"The House that Jack Built" by Hal Jackson

Book Review

In 1928, 13 year orphan, Hal Jackson rented a room for $5.00 a week and wheedled himself into two jobs. The young boy did one job before going to school in the morning, but it was the other that he loved. He did not get paid for cleaning up trash at Griffith stadium, but he got to see all the games for free. In "The House That Jack Built", Jackson says his "most thrilling experience" was when Babe Ruth offered him a ride home as he was leaving the stadium after the Yankees played the Senators. Jackson traveled a long road after that encounter until he realized his dream to be a radio sports announcer; perhaps that encounter was his inspiration for creating an imaginary house for his radio persona and show, The House That Jack Built.

Other than being a voice on the radio and show host, I knew little about Hal Jackson when I picked up this book. That is sad, because Jackson is an extraordinary person. He credits his winning attitude to meeting a legless man named Porgy when he was a child. Like his friend, Jackson says, "I never dwelt on what I couldn't do; I just went and did it". When a General manager of WINX radio station told him "No nigger will ever go on this radio station.", he said, "Well, we'll see about that", By purchasing air time through white advertising agencies his Bronze Review premiered on WINX in November 1939. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was his guest on that 15 minute show. The station was flooded with calls thanking the owner for a terrific show and innovative idea. The listeners were unaware that Jackson and Dr. Bethune had to rush into the studio 15 minutes before Showtime, to prevent the GM from stopping the show. The station owner saw revenue potential and the general manager was stuck with him, despite his proclamations when Jackson first approached him with the idea.