North Quincy High School - Manet Yearbook (North Quincy, MA)

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12 MANET Sviarring .. . . line 13. 15. lgrnnvrllll Interviewed by RUTH CHANNELL The door swung' open. A deep breath. Mr, Ponner, please. Black beetling' brows caine together. Have you got an appointnnAnt? A sudden sinking' teelingg perhaps he 'd for- gotten. VVhy-why-he told nie,-that is-l niean-he wrote nie that today he 'd be glad. to see ine. c'VVell, I'll go see. 001110 in and sit down, anyway. Oh, how good a chair felt! lt only everything' would turn out all right. V O K., lady. He's on his way down now. 1,111 sorry about keeping' you waiting, but there 's so niany people trying' to get in and seo hint that we have to be careful who we let in. Don 't be nervousg ln-'s one of the easiest per- sons to get an answer troni that I know of. XVell, good luck. Good luck! lt. was awfully hot. A thump on the stairs, it light stop, and a sniiling, cheery-looking' face was followed by a short rotund body, peering troni the door of a stage room. The questions! XVhere were thc questions? A heartbreaking reinenibrance. The piece of paper iiuttering- down to the Hoor of the car, too hurried to notice it. Are you the young' lady who is to inter- view ine? VVl1y, yes, Mr. Penner, but Iilll frightfully sorry. My questions, I? , A sudden chuckle. Miss, do you know you're the first inter- rogator I ever inet who would adniit she 'd conie unprepared, even if she had lost her questions? For that I'll give you a short and sweet. talk on the life of Joe Penner. i I was born Joseph Pinter in Hungary, in 1904. Many people have asked nie if the ex- pression on iny face conies from still being Hungary, but to tell the truth itfs just the opposite. To continue, I caine to the land of inilk and honey when I was nine years of age. I went to school for a while, but at sixteen I was seized with an uncontrollable desire to go on the stage as a great singer. But 'XVoe-ho is 111Qll I soon learned it was never to be. So I took a job as a stooge tit was con1edian's assistant in those daysj, and soon found out that people seeined to enjoy laughing at ine. Soon I was in vaudeville, but while quite suc- cessful, I was no howling success. In niy act I used such lines as 'Do ya wanna buy a dead horse'? or 'XVanna buy a hippopottainoinonion- ous'? and although the audience laughed, there was no extra enthusiasni when I said theni. Then one night a new actor was doing his bit when he suddenly forgot his lines. I was in the wings and being very sorry for him CI did the same thing oncel, I stepped out on the stage, and tapped hini on the shoulder, Do you wanna buy a. duck? He had sense enough to play up to it and said lNo!', I11 the mean- tiine, l, could see he was reineniberingt his lines, so sighing' soultully I walked off the stage. Not 'EC until then did I notice the roar of laughter and applause coming from the house. It didn't take ine long to see I had discovered the most popular of the :wanna buysl. A while after that, Rudy Vallee offered me a spot on his variety program. I accepted in'

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IVIANET ll baronial castle, a cheerfully sparkling log tire. a truly English host and hostess, and endless other Sketch Book IIIIQIQIOS of Merrie EIlgl'llSll life. Ilut back to Miss Eyre 's dressing room! Other members ot' the cast were passing by the open door, and were humming and singing the Iilting tunes of l'inafore g still others were laughing merrily. and exchanging English greetings with Mr. Rooke. Miss Eyre, a petite blonde and an entrancing singer, chatted informally with us. At one tin1e, she confided, I was the leading lady in the opera company, but later I changed to a soub1'ette because it better suited my temp- erament. You ask who makes up the personnel of the D'Oyly Carte t'ompany? XVelI, almost 77 every member of the Company is English, at, this point Miss Eyre coyly smiled and proudly tossed her pretty head. She was, indeed, irre- sistible--t'The rest of the members are native Australians. And we all just love to sing Gil- bert and Sullivan airs. Almost by t1'adition every member of the company must work him- self or herself up from the chorus to a leading part. Also what enjoyable experiences we have traveling the world over f1'0l1l cold countries to hot! But no matter where we go audiences are always enthusiastic. Yould like to know what I think about American audiences? I love themg only they always laugh at different parts of the operas from what. audiences in all other countries laugh at. I attribute that foible to the American sense ol' humor. You know we ha.ven't been in America since 19253, and are not likely to return for at least two more years. 'The Mikado' is our most popular opera not only in America, but in every other country. During the time Miss Eyre was telling us her reactions to America, Mr. liooke chuckled good- naturedly. This is my initial visit to America. he ehimed in, and I like it top notch. Then he added typically man-fashion, But don't be deceived, however, for nothing can touch real plain hearty and well-seasoned English food. The English are a very plain folk and have very plain food. Here in America your foods are too fancy. When a. fellow orders a plain sandwich, what a concoction he gets-the plain savory sandwich is lost among heaps of gooy mayonnaise and tons of curled drooping lettuce leaves. A reminder to you when you may be visiting our country someday-try our bacon! There 's nothing so tasty as a piece of crisp English baconf' Intermission was ending. The show had to go on. Our only regret was that our visit was so short, but. it. will always be a pleasant mem- ory. VVe had the rare privilege of talking with those players who best do the Gilbert, and Sul- livan operas as the authors would have them done. Irlvphnne illllnnnlngur LORNA KEITH, I0-4 Hellog operator? Give me the corner drug store. You haven 't got it to give! Such in- solence. No, I meant connect me with the corner drug store. No, I don't know what number it isg aren't you supposed to know numbers? No? Oh, pardon me I thought you were. Vfell, you think of a number. You can't? Didja try? You're sure you can't'? XVell, wait a minute and l'll think of one- there I've thought of one, guess? You can 't? Sure? XVell, Illl tell you, it's 3-195. Do I want Venter 3495? I don't know, do you think I'd like it? You 'll give it to me anyway? VVl1at if I hang up, then won 't you be sorry? Hello. hello! Oh hel-lo. The corner drug store? The XVestern I'nion!!! Oh, how are you? Do I want to send a telegram? No, well you don 't have to hang up. l'd love to talk. Do you sell ice cream? You don 't-do you like ice creanl? So do I. NVhat kind of face powder do you use? Racheal. Oh, I know they wrote a song about it, cute too. Now let me see what's the name of it-Oh. yes, I have it, Ren-ben and Rachealf' XVant me to sing it for you? You don't. All right I won 't, see if I care. VVhat kind of face powder do you think my sister would like? You don 't know my sister! She has olive hair and a blonde complexion tho' I never could see it. Iler hair 's yellow and olives are green, she has three lovely children, two boys, and a girl. Lovely names too, Robert, Da-You're not interested? You have to get back to work. VVell, all right if you must say good-bye. Call me up again. wontt you?-Bye, bye. Hello, operator, how are you? You gave me the wrong place, but I had the Ioveliest talk with the nicest lady. I was telling her about my sister and her three lovely children. Have I-you're not concerned about 1ny sister. Oh! XVelI, you connect me with a drugstore. Hello, how are you? Fine? That's nice. Do you sell razzberry ice cream? You do? That's nice, too. Do you like it 'l So do l. No, I don 't want any I was just wonder- ing it' you sold it. Ilo you sell Racheal powder f? You know Reuben and Rachealf' You have. XVell, call the XVestern Iinion sometime and ask for a girl who uses it and maybe you can sell her some. Do you think my sister, you know the one who has the three lovely chil-Oh. you're not interested, either. Do I want any- thing? No. I was just wondering if you thought my sister would like any powder, but it you don t lvnou iny sister you couldn't savg and on second thought she has plentv of bowder. and l've decided she wouldn't want any. Bye, bye,

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MAN ET I3 fear and trepidation, never having spoken into a 'mike' hefore. l'm not quite sure what hap- pened, hut the first thing l knew I had offers from three eoneerns for a program of llly own. I know now it was the children, so I have been sure to keep my program clean, in fact, a minister writes n1y radio programs. Mi: Penner. Your act goes on in twenty minutes. Thanks, Jim. Let's see. NVhere were We? Well, anyhow to finish up, I'm married, am thirty-one years of age, and have about twen1',V 'Goo-G0os', I mean ducks. Now, is that enough ? I don't know how to thank you. He laughed again and taking a black cigar out of his pocket, put it into his mouth and shouted, Don 't never do that li' He shook my hand, smiled and walked away, the best, most well-known, and happiest duck- salesman in the World. li 'he Hanks? Bnnhlv Mug Interviewed by GORDON SHIELDS 5.20. I snapped the watch case shut, got out of the ear, walked down the alley and opened the door. CC'Sk7'eS6Z77 Mr, Butler, please. ' ' Just a minute. Heh, Bert, boy here to see you. Huh! Oh, he 's the kid that wants' to inter- view Cohan. It 's O. K. to let him in. I entered and was shown to a chair on the stage. Noting my nervousness, the stage door man grinned and said, Don't worry, young fellow, he'll be out in a couple of minutes. XVhen he comes out of there -pointing to a door at the far end of the stage- just go up to him and tell him who you are and what' you want. He then turned away and busied him- self at some switches. For the first time I had a chance to glance around. I was sitting on a prop chair on the left side of a stage depicting an American home. It was the last scene from the play George Cohan was starring in- Ah Wilder- ness. I seemed to be out of place there among all that make believe. There was an air of unreality about it all, as if I had entered into a different world, peopled by human beings of the kind that I met every day and yet in some subtle sense, different. It seemed- XVell, son, what can I do for you? I looked up, surprised and uncomprehending, into a pair of twinkling blue eyes set in the kindliest face I had ever seen. l'm waiting to interview Mr. Fo-- I stopped and looked more closely. Good Lord. this must be Mr. Cohan! Are you Mr. Cohan? I asked a bit fool- ishly. That's right, young man, and you ean start interviewing me right. now if you're ready. IVhy, uh, sure. I've got a few questions here Ild like you to answer if you please. Go right ahead.', I took a deep breath and began. How many years have you been on the stage? About forty-five. How did you happen to pick the stage as your career? I was born on the stage, son. What was the name of the first song you composed? It was a little ditty called 'Venus'. And the first play you ever acted in? Well, it really wasn't a play, it was more of a vaudeville act called 'Four of a Kind'. That 's what we four Cohans were known as, then. In all your years on the stage, what play did you enjoy acting in most? 'Song and Dance lVIan'.', Of all the songs you composed, which tune do you think made you the most popular? 'Over Thereif' Which do you prefer, the radio or the stage? The stage, he answered instantly. As a treat I took up radio, but I feel more at home on the stage. Mr. Cohan, a lot of folks still know you as the 'Yankee Doodle Boy' Where did you get the inspiration for that song? He laughed and said, From a hotel carpetf' I looked up and laughed too. I just couldn 't help it, his laughter was so contagious. Then I continued with my questions. Have you any hobby? Well, I go for a walk every time I get a chance, if that's what you mean. Do you think the young people of today appreciate the theater? He looked a bit surprised then answered slowly, Yes, interest in plays is coming back, particularly among the young people. Is it true that when you finish your pres- ent run here, you intend to take the entire 'Ah Vtfilderness' cast to North Brookfield and give a performance there? Absolutely Although I was born in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, I spent most of my child- hood in North Iirookfield. I can remember saying one day that if I was ever successful on the stage, someday I would come back like the 77 77