Thompson 350418

Cliffside, Week ending: – It happens that the circumstances are  – the radio is on WGN, Chicago and Kay Kyser is doing “Going Shopping With You,” his duet is singing and this is written with a sort of floating power bouncing, the typewriter sitting on the living room sofa and in between I snatch a few rocks in the rocking chair. Think I’ll light a Lucky Strike. Kyser, of course, is playing from the Blackhawk. Smoke still gets in my eyes when smoking at the typewriter. That is still a grand tune, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” you know, written for Roberta by Jerome Kern. Now I am anxious to see the screen version. The WGN dance ensemble now comes on with their inimitable arrangement of Kressler’s Caprice Viennois,  . . now the soprano sings, “Speak To Me Only O Love” from Carroll’s Vanities; the song, of course, has the French title.

That paragraph might be termed, “Rambling Take-off.”

Notes around county: Especially week-end business seems to be better at the refinished Dutch Grill . . Morgan P. Bodie succeeded in getting the sugar our way at the club dinner. A sophisticated lady who likes popcorn and a movie; this scribbler might admit the same weakness . . Spilling coat hangers can be no worse than shelled peas poured out in the kitchen . . McIntyre’s favorite goose pimple, pulling a slate pencil between the teeth; let me offer scratching a finger nail on a slate blackboard . . . Blanton’s café kitchen colored boy singing, “If I Could Be With You,” in his own style and it’s good.

In over a year of attempting this writing a most interesting incident was this; In 1928 we heard a young officer of the army singing, “Roses of Picardy,” in Hyattsville, Maryland. Last year we used that in a mention in this writing. In several days a letter came from the very fellow at Oteen, Asheville. It was a surprise to hear from him.

I wonder if many of you who are members of music clubs and the like are the Sunday afternoon KMOX, the voice of St. Louis program. It is one that fits. That, I think, is something in that it is weeded from the many hilarious offerings today. Included are specials of organ, violin, soprano and tenor. Neopolitan Nights was done as an organ special. Russian Lullaby on the violin. And it was spiced by commendable work at the organ with “Serenade To a Wealthy Widow.”

If she continues in American pictures with a  director of sound judgment her name will be at the top. She is Drue Layton, English actress, who very prominently so, has the features of Elizabeth Allan, also English. I have seen her in but one picture: Charlie Chan in London . . Many have been the times that I have practically rolled in the aisle because of Ben Blue in the screen shorts. Now to see him in person; he will be even funnier. With Ray Teal and his music he plays in Charlotte the two last show days of this week.

Diary in the making: Monday night the Writers’ Club. Expect to see there J. Bradley, Griffin and Mrs. Lula Jones Downing. Tuesday probably to see Cary Grant and Myrna Loy in “Wings In the Dark”- some one says; “It’s cute”. . Last Friday to sympathize with Griffin that stormy weather night blew up the meeting and organizing of the County Historical Association, which, however, will be done at an early date. A week of hard routine, the first week of the month activity.

Have you noticed: the Saturday Evening Post cover for this week? Girls, how do like the frock, or is it? Seems the lady is attending a musical. Why do not more blonde ladies wear black?

If a next paragraph does not appear it is because Clarence Griffin saw it first.

I have been perusing The State, edited and a good job by Carl Goerch, whom we heard broadcast Sunday evening. It seems that Griffin and Goerch were driving by some tempting melon farms during Griffin’s stay in Raleigh. Goerch declared he could get one watermelon and get away with it. Furthermore, if caught, he would talk the country gentleman out of another. At least Goerch got one, according to Griffin.