Modern Screen (Dec 1949 - Nov 1950)

have you seen page 8? like this once, only this is 200 times larger than you were when you started to grow." Why, I was all athrill. That was me . . . so tiny? Downstairs in another apartment lived twin boys about my age. The first chance I had I took that book and went right down to them. I showed them all the pictures and word for word told them exactly what Mother had told me. That was how they learned about life. But, of course, they had to run and brag to their mother of all they knew, and that lady, with horrified mien, lost no time calling on us. I will never forget how Mother handled this as far as I was concerned. It proved to be one of the most important parts of the new revelations now opened up for me. Later that evening, she took the book and went over everything again with me. Then she put the book away and talked to me gently. "But this story of life is so beautiful, darling, that it is also very personal," she told me. "Some day you are going to share it with someone, but until that day comes along it is just like something sacred that you keep to yourself." On me, at least, the effect of this was, I think, perfect. It was as if something most important were entrusted to me and involved in me and my romantic future, and I certainly could never thereafter be casual about it. Much of this is instinct with every girl, of course. But it certainly did no harm to have the knowledge as well. I know that Mother felt more secure about me as a result of this, particularly when by the time I was thirteen I was already acting on the professional stage. This was about the time I began to seriously worry about my looks, and pester her — as what daughter does not — with the age old question, "Do you think I am beautiful?" (~\ ne day we went to see Our Town and ^-^ before we knew it we were watching the scene in which Emily asks the same question of her mother. You know, it goes: Emily: Am I really pretty? But am I beautiful? Mother (firmly) : You are pretty enough . . . for all normal purposes. Well, from then on, that was Mother's answer to me! Along about this period, too, I started bringing boys home, some of them very unusual specimens I realize now. But there was never an objection to any of them from Mother, never anything but an acceptance that if I liked them she liked them, too. Just the same, she was feminine enough, and you might also add clever enough, to let me see some of them with her eyes if they didn't strike her too favorably, provided I asked her. She volunteered nothing. "How do you like Joe?" I would inquire. She would wrinkle her brow. "Joe? Now which one is that?" I would try to describe him and then Mother would know. "Oh, yes," she would say. "That's the one I always feel I'd like to use some Dutch Cleanser on." "Oh, Mother!" I would cry. But afterward I would think to myself and it was true about Joe. He was a bit grubby, at that! Mother and Dad did some practical things about my theatrical career, things which they figured out themselves as being phases of my training which neither the drama school nor my other coaches could supply as well. And they were right. They began taking me out in the public a lot; to restaurants, shows, parties. They would let me order my meals, spend a lot of time with people as they are on parade in contrast to the people as I knew them when I would see them at home. Up to that time my views of life had been sheltered. They saw to broadening them out. Little by little I was getting the answers to the many questions all young people have about society. I wasn't being told. They were being demonstrated for me and I was absorbing them, consciously and unconsciously. I think it was Mother's insoiration to do this because it gave me, painlessly, a sense of social responsibility. But the greatest thing Mother ever did for me (and Dad!) I think, she did before I was born: she got herself happily married. There was love in our home — and behind everything Mother ever told me was the force and security of this love. I knew I wanted such a home for myself when I grew up, and since Mother had been successful she must really know the secret of a full and happy life. So I listened to her. And I am still listening. The End crosby's the name (Continued from page 24) these records so long as they don't interfere with his schoclwork. But at this time, I honestly think that Gary is a whole lot more interested in football, young ladies, and amusements of that sort." Gary, who plays fullback for Bellarmine, says, "We have a cattle ranch in Nevada, you know, and it's a little early for me to know what I want to be, but I sure like animal husbandry and agriculture and stuff like that. Maybe I'll study ranching and agriculture. "Making records with Dad is a lot of fun, and I like music. I play the trombone, you know, and I like being on Pop's radio show, but as I said, it's too early to tell what I'm gonna do when I finish school. I like a lot of things." When asked if that included girls, Gary nodded his head vigorously and smiled, i "You bet." t According to his mother, "Gary is shy with girls." According to his school mates, however, "He's shy with girls like a fox." Gary started dating last year when he was sixteen, and according to Hal Kanter, one of Bing's ace script-writers, the youngsters so-called "coming out" into the world of the opposite sex served as the basis for a very funny radio script. Matter of fact, Gary was put on Bing's radio show to re-enact a scene which had purportedly taken place in the Crosby home. It went something like this: Gary had his first date and didn't know how to break it to Bing. "Thought I might go out for a bite," he ventured. Bing slapped his hands together. "Say," he exclaimed. "You might have something there. We might very well do that." Gary: "We?" Bing: "Yes, we!" Gary: (sort of stammering) : "Well, Dad, would it be okay if you didn't go?" Bing: "You mean you're going out to eat with one of your school pals?" Gary: "Kinda." Bing: "What do you mean — kinda?" Gary: "Well, Dad, what I had in mind was something more like a girl than a rial. Relieve Constipation Pleasantly / GINTW KfECTWiW THOROUGHLY DIPINDABW Does the mere thought of taking your laxative upset you? Then it's high time you discovered Ex-Lax, the laxative that really relieves constipation pleasantly! First of all, Ex-Lax has a chocolate taste that's wholly delightful. And equally important is the gentle way Ex-Lax works. With Ex-Lax, you get thorough relief without feeling upset. Ex-Lax has had the confidence of the people for over 40 years. And today it is the family laxative in millions of homes — the largest selling laxative in all America'. 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