Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-07-31
WoLkothon Man and Professionals Say It's All Show

walkathon town because here dwell
5000 fans who will come night after
night and pays to A cents for
adults, cents for children-to see
young human beings attempt per-
petual motion, to the inspired &C
compartment of a barker's lingo.
Ray Avis, the small, round pro-
moter who has been sponsoring one
each year here since 1885, says he's
found valuations "a very profitable
thing"
But this morning his auditor, A.
M. Hoffman, was Tuning as he
packed up the cash bag in Riverside
Stadium and hurried it off to the
bank
We've had the Health Depart
ment, the police. the corporation
counsel and the Board of Education
investigating u.s. he said. The
Wage Board is coming and next 1t
will be the Allied General Staff"
So far nobody has found anything
illegal about the walkathon and
Acting Supt. of Police Harvey G.
Callahan said today he doubts that
any official will.
All a Show, Says Promoter.
The contestants grunt and groan
as they go through their grueling,
never-ending workouts, and in %
days 50 contestants have been re-
duced to 10, but Promoter Avis says
it's all show.
He has hired Deputy Coroner
Christopher j. Murphy as the walk
athon physician. and DR.. Murphy
today backed up his claim. declaring
that most of the contestants gain
weight during their weeks of dane
ing, running. walking, eating and
sleeping, all done standing up. DR..
Murphy declared he has never seen
a genuine case of collapse" among
those who drop out. Besides check
ing up on them about twice week,
the doctor gave all the contestants
a preliminary examination.
All l did was check their blood
pressure and heart" he said.
This was hardly sufficient, ac-
cording to a personal opinion ex-
pressed by Acting Police Supt. CAL
lahan. ANY one who participates
In these valuations ought to have
his head examined" he said.
This is not the opinion of Pro-
moter Avis nor of contestants in
terviewed today by The Stars re-
porter. Introducing one young man,
who looked healthy, Mr.. Avis said
the youth had amassed fortune OF
about $4,000 solely from walka-
thons in many cities. The walka-
thon expert declined to confirm this,
but said he made $1,000 year.
All Declared Professional
All of his Contestants" are ac-
tually professional performers, says
Mr.. Avis, and most of them have
been practicing their profession
from to 10 years.
Cited as typical professional is
Pete GARLIC, %, born and bred in
Tuscon, Ariz. His father died a
month before his birth, and for
his mother it was a scramble to
keep the family going. He got
through the 10th grade in school,
but started singing and dancing
for radio and night clubs when he
was Is. -Four years ago he entered
the walkathon circuit with his sis
ter as a partner. After two years
he switched to girl named Har-
riet Burton, now 90 In the last
two years they have been in IL
valuations, taking a couple of
weeks rest between each.
Its all a matter of practice" he
says. The walkathon here report
edly keeps 1t contestants in per-
Torrance only 10A hours out of
every "a, but the relief is scattered
and assigned in a distracting fash
ion. The young men and women
may lie down on metal cots for Is
minutes in each hour, but the time
cannot be accumulated. In addi-
ton, a 25-minute eating while
standing-up period comes seven
times a day-at midnight, 3 am,
5:15 am, am. noon, 6 pm. and
a later snack. Further, 80 minutes
are allotted each day for a shower
bath; 5 minutes of each hour are
allotted to hygiene, and S more
minutes for medical attention.
Sleep While You Walk.
Despite all this. Pete SAYS he
sleeps four solid hours each morn
ing, and Harriet slumbers four in
the afternoon.
If you wish to enter a walkathon
you must learn to sleep on your
partners shoulder. Not merely that,
you must sleep while your feet and
hers keep stunning along.
Your unconscious mind rests
while your subconscious mind keeps
your feet going said Pete -@
maybe it's the other way round"
"A triumph of the mind over the
body" suggested Auditor Hoff-
man enthusiastically
After restful day the workout
comes at night, when the barker,
King Brady. whips up enthusiasm
for such elimination events as the
Australian pursuit race and the
bombshell sprint.
Members of the audience pin their
| hopes and fears upon some couple,