Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

The editor called it a broken-down gag and laughed his head off, but finally the letter got into print. "If you read this, Virginia," Faye wrote, "youll remember your special name for me, and something I gave you as a farewell gift." Answers poured in, two hundred fake sisters showed up at the studio, and the p.a. decided he should've stood in bed. Meantime, a girl in Grand Rapids read the letter and tore over to show it to her friend, cashier at the phone company. "Look, Virginia. This sounds like you — ." Together, they composed a wire to Faye. "Dear Peggy, I think I might be your sister. If I am, you gave me a little mesh bag the last time we saw each other." Nobody else had ever called Faye, Peggy. Nobody else knew about the mesh bag. Faye invited her to Hollywood, but the jubilant magazine insisted on footing the bills. It was their party, their baby and their story. What they didn't print were Virginia's reactions. She wasn't impressed. When they asked what movie stars she'd ■ like to meet, she knocked them for a loop. "Lionel Barrymore and Marjorie Main," said Virginia. She wound up feeling terribly sorry for Faye who lived in a goldfish bowl with no life of her own. Not long ago, the country rocked to the tremors of another self-starter. Back from a camp and hospital tour, Laraine Day phoned Henry Rogers, her publicity agent. "How was it?" asked Henry. "Oh, I don't know. Unpleasant in some ways." "What was wrong?" "Well, look, I went out meaning to do a job. I can't sing, I can't dance, so I thought I'd talk to the boys about their homes and sweethearts and maybe tell j them things about Hollywood. So the minute I set foot in camp, some colonel or major grabs me and I don't see ten percent of the boys I could have seen — ." all out for the gi's . . . Henry'd heard squawks like that before. Other clients had come back, beefing — "You go to see soldiers, and officers are all you see — ." He slept on it, then asked Laraine in, and tossed a bombshell. "Are you game to bring this thing into the open? Would you send a report to the Hollywood Victory Committee and, at the same time, to the papers?" "What for?" "Because it's been hush-hushed long enough. Because somebody ought to have the guts to come out with it." "Will I get into trouble?" "Probably. They'll say you're exploiting the GIs for space. Or they'll say you've been victimized by some jerk of a p.a. — " "Will it do any good?" "Bound to. Next girl going out'll be turned over to a sergeant and do the job she's supposed to do — ." "Then I don't care if it does mean trouble. I'll do it—." She sent the report on her own stationery, and hell broke loose. Under the pressure, Laraine never gave an inch. Then the letters started — letters from GIs and their folks — from every spot in the world where Americans were stationed — twelve thousand letters to date and still coming strong, thanking the girl who went to bat for them. This is no poke at officers. Officers too, have a right to like movie stars. At worst, they were thoughtless. Now their eyes are open. Now the players who go out to entertain GIs are left free to do just that. The Victory Committee, which hollered loudest at first, now agrees that Laraine had the right idea. Even if it was a p.a.'s idea to begin with. When you publicize democracy, what's bad about that? 15 Year Old Girl LOSES 52 POUNDS Long left out of school fun, Betty Parker of Tuckahoe, N.Y. is now slim, smart, popular. "When you weigh 187 pounds and wear size 42," explains Betty Parker, "you can't take part in high school sports — dance, skate, hike, ride. I thought everyone was laughing at me, and probably they were! "Then I read of the DuBarry Success Course, and my 'mother said I could take it if I earned the money myself. So I did — taking care of neighbors' children. I actually lost 52 pounds in four months. But that's only part of the change. I'm full of pep and ready to "go places'. And I am asked to go to them ! I dress like the other girls — wear lovely pullover sweaters and plaid skirts and bright frocks ... cute young styles instead of women's dresses. My skin is creamy smooth. I know how to do my hair. And is my family proud of me!" Be Fit and Fair Top -to -Toe There's a glamorous new self waiting for you to release it . . . concealed, perhaps, by extra weight, an unbecoming hair-do, a mistreated complexion. But you can bring it to light! No matter how busy you are — at home, in office, school or war work — you owe it to yourself and your job to feel and look your best. More than 200,000 women and girls have found the DuBarry Success Course a way to become fit and fair from top to toe. Your individual needs are analyzed — skin, hair, figure, weight. Then you learn how to follow, at home, the methods taught by Ann Delafield at the famous Richard Hudnut Salon, New York. Before After When the Course has meant so much to so many, why not use the coupon to find what it can do for you? • DuBARRY BEAUTY CHEST INCLUDED With your Course you receive this Chest containing a generous supply of DuBarry Beauty and Make-up Preparations. Richard Hudnut Salon • New York What a difference when Betty brought her Height and measurements to normal! She reduced her waist 8l/2 inches, her abdomen 9y%, her thighs 4. Through improved posture, she stands an inch taller. SUCCESS Ann Delafield, Directing Richard Hudnut Salon Dept.SU-59,693 Fifth Ave., New York Pleaje send me the book, "Fit and Fail1 — Top to Toe," telling all about the DuBarry Success Course, COURSE IdPOIUCAIlWIJ OtTHt VakjucahMctcu/ Zone No. If any -State L. .J 109