Modern Screen (Dec 1949 - Nov 1950)

ann Myth's story /* % " Tilt ■ f# Pftoto by Underwood & Underwood title Yes sir, when he calls for his favorite meal by brand name you had better serve it-or else. And when he lisps for that prepared dessert he's so fond of you'd better not try any switching or there will be a rumpus, sure enough. We start learning brand names almost as soon as we can say "Dada," and from then on we depend on our brand language to get us exactly what we want. Every advertisement we read-every radio program we listen to-prepares us better to make the most of America's wonderful system of producing and distributing goods identified by Brand Names. And by the way-from the high chair on-every time we choose or reject brand, names we keep industry on its toes-trying with all its knowhow and resources to give us what we hke best. INCORPORATED 37 West 57th Street, New York 19, N. Y. A non-profit educational foundation m (Continued from page 41) for many years, and only her late mother's objections had prevented an operation when she was five ine operation had been continually postponed because there was a chance that the scar tissue resulting from a tonsillectomy might impair her singing voice Now again, a decision had to be made rnioWfw s^hmltte,d to an operation she might be finished as a singer. If she refused sheci have her voice, but she'd have to tight the poison in her with constant medication. Exactly what went through Ann's mind as she faced this dilemma is her secret, but her decision is public knowledge. She rested m the hospital for one week to build up her strength, then she was op u°nuA Week more of JyinS in bed and she began a systematic routine to jestore her former health. The luck of the Irish was with her. Alter the initial soreness disappeared, Anns voice seemed better than ever. A NN dc,esn't talk about her religion as much as she lives it, but it is apparent to those who have observed men and women of different faiths-and of no professed faith-that she receives a great help from her devotion to the tenets of the Catholic Church. Ann's regimen of rest, good food and reasonable relaxation in exercise built u ,U£ 1° fwiftly that f°ur weeks after she left the hospital she was strong enough to go to work at her studio (UniversalInternational) in Katie. Her remarkably swift recovery was due, in a large part, to the careful, wise and loving care she has received from her aunt and uncle, Cis and Pat, who have lived with her in m 1946 SinCe tHe death °f Ann's mother This jolly yet thoughtful Irish couple could take no better care of Ann if she were their own child. Ann's routine while working on a picture is almost entirely in Aunt Cis's hands bhes awakened about 6 o'clock, and immediately is served breakfast in bed bv »w, !m?*-usJually orange juice, cereal with fruit and a soft-boiled egg "When Ann is home for lunch," says l "I ^ 6 almost alw£>ys wants a salad with cottage cheese, but for dinner T rigi Jhe Can down 3 steak with the best of them Steak with mushrooms on it will keep her happy." Ann doesn't eat often with the family when she s working. By the time she gets home, its usually 7 o'clock. Her first concession to comfort is a tub bath in which she likes to soak for several minutes. After this she goes to bed, and Aunt Cis brings her dinner, and after Ann has eaten, she reads or studies scripts for a while, dropping off to sleep about 9-30 It takes food," says Aunt Cis, "and it takes rest if you are after doing your best either " 1036 if y°U °heat yourself on Ann was aided in her quick recovery Charley Feldman. of Famous Artists, called Marlon Brando in Chicago to find out when Brando was going to report for tests on Fe dman s Streetcar Named Desire. Brando asked when he was required by contract to report and Feldman told him Aug. 30 To the surprise of nobody who knows him' Brando answered. "I'll be there 11-59 August 29th."— Mi/ton Epstein in The Film Daily. drinlSf lu&t she neither smokes nor drinks. She has, as her Irish Uncle Pat put it, no bad habits except the inability to say no to those who ask her to make "thl < uP?T?n-ces; "But'" Pat contends, arL°t y ? ^"nng to say no to at least some of these. Uncle Pat's affectionate reference to Ann as the old lady' stems from the time when Ann was about four years old-and £ J \eiSeU * her aunt's hat and high-heeled shoes, making a dramatic the Me?'6 m maimer °f 3 diva at Uncle Pat's reference to Ann's new ability to say no grew from a rather painful experience. "One night after a performance," Uncle Pat relates, "Ann was called to the telephone in her room. We watched as she talked, and it would have hurt your heart to see the expression that came to her face. Finally she hung up and came Dack to us, crying. "It seems that some spalpeen had refused to believe Ann when she told him her doctor did not permit her to make personal appearances while in a show. This man had asked our Ann if she never did anything for charity, and her with a loom filled with plaques, ribbons and emu0m. chfritable organizations to which she has donated her time." J* Ann's search for better health, she has developed a routine of exercise and relaxation that could serve as a model for any girl her age. When weather and work permit she plays golf every day. a sport to which she was introduced bv her friend, Bing Crosby. She plays well enough to win the women s division of the tournament at her studio (her score was 101) but is no match for Bing, although they do play together now and then. Ann also is proficient at riding and swimming. Her love for the water has helped her through at least one tough ffVSTf In Mr Pe^ody and lhe Mermaid, Ann was obliged to spend many hours in the water. This was a particularly exhausting experience, for she had to wear a large artificial tail which encased her body from the waist down. it was while working in this picture that Ann made a lifelong friend of Bud Westmore, head of the makeup department An incident occurred during the creation of this makeup that still sends chills up Bud s spine. In order to have a precise replica of Ann's body on which to construct the mermaid's tail, it was decided to make a plaster cast. One day Bud forgot to grease the edges of the lower half of the cast as he poured the plaster for the top half. To a layman the solution would be to beat the cast off Ann with a hammer. But Bud knew that the molecular action of setting plaster would create great heat along the edges of the cast, and by the tune he discovered his oversight, the plaster already was getting warm. It was a frightening minute for Bud It seemed he was about to cause a serious injury to a personal friend. I lived a year," says Bud, "in the several minutes it took me to pry off the cast that was getting hotter and hotter fortunately, Ann was not burned, and although we had to make several casts before we finished, she showed no fear of the ordeal. Bud thinks that Ann's good disposition, her lack of star temperament and her consideration for others all have a bearing on her ability to get so much work done. "What other star," he asks, "will show up on time every morning, facing a difficult task, and still sing so lustily that we have to ask her to quiet down when we