Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1943)

speaking and am very bad at it. It's quite hard. I have ideas about what I want to speak on, but I have trouble getting the words out when I stand up in front of the other kids. The other kids in school are good at public speaking. "Somebody once asked me what I liked best at school and I said 'Recess.' But that's not true any more. I used to just get by without studying, but lately I've been much more interested in my school work and I'm studying very hard now. I'd like to go to public school because I like being with a lot of kids, but I never have been to public school. Our school on the lot is very nice, but there just aren't enough kids. "I like to read, but I don't have much time because of the home work. My favorite book, I guess, was 'Gone With The Wind.' I DON'T like to talk about my war work because I do what I can, but everybody is doing so much and I don't want to sound as if I'm trying to take credit for anything. I hate people who boast. But I want to answer your letter right, so I'll tell you what you want to know. I have done a lot of Army camp shows around here and one at San Diego Naval Base. I sing and talk and I've appeared many times at Victory House in Pershing Square and have been on some Bond tours around California. It's funny when I'm so shy about public speaking that I don't mind the Bond tours. I never know what I'm going to say until I stand up and then I say whatever pops into my head. So far, I haven't said anything wrong. Maybe I should knock wood. "My future plans are just to keep on acting. I want to work in pictures and also on the stage. Then I want to sing with an orchestra. My brother had an orchestra and always promised to let me sing with it when I was old enough. I'm old enough now, but my brothers are in the service and the band has disbanded. My brother Warner is in the Coast Guard and Walt is with the Army Air Force and George is at home because he's just seventeen. But that's getting away from the plans for my future. This isn't exactly a plan, it's a wish. I wish someday I can win the Academy Award. "I still try to keep on speaking French. I learned it from my grandmother, who was French. I had two years of French in school, too. Of course I am interested in everything that is going on in Africa. The whole thing is like a movie — how they went in there, I mean. "Anne Rooney. Dorothy Babbs and Jean Porter and Beverly Tyler are just about my best friends. They are all in pictures and when I have dates it is usually with boys who are not in pictures. We travel in a sort of a crowd. We all like to jitterbug. Then we like to go bowling and see pictures. I love to see pictures and do whenever home work permits. "Oh yes, it might interest you to know that I collect autographs of all the stars I work with and I also want to tell you how much I enjoyed working in 'The Youngest Profession.' (I am very glad you wrote the book and I'd like to hear about your new one.) "Sincerely, "Virginia Weidler." Now, it isn't important what Virginia eats or wears or calls her dogs. It is important that she has a great talent and the brains to make the most of it. I hope she never loses that quick, intelligent smile, that earnest identification of herself with her roles. For, as Director Taurog said, "Virginia's case is hopeless. All she can do is act!" The End. BUY MORE WAR BONDS AND STAMPS TODAY! '.»;