TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1963)

have started the divorce— and he will soon be free to marry Renata Boeck. Still, his own statement indicated he won't — at least, for the time being. Renata herself had no comment other than to say that Eddie was "very interesting and very nice to me," and "I like him very much." Of the two comments, we thought Eddie's carried far greater significance. It tended to indicate that he was drawing a lesson from Richard Burton's book on geometry — namely the phase that deals with the properties of figures in space. It would seem that Eddie was trying to keep Renata dangling — just as Richard was keeping Liz in suspense. Speaking in these occasional geometric terms, as we have here, it is of further significance to note that this form of mathematics arose originally in response to man's practical needs. But geometry was not designed for the problems of two different worlds. Richard Burton seems to think it was. And Eddie Fisher may be trying to match what Richard appears to have discovered in the auguries of triangles. That may be Greek to some people, but it adds up to a very clear geometric conclusion: Eddie has pulled a Burton — and in more ways than one! — George Carpozi Jr. Eddie's recording company is Ramrod. MARY TYLER MOORE (Continued from page 44) That he has since accepted and adjusted to the situation so well is a tribute to all concerned. How did they manage it? Mary modestly gives credit partly to Grant's adroit handling of the doubts, fears and jealousies normal to any boy in a similar spot . . . and partly to her ex-husband Dick's steady refusal to pit parent against parent. "Ritchie gets nowhere saying to his father, 'But Mommy and Buddy (his name for Grant) let me do that,' " Mary smiles. "You see, Dick and I discuss all the major events with regard to his upbringing in advance. And we avoid problems because, with both of us — and with Grant, too — no problem is considered too minor to be given serious thought. If you ignore it today, it becomes a major problem tomorrow." For love of Mike and Mark It's easy to see that Mary herself has been both wise and skillful in handling her two families. When Grant's two eldest, Mike and Mark, were out for a twoweek holiday, she arranged her schedule so she could take them to Disneyland and Marineland. It was the first time they'd been to these famous places. Both Mary and Grant tried to look calmly at the personality clashes between the boys. "They went at their little disagreements hammer-and-tongs and I kept a close watch, at first, to make sure it was all talk and no action. But after the first couple of spats, I realized that all three were sort of trying each other out, letting off steam, and really becoming acquainted. "After all, Ritchie is an only child and used to all the privileges that go with no opposition, while Mike and Mark are older and wouldn't be worth their salt if they catered continually to the whims of a younger kid. Both sides learned something about each other, got to like what they learned, and decided to give a little, take a little — and be friends." Soon after the boys arrived, it became obvious that Ritch's nose was somewhat out of joint. He had all the mixed feelings of being a dispossessed lodger and, at the same time, a warm-hearted host. His jealousy soon caused him to begin R competing for his mother's and stepfather's attention and love. Mary confided to Grant that she was 78 worried. But Grant's attitude was based on solid conviction : "If you give a child self-respect, he'll learn to respect others." So Mary allowed Ritch to stay up an hour later and also permitted him certain other freedoms which were the usual routine of the older boys. Ritch began to realize there was no need to be aggressive or to compete — he was with two friends who got no better treatment than he did. His jealousy proved shortlived. Mary's "jewel of a housekeeper" works a five-day week with weekends off, so Saturday night is strictly barbecue at the Tinker household. Everyone stays in the swimming pool until the last rays of sun have melted into twilight — by which time, Grant has the coals aglow and the hamburgers sizzling. Mary contributes a mixed green salad and homemade dessert. Grant's boys were also enthralled by the idea of their father's very own pool in his backyard. As members of a Connecticut beach club, they're both excellent swimmers and they splashed and dived merrily with young Ritch until the dinner call came. "When I told them that the weather out here was often warm enough for swimming in December/' Mary chuckles, "they could hardly believe it! I think they're hoping to be invited out during the Christmas holidays, just so they can try the pool." On Sunday nights, Mary is used to dining at her family's place. "We brought all three boys with us, and Mike and Mark told Ritchie that his grandmother was 'a real keen cook.' The funny part is that nobody strained to make the boys feel at home. If we had, they would probably have felt nothing but the strain." Let's add to the family! After the young visitors were gone, Mary asked her son how he had enjoyed the visit of two stepbrothers. "Gee, Mommy," he said, "I liked them. I wish we could have a few kids around all the time. Maybe you and Buddy could get some?" Said Mary, with a quizzical glance at Grant, "Well, darling, it's not impossible." It was then Mary and Grant realized that the experiment of having his boys visit their stepmother and stepbrother was truly a huge success, and they quickly made plans to take Grant's four youngsters and Ritchie to Vermont for a week this fall. Since the nearest town to the home where they planned to stay is fifteen miles away and there are no restaurants nearby, Mary knew she'd really be kept busy! But, as she pointed out, "I'm sure the boys will all pitch in with the housework, though, and Grant's daughter Jodie can help me with cooking." Mary's lively dark eyes dance as she explains that "Grant is management. I'm the performer in our family. He never hams it up, even under pressure. I always talk things over with him in full confidence. I know he'll be patient and come up with a different slant on the issue. When it's something having to do with our two families, he can be counted on to deal with it in a fair, firm and sympathetic manner. Fighting the pressure "Sometimes, mostly because of my own pressures on the set, I get really annoyed. It might be a something or a someone. But I come home literally seething, and blow up. The fact that Grant is in the same business can be very helpful at such times. He'll smile, kiss me and say, 'Yes, I had my own foul-up with So-and-so not so long ago. Let me tell you an experience I once got into, on account of him.' And he launches a story that's so interesting to listen to that, by the time he's finished, I'm no longer mad — in fact, I find it hard to remember what my grievance was!" Both Mary and Grant are active, career-minded people with energy and drive to burn. But the center of their world is — and, in all likelihood, will remain — their children and the rare communion they enjoy together. For this reason, they are both extremely careful about creating a healthy atmosphere for Ritch. "Some people try to pull an iron curtain over their past errors and mishaps," says Mary thoughtfully, "but they soon discover that the curtain isn't iron at all. It's really transparent: The past shines through. "When Grant and I decided to get married, we understood that young Ritch would be spending Sundays and some weekends with his dad. We knew that, unless we were very sensible in our handling of things, we could set up in the boy very painful divided loyalties. We immediately let his father know — at a time when Ritch was there to hear — that he could have Ritch on weekdays, too, if it were for a special treat, such as going to a game being played in the middle of the week. Like most kids, Ritch is sensitive and he got the idea quickly: In spite of the separation of