Post by Guestola on Mar 4, 2008 6:19:22 GMT
IMPORTANT!
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ACCEPTED! Welcome to the Board!
~ USO character eh? I can't see any objection in allowing you to do so, again, welcome to the board if you require any help feel free to ask.
~Danny[/i]
((Heya! Well I thought I would give this character a shot. ;D If it's not anything you're looking for, that's cool. I thought I would try something different in an area that interests me, and she could work to boost morale as they say. Anyway, enjoy! )
Account E-Mail: EDITED OUT!
Name:
Helen Fletcher
Nationality:
American
What Army will Your Character Serve Beneath?
Associated with the US Military (USO).
Character History:
Helen was born March 1, 1920, to the Fletcher family in Iowa. She was their third child after their oldest, Eva, and two years after Helen was born, a third came into the mix: Jane. Her parents were not particularly musical, but after finding all three girls repeatedly abusing their phonograph records (not “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up In the Morning” again!) and singing along, they decided to take a shot at forming the girls into a dancing and singing vaudevillian act (“The Polka Dots”). Helen was 5 at the time. Their appeal was more in their cuteness than their voices, but they had a successful tour round the Midwest, even appearing on their local radio station. Helen loved life on the road, but it caused her parents a great deal of stress. Eventually in 1929, that stress cracked the family veneer.
Deep-rooted differences arose in how Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher wanted to manage the group. Bit by the fame bug, her mother wanted the girls to pursue a film career; but her father wanted them to grow up normally. After a speedy divorce, her mother whisked the three sisters west to California, promising Helen and her sisters that they would become the next Hollywood starlets…
Now in California, there just weren’t any worthwhile roles for pre-teen girls in the early 1930s, unless you were Shirley Temple. It was apparent that the Hollywood dream was not as easy to obtain as her mother thought. The Fletchers resigned to living a normal life, and Helen and her sisters regularly took in sewing to supplement their mother’s meager income. But the bug which had bitten her mother still had its hold on Helen. She made bus trips to Hollywood with her friends almost every weekend when she could afford it, and continued on-again, off-again singing lessons.
In high school, Helen regularly sang with a local big band comprised of all teens. This attracted a scout, who was looking for unusual young talent acts to put in an upcoming 1938 movie, “40 Winks”. The band was hired (though it took some convincing from Helen and the band leader, Jerry Whittaker-- they were so nervous for the audition, they mixed up sheet music for two different songs and thought they were doomed). Her youth and energy, combined with the band’s budding talent, led to several more bit parts, playing orchestras or novelty acts in smaller scale movies. She continued to screen test every now and then for bigger roles, but was continually disappointed. The band even had the promise of a movie with them in the starring roles – yet that was pulled out from under them. Frustrated, and feeling betrayed by Hollywood, Helen went on hiatus, preparing to become an English teacher.
Of course, fame happens when you least expect it.
In 1940, when singing at her sister’s wedding, she was “rediscovered” by her new brother-in-law’s cousin —a talent scout – and was swept up in a flurry of a record deal, a small part in a movie, and a large number of live shows with a professional band. Her movie, a light comedy musical, was a mild success, but her song from the movie “What Could I Do?” was the real winner. She much preferred the live shows, anyway—being able to interact with the audience and see their immediate reaction to her music.
When America officially entered the war, Helen’s wanderlust resurfaced. After being asked (and doing) a pinup for YANK magazine, Helen decided to go over to the front to entertain the troops. Of course her family was less than thrilled about her being in harm’s way. But she was committed. Helen gathered together what “4-F” bandmates she could find from her high school days and created a volunteer big band, the Jerry Whittaker Orchestra (so pompously named!). They were promptly assigned with a USO Camp Show unit to entertain the Foxhole Circuit—military slang, apparently, for “the thick of things”.
Now Helen, ever the little ball of energy and optimism, is going to have to face the toughest trial in her life while helping others bear their own crosses of the war.
Military Rank:
None
Writing Sample:
Helen stepped outside the hangar and took in a deep breath of fresh air while fishing out a cigarette from her coat pocket. Too bad she didn’t have any marching boots, but her heels would be okay for a quick walk around the outlying forest. Her set with the band had just ended and boy, was it hot in that hangar. She desperately needed to be reminded that it was actually the middle of winter outside.
Before long, she was admiring the stars that were beginning to peep through the leaves overhead. It was funny. They were exactly the same stars she looked at back in America. But here, they seemed different. More bright, beautiful, precious. And even more so, after being around drab olive army fatigues, and machinery which seemed to only come in three colors (metal, metal, and metal), for twenty-four hours a day!
Helen stopped staring at the sky for a minute and glanced around. What was that?
There it was again.
A snap, all too familiar—a suspicious snap, like when she would play Hide and Seek with her sisters. Then Jane—she was always the worst at the game—would accidentally step on a twig and Helen would bolt off to find a new hiding spot.
Except, at least when she was playing with Jane, she knew her sister wasn’t holding a gun and wouldn’t shoot her if she ran.
Her heart tapdanced against her ribcage. Did she manage to wander out so far…? Surely whoever was out there would notice by her jacket that she was a noncombatant. At least, that’s what she was told when given the uniform. (She was also told not to go wandering unaccompanied, but that tidbit of advice seemed to have wandered off itself.)
Then she heard a loud ziiiiiip and a U.S. soldier appeared from behind a tree. Helen wrinkled her nose. She wasn’t dumb enough to know what’d just gone on there.
“Oh, Miss Fletcher,” the soldier smiled cheerfully as he approached her, oblivious. “May I, uh, walk you back to the hangar? It’s not too safe for a woman out here, you know.”
His Midwestern accent made her grin. “Yes, thank you.” She struggled to keep some laughter inside, too-- but it was more laughter of relief, than of humor. A little further from the base and. . . well, she stopped her imagination there.
You must REGISTER in order to access the board, please register with the E-Mail you provided. Thank you!
ACCEPTED! Welcome to the Board!
~ USO character eh? I can't see any objection in allowing you to do so, again, welcome to the board if you require any help feel free to ask.
~Danny[/i]
((Heya! Well I thought I would give this character a shot. ;D If it's not anything you're looking for, that's cool. I thought I would try something different in an area that interests me, and she could work to boost morale as they say. Anyway, enjoy! )
Account E-Mail: EDITED OUT!
Name:
Helen Fletcher
Nationality:
American
What Army will Your Character Serve Beneath?
Associated with the US Military (USO).
Character History:
Helen was born March 1, 1920, to the Fletcher family in Iowa. She was their third child after their oldest, Eva, and two years after Helen was born, a third came into the mix: Jane. Her parents were not particularly musical, but after finding all three girls repeatedly abusing their phonograph records (not “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up In the Morning” again!) and singing along, they decided to take a shot at forming the girls into a dancing and singing vaudevillian act (“The Polka Dots”). Helen was 5 at the time. Their appeal was more in their cuteness than their voices, but they had a successful tour round the Midwest, even appearing on their local radio station. Helen loved life on the road, but it caused her parents a great deal of stress. Eventually in 1929, that stress cracked the family veneer.
Deep-rooted differences arose in how Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher wanted to manage the group. Bit by the fame bug, her mother wanted the girls to pursue a film career; but her father wanted them to grow up normally. After a speedy divorce, her mother whisked the three sisters west to California, promising Helen and her sisters that they would become the next Hollywood starlets…
Now in California, there just weren’t any worthwhile roles for pre-teen girls in the early 1930s, unless you were Shirley Temple. It was apparent that the Hollywood dream was not as easy to obtain as her mother thought. The Fletchers resigned to living a normal life, and Helen and her sisters regularly took in sewing to supplement their mother’s meager income. But the bug which had bitten her mother still had its hold on Helen. She made bus trips to Hollywood with her friends almost every weekend when she could afford it, and continued on-again, off-again singing lessons.
In high school, Helen regularly sang with a local big band comprised of all teens. This attracted a scout, who was looking for unusual young talent acts to put in an upcoming 1938 movie, “40 Winks”. The band was hired (though it took some convincing from Helen and the band leader, Jerry Whittaker-- they were so nervous for the audition, they mixed up sheet music for two different songs and thought they were doomed). Her youth and energy, combined with the band’s budding talent, led to several more bit parts, playing orchestras or novelty acts in smaller scale movies. She continued to screen test every now and then for bigger roles, but was continually disappointed. The band even had the promise of a movie with them in the starring roles – yet that was pulled out from under them. Frustrated, and feeling betrayed by Hollywood, Helen went on hiatus, preparing to become an English teacher.
Of course, fame happens when you least expect it.
In 1940, when singing at her sister’s wedding, she was “rediscovered” by her new brother-in-law’s cousin —a talent scout – and was swept up in a flurry of a record deal, a small part in a movie, and a large number of live shows with a professional band. Her movie, a light comedy musical, was a mild success, but her song from the movie “What Could I Do?” was the real winner. She much preferred the live shows, anyway—being able to interact with the audience and see their immediate reaction to her music.
When America officially entered the war, Helen’s wanderlust resurfaced. After being asked (and doing) a pinup for YANK magazine, Helen decided to go over to the front to entertain the troops. Of course her family was less than thrilled about her being in harm’s way. But she was committed. Helen gathered together what “4-F” bandmates she could find from her high school days and created a volunteer big band, the Jerry Whittaker Orchestra (so pompously named!). They were promptly assigned with a USO Camp Show unit to entertain the Foxhole Circuit—military slang, apparently, for “the thick of things”.
Now Helen, ever the little ball of energy and optimism, is going to have to face the toughest trial in her life while helping others bear their own crosses of the war.
Military Rank:
None
Writing Sample:
Helen stepped outside the hangar and took in a deep breath of fresh air while fishing out a cigarette from her coat pocket. Too bad she didn’t have any marching boots, but her heels would be okay for a quick walk around the outlying forest. Her set with the band had just ended and boy, was it hot in that hangar. She desperately needed to be reminded that it was actually the middle of winter outside.
Before long, she was admiring the stars that were beginning to peep through the leaves overhead. It was funny. They were exactly the same stars she looked at back in America. But here, they seemed different. More bright, beautiful, precious. And even more so, after being around drab olive army fatigues, and machinery which seemed to only come in three colors (metal, metal, and metal), for twenty-four hours a day!
Helen stopped staring at the sky for a minute and glanced around. What was that?
There it was again.
A snap, all too familiar—a suspicious snap, like when she would play Hide and Seek with her sisters. Then Jane—she was always the worst at the game—would accidentally step on a twig and Helen would bolt off to find a new hiding spot.
Except, at least when she was playing with Jane, she knew her sister wasn’t holding a gun and wouldn’t shoot her if she ran.
Her heart tapdanced against her ribcage. Did she manage to wander out so far…? Surely whoever was out there would notice by her jacket that she was a noncombatant. At least, that’s what she was told when given the uniform. (She was also told not to go wandering unaccompanied, but that tidbit of advice seemed to have wandered off itself.)
Then she heard a loud ziiiiiip and a U.S. soldier appeared from behind a tree. Helen wrinkled her nose. She wasn’t dumb enough to know what’d just gone on there.
“Oh, Miss Fletcher,” the soldier smiled cheerfully as he approached her, oblivious. “May I, uh, walk you back to the hangar? It’s not too safe for a woman out here, you know.”
His Midwestern accent made her grin. “Yes, thank you.” She struggled to keep some laughter inside, too-- but it was more laughter of relief, than of humor. A little further from the base and. . . well, she stopped her imagination there.