The Washington times., 1937-12-07
e * R< "NoV1BLAnD
About An Old Woman
With Bright Eyes
and Great Voice
By
&~ z
.
Editorial Art Director and
Special Writer of The
WASHINGTON Times

Washington Times
60 you're so or 70, are
~ you. And you think you
are getting old? That there S
no longer place in the
world for you? Well, say
Put on your specs and read
this-ands be ashamed of
yourself.
We were coming back
across the lake after a days
work on the M-G-M "Bene-
fits Forgot" location. The
little boat had seats like a
street car. l was bending
over watching the prov split
the waters blue silk surface
and curl long streamers
toward my dangling hand,
when l heard something
which made me straighten
up quickly.
I looked across the aisle. Yes,
It was the same old woman who
had been quietly sitting there
when we first got on the boat.
But the voice! I couldn't believe
my ears or eyes. She was sing
ing in a clear soprano which be-
longed to someone much, much
younger.
The old girl turned and caught
me staring.
Surprised" she asked.
You could have bought me for
0 nickel.
YES" I answered. TITS. well
its"
st know, honey" she said, and
leaned over and patted my knee.
81 have a remarkable voice for
my age. I've been singing and
trouping for over SIS years. We
trouped with Will Rogers. and
when we get over to the lodge I
want to give you a little poem
I wrote about him. I gave Wal
ter HustonJ one and he liked
1t very much"
I told her I'd love to have it,
and that I'd meet her in the
lobby after dinner. BY this time
we were at the dock. A steep
path led up to the lodge. She
and the ruddy faced, sturdily
built old gent who had sat with
her in the boat trudged ahead,
but about halfway up she had
to call a halt. The old man
looked around at her, cooked
his hat on the side of his head,
and said:
CANT YOU TAKE IT?"
whats the matter, momma?
Can't you take it?"
She leaned on his arm.
Laughed up into his face as
she must have done when she
was 16.
Don't give me any Of that,
you old pony. You're glad to
stop, tool"
With that she turned her
plump figure, dressed in a pre-
Civil War costume, around to
me.
"You know" she apologized
in a whisper, we're a lot older
than they think we are. l." she
said, with more than a touch of
pride, "am TO-"
We went on up the hill, and
everyone scattered to wash for
dinner. That over, I went to
the main lobby in search of her.
There she sat. AS clean and
neat as a pin. Her face all
wreathed in smiles. She was
going to be interviewed again.
The cute thing looked around
triumphantly at Leatrice Joy,
Walter Huston, Guy Kibbee,
Clarence Brown, and the other
important members of the com.
pany.
"Sit here, honey"
I sat. And gave her all my at
tention. She presented me with
a copy of her poem which I'm
sending along for you to see.
HAD FIVE BABIES
you know" she said. I'VE
used to have our own company.
We did travesties on Shake
speare. At one time we owned
our own theater in Anaconda,
Montana. Oh, it was fun! and
we had five babies. Raised them
all in trunks, every one of them.
We trouped with Al Jolson, Ed
die Cantor, Will Rogers, and
lots of others.
why, poppa and I were
trouplng when they used oil
lamps for foot-lights. AND when
the theaters in the little towns
were mostly barns and school.
houses. Recently things haven't
been SO good, We couldn't get
work in the studios, so he took
a WPA Job on a grade crossing.
I told him not to feel badly, that
something would turn ,.p for
us. And then we got this job,
but it's only for three weeks.
I've got an idea, honey" she
whispered, as she leaned over
and patted my knee. AN idea
for the radio. It's called
Grandma's Melodies (title
has now been copyrighted for
the old LADY, ; and want to get
on the radio with it. I can
sing, as you heard, and I'm sure