Hollywood (1942)

that as of now there wasn't any more band but that every one of them was getting a two weeks' bonus. With nothing to do but mope around, she decided to pay a visit to a chum of hers by the name of Dorothy Lamour. She arrived in town, rang up her chum, Dottie, who said, "What are you doing in town and how would you like to be in a picture I'm doing?" Dona didn't protest very energetically, with the result that Miss L. put in a good word, as a result of which Dona was tested, admired, and given a fine spot in Aloma oj the South Seas, in which festivities Miss L. figured quite prominently, you'll recall. Once the picture was previewed, Dona was in. They gave her a contract. Dona doesn't stop with baffling her boss, but goes whole hog and baffles all Hollywood. She lives in a doll's house on top of a high hill, accessible only via a hair-pin drive, one of those hair-pin drives you see in the melodramas. "If you turn real fast on a curve, it's the end of your pants," Dona says, a little discouragingly. Most new arrivals in Hollywood spend anywhere from $2,500 to $25,000 getting their new house interior-decorated and furnished. Not our Dona. She spent $250 on the place and that's all she is going to spend. "Old age is just around the corner," she says. "A smart girl puts away a few nickels." She wouldn't trade her mountain chalet for Pickfair. It's cozy, snug, and homey. The Paramount publicity boys facetiously refer to it as a menagerie, not a menage. "Menagerie indeed. All I have is four rabbits, two Siamese cats, a blond cocker spaniel, a crow . . ." Never mind, Dona. There's a colored girl who does the cooking and the worrying over Dona's ivory-tower existence. She feels Dona doesn't get about enough, that she should spend more of her time in night clubs. "Are you kidding?" Dona invariably replies, reminding her that she's the little item who spent seven years of her life off and on working in night clubs. Fond of music, she's no shakes as a musician. She plays a fair sax and a terrible trumpet. Tommy Dorsey gave her lessons on the trumpet but she's still terrible. When she cuts loose with a fierce blast on the bugle, her two Siamese cats jump out the window and the colored girl spends hours trying to coax them back. Owner of a collection of heaven knows how many costly evening dresses (relics of her days as bandmistress) and owner of a classy chassis on which they cling as if glued to her, she hangs around the house in dungarees and low shoes. She used to traipse to the studio in slacks until the publicity department got after her and said that would never do. Nice little glamour girls dressed glamorously, they explained. Dona compromised by wearing plain little linen numbers to the studio. The publicity boys who love her very dearly because she is Paramount's wisecrackingest bit of chattel and consequently the delight of all interviewers, have resigned themselves to letting Dona be Dona. Which is all for the best. I SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES ALL LIKE GIRLS WHO DRESS LIKE QUEENS . . . AND ANY GIRL CAN MAKE A HIT IN LAST YEAR'S FROCK MADE "NEW" WITH RIT! • It's the patriotic thing to save materials! Do it the RIT way and you'll still look your prettiest. Give your last year's frocks a once-over with RIT — they'll sparkle, and so will you. Save precious silks and rayons — and buy extra Defense Stamps with the savings! • Just be sure you get RIT. No boiling needed. Colors "take" beautifully. Perfect results. NEVER SAY DYE . . . SAY RIT 28 Colors Use White Rit to take color OUT I TINTS & DYES Betty Grable, starring in the forthcoming 20th Century-Fox Technicolor picture, "Song of the Islands," with make-up by Westmore. She says: "I use Westmore Foundation Cream, and it's really wonderful!" It's Easy to Look "STiR-IMLY" with WESTMORE F01MTI0N CREAM Large economy size, ""^ Smaller sizes at variety stores • Created by the famous Westmores, Hollywood's Make-up Masters. • Used by leading stars for real life as well as "reel life." • Gives your face a smooth,even, glowing tone . . . covers little blemishes, tired shadows... and it's non-drying! • In six skin-tinted shades, with Face Powder to blend. Also, vital-tone lipstick, rouge (cream and cake), skinfreshener, cleansing cream, dry skin cream, eye-shadow and mascara. ■Jk ■/WESTMORE-*"-*-™" 53