Action (May 1941 - Mar 1958)

Mary has finally taken to donning raincoat, galoshes, and hoisting her umbrella, before attempting to open her can of steamed tamales. The geysers (or is it geezers?) of Yellowstone Park have nothing on that one dynamic little can. The column IS pretty drab this month. Hope the gals get Into some interesting mischief before the next writing. When the Lord passed out brains I thought he said trains, So I missed 'em. When He said legs I thought He said kegs. So I said: "I'll take two short fat ones." When He said looks I thought He said books; I don't read. So I didn't take any. When He said noses I thought he said roses. So I took one big red one. My God! Ain't I a mess! CHERRY NICKOLS. WARDROBE DEPARTMENT KJ EVER a dull moment in this ' ^ department, I always say! After time out during illness, I returned to find that Mr. Lambert was no longer with us. Miss McKenzie in charge of the Ladies' department, and Clinton Sandeen heading the Men's with Ed Ware his assistant. Subsequently, Grace Hall moved her desk into the Men's Wardrobe and I returned across the street as secretary to Miss McKenzie. Hazel Shirk is a new member of the force in the Men's department, and we are all happy to have her with us. John Shanley is busier than anybody these days, getting his crew organized and trying to find enough desks to go around. Billy Livingston is designing the costumes for "Iceland" and has some very interesting adaptations of peasant-type clothes. Hazel Munn, our very favorite milliner, is now with the department and turning out her usual lovely bonnets. To date I have never seen her wear a hat! We can't mention names yet, but there will be a wedding soon, I am told, in the Inventory Department, and "Junior" knows who I mean. Mr. Luick may have some news items of interest, but he is so busy preparing both pe riod and modern pictures that I can't even catch him on the run. Grace Wilson had a very busy first day on the "Thunder Bird" location — what with a shortage of zippers and a pilot taking off with part of Miss Tierney's wardrobe in the plane. To top it off, she missed out on lunch and when the clothes from the plane were recovered, they had been cut to pieces — and Grace with no doubles. Sandy has threatened for months to have his fenders straightened. If he waits long enough his tires will be gone and he can forget the dents. The Men's department report that they have purchased over $1000 In bonds and stamps previous to the drive for payroll deductions. We hope to have 100 per cent response from both sides of the street. When Rube Morris returned from location in Arizona he brought back a number of Indian turquoise rings and they went like hot cakes among the Wardrobe men. The miniature covered wagon which he sent back was a perfect replica and pleased Sandy mightily. Joe DImmItt has moved from Glendale to within walking distance of the studio, taking a load off his none-too-good tires. His wife, Billy, is seeing him by daylight for the first time In months. Has he changed much, Billy? Herschel was given four scripts to read In one day. Hope he can keep them separated In his mind or the Wardrobe may come out with the right costumes for the wrong picture. However, we aren't worried, as this procedure Is not uncommon with those fast-moving Wurtzel units. LEE ROTH. NURSERY TALES By Pete Lake XA/ALTER MELIN, our plant ” ^ wizard, says It Is all wrong to call those pottery mixtures "dirt." It's soil. We have loam, peat, peat moss, leaf mould, sand, compost, topsoil — but no dirt. Most Important, you have to know how to mix 'em. Walt does, and how those plants eat it up! Incidentally, Walt has as oretty a display of Viola Hortensls as you have ever seen. What? You don't know what Viola Hortensis Is? Come around and we'll show you. Easter came with a lovely present for Jack McFadden and Larry Steinmetz. Three thousand one-gallon cans and one hundred and fifty Crisco cans. Those Crisco cans are as big as dog houses and could be used as portable air-raid shelters. Anyhow, some day they will have to be filled with dl — I mean soil — and a plant placed In the geometric center of each can. Jack and Larry have hacked down that pile of cans In noble fashion, but there's still some to go. Bill Alberts has gone Into the Naval Air Service. We haven't seen Bill lately so can't give you any later Information, but we all wish you happy landings. Bill, and the best of luck. "Gllly" Goldstein is In the Army now. Things happen fast these days. You're here today and tomorrow you're In Texas. At least, that's what happened to Gllly. Gllly, If you see this, we're hoping everything Is O.K. with you. Victor Leontovich Is busy on the weed situation. That job Is like painting Brooklyn Bridge — after you have finished you start all over again. Glenn Harman has just brought In several fine specimens of FIscus Elastica — rubber tree to you. Glenn has been fretting over some retreads for his tires. KInda makes you wonder, doesn't It? Frank Seltenrelch Is our firstclass all-around handy man. Right now he has a swell gadget for lifting and carrying tubs. The boys from the transportation department will be glad to hear this. It takes catch-as-catch-can experts to wrestle with some of those tubbed palms, eugenlas, etc. At this end of the lot, we don't see much of the rest of our crew: Wayne Hardison, Bill Geiger, Salvatore Valdepena, M. Ricci, "Mac" McLeod, Jack Guess, Hans Wooster, Fred Mead, John Goodwin, Clyde Vaughn, Orville Capps; but If you look around the Administration Building, the stages and the cafe, you will see that the boys are on the job and that the place looks very pretty, thanks to them. "MILL DILLIES" By Bill Goldman T IS STILL doubtful under what date my last column will be written for Action. . . . It's quite a problem, too. I had Intended to put everything I had Into a final epic. ... I felt that now I could shout the praise of certain biggies that commanded my admiration and respect for some time . . . and now It could be construed In Its proper light, instead of being taken as an obvious attempt at red appling. But I had to make sure that it would be my very last column. However, the army has kept me betwixt the devil and the deep blue sea . . . embarrassing too. Right after my physical I could envision myself being Inducted within the next few days. I gave my final farewells and all the boys connected with the Mill contributed generously to a fine leather toilet case, plus a flftydollar bond. Tom Morrissey and all the foremen gathered 'round and presented all this to me seven weeks ago, and I'm still around. It's coming to the point now where I'll just have to enlist. Sam Dozeretz and Phil Snyder have merged their five hundred pounds and kindly enough have consented to walk me out to my car every night, past a dozen dark corners, any one of which might harbor one of the boys armed with a two-by-four. Al Withers, an ace carpenter who has been with us for the oast nineteen years, applied to Tom Morrissey for a letter of reference before leaving for the North on a defense project. Vic Price drew up a letter of reference for Tommie to sign, which really was a joy to behold. BUT he wrote another which was handed to Al first. Here's the classic: "To Whom It May Concern: "Mr. A. Withers has been on the company payroll for about nineteen years and has finally been caught up with. He has been classified as a carpenter simply because our payroll department has never had a class of 'wood butcher,' In which classification he properly belongs. When sober, which is seldom, he can talk a fine day's work, but his worst failing is a weakness for women. Anyone employing him has the heartfelt sympathy of all the carpenters 6