Action (May 1941 - Mar 1958)

MAKE-UP DEPARTMENT By Eddie Sowders IF-IT-CAN-BE-FIXED-WE-FIXIT DEPARTMENT WE remember the time Lionel Barrymore called at 5:45 A.M. from Arizona. "1 missed my plane. What will I do to get word to the assistant?” We fixed it. We remember too the time Mr. Barrymore gave his glasses to a makeup man to care for while he was in doing a scene. Lunch was called. When Mr. Barrymore arrived in his room where his lunch was served he discovered that his glasses were in the makeup box on the set, so he called up and said, "Ed, come up here.” On my arrival I found Mr. Barrymore walking circles around the tray of food. "Get that makeup man now," he said. "But quick. My food is getting cold. Do you understand? My food is getting cold!” I stopped walking around the tray with him and phoned the set and found that the makeup man had left the lot for lunch and locked his case and taken the key with him. Mr. Barrymore looked like he might be a little sore. "I can't see how to eat my lunch,” he said. Feeling like a Rover Boy to the rescue, I offered him my glasses. Mr. Barrymore said "NO” — emphatically. Even the makeup department can't fix it all the time. EYE-OPENER DEPARTMENT— OR HOW TO STAY AWAKt FROM 5 T 07 A.M. Once upon a time there was a makeup man who liked a lot of peace and quiet, especially In the early morning hours. Note: He was a makeup man once upon a time. The routine between 5 and 7 goes something like this: Hairdressers and makeup men: "I want some ll/^” medium brown bobbie pins . . . Can I have some short stub bies? . . . Hey, how about some Mar-O-Oil?” Player (at same time): "Do I get hair or makeup first? . . . Give me a No. 10 pancake . . . I want some Maline.” Phone rings insistently. An anxious voice inquires: "Assistant, has my stand-by car been there?” Makeup Man: "Give me some light and dark powder . . . Let me have some medium brown hair . . . Where is Eli’s toupee?" Phone: "Is Mrs. Pearce there? . . . Did they get some curls for me?" Phone again: "Have our bit people left? ... I want a bottle of Acetone to take to set. . . . How about some powder pufFs? ... I want a 121 rouge . . . Give me a brown pencil . . . I have to have a bottle of makeup remover.” Assistant: "Has our cast checked in yet? . . . Give me some spirit gum ... I want some brown mascara ... I have to have some assort hairpins. ’ Phone, yes again: "Is Guy Pearce there? . . . Give me a box of Kleenex ... I need some sponges for body makeup . . . You better let me have a couple of wave nets . . . Get me a comb ... I need a spirit gum bottle . . . Give me four defense stamps . . . Will you mall this letter? ... If you get a chance call my home and tell them to make me a birthday cake ... I have a C.O.D. from town. Will you pay for it? . . Can you change a quarter?” PLAYER: "Phone the set and find out the time they want me, and if my wardrobe is on the set . . . Will you give me some makeup to take to my room? . . Find out if I work today.” HAIRDRESSER: "Will you see it I can get an okay to drive my car in on the lot? I have a very sore leg . . . Have you a special delivery stamp?” PLAYERS: "Will you call my home and tell them I will be late tonight? . . . Will you call my maid and tell her to call the dressmaker? I want her to lengthen that skirt, check the sleeves, fix the collar straight and straighten the hem ... If my wife calls me, will you please call the set? . . . What set are we working on? . . . Can I have a pair of lashes? . . . Was there a package here for me? . . . Did my mustache come out from town? ... Do I work with or without board this sequence? . . . Who gets me tirst, the hairdresser or makeup man? . . Will you send a body makeup girl to the set? ... Do we work here or on location? . . . Will you lend me the pass key? I left mine home today ... I lost one of my eyebrows yesterday. Can you match it? . . . Oh, boy! Give me a couple of aspirins! ... If it starts to rain hard, will you run out and put up my one-man top on my car? . . . Will you please send a wire for me? . . . Call the wardrobe and tell them to send my clothes to the set . . . Get the test stage and find out if they are ready for me . . . Why didn't they tell me to dress for location so 1 could keep warm? . . . What time am I due back from lunch? . . . Should we take extra hair for location?” OH-YES DEPARTMENT: Dick Hamilton, as he was expecting the Stork at his home, wanted us to keep in close toucn with his house. His wife, who was formerly Miss Kay Thompson, is the beautiful little girl who stood by Linda Darnell, as special manicurist, 'cause Linda had a habit of chewing off three to four sets of nal Is a day. Well, anyway, Dick wanted us to practically keep a line open to the Hamilton domicile so that when the word came he could rush his wife to the hospital. And we did, and he did, and Mrs. Hamilton had a lovely baby girl. And we are all proud. Mrs. Pat Pearce, who is always thinking of somebody's birthday or Blessed Event, got her girls together and sent some lovely gifts to the baby. And everybody is very happy. And the new papa is bearing up nobly. NOW THIS IS THE TOPPER: A certain makeup man asked me if I would ask Mr. Guy Pearce, our department head, to see if he could use his influence to have all the players' dogs kept off the lot as he had just tripoed over a pooch on the sidewalk just outside the makeup department and sprained his ankle again. CAFE NEWS By Juanita Bonfiglio THE girls of Cafe de Paris fi’ nally gave a shower for the new bride, Effie. We were a little late as she was married last Thanksgiving Day in Los Vegas. Effie seems very happy, and we all wish her the best of luck always. Also at the same shower was Myra, another one of our girls who left the Cafe to welcome the Stork. Best of luck and happiness, Myra. You really deserve it. Both girls received many lovely gifts, and we want them to know that they are missed very much. More girls are leaving for their vacations. Mary leaves for Colorado to visit her family and see her brother before he leaves for the Navy. Alleen leaves for Kansas for a visit with her mother and daughter. You would never believe it, would you, but Alleen has a lovely daughter who looks more like her sister. Irene Metke is leaving the Studio to live in Seattle. Good luck, Irene. Ruth has left for a month's vacation, and we miss her already. Hurry back, Ruth. Joyce went to Fort Lewis, Seattle, to see her brother before he left for parts unknown. Best of luck to him. One of our girls called the Studio last Sunday morning to see if she was to work. Was she surprised when she was told that the Cafe wasn't open on Sunday. Wonder where she was the night before? Not so many on the sick list this time. Louise Deaton has been home with the flu for two weeks. Ruey sprained her ankle. Watch your step next time, Ruey. Helen Welch of the Coffee Shop is in the General Hospital very ill and needs a blood transfusion. Anyone who will volunteer, please get in touch with Helen Fayette at Coffee Shop. I've just run out of news. Everyone will just have to excuse this as it is my first try at writing for "Action.” 15