Hollywood Studio Magazine (July 1971)

Lee Graham MAN ABOUT TOWN With the current rage of nostalgia, the Encore Theatre came up with an unique idea to help promote their Humphrey Bogart Festival. A cocktail party was held in the lobby for actors who had appeared with the late star. June Allyson, who co-starred with him in “Battle Circus,” still has the innocent grin, crinkling blue eyes, and husky voice which captivated a generation of wartime moviegoers. It’s hard to believe she’s 48 and her children (by Dick Powell) are grown. The animated star-to-be was discovered by George Abbott while understudying Betty Hutton in “Panama Hattie,” and first featured on Broadway in “Best Foot Forward” thirty years ago. She followed the role to Hollywood for the screen version and didn’t return to the great white way until last year when she had a brief run in “40 Carats.” Born Ellie Geisman in a Bronx tenement, the real June Allyson in not nearly as uncomplicated and sunny as she appears. Describing her screen appearances, forever in a Peter Pan collar, she says, “I was all wrapped up in one gooey glob.” THE MAN (about town, that is) and actress June Allyson at a recent filmtown party, reaffirmed the fact that she's resuming her picture career. She's the widow of actor Richard Powell. *** Divorced from Dick Powell in 1960, she returned when she learned of his incurable illness and the two were reconciled for a year before his death. Later, June married Dick’s barber, Glen Maxwell, whom she divorced recently after a stormy life together beset with personal problems. Now all that is behind her. She sold her Newport Beach home, moved into the Wilshire Comstock and is reactivating her career. Another old friend at the party was Jerome Courtland who worked with Bogie in “Tokyo Joe.” He’s now a director at Screen Gems. Divorced from Polly Bergen in 1955, he lives with his second wife and three children in the valley. Others reminiscing about their experiences with Bogart were Florence Marly (“Tokyo Joe”), Jeffrey Lynn (“Roaring Twenties”), Allen Jenkins (“Dead End” and “Marked Woman”), Marc Lawrence (“San Quentin”), and Robert Arthur (“The Big Sleep”). * * * Stage Debuts Carol Burnett and George Kennedy had never appeared in a stage play in Los Angeles. That situation was rectified when they co-starred in “Plaza Suite” at the Huntington Hartford. Even though Carol has captivated audiences in every medium, she is not widely known for her stage work. Outside of summer stock, her only appearances in the theatre were “Once Upon A Mattress,” 1959, and “Fade Out-Fade In,” 1964. (since cured), was discharged, and decided to try his luck in Hollywood. Within a week after he arrived, George was working in a “Sugarfoot” episode, and, at 33, his career was launched a second time. After eight years, the burly actor won an Academy Award for “Cool Hand Luke,” and has been in constant demand since. Honoring Carol and George, after their opening night performance, James A. Doolittle put out a red carpet to the entrance of his Trousdale estate and hosted a large party, assisted by pretty Norma Foster. In addition to their respective mates, Joe Hamilton and Revel Kennedy, others toasting the stars were Rock Hudson and Flo Allen, Lydia and Charlton Heston, Martha Raye, Eydie (Gorme) and Steve Lawrence, Nancy Sinatra and Ross Hunter, Mary Costa and Jim Nabors, Jane Wyman and Nolan Miller, Lisa (Kirk) and Bob Wells, and, with deep Mexican sun tans, Mary Tyler (Moore) and Grant Tinker. Days of yore “Let’s let silent pictures speak for themselves.” With these words King Vidor introduced “Show People” and launched the retrospective in his honor at the County Museum of Art. The 77-year-old film pioneer pointed out that seeing these works, which he created over forty years ago, is like opening a package of old love letters-some are fun, others embarrassing.