davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-12-03

So Mr. Normal turned his talents elsewhere
Sound pictures had just come in. Fred could
toot that horn of his and he registered with
Central Casting as an extra. He was astounded
when the pleasant young woman in Centrals
Office put him on the preferred list 1t had
never occurred to Fred that girls considered
him good looking Between the rare extra calls,
he trudged from studio to studio, seeking
work as laborer!
As occasionally happens, director, shoot
ing crowd scene, wanted someone to speak
a line. Fred, tall, handsome, stood out.
"You," said the director, do you think you
could step forward to the camera and say,
We won't stand for it'?" This is the break
which 1900 extras practically live for
Perspiration poured down Fred's face. He
answered, mo"
Fred could talk with the sax, though He
got job in theater orchestra. He read music
easily - something many dance orchestra
musicians cannot do. He would hum new
tunes so that the other men could work out
their parts. You could sing, said the leader.
1T was torture" Fred says. Even in
get through song except by leaning on the
piano. First, learned to do it with only one
hand supporting me. 1t was three months
before sang standing alone"
Lou Woods and his popular California COL
legians we're on the Coast, playing in a
musical picture. Lou went to the theater
where Fred was working.
Believe it or not, Lou tells it, "one of our
boys, Tex Beach, had just won scholarship
to Massachusetts, Tech. We had signed con-
tract to deliver our orchestra, intact, for
the opening in New York of the musical
comedy 'Threes Crowd liked this goof
MacMurray When we found he could read
music - none of US could - he looked even
better, so we renamed him Tex Beach,
Fred's mother had just broken her hip.
Il can't leave you," Fred said. But Mrs.
MacMurray knew how vital the chance was.
"Of course, she said, I'VE might need lot of
money if this hip doesn't heal" Fred went
and on the train taught the plays whole score
to his new friends
Evening star., 1939-12-03

asked Lou, DO you remember any Incl
dent in particular from the five years Fred was
with you?"
well, he was swell fellow"
Sure. What else?"
well, one night he tried to walk across
Central Park Lake and it wasn't frozen hard,
and he fell in
Something more" insisted Something
individual''
Lou frightened well, Fred was fool for
peanut butter. His mother was always send
ing him peanut butter
In "Three's Crowd" they got Fred onto
the stage. Dressed as a somewhat ragged
sailor he was stood - that was" is right -
with his back to the audience Libby Holman,
probably the hottest torch singer of all time,
intoned the famous please Give Me Some
thing To Remember You By!' At the songs
conclusion She threw her arms about Fred;
he broke away, mumbling. Il gotta leave,
Babe. Rigid with self consciousness he STUN
bled to the wings. An actor
! HEN came Roberta" The orchestra was
to sit on the stage, an ordeal in itself for
Fred. But they wanted him to fool around"
too. Up there in the bright light,
At this moment, certainly crucial one in
his life, Fred met Lillian Lamont A beautiful
brunette, she had come from Baltimore to
New York, where she was an ultrasuccessful
dress model. In Roberta" she was playing
mannequin's part.
Lillian liked this quiet, sincere boy and,
like others in the cast she had faith in him.
1--WE never figured how she did it, Fred says,
puzzled, "but she convinced me had some
thing on the ball. She gave me confidence"
In The Third Little Show Fred fooled
around" with more success. He clowned and
even sang in pleasant, shy voice. A Holly
wood scout offered to sign him. Lillian's faith
and growing influence over her boy friend
nerved him for the plunge.
In Hollywood six months passed without an
acting assignment. Then the old fiction situa-
ton: a leading man suddenly i'll; director
willing to take a chance on a newcomer Fred
was cast opposite Claudette Colbert in ''The
Evening star., 1939-12-03

Gided Lily" As the weeks of shooting wore
on Fred grew panicky. He felt sure he was a
flop.
Fred wrote Lillian. preparing her for bad
news She quietly appeared in Hollywood, got
a modelling job in department store. I'D
have stuck. anyway" Fred says. but it was
grand feeling to take her to supper after each
worrisome day."
The Gilded Lily" shot him to a stardom
that has grown until it battles him. At the
time, though, he waited through two more
pictures, till l could be sure of making a
living" Then he married Lillian. After six
years Hollywood calls them 'sappy" about
each other. They like it!
Fred's normality affects his idea of big
time It's to 60 and sit in the shadows and
watch an orchestra work. His worst habit"
Lillian said, lis that he's helpless in barber
chair. The BARRIERS cut his hair any way they
like and sell him any tonic they choose"
The MacMurrays are a quiet couple
Wed 60 out more" Lillian admitted, lex
cept that Fred hates to dress for dinner He's
always saying, i look clean and neat, don't
I?'" She laughed. Il don't see how the studio
keeps him at work. He's like small boy,
always planning to visit far places. Somebody
told him, two years ago, that fishing is better
in New Zealand than anywhere else in the
world. We've had steamship folders on the
living room table ever since"
Fred has more or less conquered his once
painful shyness, but it seems the big easy
going leading man will always be self
conscious. In his first picture with the fasci-
mating Madeleine Carroll (he costars again
with her in Honeymoon in Bali') he muir
INJURED. red-faced. to the director: Lets do
the love scenes first. can't work for weeks
with that hanging over me-"
And on a recent camping trip in Death
Valley he and Claude Binyon ran across a
grizzled old desert rat As the two big men
trudged up to his fire the oldster narrowed his
sun-faded eyes and said rather truculently:
''W-a-all, set!''
They tried to be friendly But the pros
pector merely chewed tobacco vigorously,
used the fire as target, and stared at them
scornfully.
Finally he fired a question at Binyon, who
is not as tall as Fred but broader.
What ye do fer livin'?"
I'm writer" answered the amiable
Claude
Ping! Sizzle! Tobacco juice hit the Goals.
"Ain't ye ashamed, big feller like you?"
Then he glanced at Fred who tried to duck
the mans eye but couldn't.
AN you?"
Fred swallowed He couldn't get the word
"actor' out. He just couldn't. When his
voice came it squeaked:
Same as Binyon."
Fred tells it on himself. He's getting better,
Evening star., 1939-12-03

RED MACMURRAY, six feet, three inches of
middle United States, reacts like a car
- toonist's Average American. If Lillian,
his wife, gets new hat he doesn't like it till
some other man praises it. Then, when she's
about to throw it away, he thinks it s beautiful.
When Fred goes to theater or night club
and is ushered to seat behind a post, he
mumbles to himself but doesn't protest Il
hate scenes" he says.
Starting on car trip he invariably takes
roundabout way to his destination, being
too proud to ask directions till he's COM
pletely lost. His defense is, Il get there, don't
II" His friend Soenarist Claude Binyon calls
him "Mr Normal
The star of Honeymoon in Bali" and the
born in Kankakee, Illinois, where his father
and mother had stopped during one of the
formers violin playing tours.
At the age of three, in Madison, Wisconsin,
Fred was taken to the circus. There he saw
clown knock another clowns head off - a
papier- -mache head. To the child the scene
was very real He screamed in terror 1t bred a
crowd fear, a theater fear. When he was five
someone stood him on chair to play violin
duo with his father. He quavered through it,
but fright made him so i'll the ordeal was not
repeated. These experiences aggravated what
must have been inherent timidity. Everyone
who knows Fred considers his development
into screen star miracle of self-discipline
He credits his wife.
Except for shyness and good nature - both
in far more than average degree - Fred as a
boy was Mr.. Normal in the making. Mother
had stopped going with Father on tour, and
settled in Beaver Dam Wisconsin. Fred still
calls Beaver Dam home. my big ambition
was to have house as grand as the mill
superintendent S. Also, wanted wood lathe,
a leather punching outfit and an Irish setter"
(He has them all.)
His love of music was strong Working at
every sort of odd job, the youngster earned
money to buy, first, baritone horn, then
a saxophone. An empty larder started Freds
war against shyness. Mother and father had
separated. had to help Mother. played with
local orchestras and in Madison. If we played
in pit, okay. If on stage was practically
unconscious while played, and i'll afterward
Odd jobs, school, drawing lessons (Which he
iked), ten letters in athletics, an American
Legion medal for combined scholastic and
athletic standing - all are memories of his
hgh-school days. He quit Carroll College, at
Waukesha, Wisconsin, to work in a Beaver
Dam stove factory - to help his mother.
After while he invaded Chicago and played
in small Orchestras there
In 1928 Fred drove his mother to California
to visit relatives. He promptly got job sand
papering old paint off third d-hand motor cars
= and his boss ran off with the till.
The guardian., 1939-08-26

Grace Murray is at Oak Bluff, Mass
Mrs. Ida Evans is in Philadelphia,
Penn.-Mr. and Mrs. Robert Travis
are in Ft. Gaines, Ga.-Mr. Henry
Thomas has returned from two weeks
stay in Atlanta, Ga.-Miss Myrtle R.
Banks of New Orleans, visited her
uncle and aunt, DR.. and Mrs. W. K.
Hopes. She attended the National
Teachers Association in San Fran
cisco, visited Chicago and the Fair in
New York. She goes to Washington,
D. c. this week where she will be
joined by Miss Linnie Smith and
journey back to Chicago where Miss
Smith will receive from Chicago Uni
versity her Ph.D. degree. At her home
is New Orleans Miss Banks will resume
her teaching in the New Orleans Public
High School.
The guardian., 1939-08-26
W0BURN

WOBURN, Mass, Aug. 21-Rev. A.
Roger Williams, pastor of the ST.
Johns Baptist Church, was the minis
ter IN charge of the Union services
which were held in the First Congrega
ton Church last Sunday morning at
1880 o'clock. Rev. Williams delivered
soul stirring sermon from the sub
Ject: when your house is on fire" The
attendance was very good although the
weather was stormy A goodly num-
Der from st. Johns Church attended
the Union Services. Next Sunday the
Union Service will be held in the Uni
tarlan Church opposite the city com
mon, service beginning sharply at
1880 am. On the first Sunday in
September Rev. Williams will have
charge of the last service of the sum-
mer schedule at the Unitarian church.
The Second Sunday in September all
OF the churches in the city will resume
their fall and winter schedules.-Sun-
day evening Rev. Williams preached a
very interesting sermon from the sub
Ject, Take a little Honey" Miss
Miriam Keller was the soloist for the
evening. The Second Sunday in Sept
the church school will resume its reg1.
lar schedule.-The church school will
give a bus ride Monday night Aug. 28
to Revere Beach.-Mrs. Mary Scott of
Garfield Ave, is recuperating at the
New England Sanotarium, Stoneham,
Mass.-Mrs. Martha Keller is i'll at her
home on Allen St,-Mrs. Martha Fin
ley is resting Comfortably after an
operation at the Choate Memorial Hos
pital.-Mrs. Beatrice Renfrew is i'll al
her home on Walnut St.-The st. John
Church was presented with a new elec-
trio clock last week by the men under
the supervision of Deacon James c.
Flelds.-Mrs. Matte Fitchett of Cen.
ter St, is recuperating at her home
Messrs. Albert White and William
Plunkett attended the State Conven.
tlon of the American egion at Taunton
last Saturday.
The guardian., 1939-08-26
PORTLAND
A.M.E. Zion Church
Rev. John c. Taylor

PORTLAND, Me, Aug. 22-Miss
Minnie Mitchell of Merrill St., enter
tanned at a dinner party on Thursday
Miss Freda Moore, Buffalo, n. Y; Miss
Thelma Buckley, Boston; Miss Phyllis
Hunter and Miss Emily Mcdonald of
New Orleans, La. and Mrs. Florence
Nichols, Of this city.-Mr. and Mrs.
Samuel Terrill have had as guests Mr..
and Mrs. Henry jackson, of Spring
field, Mass. and J. Brooks of New York.
Mrs. Florence Nichols has had as her
house guests, the Rev. J. E. A. Johns,
of Salisbury, Md. and Mr.. and Mrs.
Dennard Adams, of Chestnut Hill, Pa.
-Barney's Moonlight Sail which was
postponed because of rain will be held
on Aug. 31st.-Robert Lowry, of Bos-
ton spent Sunday with his mother, Mrs.
Grace Lowry, of Congress St.-Miss
Elizabeth Stout, of Dorchester, Mass.
was the recent guest of Miss Alberta
Fisher, Of Lafayette St.-Miss Marion
Sadlier of st. John, N. B. is the guest
of Mr.. and Mrs. John Deas of West
St.-Walter Gaskill went deep sea
fishing Sunday, making a very salts
factory catch.-Frank Lindenberger is
a member of the Ould Newbury Little
Theatre Group. He just took the part
of the Dragon General Su in "Lady
Precious Stream" - Miss Matte
Stands Of Boston, is the house guest
Of Mrs. Josephine Nash, of Lafayette
St.-Mr. and Mrs. John Deas had as
dinner guests on Monday, Frederick
Perry, Boston, Miss Marion Sadlier,
st. John, N. B., Miss Olivia Lewis,
Penn, Henry Pierce, West Va, and
William Deas.
The guardian., 1939-08-26
MAIDEN
Union Baptist Church
Rev. Willard L. Clayton, Pastor

MAIDEN, Mass, Aug. 21-The
inspiring sermon by Rev. Clarence
Burrell of Pittsburg, Pa, was greatly
enjoyed. Rev Burrell occupied the
pulpit in the absence of Rev. Clayton
who is on vacation. Miss Darlington
was in charge of the -Beauti-
ful flowers were given in loving mem
ory of Priscilla Paris by Mrs. Gertrude
Paris and family.-Arthur Whitaker
represented the Sunday School at the
musicale of the Mystic Union Sunday
afternoon at the Myrtle Street Church
West Newton.-Sunday, August 81
Rev. Roger Williams of Wobum will
be the speaker and Alfred White the
soloist.-Mr. and Mrs. Percy Simmons
while on vacation will visit New York,
Philadelphia and Washington.-Mrs
Willis Hinton is visiting friends at
Montelair, New Jersey-Miss Beatrice
lGay) Tanner is vacationing at Hart
ford, Conn, and Miss Clara Tanner
at Montreal, Canada.-Miss Marion
Moore of Kansas City, Co., is the guest
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Hinton of
Franklin Street, Maiden.
The guardian., 1939-08-26
HARTFORD

HARTFORD, Conn, Aug. 21-Not-
withstanding the inclement weather
not quite 100 persons attended the
morning service at Bethel where DR..
W. K. Hopes discussed Victory
through Faith and Obedience" The
senior choir sang. Among the visitors
were Pearl Scott of Hartford and
Miss Myrtle r. Banks of New Orleans,
LATHE Sunday School had fair
attendance. Superintendent Wells
made a report on the picnic in Keney
Park which was a grand success.-The
Allen c. E. League held its regular
meeting at 6 pm, which was followed
by a literary program presented by
Miss Stinson, chairlady.-At the even
ing service the pastor spoke on "Christ
as the Only Means of Salvation and
Eternal Life" At the close Mrs. Bea-
trice Williams, formerly of Daytona
Beach, Fla, joined the church and was
assigned to class No. II. J. L. Willis
leader Each Sunday new member
joins the church.-The Barbecue held
last Saturday by the Auxiliary Board
on Bellvue Street was well attended
and after the affair was a financial
success. This club will continue these
affairs for the rest of the season, Mrs
Sally Bank, president; Mrs. Ethel
Barlow, secretary.
Accompanying DR.. Hopes and his
daughter, Nancy to the District Con-
ference at Greenwich, Conn, were Miss
Mildred Wells, Sunday School dele
gate and Miss Helen Kennedy Allen
c. E. League delegate. DR.. Hopes
preached the opening sermon for the
CONFERENCE.-The. A. T. Hopes and
daughter, Nancy, returned home last
Thursday after a three weeks stay in
Newport r. !. While there they were
entertained at dinner by Mrs. Ella
Dennison, Mrs. Ethel Ames, Mrs.
Sophy Burney and Mrs. Nellie Nelson.
They reported having a fine time
Miss Trustina Edwards is in Bar
Harbor, Maine, for the summer-Mrs.
The guardian., 1939-08-26

Mrs. Katherine Smith and Miss Iva
Hargrove attended the opening of the
Musicians Convention at Ebenezer
Baptist Church in Boston, Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lloyd Baker have re
turned to their home on Bay ST., after
visiting the New York Worlds Fair.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Mallery and
family of Plymouth St., are enjoying
a two weeks vacation at Plymouth.
Mrs. Augustus Christiani is conval-
escing at her home on Otis ST., after
months illness. She will receive
friends at anytime.
The "Duos" Club, a young but very
ambitious group will sponsor the an
nual Brockton Fair dance Thursday.
Sept. IA at Canton Hall. They will
feature Duke Oliver and his famous
band-Admission is IS cents including
tax.-We want everyone in Brockton to
make an effort to be there.-Dancing
from 50.
The guardian., 1939-08-26
BROCKTON

BROCKTON, Mass, Aug. 26-It
seems as tho everyone in Brockton is
enjoying some sort of vacation dur
ing this hot weather. Many are bound
for summer resorts and others are New
York inclined visiting the Worlds
Fair and other points of interest. We
were a bit surprised when Miss f.
Baker went south on a two week vaca-
tion and arrived home as Mrs. Tubbs.
She was married Monday, Aug. IA, to
Mr.. Richard Tubbs of Milton at the
home of his mother Mrs. Jennie Tubbs
In Manchester, Tenn. While there she
visited Nashville and other cities in
Tenn. They will probably make their
home in Brockton.
PERSONAL BRIEFS - Mr.. and
Mrs. Torrence of Crescent ST. have
been entertaining Mrs. Torrence's
mother Mrs, Lucinda Stewart and
brother Mr.. Albert Stewart of Sails
bury, N. c., during the past week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Mapp, Mrs.
hylpha Mapp and daughter Josephine
OF Avon, spent the weekend in New
York, visiting the World Fair.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick French of
Nash, d. c. are passing few days as
the guests Of Mrs. French's mother,
Mrs. William Turner of Morraine St.
Mrs. Alice Lee and Miss Jean Bry-
ant of Baltimore have been the guests
OF Mr. and Mrs. Clearance Bryant,
Parker St., for the past three weeks.
Mrs. Emma Morse and daughter
Jean of Belmont St., have returned to
their home after spending a few days
in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The guardian., 1939-08-26

the promises he made. Voters and
citizens, when and if that Dugger
Dedication does take place, we must
demand decent as well as a fitting
dedication for one who fought so gal
lantly for us. We must band together
and fight until this is done. Our de-
mand should be thus. "No dedication
until tentatively named Dugger Play
ground IS fixed to befit the sacred name
of the late Lieut.. Col. Edward Dugger.
The guardian., 1939-08-26

at the Harriet Tubman House from
7-1O pm. and each Monday at st.
Marks Center, 216 Townsend st.,
from $40 pm. The coming program
will include also Shelley's "The Soul
Triumphant"
Mr.. Broadfeld who studied music at
Hampton under Prof Dett seeks to
interpret this cantata "The Ordering
of Moses" in the true spirit Of its com
poser. After graduating from Hamp-
ton Mr.. Broadfeld studied at B. ..
School Of Music, at the New England
and Boston Conservatories, and also
spent year abroad under Antom
Rubini.
The Community Chorus scored hit
with its performances at New Charles
st. Church Sunday, July %, and at
Symphony Hall, Wednesday, July 70,
during the convention of the National
Association of Women's Clubs 1t is
preparing now to sing at many OF the
leading churches of Greater Boston,
The rehearsals are open to friends and
new singers desirous of joining the
chorus. All are urged to avail them
selves of this splendid opportunity OF
receiving voice culture and Of appear
ing on the concert stage. The chorus
contains a special sextett: Miss Nora
Lee Melvin, Mrs. Ella B. Hayes, Mrs
Una Blackjack, Mrs. Grace Storms,
Miss Marjorie Hudson, Mrs. Mary j.
Sheridan, as well as featured soloists;
Howe B. Perry, Jesse F. Owens, Fred
erick Yarde and James Prout Prof
Broadfeld has nodded the chorus into
a fine working unit.
The guardian., 1939-08-26
OAK BLUFFS

OAK BLUFFS, Mass, Aug. %
Mrs. Cornelius Tillman is at Mass. Gen
eral Hospital for serious operation
this week. She transferred from
Martha's Vineyard Hospital. accom-
panied by Miss Anna Oliver.-The Rev.
DR.. Albert Adward Fozzard of London.
England, forceful speaker. was the
guest speaker at Bradley Memorial
Church prayer meeting. We look for
ward to hear him Sunday evening. Sep
tember 3.-About fifty persons enjoyed
the gay Lobster Party at Mememsha
last Saturday afternoon, Aug. 10, bv
the East Chop group. The committee
was as follows: Mrs. Martha Robbins.
Boston; Mrs. Frank Turner, N. Y;
Mrs. Everett Reeves, N. j.; Miss Ida
Lassiter, n. Y; Mrs. Wilma Lucas.
Brooklyn; Mrs. William Dabney, Bos-
ton; Misses Marie and Grace Turner.
Boston; Emile Holley, Washington; A.
Leroy Curtis, Boston. Guests present
were from New York, Brooklyn, Bos-
ton, Columbus, Ohio, Washington,
d. G., Hartford, Conn, New JERSEY.
Rochester, N. Y, Missouri and York.
Pa. A profit of $1006 was realized
and a vote was taken to turn the pro
ceeds over to Bradley Memorial
Church as a donation.-Mrs. Thomas
and her son, Prof. Holley and grand
son, Holley, Jr., are having a delight
tul time at their cottage on La lrel
Avenue while enjoying the picturesque
beauty of Martha's Vineyard.-The
pew rally at Bradley Memorial Church
Sunday evening was well attended and
the leaders made a good report. Mes
DANES Matte Mathews, Norman Dav.
Mary Harris, Ethel Lamb, and Mrs.
Hutchinson, committee-After their
visit here Mr.. and Mrs. Wilbur Bright
OF Boston left for home Sundav.-Mr.
and Mrs. Gibson of Maiden were guests
of Mrs. Norman Day last week end
Prof. Lois Jones of Howard Univer-
slty IS here visiting her mother, Mrs.
Carrie Jones. There were many dis
tinguished callers at the Jones Cottage
last week.-Don't miss the evening
with Paul Lawrence Dunbar Saturday.
Aug. 26, at Bradley Memorial Church
at 8:15 pm. Admission free. An
anniversary offering will be taken. This
special program will be presented by
Miss Mae Phinney of Mt. Holyoke Col
lege and Miss Alice Ocnoff of BROOKLYN.
Mr.. Jeter of Boston was here last
week visiting his wife, Mrs. Jeter, on
the Highlands.-The Martha's Vine
yard Neighborhood Convention will be
held at B. M. Church Tuesday, Sept.
D, from 1880 am. to $50 pm. A
very interesting program will be pre-
sented with both races represented. Let
our group rally.-Rev. D. C. Bracey
returned this week and will remain
here till September the
program of Miss Edna Hunt and her
friends on Thursday evening, August
81, at Bradley Memorial Church.
Attend church at Bradley Memorial
Sunday 10:45 am. and Z AS pm. A
cordial welcome to all.-Prof. Eric
Chandler of Payne College, Augusta,
Ga, and his nephew, Master Gladstone
Chandler, were here last week, the
guests of Mr.. Dean K. Denniston.-
Miss Lydia Mengin of Savannah, Ca, is
here enjoying a pleasant vacation
The Maxwell House on the Highlands
IS entertaining many guests this season.
Mrs. c. Robinson of Boston and her
daughter were here last week.