Evening star., 1940-03-03
BY WILLIAM NEWBAUER.
Chanter ~

BY WILLIAM NEWBAUER.
Chapter II.
Ten minutes later they were
crowded into taxi, the advertising
manager seated beside Elaine, and
as they sped down the street she
became more and more aware of her
nervousness to the whole affair.
Radio! Elaine, Warburton, born in
a small town, singing over, the radio
IN the largest city in the world! It
seemed impossible, fantastic, and
and dreadful!
Feeling nervous?" Mr.. Weinberg,
the advertising manager asked,
smiling kindly.
Elaine nodded her head silently,
wishing that some kind fairy would
come along and make her disappear
into thin air before they ever
reached the studio. She wondered
whether she was doing the intell-
lgent thing in admitting her fears
to the man who ultimately would
have the flnH word concerning
her fitness toSAsing on the air,
wondered too if he would attribute
her nervousness to lack of confidence
and talent.
But he simply nodded his head
as though hers was the most natural
reaction in the world. "It really
isn't as bad as it sounds" he said,
trying to cheer her up. "All you do
is sing into a microphone; you can't
see the audience, they can't see YOU.
In all probability you'll think the
whole thing is kind of silly; you
won't be able to believe that the
little device into which you are
singing can transmit sound any,
where. And remember, even though
you may be nervous, if you have the
talent we'll know it."
But although Elaine realized that
he was speaking the truth she could
not console herself with these words,
and when she finally was standing
before the microphone in small,
glaSs-WlndoWed room she found
herself staring in fascination and
dread at the strange device. She
knew she was suffering from that
strange affliction know as mike
fright" and wondered why she had
ever been fool enought to enter the
studio in the first place.
$50 Routs Fright.
And then, just as the accompanist
began to play the song they had
selected for her she remembered
the $50 a week she was to receive
If she clicked and stepped grimly
toward the microphone. Fifty dol
lars week! Why-why she and Eric
wouldn't have thing to worry
about any more. They could marry,
live comfortably, and still save
enought money against the newt
albe rainy day. She opened her
mouth to let the song pour from
her throat but before she could
utter a single note the pianist
stopped playing.
mot yet, Miss Warburton," the
young woman said with a smile.
Your friends and Mr.. Blanchard
are seated in another studio. When
they're ready for you to sing they'll
press a button. That red light up
there above the door will flash on
and then you're on the air."
Hardly had she finished her ex-
planation when the red light did
flash on and Immediately the pianist
broke into the introduction of the
song. She gave Elaine her cue,
and as Elaine stepped toward the
microphone and began to sing she
was amazed to discover that all her
fright, all her nervousness had dis
appeared. 1t seemed almost in
credible that this should be true,
but too thankful for the fact, she
did not bother to concern herself
with the reason and before they
had finished the song she was en-
joying the whole thing. But it had
been such strange experience, she
thought, as the piano furnished the
closing notes to the song. It seemed
hardly believable that by singing
into the little electrical device her
voice could be heard In the room