Modern Screen (Feb-Dec 1957)

What Was in the Soup Doris Day Fed Carol Haney? ■ Carol Haney had been rehearsing her Steam Heat number for Pajama Game for hours and was beat. Finally the assistant director called a halt and she staggered over to a chair. She was tired, energyless. discouraged — and nothing seemed to help. Doris Day had been watching the number and came over to where Carol sat. "I liked that very much," Doris said. "You're darned good." "Well, gee, thanks," Carol answered. "I try my best. Only I'm very tired. I just can't seem to keep dancing, hour after hour, like I used to." "You need my special pepper-upper." Doris said. "Come with me. I'll show you." So they walked over to Doris' dressing room and went inside. Carol sat down on the couch and closed her eyes while Doris moved around the room. Carol heard a sound like a can being opened, then water running, then a noise like something being stirred. "Eat this," Doris said. "It'll do you good." "What is it?" Carol asked, opening her eyes and looking down at a plate of something that looked like pea soup but somehow didn't smell like pea soup. "I told you," Doris replied, "it's my special pepper-upper. Now don't ask any more questions. Eat." So Carol ate. She couldn't tell exactly what was in the soup. But she didn't care. It was hot, it was delicious. When she had finished the last spoonful, she felt enormously refreshed, as if she could dance for hours more. And in the weeks that followed, on three or four different occasions. Carol — dragged, danced-out, beat — found herself in Doris* dressing room, eating the special soup. Once she noticed that Doris sprinkled something that looked like a green herb into the pot; another time she thought that Doris dropped a few tiny onions into the brew. She soon gave up trying to learn the recipe. Doris just wasn't talking. The soup worked like a magic potion. Carol would enter the dressing-room feeling blue, battered and beat; she'd leave feeling great. Finally Pajama Game was finished. Carol returned to New York to be with her husband, and Doris stayed in Hollywood. One night Carol was telling her husband about Doris and the magic soup. "What did she put in it?" Carol asked. "I know," her husband answered. "You know? Why you can hardly cook an egg." "I know just the same," he repeated. "Okay, smartie, tell me," Carol said. "Affection . . . concern . . . understanding — that's what was in the soup." "I don't get it," Carol said. "Sure you do," he said. "You were feeling awful. You were knocking yourself out every day. I wasn't with you to hold your hand and help. A husband — me — would have been your best remedy. Next to that, someone who was kind and warm and concerned about you. Doris and her soup did the trick. She could have served you plain hot water; it would have worked just as well. What she was really giving you was big doses of friendship when you needed them most. "And darling," he added, putting his arms around her. "that doesn't come from cans, it comes from the heart." Carol and Doris are in Warner Bros.' Pajama Game; Doris will be in Warner Bros' The Green-Eyed Blonde and Paramounfs Teacher's Pet. (Continued from page 4) 9 Is it true that George Nader and Cory Grant are inseparable friends? — K.Y.. Phoenix, Ariz. A No. 9 Isn't Robert Mitchum more sinned against than sinning? — P.T., Durham, N. C. A Generally, yes. Q Isn't it true that Gail Russell is still in love with Guy Madison? — B.J., Tulsa. Okla. A Friends say she still loves Madison. 9 Is Bob Wagner publicity crazy? Isn't that why he's dating Natalie Wood? — L.Y., Pomona, Cal. A Wagner likes publicity, also Natalie Wood. 9 Who are Hollvwood's best husbands? — M.T., Madison, Wis. A Jimmy Stewart and Fred MacMurray are two title contenders. 9 Does Diana Dors have a new love? — D.K.. London, Eng. A Yes. 9 Was Alv Khan really responsible for Gene Tierney's nervous breakdown? — J.R., Paris, France A Gene says no. 9 Wasn't Gary Cooper ready to get a divorce at one time to marry a girl named Lorraine Chanelle of Mexico? — H.H., X A C. A There was that possibility. 9 Who sings better, Tony Perkins or Bob Wagner? — J.T., Tulsa, Okla. A Recording engineers prefer Perkins. 9 How old is Hedda Hopper? — W.E.. Philadelphia, Pa. A Sixty-six. 9 How come Debra Paget has no boy friends? What's wrong with her? — D.E., El Paso, Texas A She is obsessed with her career, has little time for boys. 9 Didn't Elvis Presley want very much to have Natalie Wood as his co-star in his first Hal Wallis picture? — F.D., Chicago, III. A He sure did. 9 What happens to the gowns worn by actresses after a picture is finished ? — O.F., Xorfolk, Ya. A They go back to the studio wardrobe departments. 9 Marie McDonald and Marie Frey, ex-cigarette girl at Leon & Eddie's — aren't thev one and the same ? — Y.R., X.Y.C. A Yes. 9 How many times has Janet Leigh been married? — R.R., Stockton, Cat. A Three. END