Written By Alice Gibb
Most cats gain their time in the limelight by being rescued from a tree or else from traveling long distances following a move. But in 1937, Cinders, a cat who resided just north of Arva, received his moment of fame for his taste in radio programs.
Cinders, a rather plump, two-year old tomcat, lived with owner Freeman Talbot. Apparently Cinders, perhaps with Talbot’s encouragement, developed very pronounced tastes in radio programming – and remember, radio was all that existed in 1937!
In the mornings, according to a Free Press story about the cat, Cinders would race from all corners of the house, climb up onto a chair beside the radio, and intently listen to Charles E. Carruthers read the news.
Mr. Carruthers, city editor of the Free Press, was a fixture on the early morning scene.
Once the news show was over, Cinders was largely indifferent to musical programming. He particularly disliked jazz and Big Bands, but did have a weakness for one particular performer. That entertainer was Blue Grass Roy, who always started his concerts with a set of rappings, as if someone was knocking at the front door. Cinder’s owner didn’t know if it was simply the knocking or the twangy bluegrass tunes that drew his pet to the radio. Cinders could either listen to his favorite programs by sitting on a chair beside the radio or by jumping up on the radio and letting his fat, half-moon face hang down over the speaker.
The cat, as the article outlined, pretty well had the run of the Talbot home. Cinders could open and shut the cellar windows, and Talbot had fixed up a special runway so the feline could get back and forth into the cellar stairway. The tomcat was also clever enough not to tackle the local roadway. Instead, he traveled under the road through a convenient culvert, significantly increasing his chances for a long life.
After a few unhappy experiences with mouse traps, Cinders apparently learned that it was best to avoid such contraptions. In fact, the Talbots learned they could simply set down a trap any place that was off limits to the feline.
If listening to the radio was one of Cinder’s hobbies, perhaps his other habit was less appealing. The cat loved to hunt rabbits, but was fastidious about his prey. Whenever he caught one of the unfortunate creatures, he duly brought it home so his owner could skin the rabbit before the cat sat down to dinner.
The story about Cinders, written by Free Press roving reporter W.G.
Trestain, included a wonderful photo of a rather rotund cat, perched on the top of a black box radio. Human interest stories, like this one about a four-legged radio fan, were as popular in 1937 as they are in magazines and newspapers today.
