Screenland Plus TV-Land (Jul 1959 - May 1960)

he has a happy marriage, he's a happy man'' "My disenchantment with myself is very specific and evident to my family. I'm just plain unhappy. But Lydia is inured to such moods. This is one of the advantages of being married to an actress. She understands the intricate workings of an actor's moods and mind. "One of my few social virtures, however, is that in spite of all the jitters I go through, I have no temper, so I'm not given to blowing up. I just wander around for days saying, 'If I don't get some work, I'll go crazy.' Then a script arrives and after I've read it, I've been known to say, 'I wouldn't do that picture if I never worked again.' That's when Lydia really has to stretch her understanding and patience." When he's not busy on a film, Chuck spends his time working at his painting, taking Fraser on outings or, on rare occasions and only when he's forced into it, on writing. He really abhors this, though. As a husband, Chuck is very attentive and sensitive — and he remembers all anniversaries, with one outstanding expection. On Chuck and Lydia's first trip to Europe a few years ago, he bought her a birthday present in Paris and held on to it until her actual birthday. By the time it did roll around, they "ACTING is the all-consuming part of my life, outside of my role as a husband and a father," Chuck maintains steadfastly. PLAYBACK of recording finds Chuck analyzing his performance. He doesn't believe in taking his work home with him, however. were in Rome and Chuck was busy preparing for a movie. All during that day, Lydia waited for Chuck to say something. Finally, in the evening, as they entered their hotel, Lydia quietly remarked that apparently he had forgotten her birthday. Chuck literally collapsed on the floor of the Excelsior Hotel lobby, as he sheepishly gave her the present, accompanied by many excuses. As a rule, he doesn't need an occasion to give Lydia something. He doesn't exactly shower her with gifts, but, as he says, "She does fairly well." They were married on St. Patrick's Day in 1944 — he insists he chose that day so he'd have a definite reminder for each anniversary. They've been together — happily — for 16 years. They seldom work together in shows, although they recently appeared in summer stock in Santa Barbara in "State Of The Union". Lydia now considers her role as mother the important part of her life. "She works just often enough to be reminded that she's an actress," Chuck commented slyly. THE two have managed to get along so well because they both have a sense of humor. As Chuck put it, "Any two people living together are bound to create tensions that must be discharged so a sense of humor is not only important — it's an absolute necessity." When you ask Chuck about Lydia, his voice becomes softer. He doesn't toss out flowery words, but he speaks from the heart. "Lydia has made me a grown man," he said honestly. "I was married when I was 19 and I was hardly mature then. I feel I am mature now, so Lydia obviously has done this for me. It is no exaggeration for a man to assume that because he has a happy marriage, he's a happy man. That's the way I feel anyway. You learn a lot of lessons about living in a marriage and you learn to compromise. And to have a successful married life means you have a degree of maturity. "There is a completeness in our lives, Lydia's and mine. I don't think I'm the kind who needs a lot of attention or affection or constant demonstration that I'm needed. I don't have to have it proved over and over again to me each continued on page 57 43