The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-04-15


the Ladies' Literary Club and
guests we're delightfully."- entertained
At the regular meeting Wednesday
afternoon. Mrs. owen Cleary, chair
man. was assisted by Mrs. +. s.
George. Mrs. B. VI. Harris, and Mrs.
David Robb. Mrs. Cleary first pre-
scented Mrs. Emily Mutter Adams,
Of the College Conservatory, who
played two selections on the violin.
accompanied by Miss Josephine
Hampstead They we're Zephyr,
and Introduction 10 Tarantella,"
by Sarasate. Mrs. Cleary then pre-.
sented Mrs. Myrtle Labbittt who
spoke OF her experiences IN Zen
Years Before the Nike As on the
radio. Mrs. Labbitt was completely
at home before her audience OF club
women. mentioning first a book,
Madame Chairman. Members and
Friends by Helen Louise Pepper
in which problems OF club women
are handled.
In an amusing and animated way,
Mrs. Labbitt went back over the
years. relating anecdotes and draw
ing conclusions. She has often been
asked by young people, What is
the most important factor in radio
SUGGEST" She answers that 1t is n
sincere love OF people. OF all kinds
and stations in life. Radio is exact
lug work, because OF the unpredict-
able human element, and mechani'
cal failure. as well as the necessity
OF being on time and being there
whether one feels like II or not.
Confidence is gained by the knowl-
edge that one is talking to friends
since il the listeners don't like you
they can turn you off. Mrs. Lab
bits first radio job was with Ty
Tyson as announcer. She had TO
start on time, but could continue
Tor ten minutes or half-an-hour as
she wished.
Televislon will bring many
problems not-Iow- faced by radio
performers, not the least OF which
is one personal appearance, she
pointed out. Many listeners visual
ize her as short and plump and
some imagine she resembles their
mother. These would be disappoint-
ed to find that she is not as they
imagined. Another difficulty in tele-
vision is the customary sign Ian
guage OF the studio. This is neces-
sary since the microscope picks up
sound twenty feet away. Mrs. Lab
bitt demonstrated several OF these
signals such as "cut me off,
string it out" and speed up"
At first, mike fright" did not
trouble her. as it seemed that no
one was really listening. Later,
when unforeseen accidents hap
pened, she had it badly. She writes
her own script and it requires six
typewriter pages for fifteen-min-
sute broadcast.
In one talk, she said that one
should obey ones lunches. II you
decided in the morning to invite
guestsfor dinner. and later noticed
that the curtains were not fresh,
don't let that stop you. That morn
ing the president OF curtain laun-
dry was listening TO see II they
should sponsor her.
Guest speakers are a problem,
she asserted. II the conversation is
prepared in advance, 1t sounds silt
ed II not. many awkward things
can happen. Guests sometimes
make "asides' as they think they
are inaudible unless they speak
directly into the microphone. Irene
Castle, after good broadcast, said,
Il never felt so silly in my life. "
Another time. a guest turned out TO
be a sufferer. who was practically
unable to carry out the Interview.
Sometimes guests do not come al
all so Mrs. Labbitt always has an
extra script on hand. Sometimes
actors who have faced audiences
for years get mike fright at their
first radio appearance, and almost
spoil their performance, she said.
Another DOGGY OF the radio is
mixing up words. In speaking OF
the sinking OF the Squalus,' one
announcer said, Men who go down
to the She in Sips" Another an
nouncer said for twenty gun sa-
Lutte twenty sun galoot.' The
radio Is very demanding but has
many compensations, it was point
ed out. One Christmas morning
Mrs. Labbitt discarded her script
and talked TO her family at home in
Minnesota, recalling an event OF
her childhood. They had been un-