SCREAMER

THE FORGOTTEN VOICE OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS

THE KIDDIES SHOW

To maintain my slave pay, Smith found another place for me. Stanley-Warner Theatres was sponsoring a late morning show that Davy Tyson was handling.  Davy had the 6 to 10 am slot and was growing tired of the heavy workload.  Smith asked if I would be the host.  The show was called “Footlights and Stardust” and included only positive reviews of the newest movies playing at three main houses, the Stanley and Warner in downtown, and the Enright in East Liberty. These were huge theatres.  The Enright could seat over 2500 and the Stanley at least an equal number.  In addition to hosting the daily show, I took over Davy’s duties to host an amateur hour on Saturday mornings at the Enright.

The “kiddies show” turned out to be fun and somewhat of a change of pace from sports.  I had enjoyed the nationally broadcast Ted Mack amateur hour programming and had even thought of myself in this capacity on Pittsburgh radio. The added benefits for me were that I could see my sons at least on Saturday mornings, and I was able to showcase my niece, Carol’s, prodigious piano playing. Carol could not reach the pedals of the piano and extenders were used for her to do so.

The Andrews Sisters were popular at this time, and four sisters, “The Hearth-quakes” were a constant feature.  The microphone would be lowered to stage level to pick up the clickity-clack of talented tap dancers.  Local singers were also featured.  The show began with the audience, mainly kids, singing, “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,” with Johnny Mitchell at the big Wurlitzer organ. At the end of the show, the audience’s favorite amateur would receive a silver dollar.  My stint here ended in 1948 when a new manager at the Enright decided he could do the job.  I had no real complaints, and had much else on my plate.