The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-25
HOLLYWOOD
NOTES
q. sos THoNAs

HOLLYWOOD III Two years
ago. a doctor looked at the crllshed
form OF Barclay Allen, briliiaet
young pianist VIII, had been MT
gied in an auto accident. The o.
tor told Mrs. Allen: Your htis-
band has two hours to live. -
Today Allen is ready to resume
his musical career, and he credits
his survival to his faith in God.
Il was never religious man,
admitted tie pianist, who IS now
paralyzei ;from TIE chest down.
Bat believe that God was The
reason that I came through. Il IS
moi something that came to me
il q binding flash. but little y
little, What other reason egld
there be. when, the doctors 80
glyer up hope for mel
"A couole os years ago Allen IS
riding the crest Of d senstttoaM
musical career. A DYNAMIC pianist.
Re had made a hit as solo artist
with tie Freddy Martin bands So
great was his success that he. was
able TO form a. band and tour under
his own banner. Then fate inter-
yened. 1888
Il was playing a date at the Cal
Neya Ledge at Lkae Tahoe,' he
recalled. Il finished late that night
and was driving home when ] fell
asleep. The car hit an embank-
ment and overturned.
Allen became intimate with the
face of death in the months zthat
followed He was in the hospjtal
almost continuously for operations
and ailments that threatened to
take his life. The musicians OF Den
yer, his home town, rallied to help
pay the immense medical bills.
When it appeared that he would
survive, Allen was taken to his
North Hollywood home, where he
lives with his wife and two chill
dren, Ronnie, 10, and Peggy. s.
Then he faced the nroblem of find
ing a return a. useful life. Helping
him il this was the church.
Like most kids, / had gone to
Sunday School," he remarked.
But | didn't pay much attention
. religion after l grew up. Since
| was working in bands, always
used the excuse of working late on
Saturday night for not going to
church On Sunday.
After | came home, my wife
became aetive in the Emmanuel
Lutheran Church in North Holly
wood. She got me to go to church
with her, and il was rewarding
experience. | tegan to realize the
scheme of things.
Il used {. think of church goers
as embarrassing people. But now
have a Great fesnect and admira-
ton for them. attended a broth
erhood meeting at church last
right, and | met some fine. men.
With the help. of his new-found,
faith and his desire to returna,t0
productive life, Allen began TO-
VIZ, k at tie piano. He started hy
playing few minutes each day
and increasing as much as the
pain and discomfort would let him.
AT first, | didn't know whether.
was going to be able to use my
left arm or not, F" he said. 1T Yves
lame for a while, but by exercis-,
ing, | got the use of it back. II
think God took care of that, too. = !,
Now he is able to play half
hour or more at time, and he.
feels that his ability is approach
ing that Of his accident days.
His only difficulty is that he cam
not play the entire range Of the
keyboard. since he cannot move in
his wheelchair. But he is working
ON way to overcome that. Il
Allen has already made his re-
turn to public performance. He
played for the Ash Wednesday
Holy Communion service at the
Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Il
was a way Of thanking the church
members, whose prayers he feelos
helped him along the road to- 70
covery. aila
Is