Transvestia

basis or our show."

"Yes. Yes." I was warming up to the idea. "Without anyone coming right out and saying it, it's happening! We play the whole idea straight; we won't TRY to be funny, we'll just let the absurdity of the idea carry the whole show." I had sudden misgivings, "but, do you really think it's strong enough to base the whole campaign on?"

"Why not?' he answered, now full of enthusiasm. "It ties in roughly with the idea of doing some- thing for the women's wing of the hospital and, I'm sure that you can come up with some riotous scenes of various prominent citizens wearing skirts and dresses in their normal business operations."

"Oh yeah," I laughed, "I never thought of it that way! Can't you just see two-hundred and fifty pound Charley Emmet wearing a dress at the bank?"

"Or Barney at the barber shop," he joined in.

And so it was decided. In another half hour, we had the entire show roughed-out and I retired to my typewriter while Harry started planning the pub- licity campaign.

Word had gotten out that we had a "Hot idea" for the show and by the next meeting of the committee, I had been bambarded from all sides for advance tips. That night when we explained what we had in mind, there was a roar of approval mingled with shrieks of laughter as the various members were assigned parts. A few objected, but the mood of the meeting was so high that they were soon squelched and we were on our way. I must say, it was Harry's enthusiasm as a leader that dispelled any reluctance the men might have felt. And I found myself getting more and more anxious for the next meeting when we would assign parts and begin rough reading of the script. Then, at the close of the meeting, Harry really whetted

(13)