Dear Diary,
I guess if anyone were to read this thing just for the last few months, they might think Garry Moore was a great rival to Bob in my affections. As a matter of fact, I do like Garry quite a bit, but not a great deal more than I did almost two years ago. It’s just that Garry’s really started on the way up now, and one of my favorite pastimes is rooting for comedians if I think they have what it takes. I’ve done the same, though in a smaller degree, in the cases of Jerry Lester, Zero Mostel, Herb Shriner, and believe it or not, that’s how I got started liking Bobby back in 1938.
Dear Diary,
Zero Mostel was on the Cresta Blanca Carnival tonight. This is probably his last radio appearance before he goes into the army next week. All I can say is the army is getting a swell entertainer. If they put him to digging ditches or any kind of stuff like that there, I’m going to take it to Washington. That nut could build up anyone’s morale. Incidentally Zero is number four comedian on my list. Ahead of him are Bob, needless to say, and Bing, and Garry Moore is ahead of Zero for third place. He probably never will be more than fourth, because Bob is unbeatable, and Bing and Garry know how to look out for themselves remarkably well.
Dear Diary,
Just for fun today I made a list of my ten favorite funny boys (comedians to youse.) Needless to say, Bob tops the list. Bing Crosby is number two. I know he doesn’t claim to be a comedian, but that doesn’t mean he’s not one –and a darn good one. Number three is Garry Moore, of Everything Goes. I used to like him on the Club Matinee, too. Fourth place goes to Zero Mostel. He’s a comparative newcomer, since I’ve liked him for something less than a year. Five is Phil Silvers, another newcomer to my list. Six is Jerry Lester, even though I haven’t heard or seen him in some time. Fred Allen holds seventh place on the strength of his ad-libbing ability. Oscar Levant is eight, although he, like Bing, doesn’t claim to be a comedian. It ended as an eight-man team. I couldn’t think of my ninth and tenth favorites.
Dear Diary,
I spent the day in bed today with a sore throat, cold, and high fever, but I feel a lot better now.
The paper this morning said Dona Drake will be co-starred with Bob Hope in “Let’s Face It.”
“Road to Morocco was held over for a third week at the Tower starting today.
There was another article on the recent radio poll made annually by Motion Picture Daily. For the second year Bob Hope was chosen champion of champions and best comedian. Fred Allen was second in champion of champions, and Jack Benny was number two comedian. My friend, Zero Mostel was chosen second to Dinah Shore as the year’s outstanding star. Herb Shriner, the comedian I heard for the first time when Bob Hope was on Lanny Ross’ show and immediately like is “most promising star of tomorrow.”
Muriel Windham's Diary 