NBC Memories 1942 - 1964
by Bill Roddy

Chapter Ten of Twelve

This was our favorite place where everybody went for the best Mexican food around...  Al William's wonderful Papagayo Room at the Fairmont Hotel. Al was always around to say hello and greet celebrities appearing at San Francisco hotels. I once had an embarrassing moment at the Papagayo.

Coming from the free drinks at the Bal Tabarin I was feeling pretty good when I heard a man singing across the room to the girl at his table. He had a beautiful voice and I decided to go over and say hello.

   "Really enjoyed your singing."
    "Thanks."
     "What do you do?
    "I'm opening at the Fairmont tomorrow night."
    Oh? What's your name?"
    "Dean Martin."

     Here I am with some friends of mine clowning around.

That's Tol Avery at left. A great actor who went on to Hollywood and appeared in Jack Webb's Dragnet on radio and then made a number of movies.

Next to him is Eddy King, one of my best friends from radio days. He was an announcer at NBC, San Francisco, who shortly after this photo was taken in 1946, transferred to NBC in Hollywood, and had a long career. That's me peeking over Eddy's shoulder. The beautiful young lady who is ignoring us is Dorothea Mitchell. 

Eddy lives in the Los Angeles area and we communicate regularly. We haven't met up yet, but I did hear from one of his friends, Jack Murphy, who has morning coffee with Eddy  and reports he is in fine shape.

Chapter Eleven: The Last Broadcast