Further Adventures (2 page)

I sat down on a bus bench I had to catch my breath & figure things out which was not easy. Maybe you can locate this exact spot & go over my exact footsteps for the Record. It had a Happy Valley Cemetery ad painted on it permanent—“A Real Nice Place To Spend Eternity”—& if I was paying attention to the meaning of my surroundings I would take this as a Warning Message but I got very distracted by my predicament so I did not Notice this. Since also all of a sudden I could not think of my own Address.

Something invisible was choking the Air something was pressing down. I heard shouts but not playful ones anymore. The fun of it was finished. I heard feet not strolling they were running away or home. I decided to go find them & join them before this idea of dread came out of the Air & fell on me like a net and trapped me so I could not move one step more.

I did not want to attract anybody’s rough Attention so I went slow with my back to the storefronts. I waited in the shadows of the doorways until it felt safe again then I made it to the next door. I pretended I was on a ledge 30 Flights up & the moonlight on the sidewalk was the open Air. From one of these places I saw a woman very terrified in the street running on one shoe. I heard the roar of a big car it was a 1978 Cadillac El Dorado with New Mexico plates BBS 312 which pulled up sharp in front of her. One wheel jumped the curb and she doubled back very quick & only animal instinct driving her. A man jumped out of the Caddy he made a grab at her dress but she jumped back too fast for
him. He was portly I saw. She belted him with her other shoe & then she made a twist & rush out of his reach.

By now the Caddy rodeoed around & I saw it skid after the man & woman in the street both running and it cut them off a Block away. The Driver heaved his door open and that frantic woman socked him in the eye & tried to run for it again. She did not get Free from him. Her leg caught on the edge of the car door and that gave those rascals a chance to pounce.

I did not know very clear what to do. I heard her shout a curse she was spitting acid at them so then I heard her cry out for Help. She did not say “help” but I knew what she meant by Instinct. She cried out in Mexican. I believe those men beat her up very bad they kept on shoving her into the door of the Caddy & in that moment I felt something inside me snap. My stomach went dizzy and I felt my hands faint but my feet did not faint when I took a step out of the shadows I crouched down & coiled up like a cobra snake. The two men did not see me. I swallowed hard and with all of my Courage I blasted out of the doorway I ran away from there as fast as I could go.

I was ½ a block away when I heard her Cries again until a long hoot from the Caddy’s horn drowned them under I think it probably was the front seat pushing against it. And when the horn stopped I still heard the woman’s cries. I thought she must be putting up a Hell of a fight just 1 woman against 2 men & a Cadillac. Then I recognized her voice. I heard it before i.e. the same rage & helplessness. It was the Voice of Innocence crying in terror. Then I stopped in my tracks. I ran back down the street toward her Cries and the 2 men grunting like Low Animals and I felt my dingle go stiff in my pants because of the Excitement. But I did not stop & rearrange my clothes I threw my body in between her cries and their fists.

The woman at first thought I had to be another attacker & I believe those men did not know what I was doing either. Getting in on their act! The woman started kicking me in the shins but as soon as I started
shouting “Get your mitts off her!” and I got in a punch here and there the situation cleared up very fast.

I believe the idea I could identify their faces in a Police lineup really hit those lowlifes hard all of a sudden & the portly one cursed me using these words: “You crazy old bastard!” Nor he did not loosen his tight grip on the lady’s throat at that time either. His friend did not say a word he hauled off & punched me in my stomach so hard I doubled over like in a Comic Book. Nor I could not breathe. “Get him in the car! Get him in!” he ordered & hit me in the neck for luck. And his friend pushed me on the backseat also the woman on top of me unconscious & drove off with us prisoners against our will speeding into the dark out of the East 8th.

My first day in the Studio of the Liberty Broadcasting Company started very similar. Only I was not speeding into the dark but out of it i.e. out of the dark of the Holland Tunnel in the backseat of a taxi cab. Mr. Silverstein ordered it personal for my first day on the microphone it had to pick me up at my Hotel & drive me over to make sure nobody saw who I was and I was on time for the Broadcast of Episode 1. I think back to this Episode in my Life because now I can remember my feeling in the scumbag Cadillac—carsick. I felt the exact same way in the taxi. I did not reveal this fact out loud because I was with strangers I was at their Mercy & if I threw up then & there absolutely I believe everything would have been worse beyond my Imagination.

Mr. Argyll introduced me to the other people of the Cast starting with Bernhardt Grym who portrayed the Voice of Police Captain O’Shaughnessy. He came to The Green Ray direct from his triumphs on the Yiddish Stage where he always played to a full house even matinees. Bernhardt only played 2 different Roles that I know of—

1. a Dybbuk (ghost) who is tortured by being able to see but never feel the Joys & Pleasures of our world which is portrayed in the form of a lusty Rabbi.

2. a Rabbi who is tortured by the Knowledge of how feeble & frail our world is compared to Spiritual Enlightenment portrayed in the form of a lusty Dybbuk (ghost).

Bernhardt told Mr. Argyll that as a regular rule he needed 2 Hours of Silent Preparation before he performed so he got a private dressing room. But on the first day the cleaning lady revealed that in his 2 Hours of silence Bernhardt drank down 3 entire bottles of Mogan David wine which he only did at work and never around his family so he was not a lush strictly speaking.

There was David Arcash who portrayed the Voice of The Green Ray’s Arch Foe i.e. criminal mastermind Prof. Lionel Horvath. He was a serious man with a low forehead who I believe took his work home with him. He got married 6 times to my knowledge which was not a brave try to give Love another chance but some kind of mental sickness in him which also helped him perform his Role so believable.

Other people came & went who have faces & Voices that blur all together in my Mind but there is a person who stays clear above them. Annie LaSalle who portrayed the Voice of socialite and amateur sleuth Rosalind Bentley who was always in and out of trouble but mostly always in like Little Lulu. Capt. O’Shaughnessy had his own name for her. “What’s that you’ve discovered now Miss Sherlocka Holmes? Professor Horvath’s shoe size maybe?” Bernhardt Grym called her Ketzel which in Yiddish means kitten very affectionate. Many times he offered to Demonstrate the value of his 2 Hours of Silent Preparation in his dressing room which Annie never accepted.

I believe Annie LaSalle changed her name like I did to boost up her chances of employment. I recall her Genuine name was not so musical being Vilma Gvodenovic which mouthful she decided could only hamper
her rise to the top. Peaches & Cream she was so beautiful with Shirley Temple curls etc. and with perfect manners & Grooming but there was something hard & broken in the Heart of her like a glass paperweight fractured & repaired & fractured & repaired each time weaker.

In spite of the fact I was the Hero of the show I also was the youngest person in the room. When I met Bernhardt Grym that day I offered my hand but he Ignored it and patted my head and said “Top o’ the marnin to ye Sonny Boy!” In a nutshell that was the Attitude he took to me (The Green Ray)!

But I took it manly. I opened my script to Page 1 then Leon Kern showed me where to hold my mouth & then the Music came on! DA DOO DA DA DUM! DA DOO DA DA DOO! BA BOOM BA BA BOOM! If Niagara Falls could be a fanfare then it would sound like the Theme Song of The Green Ray…and then like always there was our heart hammering Intro:
“When the Hour of Darkness is upon us—when all Hope is gone—he blazes from the shadows to defend the defenseless! To punish the Criminal! He seeks to purge wrong to keep America strong! Spiller’s Fine Foods the makers of Spiller’s High Energy Buckwheat Breakfast Flakes proudly presents…The Adventures of The Green Ray! Tonight…Episode 1: The Vault of Time!”

Here are the beginning Sound Effects—a Dance Band playing a peppy Fox Trot “Ain’t I The Only One” and the noise of a big Party in full swing. Then the Sound Effect of a door closing which muffles the party noise in the Background.

SEN. BENTLEY: We can talk here in my study Captain O’Shaughnessy.

O’SHAUGHNESSY: My apologies for this Senator. If I thought this could wait I…

SEN. BENTLEY: No no not at all. I think my daughter’s coming-out ball will roll along nicely without her aged father in attendance. Please sit down. Cigar?

O’SHAUGHNESSY: Don’t mind if I do.

Now the Sound Effect of a match lighting up and O’Shaughnessy taking a couple Puffs.

O’SHAUGHNESSY: I won’t beat around the mulberry bush. I’m here to assure you my boys will have your little girl under round-the-clock surveillance.

SEN. BENTLEY: Rosalind? What for?

O’SHAUGHNESSY: There’s been another kidnapping.

SEN. BENTLEY: Oh Lord! No!

O’SHAUGHNESSY: Makes three girls in two weeks. Something’s up and I don’t like the smell of it.

SEN. BENTLEY: So you think Rosalind is in danger.

O’SHAUGHNESSY: Call it my old policeman’s twitchy nose. Here’s a list of the kidnapped girls.

Now the Sound Effect of Senator Bentley unfolding a piece of paper.

SEN. BENTLEY: Sadelbia Nichols…Jane Janey…Olivia Fitzholcomb…All children of my colleagues in the Senate. I see…

O’SHAUGHNESSY: Look closer Sir. Counting backwards in the alphabet starting with N for Nichols each initial is exactly 4 letters apart. The next one has to be B—for Bentley.

In the next breath the Action moved to the Party again & the next voice the Nation heard was mine but it was not the Voice of The Green Ray. It was the Voice of spoiled rotten but very tragic orphaned playboy Peter Tremayne i.e. the disguised Identity of The Green Ray. Peter Tremayne
enjoyed every pleasure & privilege Wealth can buy plus good breeding also his manly charm he learned from trips to London England. He was always turning down invitations including the romantic kind from Rosalind Bentley. Deep inside he returned her Love as I was able to portray in many solitary moments in the form of Peter Tremayne’s inner Thoughts. I did this by the help of Leon Kern who took control of the echo on my voice. Peter Tremayne did not dare & speak out loud about his Love for Rosalind for her own sake since his first Devotion was to defend the defenseless etc. and put the happiness of his personal Life after. Also Mr. Silverstein pointed out such behavior coming from a Crime Stopper was sissy.

PETER: Oh well. All right Roz since it’s a special occasion. One kiss. On my cheek.

ROSALIND: There. I hope Daddy’s watching. Where
is
Daddy?

PETER: I think I saw him go into his study with a policeman. What’s the old man done now Rosalind?

ROSALIND: Daddy’s on too many committees to get into trouble. Anyway let’s not talk about him. I’ve got something serious to discuss with
you
.

PETER: What in the world’s worth being serious about?

ROSALIND: Sadelbia Nichols for one thing. She’s been missing for two weeks. It’s all the talk. And Jane Janey. Nobody’s seen her since Tuesday at the club.

PETER: Don’t worry. You know those two. Always pulling stunts.

ROSALIND: I want to elope.

PETER: What all by yourself? Darling it just isn’t
done
.

ROSALIND: With
you
silly.

PETER: Now who’s being silly? Playboys don’t elope. We just drink too much and lose at cards and break women’s hearts.

But something serious
was
going on behind the scenes but it was not the character of Peter Tremayne to reveal his inner thoughts to Rosalind. He was full of dark suspicions which Mr. Argyll portrayed by organ music & a violin playing eerie melodies that cast a Pall of Gloom over the fade-out of the party. And when the music faded back in this time Annie LaSalle’s voice bubbled out of the gloom—

ROSALIND: Good night Father. Thank you for the most wonderful night of my life!

SEN. BENTLEY: You’re very welcome my dear. I’m so proud of you. If only your mother—

ROSALIND: I know. I feel in a way she is here. Oh I’m so happy tonight!

SEN. BENTLEY: I love you very much Muffin. Do you want me to leave the hall light on?

They laughed about that and the Sound Effect of the bedroom door closing led to the next S.E. of Rosalind turning the pages of her diary and thinking out loud—

ROSALIND: Dear Diary…Peter Tremayne was acting very queer tonight. He—

But those were the last words she spoke before all of a sudden a pair of very strong hands grabbed her & another hand forced a wad of Gauze over her nose & mouth soaked in Chloroform.

ROSALIND: N-no! Mm-mm-mm!

Leon Kern decided on a crash of thunder here he shook a big piece of sheet Metal which sounded very realistic to my ears. The rain was still
pelting down when the Scene changed to outside the Police station and the Sound Effect of car doors slamming.

PETER: You can’t do this to me! I know my rights! It’s ridiculous! This is a farce!

FLATFOOT: Maybe it is maybe it ain’t. Keep goin’. Walk.

And inside the station Captain O’Shaughnessy was waiting for the Flatfoot to bring in Peter Tremayne under arrest.

FLATFOOT: I got him outside Captain. He didn’t come easy.

O’SHAUGHNESSY: Bring him in.

FLATFOOT: He says he didn’t do nothin’. And he don’t know nothin’ about nothin’.

O’SHAUGHNESSY: The jails are full of innocent men.