats and
| noisy whistles and roars. They live
at a tension. They know nothing of
the leisurely existence of the small
| town. We're hicks. Don't ever change
You're honest, you're sincere, you have
a simplicity they can not appreciate,
but those of us who have known it,
| love it.
"I am going to keep on working as
/ I always have and I'm going to come
! back home again. 1 hope I'll always
have a welcome here, even though
return bruised and bleeding. They're
| out to cruelty me and they are men
who would cruelty me in a minute fol
few dollars. They might ruin me.
! they might kill my mother and father,
! but it means nothing to them If they
can get few hours publicity and few
thousand dollars gain.
Fears the CrucifixiOn-
ST love to work I want to work but
fear the crucifixion that certain ones
| are trying to give me.
Don't you change Don't YOU lose
| your simplicity. No matter what comes
I hope there1l always be welcome for
me here" -
The fact that every one in his home
town smiled at him and greeted him
warmly seemed to please Vallee ex-
ceedingly. He spoke of the boys with
whom he had quarrelled when he was
youngster, boys who had buried the
Ratchet" He seemed to yearn for the
warmth of their greetings.
He opened his heart this week for the
first time since he left home five short
years ago. He talked of the things he
would not write about in his very
straightforward story of his life,
"Vagabond Dreams Come True"
But, like the Snowman he is he went
Immediately from that mood to en-
tertainment. He smiles, carefree boy
before his orchestra.
He seems to forget these worries and
obsessicns in his music But away from
the theater. the studio, the dance hall,
the fear grows on him again and he
strains beneath it.
Copyright, 1880, by North American News