The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-26
BY JIMMY DONAHUE NEA Service Shorts Writer

High up in little Chicago hotel room, c. c. Cash and Carry Pyle lies seriously ill. But his idea, big-time pro tennis, is blooming into robust health.
 It was old Collect the Coin" who ushered in the golden era of tennis. There were pro tennis players be- fore Pyle muscled into the sport. But they weren't certain where their next meal was coming from until he laid his Midas touch on the game. His first troupe of Vim cent Richards, Suzanne Lenglen, Mary K. Browne, Howard Kinsey, Paul Ferret, and Harvey Snodgrass started the landslide that finally engulfed Ellsworth Vines, N. S. No l ranking player in 1893 and Henri Cochet, French tenins mar vel last year.
 Of his first troupe, only Winnie Richards is still active. The vet. eran likes to reminisce about the time he signed to play for Pyle.
 Pyle picked his moment we'll" Richards recalls. After several sleepless nights, in which I came to the realization that my best playing days were over, I signed on the dotted line-and l have never regretted it.
 "The $30,000 he guaranteed me for 8 four-months' tour was more than I'd ever make playing anna teur tennis"
 The seed Pyle planted in 1926 grew in the succeeding years until Big Bill Tilden joined the ranks Tn l931. Previous questioning of Tilden had brought forth emphatic statements that he never would turn pro, but turn he did wher Jack Curley got his name on the line late in December, 193O. So ended the stormy career of Tilden the amateur, and began the career of Tilden the pro. He left behind him seven American cham pionships, Il years on the Davis Cup squad, and championships of England. France, Italy, Austria and New Zealand.
 That, I figured, was plenty to have done for amateur tennis-so l started out to do something for myself" he says.
 Tilden not only did something for himself, but he started the sec ond big step in the pro game-the stabilization of professional tennis.
 At the time Bill joined up. the troupe consisted of Francis T.. Hunter, Emmett Pare, Karel Koze- luh of Czechoslovakia, Whine Rich ards and few more. Immediately on his entrance, big hue and cry went up for national professional champion, and Bill, then nearly In h
 Ever since, Bills hand has been seen in the advance of the pro game. Under his bal1yhoo and big name influence, it has jumped to a point where pressure is being brought for formation of national tennis open, to be played annually between pros and amateurs.
 Tilden, now on 60,000-mile tour with Vines, Richards, and Bruce Barnes, is contending that true tennis greatness is only proven by a test between the greatest amateurs and the best pros. He is the fore most exponent of the open tourna- ment.
 This will be the greatest year yet in the pro game" Bill states, Tn addition to our current tour, one of the big attractions of the year will be the coming of Henri Cochet and Martin Plaa, two of the greatest players to wear Frances colors. Cochet and his partner will play Vines and myself in a series of doubles. and there likely will be singles .atches, too.
 Summer will bring the inaugu- ration of the first pro tournament schedule of sectional champion ships, and will see Vines, Cochet, Plaa. Nusslein, Kozeluh, Richards, Barnes, Hunter, Pare and other stars in action. In addition to these we may see several amateurs turn pro and take part in these championships.
 Before long, and perhaps before the year is over, we'll see the in- auguration of the national tennis open, staged like the national golf open. That will prove that the pro game is here to stay"