Modern Screen (Feb-Dec 1959)

Debbie Tells All (Continued from page 34) and subsequent notoriety? A. Yes, there was a great deal of publicity caused by this new interest. Q. Their pictures appeared in the paper together? A. Yes. Q. And does this apparently continue down to the present time? A. Yes. Q. What, briefly, did he say to you in this respect? A. That he wished a divorce. Q. What effect, Mrs. Fisher, has this course of conduct on the part of your husband had upon you? A. Well, to say the least, I was very distressed. ... He upset his wife . . . Since the law requires a witness, Debbie's longtime friend, Camille Williams, then took the stand to confirm that the actions of Eddie Fisher made his wife very much upset and that Debbie tried to hold their marriage together for the sake of their children. Less than five minutes after it all started, the judge said with finality, "Divorce is granted." It was all over. Under California law, the divorce would not be complete for a year— presumably so husband and wife might have a chance to reconsider. But Debbie knew there was no chance of reconsideration. She knew that a very important phase of her life had ended with the judge's three words. She had to face a new life — and face it alone. She had no fears; she had been meeting challenges since she was a small girl. But how would her friends and fellow workers react? There were headlines everywhere: DEBBIE DIVORCES FISHERWINS MILLION SETTLEMENT Minces No Words About Role As Loser m Love Triangle As she walked toward the set of her movie, she wondered what they would think, what they would say. She didn't want their pity. Still, the situation had been too recent and too painful to kid about. The first person she met was her costar, Bing Crosby. He took a pipe out of his mouth, flashed the famous Crosby grin and asked, "What's new?" Debbie laughed and walked toward her dressing room. Her other co-star, Bob Wagner, stuck his head out of his room and cracked, "Hi, Deb! Ajiything new?" She knew everything was going to be all right. . . . Debbie told me: "I must say that the reporters were wonderful to me. I really dreaded what might have happened. But they made it really easy: I could sense their feeling of kindness." With Debbie's usual thoughtfulness, she had asked the publicity man on the picture for the names of the reporters who covered the divorce. What were her personal feelings, now that it was all over? She expressed them with an openness that seemed sincere: "I'm not bitter about them (Eddie and Liz). Not the least bit. I wish them every happiness, just as I want my own life to be happy. "I'm glad that the whole thing is over now. We can start to build our own lives anew. There is a note of finality to a divorce. Now the book is closed and locked. "I haven't forgotten what is in the book, because it meant too much to me at the time. But a year from now— when the divorce is final— I'll throw away both the book and the key. And then the chapter will be ended." She talked a great deal about happiness, and this is a recurrent theme with Debbie. Her whole life has seemed to revolve around that word. Her early years were filled with the joy of family, of friendship, of religion. Life was a happy game, and she always appeared to be the winner. A star is born The most fabled example was her very introduction to the show world. That was the talent contest in Burbank which she entered as a lark, mouthing the action to Betty Hutton's record of The Rocking Horse Ran Away. A Warner Brothers talent scout saw her and she was signed to a contract. As we were talking, it happened that James Garner appeared on the set. He was making some publicity photos with Bing for a xv spectacular they were doing together, and he dropped in to Debbie's dressing room. ("He's a terrific talent," she remarked to me as Jim approached!) "Howdy, ma'am," Garner said in his best Maverick tones. "Mighty pleased to make your acquaintance," Debbie answered in kind. But they soon dropped the dialect (Debbie confessed she was born in Texas) and started talking about business — the acting business. And Debbie recalled her own experience with Jim's present employer. "I did one picture," she said, "and I was making a fast $65 a week. My option came up and I was supposed to get a raise to $75 a week. They didn't figure I was worth it, so they let me go." Jim smiled knowingly and told of his S1 Fill in the form below 150 FOR YOU! M.dwestern states; Rocky Mountain and Pacific states; Canada. And even if you don't earn SiO yS 2291, Eastern states; Southern states; ZLa ZZ. l *L L n * ' Lm,awe5Tern, "o/es; Kocry Mounta.n and Pacific states; Canada. And even if you don't earn $10 GlJiSSNTRAfsrAfloNrjf ^7? ^ " '** * ^ ^ ^ W MAIL TO: MODERN SCREEN POLL, BOX Please circle the box to the left of the one phrase which best answers each question: 1. I LIKE MILLIE PERKINS: S more than almost any star HJ a lot GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all [Dam not very familiar with her I LIKE DEAN STOCKWELL: GO more than almost any star GO a lot Gil fairly well GO very little GCJ not at all GO am not very familiar with him I READ: [TJ all of their story GO part GO none IT HELD MY INTEREST: GO super-completely GO completely GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all 2. I LIKE DEBBIE REYNOLDS: GO more than almost any star GO a lot GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all GO am not very familiar with her I READ: GO all of her story QO part GO none IT HELD MY INTEREST: GO super-completely GO completely GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all 3. I LIKE JUDI MEREDITH: GO more than almost any star GO a lot GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all GO am not very familiar with her I READ: GO all of her story GO part GO none IT HELD MY INTEREST: GO super-completely GO completely GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all 4. I LIKE TONY PERKINS: □ more than almost any star GO a lot GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all GO am not very familiar with him I READ: GO all of his story GO part GO none IT HELD MY INTEREST: GO super-completely GO completely GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all 5. I LIKE FABIAN: GO more than almost any star GO a lot GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all GO am not very familiar with him I READ: QO all of his story GO part GO none IT HELD MY INTEREST: GO super-completely GO completely GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all 6. I LIKE GALE STORM: GO more than almost any star GO a lot GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all GO am not very familiar with her I READ: GO all of her story GO part GO none IT HELD MY INTEREST: GO super-completely GO completely GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all 7. I LIKE HUGH O'BRIAN: | GO more than almost any star GO a lot I GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all GO am not very familiar with him I READ: GO all of his story GO part GO none I IT HELD MY INTEREST: GO super-completely GO completely GO fairly well GO very little GO not at all {see other side) 69