The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-11
BY GLENN
Star CORRESPONDENT

TABOR CITY, Aug. 1O.-Every.
body loves Happy Sam Fowler.
Undoubtedly the most popular
man in Columbus county, Happy
Sans friends range from the
county's last remnants OF South
ern a%ristocracy to the ordinary
farmer. And he did it all with
his. little banjo.
On Mutual's WENC, Whiteville,
Happy Sam has more radio time
than any other entertainer. he
receives more fan mail than all
other stars combined. Currently,
he has a total of IS minutes a day
of his own, which makes him the
busiest one-man Snowman IN
radio.
Wherever he travels, his fans
encircle him like a long lost son.
They seek his advice on family
nroblems. farm obstacles, and the
world situation. Whether or not
thew take him seriously is unde'
terrnined. His constant laugh
and quick tongue have made him
loved by all.
A star now and still ascending
in his zenith, life was not always
y rainbow for Columbus county's
troubadour. For a quarter OF a
century, he has knocked about
from coast to coast In everything
from a tent show to a palatlal
movie house. Prosperous now,
the lean days are wildly close
behind.
Happy Sam Fowler was born
on Sept. 6, 1906, in Lafayette
county, Florida, about a mile from
the banks of the SuWanee River.
His family were farmers. Because
of his mothers poor health, n
family doctor ordered the Fowl
ers to drier climate. When Happy
Sam was six, his family moved
to Columbus county.
Happy Sans entrance into show
business was accidental. Clerklng
in a Greek restaurant, he had
trouble conversing with his en-
ployer and solved the ploblem
by adopting a Greek dialect OF
his own. The customers were
amused. A producer of a stock
company heard him and offered
him a spot in the show. And that
started it.
Beginning with the stock com
pany, Happy Sam orifted into
tent shows, ministries, and medl'
cine shows. His tours took him
from the Carolinas to Texas,
from Florida to the Great Lakes.
The ups and downs tumbled over
each other and, like all members
of his trade, Happy Sam knew
that old wonder Of from whence
comes the next meal.
During the lean years, Happy
Sam was forced out Of the pro-
fession into such jobs as short
order cook, farm hand, salesman
and drug store manager. Show
business survived the trials, how
ever, and he always found him.
self before audiences.
At one time, when the going
vas good, a Hollywood agent Of
fered Happy Sam a movie CON
tract. Too many loose clauses IN
the contract made Happy Sam
doubtful. He refused the contract
and the boys in the cowboy band
he had formed become d%isgrunt-
lea and quit. The pendulum OF
c swung into reverse.
Serious illness in 1888 forced
Happy Sam out of the spotlight.
Married and with two children,
he retired to his Columbus county
farm to rest. Just as he prepared
for his comeback, the war broke
out.
The results of i'll health, the
coming years, and a family kept
him out of the armed forces. De-
termined to help. he went to work
in the ship yards. Even his long
hours and hard work could not
conquer the entertainer in him.
With other show folks he found
in the ship yards, Happy Sam
produced q musical which was
presented during lunch hours in
the yards.
Popularity grew and soon the
troup was called to entertain serv-
icemen in nearby camps.
With victory, HAPPY Sam return
ed to his farm because he felt it
was the best place to bring up his
children. Perhaps he would have
settled down to gentleman farm
ing as he had planned, but the
Whiteville radio station opened