Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A star of radio, television, films and variety.
On the island
Eight records
I imagine that, well, I've always wanted to be beyond the blue horizon. Now you're there. Now I'm there. And another thing, this would remind me to keep an eye on the sky as well as the horizon for a possible passing ship or a plane overhead so I could signal them to bring me back to civilization.
You see, I'd like to have this record with me because, well, being shipwrecked, it would be a chance to hear BB and have her with me in record form, if not in person. And I'd like to have you listen carefully to the lyrics because they're lovely. I used to stand in the wings every night and watch this number, this production number. It was produced beautifully by the late George Black, and I hope you like it.
Well, my third record is one that is a rather unusual one. But one of my favorites. It has a sort of a Corsican atmosphere to me, and I imagine I would be shipwrecked on that type of island, something in the tropics, I hope, where it's nice and warm.
Well, let's see my next record would give me the opportunity of having another member of my family with me, and it's a record by Barbara. I'm rather proud of this record because it was her debut as a singer.
Sydney Torch and his Orchestra
You see, Roy this record it takes me back to our first visit up to Glasgow and Edinburgh. And all through the Highlands we had a tour there. It's a wonderful record and I think it's very exciting.
Well, Bibi and I have always been a great admirer of a lovely girl in this country named Vera Lynn. And since I will be spending a lot of time on this desert island, I imagine, before being rescued, I would like to take with me her recording of As Time Goes By.
Well, record number seven would be another exciting one because I feel there must be a change in tempo. I wouldn't always want the melodious, slow numbers. I'd want something to excite me, and I've selected Fiddle Faddle.
The London I LoveFavourite
Well, the last one is another lovely one. And it's sung by Maxine Daniels. … It's called The London I Love and the lyrics express my feelings about it.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:45Do you play any instrument yourself?
I did try the piano once, but they laughed at me when I sat down, and I think they're still laughing, so I've never tried again.
Presenter asks
4:23What part of the United States are you from, first of all?
Well, I'm from the deep south, Atlanta, Georgia.
Presenter asks
4:34How did it all start [in the theatre]?
Well, Roy, I suppose I'm no different from millions of other people. I think we all go through a stage in our lives when we become stage-struck. Well, it so happened that my mother had to move our family to New York when my sister attended Columbia University. And of course, I entered school there as well, not Columbia University. And on my way to school, I used to pass the famous player Studios, and I noticed a sign said Casting Office. And I dropped in one day, and I said, How do you get in pictures? They said. You'll do. … I was taken in, scared to death, and given a day's work. … As an extra.
Presenter asks
The keepsakes
The book
Not recorded.
The luxury
I'd want to take with me one of those little film projectors that you hold up to the light and crank my hand. … No, I'd take some film that the family made together, and then I'd be able to run it and see them as well as hear them on records.
Where did you first meet [Bebe]?
No, Roy, I first met Beabe at a bridge party in Hollywood, a dinner party one night. You know, Hollywood used to be mad over bridge, and they asked if I'd make a fourth, and I said yes. Of course, I didn't tell them that I didn't play bridge. … I did have sense enough to follow suit. … they thought I was fantastic until the next play, and then they caught on. I didn't know a thing about bridge. But that was the start of our romance.
Presenter asks
14:47How do you think you're going to manage on this desert island? Are you a practical man? Can you build things, make things?
Well, I'm not a very good do-it-yourself man, but I'd find a way. I'd have to. I first of all would look for a mound and then I'd dig myself a cave. … they have terrific tropical rains and I'm certain those huts would leak. I'm living in an old house that my roof leaks, so I want to be protected down on this island. … I'd look for root vegetables, fruit, nuts, coconuts, drink the milk. … I'm a fairly good fisherman. … I think I would take, I'd probably have one of my gold cufflinks or a tie clasp, and I'd tie that onto the end of a creeper and drag it through the water, sort of troll it, and as a fish came along to attack this shining object, I'd hit him over the head with a club. … Oh yes, I was a Boy Scout once.
“I did try the piano once, but they laughed at me when I sat down, and I think they're still laughing, so I've never tried again.”
“You see, there was a chap at the end of the picture that was shot in the back by his brother. Gave a very fine performance. … his initials are Ben Lyon, you remember?”
“I didn't tell them that I didn't play bridge. … I did have sense enough to follow suit. When they played a spade, I played a spade. A heart, I played a heart. Well, it was all right until I ran out of cards to follow suit. Then I played a card that apparently took a trick, and it was a fantastic double finesse or whatever it may be in bridge, and they thought I was fantastic until the next play, and then they caught on. I didn't know a thing about bridge.”
“We thought it was a good answer to Germany's claim that London was flat on the ground.”
“I signed her immediately on a seven year contract. … I named her Marilyn after a very famous stage star in New York named Marilyn Miller.”