Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

1 "Oh, no you're not," replied Josie in a no-if-ands-or-buts voice. "You're much too young." "I'm nineteen," began Tom. "And June's seventeen," pointed out Mrs. Dunne. But trouble always seems to muscle in on little private paradises like Tom and Chris had in their brave young Manhattan world. Like that song, "Together," they'd both pretended it would never end. But it did — it always does, if you keep on doing nothing about it. Pretty soon the gang started to break up. Sister Claire got married and moved away. K. T. came back home to Hollywood and after Tom was all pepped up over a chance in the new show, "Life With Father," and then missed it by a mile, the greener fields of Hollywood looked mightyattractive. He made plans to take a crack at Movieland with a couple of other guys who were sick of getting batted in the nose by Broadway. He wanted Chris to come along but she had a show in rehearsal that looked good — and was for her ("Schoolhouse on the Lot" ran thirteen weeks instead of the usual fast .one) — and that's the way it went. Tom came to Hollywood, Chris stayed in New York and absence didn't make the hearts grow fonder. When you're young like that with a million things to see and do and get worked up about, it's usually a case of out of sight, out of mind — not down deep, maybe, but — anyway, things just weren't the same with Chris and Tom after that. • He landed a contract with Frank Lloyd, the Hollywood director, and even though he was twenty-one, Tom found himself playing a son of Cary Grant and Martha Scott in "The Howards of Virginia." One day Martha asked Tom into the projection booth to see the rushes. It was the first time Bud Drake had ever seen himself on the screen and he sat bolt upright in his seat and stumbled out of the place feeling as empty as a punctured balloon. "Was — was that me?" he asked Martha. Her eyes twinkled. She'd been through the same thing long ago. "It sure is." "Why," marvelled Tom, "why didn't somebody tell me? I'm skinny and ugly and white as a ghost! And worst of all, I look like I'm thirteen years old!" "You're supposed to." "But I'm twenty -one!" cried Tom in his agony. He hated Hollywood. By the time the Eastern snows melted he was on a plane heading home. But it was a different New York when he got there. Tom wouldn't be bothering about Broadway for one thing. A war was cooking and Tom thought it was the Army for him. There was another difference. A big one — Chris was married. She'd met another young actor, Michael Ames, and well — she was sure Tom must have found a girl in Hollywood, she was sure this romance was the real thing for her. The old times were gone for good. singin' the blues . . . Tom stayed with Claire and her husband down in the Village and got ready for the Army. He had three physicals and before each one his friends told him goodbye and loaded him with presents. He flunked all three examinations — something wrong with his wiring or his plumbing. So he traipsed back on up Broadway one day, low as a snake in a swamp, looking for maybe some of the old gang, because he was lonesome. He had those Poughkeepsie-Tudor-CityBlues and he could sure stand the sight of a friendly face. He tried not to think of the friendly face he'd like to see most, with its milky, rosebud cheeks and laughing blue eyes. Just any friendly face from the old bunch. Tom never found one, but hunting them around the agents' offices, he found something else — a job in "Janie," and that was going to be a hit and send Jocm BVondell Famous tiouy Screen ■ Star says' m ..VoubeUuseAm'Sj ! wouldn't be. out its «onderful protection to Lot. Some peoP>e may think « isn t Tee » ^ abWt -d«"mPe:rttoneeSt^S -h0kl0tainave it spo« * NEW. ..a CREAM DEODORANT which Safely helps STOP under-arm PERSPIRATION 1. Does not irritate skin. Does not rot dresses and men's shirts. 2. Prevents under-arm odor. Helps stop perspiration safely. 3. A pure, white, antiseptic, stainless vanishing cream. No waiting to dry. Can be used right after shaving. Arrid has been awarded the Approval Seal of the American Institute of Laundering — harmless to fabric. Use 4. \ 1 Arrid regularly. 39^, Plus Tax (Also 590 size) At any store which sells toilet goods MORE MEN AND WOMEN USE ARRID THAN ANY OTHE ARRID