Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1947)

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Economy Box holds four months' average supply. Tampax Incorporated, Palmer, Mass. NO BELTS NO PINS NO PADS NO ODOR an idealist. She'd seen lots of marriages hit the rocks. Each time she'd say, "That just won't happen to me. With me it's going to be once and for always." Now ask me the $64 question. How could two people who'd known one another six years make such a mistake? Well, let's take the six years apart. At 15 and 17 respectively, they'd spent a summer with Ted FioRito's band. After that a few letters and phone calls, a few dates here and there between long stretches of silence. That was all till last winter. Following her Rock Island trip last winter, she went to New York and saw Jimmy there. Rock Island had left her with memories — not only of the beautiful time they'd given her, but of the boys and girls she'd gone to school with. Many were married, some already had children. June had her work, which she loved. June had everything to make life rich and happy — except what the kids in small towns have — a husband and babies. She left Rock Island feeling a little wistful. In New York, she saw ' Jimmy. They'd always had fun together. Music was a passion with both. They could listen and talk about it for hours on end. He seemed part of her old life, familiar and good. When he came to Hollywood in January to organize his own band, they started dating. He'd never made any secret of his love for her. Through the years, she'd felt a special affection for him. Now she found herself falling in love. There are those who'll say she was in the mood for love — ■ that she went looking for it instead of waiting till it came to her. Before two months had passed, she knew it was all wrong. They were making each other wretched. June knew what a happy marriage ought to be like. Like her sister Dot's to Bill Flynn. Everything peaceful and wonderful, complete understanding, no clash of temperaments, so many things in common. (All she and Jimmy seemed to have in common was music.) Or like Evvie's. A month after June's wedding, Evvie married Jim McNamara, a student at USC. They were blissful as puppies, laughing, ribbing each other, having fun together — good pals as well as husband and wife. from bad to worse . . . As a last resort, June and her husband went down to Santa Ynez, thinking a week there alone might straighten them out. Instead, matters went from bad to worse. Soon after their return, Jimmy left to go on tour. June's original plan had been to join him in Salt Lake City when Scuddahoo was finished. She knew now that she wouldn't join him. They'd discussed separation. But their marriage had been so recent, the dream had crumbled so fast, she could hardly believe it herself. What she needed more than anything else was quiet, to be alone, to give herself time to think. At the studio June put up a brave front. But when you work with people every day, it's hard to fool them. She just isn't the type to keep a secret very long. When the picture was finished, Lon McCallister came over to say goodbye. "You going to Salt Lake City, June?" It took her by surprise. "No, I don't think so." For a moment Lon was a very startled boy. Then he gave her hand an awkward little pat. "Well, I'm with you anyway." What brought on the climax was her birthday party. Queer time for a party? Well, given the choice, Mrs. Haver wouldn't have picked it. But 21 years before on June 10, her second daughter had been born, and come fire or brimstone, the occasion was going to be celebrated. She took over the ballroom of the California Country Club, had it hung with gay bunting, hired an orchestra, ordered supper and a big ice-cream birthday cake, and invited June's friends. All things considered, it was a good party — even though at one point her mother found June in a hallway, crying like mad. She took the shaking bundle into her arms. "Pick up your chin, honey. You're only 21 once." "Oh Mother, all the trouble you went to!" "Because I love you, June. So do all the others out there." For a heavy heart, love's the best medicine on the market. Besides, June hadn't worked for nothing for Georgie Jessel, the old-timer with his slogan of "The show must go on." She went back and smiled. At supper, John Payne made the toasting speech. When he said: "June's a girl with plenty of ideals. Whatever happens in life, she'll always carry them high," the tears came again. the time is now . . . Next day June had it out with herself. Where was the sense of sidling into this thing, letting people guess, waiting till the rumors caught up with you? That kind of stuff went against the grain with her. Her way had always been, when she made a mistake, to correct it as soon as she could. Well, she made a beaut. What was she waiting for? "It's going to be awful," she admitted to herself steadily, "but I'd rather face it now and be done with it than have it glooming over me." She called Jimmy in Salt Lake City, and they agreed on a statement to be made. That Sunday she couldn't eat or sleep. Wortls of friendship and encouragement poured in. Ewie and Jim kept phoning from Catalina every hour. "You all right June?" "I'm fine." At two a.m. the phone on her bed table rang. It was Dot. "I'm feeding the baby. Just thought I'd call so you wouldn't feel lonesome." Her beautiful family. She never let on that for the first time in days she'd been sleeping like a baby. Once in the course of our talk, her blue eyes flashed with the spirit, if not with the gaiety, of the old June. How did she feel, I asked, about that Hollywood chestnut— "Though parting we're still the best of friends." "If you're friends," she said, "you can stay married. We're not going to throw knives at each other, but I doubt if we'll get into each other's way. Where I come from girls don't go mingling around with their ex-husbands." Right now June's staying within her own four walls, but not to brood. She reads, plays her beloved music, sees her intimates. She needs a lot of rest and to get more flesh on her bones before going off to Chicago and Detroit for personal appearances. It's a commitment 20th Century-Fox made long ago, timed for the opening of I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now. • "Entertainment's my business. Maybe a month ago I couldn't have done it. When the laughter's gone from inside, maybe you can't make other people laugh, though I'd certainly have tried. Now it will be that much easier." All around town they're saying, "Poor June Haver." Pardon me if I'm different. The past is past. She's 21, with a long future ahead. She's beautiful, talented, launched on a dazzling career. Ah, yes, but she's gone through this dreadful experience. I think that's too bad, but her courage and dignity in facing it don't call for pity. I think they call for a round of cheer myself. So here's Hopper yipping it up for you, honey, putting her dough on that pretty little nose of yours for a new and very happy beginning. n