Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

A fan had the most unusual experience at Contrary to popular opinion, tempestuous Ava Gardner does not the horse show with Tab and his horse. hate her fans; she's just a lonely and sometimes mixed-up person. j'WI LETTER BOX I agree with E. Cussin, (is this your right name?) Chula Vista, Calif., that she had a most unusual experience with Tab Hunter! My friends and I were at the Del Mar Horse Show and spotted Tab. We followed him to the stable where he kept his horse and watched him as he started rubbing the horse down. 1 asked him for an autograph and he said 'Write my studio.' Well, I was shocked — but not nearly as shocked as I was a moment later. Someone connected with the stable came up and asked me if I would like to walk the horse around and cool it off. Said he would pay me to do the job! So, I didn't get the autograph but I got a few of Tab's dollars for walking his nag! Your letter gave me a real laugh — you seem to have a fine sense of humor. . . . Beatrice Johnson, West Toledo, Ohio, probably the most active fan of the James Dean Memorial Clubs, writes: If only all of Jimmy's fans could have seen the flowers that bedecked his grave in Park Cemetery, Fairmont, Ind., on September 30th, anniversary of his death! But it is still shocking that nothing has been discovered about who stole the bronze James Dean head that marked the grave — a terrible thing and not done by a James Dean fan, I'm sure. . . . I live in Bennington, Vermont, and the other day I ran into Diane Varsi in a market, writes Penny La Plante. I went up to her and asked her for her autograph and told her how much I wish she would come back to the screen. She thanked me politely but refused to give her autograph. Her exact words were, "It isn't worth anything. . . ." James McMasters, Detroit, has an interesting point: it would be wise if Hollywood clamped down on all the publicity about million dollar salaries such as Liz Taylor will receive for Cleopatra and Debbie Reynolds for four TV shows. Also all we read about Bill Holden and John Wayne. Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Gary Grant is about how rich they are. Are these people artists or — financiers? It this keeps up we'll be reading about them all in the Wall Street Journal. Yes, you guessed it — my salary is S78.50 weekly. . . . David Janssen coming up fast in the fan mail! David Bruce, Dallas; Nancy Bryant, Richland, Mich.; Eleanor Damuno, Ridgefield Park, N. J., all write to say they can hardly wait to see Richard Diamond in an important screen role. Eleanor opines that David would be wonderful opposite Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day or Debbie Reynolds. Well, I've been beating the drums for David for months. . . . I'd like to write to Ava Gardner who has been my favorite for years. But from what I read 1 guess she hates fans almost as much as she hates the press, says Bonita Garzio, San Diego. I don't think Ava hates her fans. Bonita. She is a lonely and sometimes mixedup person — but you sound very sincere. Why not try your luck and send her a letter to the MGM studio in Rome? No one of us is so bitter we hate a gesture of friendship and admiration. . . . Is Modern Screen big enough to take some criticism? asks Mrs. Theo. Bissel, Kansas City. Too much Debbie. Too much Liz and Eddie. Too much Fabian, Ricky. Tuesday, Sandra. Not enough Rock Hudson (he ;'ust won the exhibitors' vote as the actor who had brought the most money into the box office during J959). Not enough Doris Day ((he fop money earning woman) — and certainly not enough David Niven, who won last year's Oscar. Just what audience is Modern Screen catering to? Well, don't say we didn't print your quite intelligent plaint, Mrs. B. . . . That's all for now. See you next month. 16