Modern Screen (Jan-Jun 1945)

off the soil of the good old U.S.A. before, and while she'd made plenty of p.a. trips, she'd always traveled with her mama. telephonitis extremis . . . And at the Moana, Betty and Virginia Carroll were the only two sweet young things lodged in a building crammed to the eaves with fellows on furloughs. That added up to a wallflower's dream, and neither Betty nor Ginny are exactly wallflowers. The phone started clanging the minute they heaved their bags on the flooor and plunked themselves on the beds, and it never stopped. "Hey Hutton, we're down here in Room 424. How about coming on down?" Or, "My name's Joe. I met you in Kokomo, remember? Well, I've got a pal, Jim here, and we thought, if you weren't doing anything — " The calls piled up on each other, and Betty, the friendly dope, answered them all, gabbed on and on until she could barely squeak. Some wanted just to say, "Hello," others stuttered and gagged with excitement and thrills. Betty peeled off her travel clothes, smeared cold cream on her cheeks and tried to pull her tired body together with one hand while she clutched the receiver with the other. If she had collapsed in a heap that night, medical science would have had its first authentic case of telephonitis extremis. But that wasn't half. Pretty soon came the foot thuds in the hall outside, the raps on the door. "Can we come in, Betty? . . . Can you come out, Betty? . . . Just for a look — gosh, can't we just see you a second? ... I know a guy in Hollywood knows you. . . . Will you autograph my necktie? ... I got a bottle of Scotch. . . . I got a present for you. . . . Can we come in? . . . Can't you come out? . . ." Poor Hutton. All she could do was wail, "I'm sorry fellows, but I'm a mess. I'm in the hay sacked down with a hair net and grease on my face, and I look like a witch. I'm bushed and woozy and the heat's got me. See you in the morning." But of couse, that didn't work. She ended up shooting the breeze half the night through the keyhole to a few hundred affectionate guys who liked the personal touch even if it had to be through a door. And in between she worked on the telephone. She'd probably never have got to close her eyes at all if the MP's, taking pity on her, hadn't broken it up at last and stationed a couple of guards at her door. The Hawaiian Islands are dotted with big bases, airfields, Army and Navy posts. Betty and Co. played most of them and learned a few things about making with entertainment in a GI world. For instance: That soldiers out yonder are suckers for perfume, silk stockings, high heels, trick hair-do's, flowers, bangles and all the feminine doo-dads they used to razz back home. But they don't like a lot of body tossed at them. First thing Betty heard about was another Hollywood glamour girl who poured on the sex wherever she landed, and the nickname the guys had for her — "Old Bumps and Bones" — was not what you'd call flattering. They don't go for slinky evening gowns or Adrian creations, but plain American girl clothes like they remember best. Luckily, Betty's one bag was crammed with ten dresses just like that, which were okay while they lasted, but that wasn't long. GI's don't care for dirty or suggestive songs or jokes either. They like them gay and funny but clean. Favorites Betty sang were "Murder," "His Rocking Horse Ran Away" and "Swinging On a Star." They craved laughs and music and talent. One thing Betty discovered right away, too, was that they wanted Hutton around all of the time. At first she came on, like any headliner, late in the show. But that just didn't HERE'S PROOF OF WHICH VITAMINS YOU SHOULD TAKE DEFENDER— The Indentical Vitamin Formula Issued To American Soldiers Why be in doubt about which vitamins are best for you and your whole family? DEFENDER is exactly the same authentic multiple vitamin formula developed for the U. S. Army by many of America's leading doctors and Government nutrition experts, to help maintain the magnificent health of our fighting men. That's proof! DEFENDER— The Vitamins Taken Regularly By The Champion St. Louis Cardinals and Browns Not only the Cardinals and the pennant-winning St. Louis Browns — but many other leading figures in the sports world count on DEFENDER Multiple Vitamins to help give them that extra something that makes champions. They know DEFENDER gives them all the vitamins needed for complete dietary health-protection. And that's proof. I TAKE TWO A DAY— THE ARMY WAY— FOR DIETARY HEALTH, BEAUTY, VITALITY PROTECTION! AND I KNOW THEY ARE NONFATTENING. The Most Widely Used Multiple Vitamin Formula In The World NO multiple vitamin preparation has ever been tested and proved for its health-protecting benefits, under as many widely different conditions and among as many people — as the formulaused in DEFENDER Multiple Vitamins. You can take DEFENDER Multiple Vitamins with abiding faith in the knowledge that : (1) — It is the same authentic formula ordered by the U. S. Army Medical Department and issued to American soldiers — the healthiest body of fighting men ever known; (2) — That it was developed by many outstanding doctors and Government nutrition experts; (3) — That no finer quality is possible at any price. DEFENDER supplies you with every vitamin recognized as essential in fortifying the diet — the precious B-Complex and the vitally important vitamins A, C and D. Now released for civilian use, DEFENDER is guaranteed the same formula as the U. S. Army ordered by the millions of capsules from The Grove Laboratories. On sale at all Druggists. Cost only a fraction over If. a capsule in Family Size bottle (138 capsules)— only $3.00. Regular Size — nearly a month's supply — $1.25. The Grove Laboratories, Inc. Vitamin Division St. Louis, Mo. 89