Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1956)

parents finally gave their consent, but the next morning Frank called to say that his contact had landed in the hospital during the night with an emergency appendectomy. "But," he said, unwilling to wait until the Nelsons' minds had set again, "please let me take her over to Universal today and introduce her to the casting director." Rufus LeMayer at U-I was impressed, took Lori to the studio's drama coach Sophie Rosenstein. Sophie was even more impressed, and Lori began working after school and on Saturdays with other young hopefuls. Then came the day when the studio brass visited the talent department to hold auditions. That night Sophie phoned Lori, sotto voce. "I shouldn't do this," she said, "but I thought you'd like to know that I'm sure you're in." And the next day they signed Lori to a contract, and changed her name to Dorothy. Every time thereafter that someone called Dorothy, Miss Nelson didn't turn around. When it finally sank in she was horrified. "I'm not a Dorothy," she announced, and submitted some family names. " From her mother's name, Loree, and her grandmother's name, Laura, the studio coined Lori. Each year after that, at option time, she fretted for fear she would be dropped from the roster, and her co-workers, smiling at the kid in braces, tried to console her. The option was always picked up, and at the end of the third year she was given a solid seven-year contract. And suddenly, when she was about nineteen, the pendulum swung the other way. She had grown up enough to be accepted as something other than a little sister, and she became the most popular member of the younger set. Soon the press was calling her for information about her friends. What did she think of Rock Hudson as a date? How about Ann Blyth? Was it true that Eddie Fisher showed her the engagement ring before he sprang it on Debbie? Did she and Tab Hunter have anything in common other than their interest in horses? Lori was happy to help, and it occurred only to her subconscious that it would be kind of nice if somebody called up to find out about her. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson understood her position and gave her confidence through their pride. "Lori," Robert Nelson once said, "could be the best actress in town — if they'd let her." And his daughter flustered, "Oh, Daddy, please! I'm still learning!" In this past year her career has begun to snowball and her future seems set. By now, she can enjoy without reservations the glamorous life she leads. She and her parents live in a new house in North Hollywood, the kind of house they always wanted, Early American with ceiling beams and pegged floors and warm, comfortable furnishings. She pays room and board and her own expenses and packs the rest away. And when people ask why she doesn't strike out for herself and get her own apartment, she looks surprised and says, "I'm fine at home. I'm happy there. Why should I leave?" Always q bridesmaid As her agent she has the bright young Dick Clayton, whom she also dates. "He's my best friend — like a big brother." She keeps as her friends all the gang she started with — Julie Adams and Barbara Rush, besides Ann and Debbie, and continues to date the town's most eligible bachelors. She admits she's married off a few — Rock and Bob Preble and Dick Long, who married her close friend Suzan Ball, as well as a few lesser known lights. And, tragically, within six months, death took four of her closest friends. First, Bob Francis, whom she had dated quite consistently, then Suzan, and a few months later Jimmy Dean. And on Christmas day, a boy to whom she had been engaged in school and who was still very dear to both Lori and her parents, was killed in an automobile accident. On the brighter side, Lori makes new friends wherever she goes, and her travels to date have taken her to five studios. The latest, at Paramount, with Martin and Lewis, is naturally hilarious. The boys have uncovered Dixie Kay, and for Christmas gave her a gold cigarette case on which her real name is engraved. Nameconscious, Jerry won't let her live down Dixie Kay, or the fact she has dated Tab, Rock and Race, the kind of names that have become Hollywood's latest fun fad. One day a note from Jerry was delivered to her dressing room. It read: "You, Dixie Kay, are a fine, smart girl. Why is it you insist on going out with men who have names like Tab, Lab, Gab, Lard, Gard, Pard and Marvin?" You might say that Lori is having a ball. It is important to her, this business of acting, and she has no thought of getting married in the next few years. "I hope that when the time comes that I do want to marry, I'll have sense enough to treat my marriage as the career, and my career as a hobby. If that is impossible and I have to give up my work, I don't think it will kill me." Proud as they are of her talent, her parents will be delighted if Lori ever puts a stop to her career. They think she works too hard and are perpetually concerned that the strain will be too much for her. They ask periodically if she would like to quit, but the question falls on deaf ears. Lori Nelson is Somebody now. end Available in Canada uticura See Gloriously Soft Skin in 7 days Skin He'll Rave About Something thrilling happens when you start using Cuticura Soap and Ointment. In just 7 days your skin begins to look soft, fresh, radiant. Hateful blemishes, flaky dryness, oily shine, even externally caused pimples are relieved. The amazing secret of Cuticura is this. Cuticura Soap is the mildest of all leading soaps by actual laboratory test— the only soap superfatted and mildly medicated to help maintain the natural moisture and normal, health acidity of the skin. And Cuticura Ointment along with scientific medication contains effective emollients that soften the skin as it helps relieve. Get Cuticura today! And here's sensational news! 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