I always worried I'd forget my lines or say the wrong words or the audience would laugh in the wrong places.

On the stage of the Italian Terrace Room in the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1938 ... the place where Champagne Music was born.

In spite of the Depression, or maybe because of it, folks were hungry for a good time, and an evening of dancing seemed a good way to have it.

It's curious how we act in moments of personal despair.

I realized some of the pitfalls of being well-known; it was nice if you were successful, but it made it just that much harder to take when you failed.

Night after night I could feel the chills go up and down my spine, they played so well.

If you put all your strength and faith and vigor into a job and try to do the best you can, the money will come.