Modern Screen (Dec 1942 - May 1943)

They went to the Navy Relief Ball, and that was their first time in public. Life was trying to get tough with Vic again. He was signing up with the Coast Guard, and the public that he'd kicked around so long was slapping back. With nasty little lines in print, with tongues in cheeks. It was funny that this time it didn't hurt, didn't even faintly bother him. Because he could laugh at it and for the first time, he could laugh like a wide-awake, carefree kid. He afraid of the army? — why, he'd kicked his way up from hard labor, sixteen hours a day, worked at anything that would get him a sandwich. And now there was somebody to listen when he told about that, his words falling over themselves, his eyes lighted. Love that is rooted in friendship is hard to uproot, and Vic was forgetting to try. His jaw was still hard but some of the cockiness was gone. He had to laugh at himself sometimes. When he remembered, in the middle of a poker game, that he was to call Rita to say good night at nine, he tossed in his hand. And when he came back and met the hoots of friends who had found it was a pat flush, he grinned and went back to call Rita again. Okay, he was crazy, but he liked it. He no longer cared if they laughed. A kid with a present under his arm for his girl. Simple things — things that were right for my gal Sal. Once or twice some splendid gifts. So he was ready, now, for the Coast Guard. Ready — and eager to go. He'd be razzed, maybe, for being a glamour man, but he could take that and dish it out. He'd weathered that sort of thing before. He drove down town and stopped at the Biltmore Coffee Shop for breakfast. And then his eyes went absent, and he got up and completely forgot to order. Was he worrying about something, somebody wondered — contracts — troubles — closed corporation . . . He was at the candy counter and his hands were spread apart — measuring. And the girl brought him his order — a huge box of candy covered with pink bows, saying "To my Sweetheart" across the top of it. He came back to exhibit it to some friends. "Do you think she'll like it? I'll be busy at the Coast Guard and can't call her up — " Like it? Rita will like it. She won't say much. They don't talk a lot, now, the two of them. The lost, shadowed look is gone from her face, though, and when, for a second, her fingers twine with those of her sailor lad, something almost too bright to be looked at shines in her face. He's a sailor now. His house is closed. Rita has his record collection, his cook, Katie, and his prized English bull dog, Genius, Jr. But if you see them at a premiere, or somewhere, when he's on leave, close together, you know that she's keeping something more precious for him. He has a new short hair cut and a sailor suit. He says, introducing people, "You know Rita?" He looks different. She's keeping things for him while he goes away — she has custody of something else — his life. And he's willing to throw that away, if she needs it, to protect her and the new-found, shining thing that can only exist in the America of today. RAfNBOHt iife j^SNj ROOM/ "My husband never liked to eat breakfast in the kitchen— said it added to his before-coffee grouch. I wondered why, until I realized how drab and dingy it was. Dull, bare pantries— ugh! I covered those naked shelves with bright ROYLEDGE, and, 'looks like a million,' said John! 'Cost six cents' said I with pride! "You can easily do the same for your kitchen, with ROYLEDGE shelving. Lay it smooth; it folds and holds without tacks, gives dish-wide, dust-proof shelf protection. The gay, decorative border falls straight, puts rows of cheerful color across each cupboard. Laundry? Nonsense! ROYLEDGE stays crisp and spotless for months . . . and it's fun, and easy, to put up another lovely pattern whenever I feel like it— for just 6$!" At 5-and-10<f, neighborhood and department stores everywhere. ftoijledqe H PAT OFF H SHELVING MODERN SCREEN QUIZ Think you know a lot about Hollywood? Well maybe you do. Try these questions on your gang if there's a lull in the party — or just spend an enjoyable half hour by yourself, some rainy evening. . . . 1 — Frances Gumm is the real name of what actress? 2 — Jimmy Stewart is now a a) Private b) Sergeant c) Lieutenant in Uncle Sam's Army. 3 — Can you. name 2 of the 3 men whose names are most frequently romantically linked with Dietrich? 4 — With whom do you associate the following phrases? a) I dood it! b) Coming, mother — c) Man to man— d) Who's Yehudi? 5— "The Moon and Sixpence" is really the story of a) Reynolds b) Gauguin c) Rembrandt. 6 — Hope and Crosby are expert a) riders b) poker players c) golfers. 7 — Polly Benedict is the character played in movies by what ingenue? 8— Michele Morgan was recently a) married b) divorced c) made a citizen. 9 — Who is Hollywood's "sweater girl?" "one-eyed girl?" "oomph girl?" 10 —Who turned his Martha's Vineyard estate over to the navy? 11 — What couple said to be plan ning marriage, played mother and son in the movies? 12 — D'ya know which stars were born with these monikers? a) Pauline Levy b) Frederick Austerlitz c) Jack Kubelsky d) Alice Leppert. 13 — Famous scientists Pasteur and Ehrlich have both been portrayed on the screen. Who played Pasteur? Ehrlich? 14 — Veronica Lake, at one time, studied to be a) a lawyer b) an engineer c) a doctor. 15 — And speaking of professions, what star was at one time a) a radio announcer (sports) b) in the textile business c) a high-diving champ d) a Wisconsin lumberjack? 16 — In what branch of the service are a) Glenn Ford? b) Ty Power? c) Bill Holden d) Clark Gable? 17 — Whose sister is Frances Raeburn? Joan Fontaine? Sallie Blane? 18— Which 2 of the 3 following actors have been "The Saint"? Leslie Howard, Louis Hayward, George Sanders. 19 — Who are two movie actresses with English titles? 20 — Buck and Bubbles are a) a song and dance team b) a pair of trained seals c) Hedy Lamarr's cook and butler. Answers on page 94 DECEMBER, 1942 87