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Show THE BULLETIN HEAVENLY DAYS FOR THE JORDANS Marion and Jim "Fibber McGee and Molly' to You Hit the Toji in Radio After Years of Iahor, Love and laughter. By WILLIAM C. LTLEY don't (ftlfllY W about that you forget guy Jordan?" a suitor asked Marion Driscoll about 18 .years ago. "He'll never amount to anything. If you marry him, you'll be living out of a suitcase all your life." That settled it. For there wai nothing Marion Driscoll would rather have done for the rest of her life than live out of a suitcase with her Jim. It was a good thing for you and me, too. If this swell romance hadn't blossomed into happy and lasting marriage, we would have had to do without two of the most and welcome visitors who "call" at our homes Fibber McGee and Molly. Marion and Jim Jordan "lived out of a suitcase" and worked like the dickens for a good many years before, as Fibber and Molly, they became one of the five or six radio teams. In the rural areas and small communities they rank first. "We've got a bigger audience than even Jack Benny has," is the way Jim puts it. Fibber Born on Farm. No wonder, either. They've al ways been "small town folks," even though they've lived in Chicago for a long time. Like Fibber and Molly, the Jordans themselves are as e genuine as the eggs in a cake. One indication is sufficient: During the leaner years when they sometimes worked for $35 a week, the Jordans and their two children Katherine, seventeen, and Jim, Jr., thirteen lived in an unpretentious residential district on Chicago's northwest side, where they had a lot of friendly neighbors, plain, ordinary folks like themselves. When they suddenly found themselves in the "big money" class at last, did they buy a fine mansion on the Gold Coast, with more servants than closets? They did not. They built a little seven-roohouse right in their old neighborhood; it was HOME to them, and that was important. Fibber (or Jim, if you prefer) was born on a farm near Peoria, 111., and worked on it until he was twelve; he had seven brothers and sisters to help him out. Marion was a Peoria girl, the youngest save one of a family of 13. Now there hardly lives a gal who doesn't like to look into a mirror once in a while, and Marion was no exception. At sixteen she was a very pretty girl and had a voice good enough to land her in the church choir. It was at choir practice one day that she caught herself sneaking a peek into the glass above the piano. And when she good-humore- Ask Me Another A Quiz With Answers Offering Information on Various Subjects causes leaves to change color in autumn? 2. Who said, "It is much easier to be critical than to be correct"? 3. Which are the lightest birds in proportion to their size that fly? 4. There were how many signers of the Declaration of Independence? 5. What is the total number of war medals that have been given to soldiers? Which medal was most widely distributed? 6. Are car colors restricted in 1. What . Japan? Aner Gradual formation of ceils at the stem of the leaf finally shuts off the supply of chlorophyl, or green coloring matter, and starts the formation of the gaudy autumnal colors. 1. Aristocracy The expression was used by Benjamin Disraeli in the house of commons on January 24, I860. 3. The birds with great powers of flight, such as the l, are the lightest birds to fly. The common gull weighs only a quarter of a pound. Its bones are hollow and filled with air. 4. There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. 5. The total of medals on record at the War department is 1,543,-72The Victory medal, issued after the World war, is, the most widely distributed. 6. In Japan only imperial household cars may be painted maroon, and no cars except hearses may be painted yellow, which to the natives signifies mourning. 2. sea-gul- 1. Is Real Aristocracy consists in holding one's self above vulgarity and ig norance. Are you satisfied with Uit friends who choose you or do yoa want to initiate all your friend-fchipyourself? Calf love provides experience to temper the follies of the love that comes later. s Isn't He a Treasure? Rarely does a man change who You is honest and trustworthy. can bank on him. An "inferiority complex" is sa severe a handicap that it ought t be spanked out of some youths. Those wbo have it worst, hate ft most. All nakedness, kept up, becomes infinitely tiresome. Clothes can bt beautiful in 10,000 different forms. d top-ranki- ng home-mad- m Fibber McGee for the one hundred twenty-secon- d engineers, but sickness prevented his seeing service, and he was in a hospital when the Armistice was signed. Meanwhile, was Marion, back home in Peoria, merely twiddling her thumbs, awaiting his return? "Heavenly days!" says she. "I was that busy teaching piano to 50 pupils, some good and some bad, I didn't have a moment to myself 1" They decided to get out of the show business when Jim came back, but it was no go. Jim wasn't very successful finding steady work conand, with his brothers-in-lastantly taunting, "When are you going to get a job?" he soon found himself behind the footlights again. He and Marion had real success with their concert company, and no one complained that he was shiftless any more. An Agent Gets Fired. Billed as a ensemble, the company was literally that a 15 piece affair but there were only six people in it; some of them played several instruments. This led to complications. An advance man preceded them on tour and arranged for their When they arrived they billing. usually met a stage crowded with 15 chairs and a manager stirred with indignation at finding only six musicians. At this point Jim would become highly incensed at the audacity of his agent in permitting so gross a misrepresentation. Loudly and righteously, in the sight of all concerned, he would discharge the agent. Marion and Jim estimate that this hardy soul was "fired" in such a manner twice a week for four years. There followed more success, this time as a harmony team in vaudeville. Then the night which was to open up new and miraculous vistas to them. They were playing cards with friends in Chicago in 1924. An old w ce . and Molly. microphone for another year in the theaters. Then when WENR went on the air they returned, never to e leave. The character of Fibber may be traced by veteran listeners to that of an old man named Luke in one of their early broadcasts. Molly is much the same character as Mrs. Smith in their old skit, "The Smith Family." They had another program called the "Smackouts," which they intend to bring back to radio some day. All this time it might be supposed that the national networks were overlooking them; in fact it has often been reported that they never had a chance at the networks until Fibber and Molly came to life. Nothing could be further from the truth, Jim insists. They simply made so much money off local broadcasts plus theater appearances that they avoided the networks. When NBC bought WENR they went to WMAQ, where they could remain a local team, but when NBC bought WMAQ, as well, Jim had to hit the national hookup as "Mr. Twister." Marlon Das Many Tongues. The first Fibber McGee and Molly broadcasts was in March, 1935. The "show" was a "natural" from the start. That it has remained so, in fact has never ceased to add to its popularity, testifies to Jim Jordan's showmanship. The sponsor wanted to base the show on Fibber's "fish stories" and outlandish lies, but Jim saw that the listeners would soon tire of them and refused. Instead we hear this quaint Irish couple, genuine, witty, and at .all times sympathetic, surrounded by some of the funniest characters radio ever has known. Fans have learned to love and laugh at the little girl whose tiny voice can ask the most embarrassing questions on earth; the tittering bride; Geraldine, Grandma, the old lady with the chorus eirl ohilosonhv: Mrs. Wear. bottom, who always seems as if she e win surely run down like an phonograph before she finishes a sentence, but never doe. miit and Molly, herself, an able foil for ine cocay Mcuee. All of these and more are played by Marion herself! Horatio K. Boomer, the small time big shot; the raspy Russian, wno says "Hallo, Petrushka! Hallo, Tovarich!"; the Scotchman, and other dialect characters, are played by voune Bill Thomnsnn. wlmm Jim discovered. Silly Watson, the politely uproarious blackface comedian, is Hugh Studebaker, who never acted at all until he got into radio he was a pipe organist. Studebaker also has a show of his own, "Bachelor's Children." Harpo, the announcer who loves to "spoil" Fibber's favorite jokes by "sneaking in" a commercial announcement, is Harlow Wilcox, who is Harold Isbell in real life. Fibber, of course, is Mo-Ge- old-tim- Marion says these candid camera shots of Jim and her are typical of a Jim Jordan. Jordan day at home. Coin Many 'Catch Phrases.' find no "mother-in-law- " You'll lookof radio a seventeen saw slim youth set was blatting away. battery ing over her shoulder her heart beat Conversation was all but impos- jokes on the Fibber McGee and " 'Taint funny, like a studio gong; she decided right sible as what might or might not Molly program. there that Jim Jordan (for that's have been a harmony team strug- McGee!" Molly said, and that was who it was) was the man for her. gled with the notes in the upper that. And you'll never hear anyy mir- ranges. thing on the program that you It must have been a wouldn't want your children to ror, for Jim Jordan decided the Jim Wins a Bet hear; Marion and Jim have children same thing. Jim stood it as long as he could. of their own. Don Quinn, who has Jim sang with a quartet which written the Jordan scripts for seven was rehearsing with the choir. Then: "Dad rat it!" he cried. "We years, has taken a lesson from the They had their first date on New romance that Year's eve. Marion can't suppress can do better than that!" His host little giggle whenever she thinks was a doubting Thomas with a bit has followed the pair throughout of sporting blood and bet Jim they their married life. You will never of it. couldn't. So the next day found hear any serious arguments beThey Still Tease. an audition at the sta- tween Fibber and Molly; it's very them "His mother went along with us, tion toseeking which they had been liste- apparent that they love each other, and took him home afterward!" she ningold WIBO, "the top of the and you love them for it. laughs. Even after years dial," in Chicago. Seldom has any troupe in the this charge still makes him hot unbusiness coined so many catch show clicked and They immediately, der the collar. "Oh, here now," he soon made that have become debut in their coma phrases "Cut that out!" Then, objects. the nation. Among all with a grin: "Anyway, didn't you mercial program on the ether throughout of as waves classes the twins people at you may $10 O'Henry always bring your big brother along a broadcast! They collected the $10 hear repeated almosttoday any time Moon our dates after that?" lly's "Heavenly days, McGee!" and For three years they courted be- they had bet, too. Those were the days before any- " 'Tain't funny, McGee!"; Fibber's fore they were married, and for 19 "Dad rat it!"; the little girl's "I years since. Before their marriage, body got fat eating on a radio star's betcha!" and Grandma's "Hi. Skip- Marion and Jim for eight Jim toured in vaudeville with a salary. musical act called, "A Night With months broadcasted two hours a pyi" They're riding on top of the world the Poets." He sang on the Chau- day for $35 a week. They were known dozens under of now, the Jordans. But would different a and right later started circuits, tauqua concert company that toured the names, and it is a tribute to their they quit if they could? "Just give tank towns, an experience which amazing versatility that they did me a chance." soys Jim. "Boy, I'd to do. They like to go right back where I startmay have developed some of the not run out of things "tank town tourist" flavor which sang songs, acted, out little skits, ed. I'd like to live on a little farm characterizes the McGee and Molly dialogs and monologs, and Marion by a lake and take life easy." played the celeste. skits. "Heavenly days!" says Marion. But vaudeville still offered more "You bet," Jim replies, Shortly after their marriage Jim left for France as a replacement money, and reluctantly they left the r Western Newipaper Union. DEC 2AUSE in Firestone Standard Tires YOU GET EXTRA PROTECTION AGAINST BLOWOUTS eight extra pounds of rubber are added to every 100 pounds of cord by the Firestone' patented Gum -- Dipping process. By this process every cord in every ply is saturated with liquid rubber. This counteracts internal friction and heat that ordinarily cause blowouts. 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