Word: godfreys
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1950-1959
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Beginning as his secretary, Mug moved up to a quasi-partnership in Arthur Godfrey Productions, Inc., and has frequently been subject to fitful bursts of Godfrey generosity. At one time or another he has given her a secretarial education, a sloop, a farm in North Carolina, a Pontiac, a mink coat. Godfrey, referring both to her efficiency and her stubbornness, describes Mug as "my left arm-with my right hand on it." He superstitiously credits her with being a good-luck piece, and is apt to blame failures, like his dismal showing in the 1946 Broadway musical Three to Make...
...material turned out by Godfrey's five writers is channeled through Mug, who sits beside Arthur on most of his shows. Items that she finds amusing are passed on. He has great faith that her judgment is in tune with that of "the people." She also acts as a buffer between Godfrey and the advertising men. "Whenever anything's suggested to Arthur, Mug always says no," observes CBS President Frank Stanton. "That gives him time to think. If he decides to do it, he can say he finally talked Mug around. If he decides...
...Kids. Other contributors to the Godfrey success story are the "Little Godfreys." Bill Lawrence is a doe-eyed young baritone whose role, says Godfrey, "is to take care of the bobby-soxers in our audience while I take care of the corset crowd." Janette Davis is a nervous, pretty girl with a sexy voice who had her own CBS show before she joined Godfrey. Arthur thinks Janette is "well on her way. She works hard and gets better all the time." Like every other woman who has won Godfrey's favor, Janette is "wholesome." The Chordettes, four plain, pleasant...
...occasion, Godfrey credits these young people with being the whole show. "I do nothing but introduce the talent," he will say modestly. "I try to stay out of it." More often, he fumes about them like a choleric parent: "I have so much trouble with these kids. They don't know when they're well off ... I only keep them in line because they're all scared...
...Salesman. Whatever he represents to his vast audience, Godfrey is a mile-high stack of blue chips to CBS, to his sponsors and to their advertising agencies. Though admen may wince at a typical Godfrey commercial (plugging a shampoo made of eggs and milk, he cracked: "And if your hair is clean, it makes a fine omelet"), they admit he makes products move...