Saintly Picnic

In appearance, Jonesport, Maine is like any Yankee village. But tourists are aware of Jonesport long before they arrive there. As far away as 250 mi. signs advertise it as "The Home of Seth Parker." Throughout the land, a great mass of radio-listeners--devout, folksy, home-loving-- know Seth Parker and his neighbors as well as if they were real people and not radio-performers employed by National Broadcasting Co. From the comparative obscurity of a provincial broadcasting station three years ago, Seth Parker has become--by means of a weekly nation-wide hookup, a published hymnal, many a magazine article, a cinema entertainment and a cross-country tour--one of the leading U. S. exponents of homely piety.

Everybody--Everywhere. "Seth Parker," composite of many an authentic Down East character, was conceived by Phillips Haynes Lord, 29. Graduate of Bowdoin College in 1925, Mr. Lord wrote unsuccessful short stories, then a radio sketch about rural life in Maine. Success came when he got a radio station in Hartford, Conn, to try out a scene in an old-time singing school, with "Seth Parker" as central figure. National Broadcasting Co. heard of it, signed up Author Lord. Dubious when he began to deepen the religious flavor of his skit, N. B. C. soon discovered it had a treasure. Until the program was temporarily taken off last month, 3,510,000 people were estimated to listen in every Sunday night on "Sunday at Seth Parker's." Mr. Lord is smooth-faced, suave, lively. As Seth Parker, he puts on a white wig and false beard, drawls genially and devoutly, becomes a skinny, saintly Yankee sage. He delivers a little sermon, pointed up with earthy rural witticisms. Leading members of his cast of ten singer-actors are "Ma" Parker, Capt. Bang (famed for his rendition of "Crossing the Bar"). Lizzie Peters, a comic spinster (played by Mrs. Sophia Mecorney Lord, mother of two), and Cefus, Lizzie's half-witted brother. To the accompaniment of an antique melodeon, Seth and his neighbors sing hymns. Titles suggest the neighborly, revivalistic tone: "You Go To Your Church and I'll Go To Mine" (a prime favorite); "Sailing With My Father"; "We Are Gathering With The Lord Today"; "Jesus Is My Neighbor."

Slice of Sweetness. That Phillips Lord's program is an adroit combination of tasteful humor and genuine piety, few observers have denied. Proof of its genuineness appeared when Seth Parker and his troupe went touring--from Buffalo early last month, continuing in Colorado. Utah, Oregon and California last week. Everywhere, audiences seem to represent a class which could not be won by smart, theatrical revivalism. To city theatres, churches, convention halls go elderly, placid people, some blind, some lame or halt, who might not have gone out since the last Chautauqua or travelog in the church basement. They see "Seth Parker and his Jonesport Neighbors" performed with no "props" save a fireplace, chairs and the melodeon. Of plot the entertainment has little; to get the actors off stage for intermission it is necessary to pretend they are all going out for supper. The acting is unpretentious, the comedy naive, such as when Seth gets his foot tangled in a carpet while beating time to music.

Hardboiled Variety has called it "a saintly picnic, a slice of sweetness, a glorification of the humble and the familiar." Fortuitous though his creation was, Seth Parker has gained a radio following greater even than that of august Dr. Samuel Parkes Cadman. Says the preface to his hymnal: "Seth Parker believes that religion is tangible; that it is a kind word, a thoughtful deed and is not something apart from every day life. He has probably done more to make religion a part of the American home than has any other one man."

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