Class of 1923
Believing that a more interesting biographical sketch could be written by one who had worked with and known the subject, I went to work on Sid Flanigan to do the story on Tom McKnight. As will be remembered, Sid and Tom, along with Sullivan, wrote the Carnival Show in 1923, and my theory that a better story would result if written by Flanigan, due to his previous association with the subject, seems to have been admirably vindicated. As a matter of fact, the story turned out so well that I almost decided not to use it, believing that the standard of expectation for future class notes would thereby be exalted beyond our powers of production, but on second thought I decided to sacrifice future propriety for present pleasure, and here's the story.
"The man behind the program" is what he's known as in New York. And it is not difficult to understand why he should have gained this sobriquet, for he has been building towards it unknowingly since boyhood. A year in tutoring school to polish up on the many things he learned during six years in prep school, four and a half years at Dartmouth, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, another five or six years knocking around before settling down in the field where he was to become the measure for success, surely have earned for him the right to be called "the man behind the program."
Tom referred us to the school directory of the Cosmopolitan for a list of better prep schools from which it has been his unique privilege to be separated. He recalls the Hill School and the Taft School among those which he best remembers, but feels that he is best remembered, by the faculty at least, at those institutions where his attendance was more in the nature of an academic visit. Always a nonconformer, he was stricken during his freshman year at Hanover with a rare form of academic amnesia, the chapel bells impelling him in the direction of Allen's, the Coffee Shop, and overcuts, a malady which was not completely arrested until the first half of his fifth college year.
As an undergraduate Tom is best remembered for his many contributions to the Jack-O and as collaborator in writing the musical comedies which were presented by the Players in 1923 and 1924. He is worst remembered for his occasional playing of the piano in the Nugget, where he outsoured even Bill Cunningham's most infamous renderings.
In 1927 Edith Meiser, a member of the Theater Guild, became Mrs. McKnight, and it was for her he wrote a number which became the song hit of the Third Garrick Gayeties, a work of art which we accept as recompense for his lesser works "for free admission" in the Nugget days.
In the Pulitzer prize play for 1933, an honest young politician remonstrates with his older and more worldly colleague against the passage of some rotten legislation, saying that the people of America will never stand for it. The old-timer laughs, explaining that "the infinite capacity of the American people to take punishment has hardly been tapped." With his love for terseness Mac suggests the above quotation as a perfect resume of the past, present, and future history of radio. Give them anything, sweeten it with bunk, and they love it.
All of which makes good copy but belies the facts. For it is pleasing to note in passing that Tom does not take himself or his work too seriously, that he has modestly retained a proper sense of balance and proportion, and that he has forced us to find out through other sources why he is acclaimed the leading radio producer. We quote the Microphone, the newspaper of the radio world. "Many advertisers callMcKnight in as a doctor on weak showswhen they find them slowing down andneeding smooth production. If there isn'ta good idea or the show is helpless, McKnight turns a deaf ear. But many of theshows that you have heard that havestarted out badly and then got better, improved because Doctor Tom McKnightwalked in and went into action." This in part explains Tom's work. To these advertisers and advertising agencies which handle their own programs, Tom serves as the court of last appeal, rescuing them when the show doesn't go over with their audiences. But this "doctor" business represents only a small part of the day's work. Of recent years, the radio has raided the legitimate stage and carried off many stars of actor-playwright fame. Accustomed to writing their own lines, often modifying them on the spur of the moment to thaw out an especially frigid audience, the microphone and the unseen audience has left them flat. Here again Mac has been summoned for aid, and by teaching them how to get across their personality and spontaneity to this new-type audience has cushioned the landing place of many a headliner who might otherwise have crashed to earth, a fallen star.
It might blow off the exhaust pipe from one's imagination to picture a person who had been writing advertising copy to be devoured by the Heathen Chinese, suddenly finding himself creating radio productions for domestic consumption by the natives of lowa, New York, and way stations. But such extremes mark the path of the McKnight comet, and you may as well prepare to take it or quit right here. His first efforts after graduation were with the General Motors Export Corporation, handling overseas publicity, a full four years being dedicated to getting the foreigners up out of the gutter, and (for better or for worse) into Chevrolets. About the time that France first proposed playing the game of "let's cuff it," Tom heeded the urge for a little vacation, and left General Motors to its own destiny in capturing the foreign markets. From then until starting upon his present successful venture, he divided his time with little show of favoritism between more vacations and writing radio skits for several agencies that were experimenting with radio as a new advertising medium.
Becoming bored with one of these vacations, Mac associated himself with what was then known as the Keith Vaudeville Office, writing and staging a number of vaudeville acts for them. This, coupled with his previous experience, taught him the practical side of radio showmanship, for in both these forms of entertainment the first few minutes make or break an act. Tom even made the grade as a vaudeville performer himself, appearing in a featured musical act as accompanist for his wife. This was about the time that the death knell was being tolled for vaudeville, the talkies having finally barged their way into even the better and more famous variety houses. In this connection, Mac feels that the talkies are in his debt, for he says it was saddening to note the monotonous regularity with which one play house after another, as soon as his act had moved on to its next stand, hung out the sign, "FROM NOW ON WE WILL SHOW TALKING PICTURES ONLY."
The correct mixture for success according to Tom is two parts "Lady Luck" and one part the ability to recognize and embrace her the instant she appears. He attributes his own success to having entered the industry in its infancy and to his good fortune of realizing that he was no "dumber" than those who were already in it.
One glance at the long list of successful productions for which he was responsible in 1933 makes it easy to grasp why Tom is unable to write the script for all his acts. Even with the help of Dick and Harry, it would be utterly impossible to act as coach, adapter, property man, and stage manager; give an occasional thought to the "three squares," maintain a speaking acquaintance with Mrs. McKnight, and at the same time grind out enough gags to feed the ever hungry "mike." Here are a few of his programs: Will Rogers, Irving Cobb, George M. Cohan, and other luminaries for the Gulf Refining Company; The Four Marx Brothers for Esso Gas; and Sherlock Holmes for the George Washington Coffee Company, the latter hard pressing Amos 'n Andy for the endurance record by entering its fourth year.
You'll find Mac listed in the New York Telephone Directory under the firm name of McKnight and Jordan (Jordan '25), radio productions. If you chance to visit him you'll note that his eyeglasses are still of the heavy, tortoise-shell variety, that he still height to avoirdupois, that his feet still propel him around with a lack of energy worthy of a CWA worker, and that he is still willing and eager to take a little nip for old time's sake and another one or two, if needs be, in self-defense.
A '23 class dinner has been scheduled for April 5 at the Dartmouth Club. We have not had dinners regularly this winter, thinking that the men would enjoy the occasion more when there was some special reason for getting together. On April 5 the three new football coaches will be at the Club, and a very interesting evening should result. A steak dinner will be served at $1.00 per plate, including the tip, and a turn-out of all '23 men living in the vicinity of New York should respond to this incentive.
A postcard has been received from Art Everit, sojourning at St. Thomas, V. I. His terse message covers everything: "Break your back and see the world.It isn't a bad idea."
Lou Wilcox, now of 1303 Camp Ave., Manamassa, Asbury Park, N. J., announces that Louis Van Inwegen Wilcox Jr. now has a brother. Born February 11, 1934 at Orange, N. J. Weight 7 lbs. 7 ounces, and named David deZouche Wilcox. Louis Jr. is now better than 21/2 yrs. old.
A. G. Hovey, B.S. in Chem., is in the engineering research section of the General Electric Co. in Schenectady.
Our traveling reporter, Pete Jones, writes from Houston, Texas, first of all, that business is much better in the Middle West. Regarding '23 men, he writes this:
"And most unexpectedly I met BillEvans and 'Pa' Evans at one of New Orleans' most famous restaurants. Bill reportsthat he is selling a bit of furniture in thatterritory. He looked well, but could notremember whether he had seen me in Hanover or not. You know how things werewith Bill at the good old Tenth."
Poke Goss writes that he has abandoned New York and returned to Boston. Now located at 20 Exeter St., West Newton, Mass.
Ever since last September we have been trying to collect moving pictures which were taken at the 10th reunion. Dick Kershaw of 32 Railroad Ave., New Rochelle, N. Y., took some very good shots and has offered to exchange pictures with anyone else, in order that someone living in the vicinity of New York can have a complete set. The other day I heard from Fred Clark of the firm Clark & Friend, Salem, Mass. He has very kindly agreed to supply us with the pictures he took, and it will certainly be appreciated if others who are in possession of any of these pictures communicate with Dick Kershaw. Fred Clark writes that he is now the proud father of two sons and that the "Haberdashing" business keeps him on the jump in and around Boston.
Your Secretary would greatly appreciate a few more news letters. Let us hear from some of you "old-timers" out in the West and on the Pacific Coast.
Secretary, Box 14, Wall St. Station, New York
