The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-26
Blues Singer
Plays HeaUy
Ether Role
BY HELEN WELSHIMER
NEA Service Writer

NEW YORK, Aug. 26.-If you
think that you weigh q pound or
two too much, cheer upl The
world loves fat women even more
than it does fat men. All you have
to do is be interested in people and
in your work and nobody will care
at what you tip the scales.
Kate Smith, the 22-year-old radio
star and actress, never was a slim
16. Nobody could ever call her
petite. She is plump, very plump,
and she doesn't care. She sings
blues songs and memory songs and
every other kind Of songs over the
radio, and she never gets static.
Be yourself, is her motto, even
If it requires considerable avoir-
dupois. And Kate weighs 240
Il like to eat" Miss Smith says.
There isn't anything I like to do
better. love homemade cakes
And corn prepared in any way, at
all. Corn-on-the-cob, corn bread
corn fritters, baked corn, escalloped
cornl"
Doesn't Mind Extra Pounds
She is plump and she doesn't
care. A few pounds, SO she has
learned won't make much differ
ence after all.
When I sing" she says, 1T Wis
ualize my audience. From the let
ters that come l know just where
the people are listening. I can
see the mountain people sitting on
their porches in the hills while
the music comes drifting in. And
l can see the army hospitals where
the men are waiting in their cots.
And 1 sing to all of them as if
they were before me-"
ANY one who is singing just to
display a voice doesn't receive
much sympathy from the 22-year-
old girl who sings all of the time
while she puts on her makeup,
while she waits for people, while
she thinks about them.
Wants to Be Pilot
And she proves that you have
to have a human interest to put
your voice over the air, too. 1t
takes work. Not in practicing. But
to keep in touch with your public.
Hundreds of letters come every
day." she says. "At first I typed
every onswer. But now I have a
secretary who takes dictation. But
sign them ALL"
The girl who has been doing all
sorts Of sentimental things to
American hearts is a very whole
some, human young woman. She
would like to have a pilots Ii
cense. She is as happy in the air
as on the air. But she knows that
she is rather heavy to try for the
license She once studied to be a
nurse.
Proud Of Theme Song
She doesn't wear street makeup.
Blue, white and black are her ia
vorite colorS. No prints. She never
appears in red, either.
She has discovered a few definite
things about those who listen to her
songs.
Women are moved more by songs
than men are" she says. There is
an exception, though, when you in
clude sick men. They are the most
affected of all. When the old war
time songs come floating back to
them the tears run down their
cheeks"
Kate Smith likes housework. She
likes to cook. She knows that there
haven't been any detours on the
original road to mans heart, not
even since the radio started broad
casting grooming lyrics. Corn bread
can hold its own with anybody's
song.
But she is more proud of her
theme song, when the Moon
Comes Over the Mountain" which
she sings to millions of radio fans
over the CHS network. She wrote
the lyrics in conjunction with
Howard Johnson.