The voice of Firestone

Family legend has always maintained that Uncle Charley was engaged to, and heading out for a date with, fellow O.S.U. student Margaret Speaks on the night of his death. Sadly, nothing survives that confirms it -- although I thought he mentioned it in the now missing last page of his final letter home.

Margaret Speaks, a soprano, was born in Columbus, the daughter of U.S. congressman John Charles Speaks, II and Edna Jane Lawyer.

Miss Speaks' father was also singer, and her mother was a pianist. The extended Speaks family boasted more than a dozen musicians, including several professionals, most notably her composer-uncle, Oley Speaks.

Miss Speaks was active in singing rolls, especially with the Glee Club, before her June 1925 graduation from Ohio State University.

Miss Speaks married Harold Cunningham on Oct. 5, 1925 and her only child was born 10 months later. Sadly, the marriage did not work and she filed for divorce four months later.

"Cookie" Sued For Divorce

    COLUMBUS, O., Dec, 2. (AP) Harold H. (Cookie) Cunningham captain of the 1925 Ohio State University football team and basketball star, today was sued for divorce and alimony in Franklin county courts by Margaret Speaks Cunningham. Mrs. Cunningham, daughter of Congressman John C. Speaks, alleges failure to provide. The Cunningham's have a four months old son.

According to my father and late aunt, Grandma always mentioned their engagement whenever Miss Speaks was on the radio, performing on The Voice of Firestone.

The Voice of Firestone was a long-running radio and television program of classical music. The show featured leading singers in selections from opera and operetta. Originally titled The Firestone Hour, it was first broadcast on the NBC Radio network on Dec. 3, 1928 and was later also shown on television starting in 1949. The program was last broadcast in 1963.

After her retirement, Miss Speaks apparently lived quietly with her second husband, Leslie Pearl. She died on July 16, 1977 in Blue Hill, Maine.

Ex-Voice of Firestone Singer
Margaret Speaks Pearl Dies 

    BLUE HILL, Me. (AP) Radio vocalist Margaret Speaks Pearl, who for years sang solo on the Voice of Firestone program, died over the weekend at her summer home here. She was 72.

    In accordance with her wishes, no funeral service was planned, said her son, John Speaks* of Buffalo, N.Y. Burial arrangements were private. 

    The classical singer, who died Saturday, had retired in the early 1950s after two decades on the air and doing concert tours sponsored by Firestone. She lived with her husband, Leslie Speaks, in Katonah, N.Y. 

    Mrs. Speaks was a 1926 graduate of Ohio State University. Her uncle was the late Oley Speaks, a well-known composer.

*John C. Speaks III (1926-2020) was the only child of Margaret Speaks and Harold B. "Cookie" Cunningham. Their son was renamed after her father after the divorce.

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