Hollywood (1939)

"Tough To Be a Star" [Continued from page 23] you had to agree to take, if you won, the screen name "Alice Eden" or "John Archer," the names they'd built up over the broadcast for three months. . . . The audience held its breaths. At a million radios over the land, people listened with sharp attention. In the auditorium, folks moved to the edge of their chairs. Boy, the theatre grew so quiet you could hear a contract drop as Lasky said: "The winners — 'Alice Eden' and 'John Archer' — are Rowena Cook of New York City and Ralph Bowman ■ of Lincoln, Nebraska — " You couldn't catch the rest of it for the cheer.s and applause. Talk about Cinderella! Talk about Aladdin! Rowena Cook, who bears a startling resemblance to Miriam Hopkins as a school girl, came out on the stage, her hand in that of Ralph Bowman. She was so tremulous with relief and delight that she had to sit down quick for fear she'd faint. Even so, her face was radiant, and the vivacious quality which helped win the award fairly crackled across the footlights. Bowman, quiet and poised, his brown hair and tanned features a contrast to her blond fairness, burst out laughing at her rapture. But he looked pretty rapturous himself. Slap bang, on top of everything, Jean Hersholt was handing them membership cards in the Screen Guild. Slap bang, a telephone message asking them if, for $500 each, they would appear on a radio program next week. Adulation. Glamour by the pailful. World at their feet. . . . S And then Edward Arnold spoke. As one of the judges he had been asked "to say a word to these young people." He said it. "From now on," he remarked, his deep voice cutting gravely across the fanfare, "you're going to have a tough time." People gasped. So did Rowena Cook and Ralph Bowman. Well, the entire incident epitomized Hollywood. First, the pleasant hullabaloo of congratulation over crashing the movies. Then — a warning that brought to mind things which were past but in a way still present; a warning that you can get into the movies and yet not have it "take." For behind the glittering procession of stars there walks always: — shadowy in the background — the procession of Canteloupe Queens, Tiger Men, Leopard Women, Miss Americas, who won picture contracts, perhaps on looks rather than talent; couldn't make the grade; and linger in memory— some of them still in factround a casting office that has "nothing today," wishing they'd never heard of fame and fortune in the guise of a six weeks' contract and all expenses paid. A contract in the movies doesn't mean success. It means only the chance at success. "But if you're always sincere and have confidence in yourself," Edward Arnold added, "you'll win." He was talking, of course, to a pair of young people who had already demonstrated a considerable talent for acting. Moreover, in their case the circumstances were somewhat different, in other ways, from those of other contest winners of the more haphazard sort. These two entered pictures, as "Alice Eden" and "John Archer," with names already familiar to the radio-fan section of the public. In a modest degree, they were famous before they started, since the screen names were publicized long before it was known who would eventually bear them. A publicized name is above rubies to anyone who wants to find a job, or hold a job, in Hollywood. In addition, Lasky is serious about his own responsibility to the contestants. So much so, that he has obtained movie contracts for several who possessed a flair for drama, but were eliminated from the semi-finals and finals. Among these are Linda Hayes, who won the second feminine lead with Lupe Velez in Girl from Mexico, and John Baird, who has a role in the Ginger Rogers' film, Little Mother. It Was "Love At First Sight m • Now is the time to be extra careful about "B.O." Avoid the risk of offending! Lifebuoy in the daily bath is not only marvelously refreshing these hot days — it stops "B.O.", assures personal freshness. Lifebuoy contains an exclusive ingredient not found in any other popular toilet soap. Try it! 49