Picture Play Magazine (1938)

74 ( 'ontinued from page 31 mas — Claudette becomes as alfresco aanj oneelse. People are invited for tennis and swimming. When twilight approaches, tables appear in the garden, laden with canapes; caviar in things which are so puffy that it's quite an adventure to in to conve) one to your mouth withoul its going splat. There are rounds of hot cheesy things; imported biscuits spread with fishy things; stuffed cherry tomatoes. Meanwhile, if \ou cock an ear. you may hear Carlo, the chef, caroling over his culinar) creations in the kitchen. "Tosca seems to Food and Fun on the Run be his favoi ite opera. He puts his heart into it. Claudette inherited Carlo from her father. Carlo is a musical and poetic soul. He outdid himself at one of Claudette s picnics when he concocted individual and perfect picnic lunches, each in its exquisite package. The piece de resistance, however, was a complete surprise to everybody, including Claudette. With each lunch was a separate and personal sonnet for each guest. It is almost a necessit) to entertain build stvle in Hollywood. Hardlv anv Vera Zorina had better be good when she dances in "The Goldwyn Follies." A ballerina has no right to such a striking photo if she isn't a knockout. one gives sit-down dinners for more than about a dozen people. Of course. big executives do when they have "command" performances. It seems almost impossible to assemble all your guests at one time, and your arrangements. therefore, must be very elastic. No one arrives until at least an hour after the specified time. As the latest guests arrive, some who are bored, and some who really mean it, are departing, pleading the ever potent excuse "I an early call at the studio. The gue-t of honor is likely to call at the last moment, to announce that he or she cannot come. "One of those tiresome conferences, you understand!" It is, likely as not, quite true. You can't be offended. People have to snatch time to give parties — and attend them. I don't know whether the growing fad for very fancy kitchens has anything to do with it. but it is fashionable just now for the host or hostess to cook . -Mine \erv special dish while admiring guests look on. The results of these efforts are sometimes fairlv humorous. Dick Arlen fancies himself as a cook, and urges people to come in on Thursday, the cook's night off. Jobyna, the perfect wife, waits placidly on the sidelines, until Dick has reached a state of frenzy in the kitchen. Then she quietlv produces some chickens which ha\t been in the back of the icebox all the time; rubs them with some butter-andgarlic stuff, broils them in a trice, whips out scalloped potatoes — which have also been there all the time — and every one has a fine time. Even Dick. Pat O'Brien invites a "few" friends to bring their youngsters to frolic with his youngsters in the garden. The result of this is that dozens and dozens of grown-ups monopolize the slides, the merry-go-rounds and sand pile>. while Pat aglow with hospitality does his stuff with -leaks, chops, and pots of beans at his outdoor barbecue. Whether the fun is swimming or roulette, whether the food is outdooi -teaks or lark's tongues under glass, the pace is hectic. It's all food-andlun-on-the-ruii. IT"S ABOUT TIME Fred is nimble. Fred is quick : It" fun to w atch him Bound and kick. He's eai ned all hi lame. I [e's earned all his glorj . \ml. Oh, Producers, He's earned a new stoi \ ! Di i Ch \i'M in.