Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 297, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 April 1930 — Page 13

23, 19!0.

\mo>. n' Andy—what are they like in person: how do they lire: wK-il do they do: how do they prepare their broadcasts? The New Yu.V Tcle?r*in. Scripps-Howard newspaper, assigned Douglas Gilbert to ijirr-'vlev the fa*-ous radio team and hnd out. The result is a series of absorbing articles, the eleventh of which follows: BY DOUGLAS GILBERT NEW York Telegram Staff Writer. Cop- rum. 1930. be The Ne'e York Telegram Corporation. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden ( AWNINGS drape the entrance of the Chatelaine Towers, A at 21: East Chestnut street, m Chicago, falling lazily askew, an improvised porte cocnere. The lobby is small. You all but hang against the glass inclosing the telephone girl as you swing through the street door. You ask for Freeman F. Gosden. Her terseness isn't curt: efficient, rather. There are five calls waiting on the board now—“for Mr. Gosden.” “Expectin’ yuh ?” You nod, she plugs in and rings.

“Number 22-T.” She motions you to the elevator and you shoot to the twenty-sec-ond floor. A step to the left is 22-T. You fuss around for a bell. There isn’t any, but someone inside is clawing at the knob, and presently the door swings open. "Hello, Kingflsh. This yeah’s Amos,” with a light bow and a proffered hand. Amos —"in person. Tall, blonde, he steps with you into the living room with the grace of a Lida dancer. This "Georges Fontana" Amos the meek, the humble. Andy’s anvil? The puckish quirk at the lips, blue eyes darting smilingly establish the relationship and you feel more at ease as you acknowledge his introduction to Mrs. Gosden. Is Striking Hosts* Tall as her husband; the brunet Prussian court, type of the erstwhile Hohenzollerns, the role of hostess graces her easily, and you are smiled to a cushioned, tapestried easy chair opposite her sofa. "Charle’ll be here presently,” says Gosden, meaning Charles J. Correll. tiie other 50 of the 50-50 broadcasting pair whose nightly episodes have become a nation’s "propolition. ’ Gray sack suit, the coat shed, a tan shirt limned his athletic torso above the belL-his studio costume—but for a collar ad, you think, not a broadcast,! Off in the corner, dropped lid shielding its mouth of keys, a grand piano added its dignity to the otherwise homey setting. A floor lamp foiled the softer glow from the hand-painted shade of a table lamp at Mrs. Gosden’s left, The light of both suffused the dark red drapes at the windows through which Lake Michigan last itself beyond the mist of Wisconsin’s shore line. Charlie Is Here The little brass knocker clicked. Gosden rose and went to the door. It was "Charlie." "Hello, folks.” through a broad grin, soft hat tossed to the piano. It shoved over, slightly, a framed portrait. Correll followed the toss, straightened the picture “nice looking lad.” Freeman F. Gosden Jr.. 20 months, continued to "crow” through the frame. The “family circle” was all but complete. "Mrs. Correll couldn’t come over—moving you know. Glad you’re here, though.’ to the interviewer. "I ducked a lot of work.” He sighed into a seat close to Gosden. Round, not so tall, this amiable, beaming, semi-portly man with the pleasant voice of a comedy tenor, the slave-driving, dictatorial Andy. Here you are stumped for a character relationship. Foot-free, agile, he did a step to prove his balanced lightness. This was a merry Andrew. Must Work Fast . "Shoot,” said the boys, "we’ve got a broadcast in an hour.” And the interview proceeded: questions about things that were nobody's business. No. they don’t take it that way. So long as you don't “window dress” their characteristics: setting up two men in type that are not to be found on the air or in their homes; that’s all they object to. "Lay off the bunk.” is Gosdens terse reminder. You begin to feel less like a keyhole peeper—more like a guest. "Tell him that one about the gal Nashville.'’ kids Correll. Mis. Govrell looxs up. studiedly Uninterested. Gosden si loots a glance at his wife and plays up to the remark. She was a good kid, only I couldn’t teach her that step. The show of the Mystic Knights of the

LIVES ARTIFICIAL? INSURERS LEARN NOT You can’t fool the insurance companies. They know the boys are ••actors.” and so classified them when the Pepsodent Company placed a million dollar coverage on Gosden and Correll last fall to protect their interest in the broadcast. But as complete characterizes the underwriters struck a snag—and ruffled the boys—when, as "actors.” they said they "led an artificial life.” Gosden swept his modest “four rooms and bath” with a gesture. As though coming in on the cue. Freeman G. Gosden Jr.. 20 months, quailed restlessly in his crib. “I showed ’em the baby and the apartment.” he said. “Does the setting look as if we lead an artificial life?'” It might have been the home of a minor bank official. The policies were written.

AMOS ’N ANDY SKIT OFF AIR ONLY ONCE Monkeying with WJZ between 7 and 7:15 in the east is dangerous business, the NBC has found out. Last New Year's it was arranged to spread the belltone benison of Big Ben's chimes from London in a blanket broadcast at that hour here. Threatening “how comes?” telegrams and mail from indignant Amos ’n’ Andy fans promptly modified the plans. "Big Ben” came in over WEAF, O. K.—and so did Amos ’n’ Andy over WJZ. The allied station hookup was banned in the face of countless protests. Only the President has the right of way on the air over the boys. Incidentally, their broadcast has been an extremely “lucky” presentation. Never has either ever been too ill to proceed, and only once were they kept from the air. Postage on the explanation ran into real money. Thousands had to be notified that an Eastern SOS banned the program.

—no, it was another lodge.” he interrupted, smiling "almost flopped.” Used to Kidding Mrs. Gosden feigned more boredom These kidding barkbacks to their "tab” show days she was used to. A cry from an inner room, muffled as though through a blanket. This was business; she left us. It was Freeman Jr., beset with some childish dream. A moment’s silence, but no fidgeting among the three men in the room. “A couple of million people want to know what you’re like”-. . . as a tentative beginning. It was understandable if inexplainable. The boys hurled the paradox and began. Bit by bit they pieced out this part of their lives; recalled that, in an impromptu pattern of events salted with anecdotes, pointed with occasional dialect lapses. A crazy-quilt conversation easy to reconstruct- for straight, factual narratives; hard to mount into cold type dialog, and not lose the fiaver. Explain Their Secret How did they get over their stuff, what was the secret of their click with the radio public? That was easy. “It's the way Correll says it,” explained Gosden. “It's the way Gosden says it,” explained Corerll. "Goss got anew car,” offered Correll, “I’m glad he canned that battered old one-lunger he’s been driving.” The first note of affluence. They were doing something with their $103,000 contract receipts; perhaps “living high, stepping out.” But the

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No scenery or trunks of costumes bother Amos ’n’ Andy when they take to the road, but a typewriter Is a real necessity. Here they are in a Pittsburgh hotel working out the sequence of their night's episode, to be broadcast a few hours later from station KDKA.. Amos is at the left.

absence of servants. “No maid?” One, her night out. What. No Chauffeur? “A chauffeur. I suppose?” “Gosh, no. The folks razz me too much. Anyway, I'd rather drive myself.” Same with Correll. He, too, likes the feel of the wheel. And drivers cost money. Better put it in the bank for a rainy day. Trite saying, but a proven saw. “We invest our dough,” said Gosden. “Got some friends who’re market wise. They tell us to lay off the big board. The market crash didn’t burn us. Got safe bonds. Don't make much difference what they’re quoted at. The dividends keep coming in." “Yeah, we live pretty simply, but holy smoke, it costs a lot to move,” added Correll. And those Interior decorators? It’s a. half-dollar even to phone to 'em." Taking New Quarters Both boys are taking other quarters a little farther out along the lake. “I’ll relay that crack to Marie

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Correll,” says Gosden. "You’re gettin’ tighter every day.” "Lay off that line,” Correll comes back. "If it’ll make her happy it’s worth the extra dough." “I feel the same way,” says Gosden. "Yeah, but you got a lucky break,” Correll reminds his partner. “The new tenant who’s taking over Gos’ apartment,” he explained, “bought most of his furnishing s. And for a fair price. I had to junk most of mine for 10 cents on tne dollar.” Gosden looks canny , a Scotch smile plays about his lips. The topic changes. Correll reaches into his pocket and passes over a letter to Gosden. “That’s swell,” say the reader. “He hasn’t forgotten you.” “My old boss in the mailroom of the Peoria Journal,” says Correll. “Now rnd then I get a letter from him. Always like to hear from the old-timers. They treat me swell when I go back on visits. Had a great time last, summer on my vacation, roaming around the town, gassing with the boys.” The chime of a clock noted the

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quarter hour; 9:45 p. m, "studio time” approaching. “How about grabbing a pencil and I’ll reel off some stuff, you can get some more tomorrow at the office?" Godsen suggests it; returns from a closet with his suit coat and overcoat. Slips into them, talking rapidly: Plays and Likes Racquets “T play squash racquets and like the game a lot. I also ride a horse. Like horses immensely, but never play the races. Be sure to put that in. Never mind. I don’t care whether you do or not. Go swimming a great deal. “Like baseball, too. The fans’ll get plenty cha.nces to see us at the Polo grounds and the Yankee Stadium. Maybe w r e’ll be in New York for the opening game. "Like golf, but my favorite sport is football. This winter took up skating—but it took me down. Yuh, see, Ahm f’um Richmon,’ suh. We have ice there, but it goes into refrigerators. "I’m an independent voter. Like Roark Bradford’s Negro types and studies. Most faithful colored characterizations I ever saw. Understand Marc Connolly did “The Green Pastures’ from ’Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun.’. Going to see this play in New York. Like shows a lot. The theayter (mockingly, smilingly), that's me . . . Come on, Charlie.” "Wait for me, baby, wait for my stuff,” says Correll. “The newspaper man thinks I’m important, too • • • Plays Lots of Golf Correll goes into a step, proceeds : “I play golf a lot. (Aside, to Gosden: "How- about that ten bucks for yesterday’s round?’) But my hobby, my obsession, is shows. Never miss a show. The old footlight ’feel’ front of back of the house is the lure for

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] this mummer. (’This what?' from | Gosden.) “Like to sit in at a rubber of I bridge. Wife plays about as rotten | as I do. so we have peaceful parties. I read three newspapers every day, scanning the heads and reading the stories that interest me. MacDonald is the Premier of Great Britain and heads the Labor party ” “Hey. hey.” from Gosden: “I get it, I get it ” "Don't mess rid dis.T” Correll goes into character for the quote and resumes: “Like the comic strips a lot: you know, Sydney Smith, creator of 'The Gumps,’ lives upstairs. . . . I don’t pay much attention to sports except baseball: wouldn’t go across the street to see a prize fight, Don't get much time to read books; haven’t any favorite authors. -Vote every election; independent in poli- ! tics , . . favorite beauty type is ; my wife ” Praises Mrs. Correll “That goes for me, too . . ! from Gosden going out the door | with Correll. He runs back for a quick "good-by” as Mrs. Gosden returns to the room. “Stick around if | you like. Be back in an hour.” The ! door slams and the quiet room takes ; on anew air; more sedate as the i hostess presides alone, i She smiles softly at the boys’ kid- | ding; likes the lively pace they set. "Too bad Marie couldn’t come ' over. You'd like her.” And then. ! "oh. she’s very pretty, blonde, you krtbw\ and a swell dresser. Charlie’s awfully good to her, and she deserves it. Marvelous cook.” Her crepe dress folded softly, its "proper” length draped just below the knees. Slender, dignified, she spoke with a soft, clear, low voice, an unstudied drawing room accent, using odd phrases, choice adjectives; a Denver girl. "Os course, it’s all very wonderful to us, this success of the boys. But Marie and I always knew they’d get j some sort of recognition some day, although we never dreamed it would be so great. “I think what bothers us wives most is that they never get a vacation now. They must be fifty-two weeks on the air and twice a night. They are also away a good share of the time in the office writing the episodes.” Wife Listens In Ten-thirty. She went to the radio and set the dial. Bill Hay’s "Amos ’n’ Andy in person ” Listening in with “Mrs. Amos” took on an added glamor. “We always tune in,” Mrs. Gosden said. ’You see, Marie and I never know beforehand what the episodes are. The boys never discuss their | plots and sequences with us and we i never ask them. It would sort of j spoil the fun, like reading ahead in a ; novel. I don’t remember missing a j night in the last six months ” The fifteen-minute broadcast end- | ed. Then minutes more of pleasant talk. Her ideas? Viewpoints? Atti- : tude? Well, they matched Freej man’s. He’d be here in a moment. The key in the door announced j him and “Charlie.” It was luck to j have “stuck around.” Both were I expansive; the act had gone well. More comment was to spice these first impressions. And this further romment? Douglas Gilbert will conclude the Amos ’n’ Andy interviews Thursday with a closeup of the boys, “an naturel.”

A mos ’n ’ Andy Program Stations broadcastmg Amos ’n’ Andy at 6 p. m. are WJZ, WBZA, WHAM, WJR, KDKA, WRC, CKGW, WCKY. WRVA. WPTF. WBT WJAX and WIOD. Stations broadcasting them at 10:30 p. m. are KYW. WMAQ KWK, WDAF WREN, WSM. WTMJ. WOAI. WEBC WFAA. KPRC WHY, WMC and WSMB.

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