Hollywood (1942)

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kept me from hotfooting it back to Dad's office and subdividing lots." It's proverbial that understudies never get a chance, but by a fluke as rare as finding a pearl in every oyster, Van stepped into Eddie Bracken's shoes in Too Many Girls when Eddie received the Hollywood high sign and quit the show. That led to a part in Pol Joey, where a Warner Brothers' talent scout cornered him backstage and got his signature on a dotted contract. "I packed my dogs, cats and books and headed for Hollywood, expecting a reception at the station. But nothing happened. No one was there. Not even a flashlight popped in my face. As the days passed, it became increasingly apparent that I might just as well have saved myself the 3,000 mile trip. As far as the studio was concerned, I didn't exist. Never a peep from them, no one there was interested in even looking me over to see if I were fish, fowl^ or vegetable. "I got my paycheck in the mail every week, so I didn't even have an excuse to visit the studio. Once I went there to have lunch. There were George Brents, Errol Flynns and Bette Davises all around me, but I ate alone in miserable silence. I never returned. When I called up to remind the studio that I was alive, they sent me a publicity form to fill out and that was practically the extent of my picture work. I was beginning to wonder vaguely if perhaps I shouldn't have stayed in Newport. Consequently it didn't come as too much of a shock when my option fell as flat as an old tire. My bags were already packed and I was all set to make the trek back East again." He was having a farewell dinner with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz — friends from Broadway— when Billy Grady, talent scout for M-G-M, passed the table. Lucille introduced him to Van and Grady asked him to come by and see him the next day. But Van was all for pushing off for New York that night. Lucille grabbed him by the arm and hissed, "Listen, you big goon, you're going to see Grady tomorrow even if I have to push you through the door myself." So he postponed his trip another day and went to M-G-M where Grady had arranged a test for him. The make-up department viewed his shock of strawcolored hair with alarm and promptly dyed it black, then they covered up his freckles. "I looked," he says mournfully, "like a poor man's Gary Grant." He was sure he was done for and picked up his bags again, when Grady called him into his office. He looked at Van sourly. "Wash that shoe black out of your hair and we'll talk business." This time there was no doleful waiting around. He was tried out in various small HAS NELSON EDDY QUIT THE SCREEN? THE ANSWER IS IN THE JANUARY ISSUE OF HOLLYWOOD BIG parts and then came the role of the happygo-lucky Irish boy in The War Against Mrs. Hadley. His frank farm-boy face and his manner, as natural and simple as a home-grown potato, shone out among the conventional Hollywood handsomes. After the picture was previewed, his original contract was torn up and a bigger one drawn up. In view of this official pat on the head, Van has unpacked his bags and is now ensconced in a little house in Beverly Hills with a victory garden, a fence in need of paint and a fat, shining colored cook named Essie, who presides over all and bosses Van around. Van is a bachelor who wants to get married. He hasn't met the girl yet, but he knows what he wants — a girl with good teeth, a nice smile and a pair of legs that can rhumba. He prefers actresses, which should be good news to Hollywood lovelies hard-pressed by the male shortage. "They have a better sense of humor," he explains, "and they don't ask too many questions." His prime delight is cutting a mighty fancy rug at the Palladium and other dance palaces, and next to that he likes the movies. He drags his girl friends to as many horror movies as their stomachs can stand, and then winds up at a Swedish smorgasbord restaurant where his favorite food is pickled eels. Here's a unique movie actor. He's natural and unassuming, doesn't talk shop and never plays gin rummy. And he's one understudy who made good. H My boss says Ive got as pretty a pair of hands' as ever monkeyed a wrench!" i^9 I say it's because 1 use HINPS a MQMYof a lotion! TSIo chapped, red look for my hands.' ' H* Sure, I'm a factory worker — jeep suit and all. Greasy grime was tough on my hands till I started using Hinds Honey and Almond Cream. Say, Hinds skin-softeners act like an invisible . glove. Now my hands wash up smooth and pretty as you please! — HONEy-Beauty Advisor, says; EXTRA-SOFTENING! Hinds is an extra-creamy emulsion of true skin-softening ingredients. WORKS FAST! Even one application of Hinds gives your red, chapped skin a softer, whiter look, a comfy feel. EFFECT LASTS! Hinds skinsofteners help protect your dry, chapped skin through work and soapy-water jobs. DOES GOOD! Hinds handlotion actually benefits skin. HINDS A HAND* and wherever skin needs softening.' Copyright, 1942, Lehn & Fink Products Corporation, Bloomfield. N. J. 49