Screenland Plus TV-Land (Nov 1952 - Oct 1953)

Debbe dating Tab Hunter at formal dinner. Debbie is not interested in marriage now. But there have been fellows who have tried to change her mind. Such men are ever-present. All of which proves that it's a good idea for a girl to be prepared for any eventuality. There are other aspects to this putting a stop sign on a man. There's also the fellow who has marriage on his mind — even if the girl isn't in the altar-bound mood. Debbie Reynolds has never had to face this situation because she has made it very clear she's not interested in marriage now. There may have been fellows who have hoped they could change her mind, but none has succeeded. Debbie is such a forthright person she'd never kid a man into thinking she was interested in marriage if she wasn't. The man with marriage on his mind usually starts out by making extensive compliments to a girl. He can't praise her enough. Then comes a shower of gifts. First, they are little trinkets and gradually they are more expensive until they are embarrassing. And usually with such gifts come new lines. One girl had every indication that the man was heading for a proposal. He used such stalwart lines as "I've never met a girl like you," "You're so different from others I've known," "We could make beautiful music together," "I'd like to spend the rest of my life with you," "I feel as though I began to live when I met you." This girl knew how to puncture those pretty phrases. She knew she didn't dare smilingly accept them because she'd encourage the fellow. So she deflated this line-laden man with quips like, "I bet you say that to all the girls" or "Oh, come now, let's be original." When the gifts come, a girl can accept them gracefully if they're not too personal or expensive. But if they become too meaningful, then is the time for the girl to say honestly, "I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you must stop spending your money on me. I really don't like it — or what's behind it." This may seem blunt and perhaps cruel, but well 56 meant honesty is often blunt and cruel. The same is true of the man who spends his last cent on taking a girl to the most expensive restaurants and night clubs. He's out to impress her — ■ and he's not going to spend all that money on a girl about whom he has no serious ideas. This is where the girl should bring him to a halt by telling him to save his money — and to remind him he's taking her much too seriously. Of course, there is the possibility that this consideration of his finances may only impress him so much he'll think she's really a prize. If that happens, she can only tell him flatly he's put his stamp on the wrong girl. Usually, a man with marriage on his mind asks for many dates in succession. If the girl knows how he feels and if she doesn't share his serious intentions, it's a lot better for her to cut off all dates fast. She may hurt him but he'll be hurt a lot more if she lets him go on dating her and then when he's really "gone" tell him she's not interested. She may like him as just a friend. That's fine. She then must tell him exactly how she feels and if he wants to continue on that friendship basis, that's up to him. She has at least been honest. There is the type of girl, though, who may not be at all interested in the man but will continue to date him just to be able to go out. She naively expects to toss him overboard when she finally meets someone she likes. A certain young lady tried this system once. Selfishly, she thought of herself first and the guy last. He fell more and more in love with her and he bored her more and more. One day she met the man she thought was for her so she casually called up the other fellow and said she wasn't going to see him any more. He went into a tailspin. She simply hung up. She had quite a situation on her hands after that. In fact, the fellow threatened to commit suicide and a rather nasty headline was kept out of the papers at the last minute by a third party who proceeded to tell the man a few truths. A girl is flirting with danger to treat any man this way. The easiest kind of Romeo to stop is the one who keeps selling a bill of goods about what a big shot he is — and what a fine husband he'd make. He probably has a basic inferiority complex but you'd never know it to hear him talk. The would-be big shot can simply be cut off fast by the girl's refusal to see him after the first date. She can also puncture his ego by laughing at his remarks about himself. This type of man needs a receptive audience. He can't take a sense of humor. If he gets the bum's rush he's egotistical enough to get annoyed, take the girl home, and then tell all of his friends what a dull dope she was. She will have to expect to hear from others how "easy" she was and how she was left broken-hearted when he called the whole thing off. The big shot has no qualms about tearing down some girl's reputation if it will build his own warped ego. Most men can be stopped but only if the girl wants them stopped. If she has a decent set of values, if she's honest, if she's not playing games, if she's not out for her own gains, if she knows the man, she should be all right. If a girl as popular as Debbie Reynolds is in Hollywood can enjoy a date and keep her integrity and decency, certainly a girl in any other town can do just as well. It isn't, after all, where you live that decides your date fate. It's what you, yourself, are after and honestly want. You can wrestle — or be smart. It's up to you. END Debbie's career, zooming sky high, comes first until she grows older.