Radio: The Sidewalks of North Africa

Out of North Africa came a sardonic, familiar voice, welcoming passers-by to the microphone: "Anybody here from out of town? Step on board, sailor. What's your name? . . . Boys, break it up and let this lovely vision come through. That's it, dear. What's your name?" New Yorkers who recalled his famed sidewalk interviews from Times Square ("Step up, brother, stop your mad rush to the grave") recognized the voice of brassy George Braidwood ("The Real") McCoy, radio buttonholer extraordinary (TIME, Oct. 21, 1940). They found out last week that Private McCoy was now playing the six-station American Expeditionary radio...

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