‘Papering,’ Circa ’39

Paul Grein’s article on “papering” the house brought back an avalanche of college memories from 50 years ago, and of Fred Allen and Portland Hoffa at Manhattan’s Radio City (“The Fine Art of ‘Papering’ the House,” Aug. 8).

In 1939, every national radio show was live, and this meant that a 9 p.m. Allen radio show (on Wednesdays) was broadcast for the East and Midwest. Then there was another live show at midnight , for 9 p.m. listeners on the West Coast.

Yes, I clearly recall those free midnight-show tickets available on campus at Columbia--as well as at NYU, Fordham and City College. We were “papered,” and we loved it!

MIKE WELDS

Laguna Hills