TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1955)

(Continued from page 53) But Pete would be the first to acknowledge that portraying Bill Hastings— alias "Phoebe Goodheart," the lonely-hearts editor on NBC-TV's successful comedy show, Dear Phoebe — is anything but "type casting." Answering all those who write him for advice on domestic matters requires some thought — and even more imagination. Until he fell in love with lovely, poised Patricia Kennedy, Peter Lawford was among the country's least-informed living authorities on that subject — and had little inclination to be well-informed. With his warmth and whimsicality, the handsome British-born actor early captured hearts on and off the screen. For all his background, he preferred to swim at the public beach in Santa Monica. His impeccable jitter-bugging tweeds were more familiar to the Palladium on Sunset Boulevard than to Piccadilly Circus in London or Park Avenue, New York. But Pete's pursuit of Hollywood glamour girls was always a polite and well-mannered (though agile) retreat. Cornered now, Pete readily admits: "Pat's the only girl I've ever met that I could be married to. Actually, I never could stand domesticity. And neither could she, as a matter of fact. Pat hadn't wanted to get married, either. . . ." But they fell in love during a Christmas holiday. They were engaged in February. They were married in April. And now, a year later, they're the parents of a son whom the proud father-to-be early decided — after thumbing through thousands of names — should be christened Christopher, whether boy or girl. For two people so avowedly heart-free and so determined The Magic of Marriage to continue in that happy state, as Pete grins now, "We've made rather a thorough go of it." And the tone indicates he wouldn't trade half of today's fate for all life might have offered otherwise. But their romance is too deceptively casual ever to be found in any successful lonely-hearts column. And let's face it — while not even "Phoebe" himself would advise proposing matrimony on bended knee, these days, neither would he suggest proposing almost as an ad lib. Nor would Phoebe Goodheart advise conducting a campaign of the heart amidst the apoplectic atmosphere of a national political convention. Particularly, between two people of different political beliefs. Although they first met "at some party" in 1949, when Patricia Kennedy was in Hollywood working as production assistant with the Family Theater radio series, their friendship didn't really ripen until they attended the Republican National Convention together in 1952. Pete was the house guest of Henry Ford — "He was going to the convention, and I went along." Pat was in Chicago visiting her sister, Jean. They were all staying at the Ambassador-East and they attended the convention together daily. Seated beside him, Pat would simmer audibly and vehemently: "Oh — those Republicans! Who are they kidding? How can they say such things!" And Pete would volunteer several-score reasons how, in his opinion, they could "We don't discuss politics any more now — period," Pete grins, with the wisdom of one who not only married a girl with opposing political beliefs — but married into a whole family who really work at it. Pete's brother-in-law is Senator John F. Kennedy, Democrat from Massachusetts. His father-in-law, Joseph P. Kennedy, Boston financier, was Ambassador to England during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. And another brother-in-law, Bob Kennedy (Democrat), is now chief counsel for the Senate Investigating Committee. "Pat and I used to get into some terrible arguments," Pete recalls. "We were always friendly — never to the point of choosing seconds. But we just stay away from the subject now." Pat remained in Chicago for the Democratic Convention and Pete returned to Hollywood — impressed, but little realizing that his own campaign was about to get under way. As he says, "Nothing really happened with us until a year ago last December" — when Pete was in New York to guest on Milton Berle's show. "One day, I ran into Miss Kennedy walking down Madison Avenue in her mink coat — shopping for groceries. I had always felt drawn to her. I admired her complete honesty. She's one of the purest individuals I've ever met." At this time, Pat Kennedy was producing a Catholic family show on NBC-TV in New York. She and Pete had dinner, together several times. They discovered they were both spending the holidays in Palm Beach, Pete with a friend and Pat at the Kennedys' palatial family home. "Neither of us likes to fly alone, so we decided to fly to Florida together. It turned out to be a real hand-holding flight. Actually, we were clutching each other. Over Tampa, we got into an electrical storm — the roughest I've ever been through." Even the weather, at this point, was on Fate's team. . . . They dated often, during the ten days they were in Florida. Nostalgically, Pete *fe ^""^ oiMLY^fardust GIVES YOU A "FREE ACTION" BRA LIKE T It's true . . . here's self-adjusting "Free Action" not even achieved <fc a by more expensive bras. Stardust's slotted cross-over FOR JUST I elastic construction* means each direction pulls for itself, both work together, to give you a fabulous figure. This bra really lives, moves, breathes with you. Soft lining for double uplift, gentle chafe protection. Pre-shrunk cotton in A or B cups, style 333 at just $1.00 Stardust NTEEO m ** GUARANTEED FOR 1 YEAR^ * * * _/ * » » * * t~ / "EXCLUSIVE DESIGN . . . cross-over elastic is slotted to "give" in 2 directions, give perfect fit . . . perfect comfort 'Patents Pending • Design Patent Pending NO IRONING for this bra in dacron and cotton. 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