Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

away from the boy. Her eyes shot over to the podium. She hoped that Dick wasn't watching this. But he was. She tried to smile at him. He grinned a big grin, and he winked. Myrna's head felt hot, suddenly. I don't want to, she thought. No. I don't want to . . . But he's been so nice to me — She looked back at the boy. "I thought it over," she said, rising. "And yes, I'd like very much to dance. . . ." It was fun after all . . . At the end of the show, Dick came over to her. He put his arm around her shoulder. "How was it. Myrna — fun?" he asked. "I felt a little shaky at first, I've got to admit," Myrna said. She nodded. "But it was fun — at least, soon as I got over thinking that there were a couple of thousand people watching me on their sets." "A couple of thousand?" Dick asked. He stepped back from her and gave her that famous mock-shocked look of his. "Miss Horowitz," he said, "don't you realize that at last count there were eighteen million people who — " "Eighteen million?" Myrna interrupted him. She closed her eyes. "Oh no," she said, moaning, as if she had a sudden stomach ache. "If it was that bad — well, you don't have to come back any more, you know," Dick said. Myrna opened her eyes, quickly. "Or do you think," Dick asked, "that maybe you'd like to come back?" "Oh I would," Myrna said. "You see . . . the reason I came in the first place was so I could come Friday. I wanted to make sure I'd see Tab Hunter, I mean. And he's going to be here Friday." Dick reached into his pocket and handed Myrna a ticket. "This'll get you in Friday," he said. " — Matter of fact," he said, "this ticket will get you in tomorow, too, if you decide you'd like to come then . . . Would you?" "I wasn't so sure at that exact moment," Myrna recalls. "But the next morning, soon as I woke up, I found myself thinking how much I really would like to go back that afternoon. And so I went. And I went the next day. And the next. And each day I'd find myself having a better and better time, and dancing more and more, too. I went so much, in fact, that after a while one of my teachers at school stopped calling me Myrna and started referring to me as 'Bandstand.' "Boy, things really got funny like that. So many people began to recognize me from the show. I remember once I was in Atlantic City, walking down the boardwalk, and an old lady came rushing over to me and pinched my cheek and said, 'I watch you on TV — you're so cute.' And there was the time I was sitting in the trolley and two little kids saw me and asked me for my autograph. That was the first time that happened. It's happened lots of times since. Oh I've had the time of my life ever since I've been going on the show. "Like the people I've met, for instance. "Friends first. Other Philadelphia girls who come to the show all the time. Joyce Shafer and Carole Higbee and Mary Ann Cuff and Lois and Barbara Trott, the twins. You should hear the phone ringing all the time in our house now7. My father says it sounds like a Bell Telephone Exchange office. How life has changed "And stars! I've met Roger Smith on the show — he's so cute, such a doll. And Pat Boone. Annette Funicello. Johnny Mathis. Connie Francis. James Garner. The Teddy Bears — Phil, Marshall and Annette. And Fabian. I even danced with Fabian. "And, of course, there's Dick. "And how can I tell how great I think he is, all that he's done for me? "Like the time I went to the hospital, for instance. . . ." The time was December. 1958. Myrna's bad leg was beginning to bother her. A doctor recommended corrective surgery on the knee-cap. Myrna's first question was, "How long will I have to be in bed?" The doctor told her, "A few weeks in the hospital— then a few months at home, two, maybe even three." That afternoon, after the show, Myrna told Dick about the operation. He took her into his office, behind the studio, and closed the door. "When's the operation?" he asked her. "Day after tomorrow," Myrna said. "I go to the hospital tomorrow, and then, the next morning, the doctor operates." Dick took her hand. "I guess this is the time for a nice speech from me," he said, softly. "Well . . . I'm not good at making speeches, Myrna. But let me tell you this: I wish you all the luck in the world. I know you'll come through with everything all right. I have faith. I want you to have faith, too." He leaned over, and kissed her on the cheek. "Good luck," he said, again, " — and hurry back to us." The next day, on the air, Dick told a nationwide audience about Myrna and the operation. "She'll be away from us for a little while," he said, "but if you'd like to keep in touch with her, just drop her a postcard every once in a while. I think she'd appreciate that. . . ." "And do you know what happened, just s150 FOR YOU! Fill in the form below (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) as soon as you've read all the stories in this issue. Then mail it to us right away. Promptness counts. Three $10 winners will be chosen from each of the following areas — on a basis of the date and time on your postmark: Eastern states; Southern states; Midwestern states; Rocky Mountain and Pacific states; Canada. And even if you don't earn $10, you'll be glad you sent this ballot in— because you're helping us pick the stories you'll really love. MAIL TO: MODERN SCREEN POLL, BOX 2291, GRAND CENTRAL STATION, N. Y. 17, N. Y. Please circle the box to the left of the one phrase which best answers each question: 1. I LIKED ERROL FLYNN: rj] more than almost any star E a lot E fairly well E very little E not at all am not very familiar with him I READ: E all of his story 0 part E none IT HELD MY INTEREST: T super-completely E completely E fairly well [JJ very little GO not at all 2. I LIKE TUESDAY WELD: E more than almost any star E a lot E fairly well E very little Jl! not at all ID am not very familiar with her I READ: E all of her story E part E none IT HELD MY INTEREST: S super-completely E completely IT] fairly well E very little E not at all 3. I LIKE DEBBIE REYNOLDS: E more than almost any star (TJ a lot E fairly well S very little E not at all [J] am not very familiar with her I LIKE GLENN FORD: E more than almost any star [JJ a lot E fairly well E very little E not at all E am not very familiar with him I READ: E all of their story E part E none IT HELD MY INTEREST: E super-completely E completely E fairly well E very little E not at all 4. I LIKE CRASH CRADDOCK: E more than almost any star E a lot E fairly well E very little E not at all E am not very familiar with him I READ: E all of his story E part E none IT HELD MY INTEREST: E super-completely E completely E fairly well E very little E not at all 5. I LIKE CATHY CROSBY: E more than almost any star E a lot E fairly well E very little E not at all E am not very familiar with her I READ: E all of her story E part E none IT HELD MY INTEREST: E super-completely E completely E fairly well B very little E not at all 6. I LIKE EVY NORLUND: E more than almost any star E a lot E fairly well E very little [JJ not at all E am not very familiar with her I LIKE JAMES DARREN: E more than almost any star E a lot E fairly well E very little E not at all E am not very familiar with him _ I READ: Lii all of their story E part E none IT_ HELD MY INTEREST: T super-completely E completely E fairly well E very little E not at all 7. I LIKE GIA SCALA: E more than almost any star E a lot E fairly well E very little E not at all E am no_t very familiar withjier I READ: E all of her story [JJ part E none IT HELD MY INTEREST: E super-completely E completely _3i fairly well E very little E not at all 8. I LIKE JEAN SIMMONS: E more than almost any star E a lot fairly well j_i very little E not at all E am not very familiar with her I LIKE STEWART GRANGER: E more than almost any star E a lot