Hollywood (Jan - Mar 1943)

in acting and art. At college the acting ability asserted itself. During vacations he toured with the Mask and Wig shows, and acquired experience with Jasper Deeter's Hedgerow Theater and other repertory groups. After graduation, he divided his time between studying at the Art Students League, with hopes of being an illustrator, and hunting acting jobs. Eye trouble forced him to abandon art, and he turned full attention to the stage. He could sing as well as act and soon had bits, walk-ons and understudy jobs. His first good part in New York was in the musical satire Wild Waves. John's initial movie role was a good one with Helen Hayes in Another Language in 1933. He returned to New York for notable success in She Loves Me Not. Even after R-K-0 signed him to a contract for two pictures a year, he insisted on time out for stage work. He was tested for the lead in The Little Minister, then waited eight weeks for a decision from the studio. Irked by the delay he hastened to New York to marry Helen Craig, whom he had met at the Hedgerow. They've been happily married eight years and on November 7th, became the proud parents of Theodora Emily Beal. Mrs. Beal has had a brilliant stage career of her own, climaxed by the role of the deaf-mute girl in the stage play, Johnny Belinda. John returned to Hollywood, made The Little Minister and won fame. There followed more success on Broadway, notably in Russet Mantle written especially for him. He was hailed by the critics as "one of the best actors in America." There were other good parts in pictures, but each time he returned to Hollywood he had to start from scratch. After a discouraging eight months of inactivity last year, Beal changed Hollywood agents and his career started another upswing. When Director Lewis Milestone started casting Edge of Darkness, he sent for Beal and assigned him a role without a test. "I know your work. You've just been in an eclipse," he said. . Once again the major studios became Beal-conscious and started clamoring for his services. But John brushed aside all the tempting contracts waved in his face, kissed Helen and Theodora Emily goodbye, and with no fanfare or publicity enlisted in the Army. Before that he used to spend many nights each week at the Hollywood Canteen drawing black and white portraits of servicemen which he gave to them. He drew 425 of them. John is brown-haired, brown-eyed, 5' 11" tall and broad-shouldered. He dislikes card games, enjoys gardening and is expert at modeling in clay. He sings, has even done Russian and Norwegian songs for pictures, learning them phonetically. He possesses not only a sense of humor but an active Irish wit. He admitted he is moody, but not nearly so much as he was. "Why should I be moody? I've never been so happy in my life. I'm part of the greatest force on earth — the United States Army. And the prettiest girl in the world belongs to me. Her name is Theodora Emily Beal." ■ When the best girl uses Evening in Paris Make-up When hearts are targets, it never misses, this exquisite Evening in Paris make-up. ..definitely designed for enchantment. Evening in Paris face powder, rouge and lipstick, in shades to glorify your natural charm, perfumed with the romantic fragrance of Evening in Paris. ..this is the perfect combination for that fragile dream-loveliness men find irresistible. Face Powder, $1.00 • Lipstick, 50c • Rouge, 50c • Perfume, $1.25 to $10 (All prices plus tax) Cf(/ \ftu a&& Distributed by sounjois Help your Government conserve fine metals . . . save your rouge and lipstick containers and buy refills. 59