Modern Screen (Dec 1949 - Nov 1950)

Affectionately yours Don't let Dear Elizabeth: Happy 18th Birthday! At 18, you're a lucky girl indeed. You're beautiful, talented and sensible. You have fine parents. The future seems filled with opportunity and success for you. There will be conflict, and moments of unhappiness— no human being ever got through life without his share. Along with the public acclaim, you'll have criticism. Much of the criticism will be completely unfair— but we feel that, simply by staying as sweet and normal as you are, you'll always be able to stay above it. An example of unfair criticism that you've already received has been the chicling some commentators gave you when you went to a night club a few times to hear Vic Damone sing. We can't agree with anyone who says that a girl your age is making a spectacle of herself by sitting in a pleasant room, surrounded by friends, and listening to a young man who is smitten by her charms, anyone talk you into becoming a wall flower. A fine example of your normalcy was given recently when Paramount held a University Prom. You asked those in charge to make certain that you had a few dances with the young collegians because, left to their own devices, they might have been too timid to ask a movie star for the next dance. These young men found you just as unpretentious and interesting as the attractive dates they brought to the party. Afterward, you rounded up a gang of the kids and took them to your house for a late supper — just as teen-agers do all over the country. Then there was the time not long ago when you dated Bob Stack and surprised the daylights out of him by asking him in for a snack at the end of the evening. "Golly," said Bob the next day, "no date in Hollywood ever asked me if I'd come on in and have something to eat. We raided the refrigerator, sat by the fire and talked just like a couple of people." The thing is, Elizabeth, that most young people, ;vhen they become movie stars, cease to be people. We have a hunch this won't happen to you. In this issue of Modern Screen, we present you as a young lady growing up. Present you honestly, just as you seem to us to be. We think the public will love you the more for this— and that you will forgive us if in your mind's eye the picture doesn't seem to fit completely in all respects. You see, no two people will ever see exactly alike on the same subject. But of this you may be sure : People are very much in love with you, Elizabeth — several million people, in a nice, open-minded, understanding sort of way. an open letter to elizabeth tavlor EDITOR Our special 12-page Elizabeth Taylor story-and-picture section begins on page 44.