Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

Will Jack Lemmon Remarry Cynthia? A Modern Screen "Back-of-the-Book" Special On a sun bright day, a young man with a nervous grin on his boyish face led a trim young blonde girl by the hand up three short steps. He opened the door for her, and squeezed her hand tightly to reassure her that they were doing the right thing. She reassured him with a warm look. He braced his shoulders, and strode forward. In a few long moments, he was answering the question: "Do you Jack Lemmon take Cynthia Stone to be your lawful wedded wife?" His answer was clear and strong. "I do." The passersby scarcely took notice on that warm May 7th in 1950, when a happy pair of youngsters raced out into the Peoria, Illinois, sunshine to shout to the world passing by that they were, and always would be, man and wife. "Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lemmon," they chorused happily, "and nothing can ever change that. Nothing!" The honeymooners made it back to New York on a cloud of joy. Their cup seemed to overrun with good fortune when Jack hit it hot on a few television shows as an actor. Cynthia encouraged him, and with his natural talents spurred on by the bride, Jack began to move up fast in the world of grease paint and make believe. As his star began to rise, Cynthia felt a little left out of things. Conferences, rehearsals, agents' plans all seemed to eat away at their time together. But, Jack, calling on his Boston Back Bay manners, excused himself from many of the conferences that others around him had set up, and gave of himself more dutifully to Cynthia. "We'll call him Christopher," Jack proudly announced, when a bouncing baby boy joined their household. In December of 1956, Chris Lemmon saw his daddy leave, and his mommy cry, but, he could not understand the why of either act. A judge in Las Vegas understood it better. He had granted Cynthia Lemmon a divorce, but to him it had seemed such a shame since both parties to the divorce action had seemed so friendly and attentive to each other. When Cynthia married actor Cliff Robertson in August of 1957, Jack practically wished on a star for her happiness. He and Cynthia had remained close even through their trials, and now, she let Jack have complete visitation rights to see Chris. "We're still the best of friends," Jack said, "and Cliff understands." Cliff Robertson, a thoroughly nice guy, did understand. He and Jack became fast friends. Both were on Cynthia's side. A while later, Cynthia gave birth to a little girl, who was christened Stephanie. Cliff and Cynthia seemed closer than ever at this point. Jack practically doted on the little girl, as well as his own son, Chris. But, soon after Stephanie's birth, Cynthia announced she was leaving Cliff. A marriage that had looked good was over. No explanations were given. She simply announced the breakup and that was that. Perhaps it was the separations caused by Cliff's movie assignments on location. Or, perhaps, as one friend said: "She never really stopped loving Jack." Be that as it may, in the spring of 1959, Cynthia left Cliff, and so bitter was their split that she refused him unlimited visiting rights to Stephanie, as she had granted Jack with Chris. Jack, in the meantime, had become one of the hottest personalities in pictures. His romp with Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart in Bell, Book, and Candle, followed by his daffy dame impersonation with Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, had sent his stock soaring. He was in great demand by every studio. But, he played it cool. He didn't want to get bogged down in a mess of second rate scripts. With all his skyrocketing, he found lots of time to visit with Cynthia, Chris, and little Stephanie. "Cynthia and I have always been the best of friends," Jack sa:d, but people began to notice the glow that lit up within him when he mentioned Cynthia's name. They went out to lunch together. They talked about the children. And, Jack, good friend that he was, tried to iron out the differences between Cliff, his pal, and Cynthia, his beloved ex-wife. It was no go. Cynthia had shut Cliff out of her life. Jack went into The Apartment for Billy Wilder, and it was the first time he'd ever been asked to carry the starring role in a film. Cynthia wished him the best of luck knowing full well that it was a turning point in Jack's career. Jack, still seeing Felicia Farr, began to see more and more of Cynthia. They both rejoiced in his new success as if it were their own private party. Talk of Jack's marrying Felicia, his long time actress girl-friend, began to become less and less a topic. Instead, the wise money was beginning to re-examine Jack and his chances of winning Cynthia back again. The tensions that had split them in 1955, when Jack was still on the borderline between supporting player and star-actor, had erased themselves by his personal success. And, he and Cynthia had been very much in love, had shared many laughs, and had always remained the best of friends, a feat not shared by very many ex-husbands and wives in Hollywood, or for that matter, not shared by many husbands and wives in the movie business. Cliff came back into the fray, and tried to rewin Cynthia. Jack stepped aside, and watched as Cliff gave it his all. Cynthia said it later: "Cliff and I are just incompatible," and that seemed to answer the dream of Cliff Robertson. Jack called Cynthia often. He wanted to find out about Chris, and baby Stephanie, whom he'd come to love as one of the family. They talked often and for long periods of time. The endearments they'd used long before with each other occasionally cropped into the conversations. "I've got to go to New York, Cyn." Jack announced one day. "It's on business. I'm going to act in Face Of A Hero on Broadway." Cynthia was happy for him. She knew Jack had always wanted to return to Broadway, ever since she'd gone through the opening night jitters with him when he'd played in Room Service, a revival of the famous Marx Brothers farce. "I'll miss you, Jack," she said. He knew he'd miss Cynthia too. They had recaptured many of the fun moments they'd known in their early courtship days. And, Jack had been happy to see the smile return to Cynthia's lovely face. "I'll be back, Cyn," Jack said, and she knew he meant it. Jack has indicated that he and Cynthia can make it for keeps this time. Everyone who knows and loves them watches hopefully. And, Jack and Cynthia, they just live every day one at a time. One at a time until the day they can say, once again, and for keeps, "I do." This time, we know the "I do" will stick for good. Because, that's Lemmon's choice. END INSTANT FACE LIFTER At last an effective beauty device to hold up sagging, crepy, aging faces, and give an instant youthful lift; no pain, no danger, no surgery, no disappointment. Introductory prices: "Face Lifter" $1.50. Trial size wonder skin conditioner $1.00, money-back guarantee, both for $2.00 including tax and mailing. No. C.O.D.'s. Please state hair color. AGE-WISE COSMETICS Dept. 20, 1 Worth St., San Francisco 14, Calif. SWAPPHOTOi ...With all your Friends, Relatives and Classmates 3M. Need more? 60 for $2 I Send j I Super 25c for extra -speed service Money Back Guaranteed! Just send your favorite snapshot or portrait (returned unharmed) and money to WALLET PHOTO CO.I Dept. R Hillside, N. J.I HOW TO PUBLISH YOUR BOOK Join our successful authors in a complete and reliable publishing program: publicity, advertising, handsome books. Speedy, efficient service. Send for FREE manuscript report & copy of Publish Your Book. CARLTON PRESS Dept. DM12 84 Fifth Ave., New York 11, N. Y. POEMS WANTED Best songs recorded FREE with 7-piece orchestra. Send poems, FREE examination, ept. P, 1472 Broadway, N.Y.C. 36 1 We write music. | SONGMAKERS C Shrinks Hemorrhoids New Way Without Surgery Stops Itch -Relieves Pain For the first time science has found a new healing substance with the astonishing ability to shrink hemorrhoids and to relieve pain — without surgery. In case after case, while gently relieving pain, actual reduction (shrinkage) took place. Most amazing of all — results were so thorough that sufferers made astonishing statements like "Piles have ceased to be a problem! " The secret is a new healing substance (Bio-Dyne* ) — discovery of a world-famous research institute. This substance is now available in suppository or ointment form under the name Preparation H* Ask for it at all drug counters—money back guarantee. *ReE. u.s. Pat. off