Daisy Mae's Friends

Fans of the Li'l Abner comic strip last week recognized the unmistakable face of Frank Sinatra. He promised Daisy Mae Scragg that he would sing her song: Li'l Abner, Don't Marry That Girl. Objective: to prevent Abner Yokum from marrying Lena the Hyena from Lower Slobbovia. To Abner readers it was no more unusual than most of Creator Al Capp's fantasies --until Sinatra last week actually sang the song on his Wednesday night show.

The next day, big as life, Kate Smith popped up in the Abner strip. Later she too sang Don't Marry That Girl. Bob Hope, Jack Smith and Fred Waring followed. Within a week, listeners were humming Tin Pan Alley's latest hit.

Capp got the idea a year ago, discussed it with Sinatra and friends. Charlie Ross, president of Barton Music Co., agreed to publish the song. Songsmith Sammy Stept (Don't Sit under the Apple Tree, etc.) wrote the music. Capp promised to draw the radio characters straight if they in turn would treat "Daisy Mae" and "Li'l Abner" as real people. Radio, which often lives in a comic-strip world, did not have to change pace.

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