Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

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YOUR "POWERS GIRL' training at home 60 individualized features, including your own "PhotoRevise." Unlimited personalconsulfation through correspondence. Course covers figure, face, make-up, grooming, styling, voice, everything. Clip Coupon HOW Write John Robert Powers today. Creator of the famous Powers Models. Confidant of motion picture stars. For 23 years teacher of the Powers Way to beauty, self-confidence, happiness. He has helped thousands just like you. Get this Booklet Including Your Confidential Questionnaire John Robert Powers Home Course 247 Park Ave., Suite H205, New York, N. Y. Dear Mr. Powers: Yes, I'm really interested. Please send me details of your Home Course, including free, illustrated booklet. Name Street City & Zone (PLEASE PRINT) -State Occupation -Age adore bran muffins. By the time they reach home, all the muffins are gone and Natalie's through eating for the day. Bob's just worked up an appetite for dinner. Friday nights are sacred to the fights. Natalie says she likes 'em better than Bob does. Bob says no, she just jumps around more. Saturday nights they play penny ante with a crowd that includes Van Johnson, the Eddie Brackens, Bonita Granville, Ann Rutherford and her husband. "Natalie thinks she plays a good game, but doesn't — " "I'm a better gambler — " "Yes, and you always lose," he points out kindly. "I'm a conservative player and I usually win — " "My husband — " she murmurs. tastes differ . . . They present a practical example of how the theory of adjustment in marriage wo'-ks. Take movies, for instance. By and large, they agree on movies— see them all, good and bad. Being optimists, they always think the bad ones are going to be good. Take music. Serious music depresses Bob. Natalie loves it. She'd like to go to the Bowl every night. Bob's been there once — before they were married when he wanted to make an impression. All he remembers of the evening is falling through his collapsible chair. His kind of music is played by Carmen Cavallero and Duchin, by Kostelanetz and Whiteman and Dave Rose. At night they listen to dramatic programs. And play chess or gin rummy — They prefer chess, which leaves them both affable, whereas they're unhappy gin rummy players. For one thing, the loser ponies up. But that's not the whole story. "At chess we know we're lousy," says Bob. "But we both think we're good gin players and don't like to have the contrary proven." They get all hot and bothered about Christmas and birthdays. No matter how deeply hidden, they can always smell out a beribboned package. Honor prevents them from opening it, but they're allowed to feel and guess what's inside. Last Christmas Natalie bought Bob a lighter, stuck it in a box as big as a table, and happily watched him go nuts guessing that one. Whatever else he gives her, it wouldn't be Christmas without a stuffed animal. She gives him sports jackets, sweaters, shirts, and pajamas and wears them herself. He likes that — can't understand men who object to wives wearing their clothes. Nothing's cuter than Natalie in one of his sweaters, which on her becomes a sloppy Joe. Unless it's Natalie in his pajama top, with the sleeves rolled back and the hem reachher knees in a short nightgown effect. About clothes, there's a difference of opinion. "He always wears ties," objects Natalie. "He goes around all dressed up in a suit and collar." That's the Easterner in him. But she's just talked him into a couple of sports coats. conservative himself . . . With Bob, you never can tell. A conservative dresser himself, on her he likes slacks. Out of deference to her mother's tastes, she never used to wear them. Now she does. And he hates to see her stick a hat on her head. "Your hair's too pretty to cover." On the other hand, he wants her sophisticated at night. The jewel of her wardrobe, the loveliest formal she's ever owned, is a peach-colored French taffeta with a bouffant skirt. When she takes it out, Bob groans. "But why don't you like it, Bobbie? Give me one good reason — " "Makes you look like a little girl—" Here's what goes on at the Huttons on dress-up nights. In their own words — "While Bob dresses, I take a nap. When he's ready to put his coat on, I start—-* "With me," explains Bob, "dressing^ a form of relaxation, not a race against time. I like to linger in the shower. I like to shave and smoke and maybe meditate a little. I like to put on a shoe and listen to the radio. Or look at the paper. Or mend a lamp. Or just sit around and gab. Does the law say not to enjoy yourself while dressing — ?" "And he never can make up his mind what he wants me to wear — " "Let's put it another way. Natalie comes in with a dress. 'Do you like it, Bobbie?' 'Not especially.' 'Why?' Well, I don't know why, I just know what I like. But my wife's a fast talker. Pretty soon she's got me sold that the dress is a wow. Till we're ^eady to start. Then I say, 'Honey, I wish you'd wear that other one — ' "Sweet as a kitten, she says okay. "I look at my watch. 'How long will it take you to change?' " 'Ten or fifteen minutes — ' "I say, 'Never mind, I like this one — ' " Froth and fun aside, they've made one important adjustment. Natalie still wants to act. Like her mother, Bob was opposed at first, though for different reasons. He'd heard so much talk about Hollywood divorces, about how two careers in a family never work. Why take a chance, he contended, that you don't have to take when there is no reason for it — ? But, living with Natalie, he came to realize that her feeling about it wasn't a girl's whim, but a deep-rooted ache and fever that no man in his senses could help taking seriously. They talked the thing out. "Lots of people with careers are happily married," she pleaded. "Look at Ronnie Reagan and Jane. Look at Bob Taylor and Stanwyck. Look at Betty and Harry James. You just have to love each other enough — " "Suppose I get a vacation. Suppose I feel lika going to Hawaii and want my wife along — " "Bobbie, I don't want to be just another actress, I want to be good. If I'm not, I'll quit. If I am, I'll tell 'em I want a vacation too. Oh, maybe it won't be that easy, but the way I feel now isn't too easy either. Let me try, Bobbie. If I never try, it'll be a thorn in my flesh as long as I live — " twin careers . . . Two careers may be dangerous to marriage. But Bob thinks it's just as dangerous to dam so eager a stream from its natural course. So he's letting her try. Not long ago, David Selznick saw a magazine picture of them, and sent for Natalie. At the moment, his studio's closed because of the strike. When the strike's over, he's going to test her. One more thing they argue about — dripping faucets. The rninute they're in bed, a bathroom faucet starts dripping. Whosever bathroom it is, that one's supposed to get up. • , ■ "It's yours,' decides Natalie. "It's definitely yours," says Bob. The argument's resolved by a June bug. With plenty of greenery round the house, June bugs get in. Natalie's not afraid of lions or tigers. She could face a snake or Frankenstein at his worst. But a pretty, innocent June bug drives her crazy. Bob gets up, scoops it into a paper and drops it outside. "My big brave husband," she sighs. "As long as you're up, would you turn off the faucet?" He shouldn't, but he does.' Because she"s seared of June bugs. Because her tawny hair's spread all over the pillow. Because she looks so funny with her head sticking out of that silly pajama top. Because he loves her.