We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
“MOVIES”
11
The Smoky City Welcomes
DICK POWELL
By Julia Gwin
WHEN Dick Powell came back to Pittsburgh a few weeks ago after almost a year’s absence stirring up things in Hollywood, he was given a welcome that even New York might boast of with pride.
There were automobiles and bands and people, people, people. All of Pittsburgh must have left her pots and pans and desks that day to greet this lad who, in less than four years, they had come to love as a native son. It was a spectacle— a splended, glowing tribute to the fine, clean cut youth of America which he symbolized for them.
About five years ago Dick went to Pittsburgh unknown and unknowing to take over the job of Master of Ceremonies at the Enright Theatre. But he didn't stay here long — they soon moved him in town to the Stanley. It was a big job for a boy not yet out of his teens, one that would have turned most boys’ heads.
But Dick isn’t like most boys. He hadn’t had a lot of experience prior to this,— he couldn’t at this age, but he showed an amazing combination of showmanship and intelligence for one w ith no previous training in this work and who had no inherited guidance. He wasn’t too wise to ask questions or too sufficient to take advice. Soon his associates in the theatre and those on the outside w ith whom he came in contact, began to realize that he was steady, loyal and responsible with a great enthusiasm and freshness of spirit. They found him a delightful companion, warm and amusing, human and approachable with
humor quiet but unfailing. He was never boisterous, always tremendously busy, doing whatever he did joyously and accepting praise in a modest manner.
The theatre management liked him, the actors who came to play there found him a refreshing surprise. With a sweeping admiration for the accomplishments of other artists he never attempted to inject his personality into their acts in a hurtful manner. He was always the perfect host.
Then Pittsburgh found him. And that was something to write home about. No other actor ever sang in Pittsburgh’s protestant churches. Reverend John Ray Ewers, Pastor of the East End Christian Church, one of the finest in the city where Dick sang several times, is a Powell booster. He said more people came to hear Dick sing than came to even the laying of the corner stone of the church.
A year passed, two ... it was an anniversary that the town celebrated by sending flowers and telegrams, by telephone calls and little informal visits to the theatre to give their personal greetings to young Dick Powell. Pittsburgh, through the president of the Chamber of Commerce, offered its congratulations. And Dick loved them for it. There was an excitement about him subtly contagious. He felt that he couldn’t let these friends down . . . ever. And he never has!
They proved that a few weeks ago when he returned to make a personal appearance in the town where he had worked and played and been happy for the better part of four years. Such a short time he had been away, but long enough to make them .
very proud of him. Somehow they felt he was a product of their own designing, so they turned out to do him honor.
When Dick stepped off the train he was met by Mayoi ( Cont . on page 44)
— with Mayor John S. Herron of Pittsburgh
Dick
Powell