There were two Fu Manchus on the Radio in December 1941. The National Broadcasting Industrials Mauve Station had a Fu Manchu out of New York featuring the voice of Wilbur Steiglitz and the Addelsen Communications Syndicate offered a Fu Manchu that was recorded in the Atlanta Parks Hotel Ballroom on Tuesday Nights. Here the "Voice" was that of Adam Stigely. The Southern broadcast was a simple affair. Mr. Stigely read to organ accompaniment pages that were produced by one Ezra Pusk under a licensing arrangment that Clement Addleson negotiated with Fu Manchu's creator Sax Rohmer in the course of an alcoholic afternoon in which a game of pitching pennies played some part or so anyway runs the legend Professor Forster provides in his "The Selling of Fu Manchu." ( Worston Press. 1989.)
The Yankee Fu Manchu had already transferred his allegiance to the cause of Democracy even while these United States remained non-combatant, because the sponsor of that program, Winston Novelties, was wholly owned by Jonah Pegel, a vehement anti-fascist and major Democratic Party contributor. One of Winston Novelties chief products was a Wo-Wo - their version of the Yo-Yo - which they had so far successfully defended against Duncan's patent infringement litigation (in 1944 the Courts would finally demand that they suspend production. It was a moot point for rationing had already forced them to do so.)
The Wo-Wo was very successful for Winston....
On Monday December 8th the Southern Fu Manchu suspended his diabolical activities and threw himself into the new War Effort. Clement Addleson had maintained his commitment to the show's concept despite sponsorship difficulties. The most recent sponsor, Charleston's Chewy Caramels, wanted to back out of their contract as soon as War was declared, but Addleson personally managed to talk the Charleston family around. "I persuaded them that Fu was finished with fiendishness and was fighting Fascism for the forseeable future."
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