Movie Classic (Sep 1936-Feb 1937)

Fred MacMurray's Honeymoon Diary Fred MacMurray and Lilian Lamont, after surprising Hollywood by their elopement, cast about for an ideal honeymoon and chose the trip to Honolulu THERE were three chaise longues lined up on one of the cooler sound stages across from The Big Broadcast set. A large cardboard sign above them was roughly lettered in red crayon. It read : "These chairs reserved for Gracie Allen, Shirley Ross and Martha Raye. Please keep off and this means YOU. Thank you!" and it was signed Gracie Allen, who was, we presume, at that minute in doing her bit for The Big Broadcast. "Here," said Fred MacMurray who was taking time out from Champagne Waltz. "Here's a good place. Let's sit down here." You may wonder what this has to do with Fred's honeymoon voyage to Hawaii. Just this : a fellow who doesn't believe in reading signs doesn't believe in readable diaries either. "I know I promised to keep a complete one for you, but have a heart, Lady . . . there were so many things to do and see that I couldn't keep up with myself. I did make a few notes though. Maybe you can piece them together. Here." He fished in a voluminous pocket and brought out a handful of jumbled scraps of paper. Such a conglomerate string of words and thoughts I have never seen except in a Gertrude Stein opus. Parts 22 of it ran like this : lauai . . . horse racing . . . poi, lavender wall paper paste . . . Lily, flowers . . . King Kamehameha . . . palai . . . liquid sunshine — and so on, pages like that. No poker face, my perplexity was plain. "Of course if that isn't enough," said Mr. MacMurray with his tongue in his cheek, "perhaps I can give you some more dope to fill in." This, then, is the monosyllabic diary plus a verbal hypodermic. Fred grinned — it's practically perpetual— leaned back against Gracie Allen's cushions, and began his recent trip all over again. Saturday This boat has everything . . . more than all the comforts of home. Swimming pool, gymnasium, orchestra, movies at night, games all over the place ... I guess they're going to keep us busy. Learned my first Hawaiian word : they call the private decks lanai, which is much the same as our word, patio, so I guess we really are on our way to Honolulu. Seems unbelievable. The only sea trip I ever made before was from Boston to Providence, but maybe I shouldn't own up to it. Lilian's been to Europe. She knows just what to do about everything:. I didn't know what to do about Fred and his bride, Lilian Lamont, find romance and adventure in beautiful Hawaii By Ruth Hale all the flowers people sent us — there were so many in the stateroom we couldn't move — but Lily said we should send the bouquets to the dining room for the tables, and the corsages to the ice box; then the steward would bring her a fresh one each night before dinner. I didn't even know we weren't supposed to dress for dinner the first night at sea. That's one break, but it'll be stiff shirts from now on. We have a table for two in the corner of the dining salon. The steward looked sort of disappointed when I requested that ; said the Captain would like to have us at his table. But you know me on talking to people three times a day, five days in a row. Sunday The ship's paper under the door this morning — and even on board a peaceful ship like this, the paper has a gossip column about movieland in it ! Will we never get away from Hollywood ! Learned this morning that it takes eight turns around the deck to make a mile. Gosh, how they beat it out for that morning constitutional right after breakfast. People who wouldn't think of walking around the block at home breeze around here like marathon walkers ! We've sort of got the bug ourselves. Not seasick yet, though I can sure feel the throb of the motor. Played the horseracing game after lunch — and did Lily have the laugh on me ! Trying to act like an old-timer I walked up and put my money on a horse and said, "To show!" And was politely informed that in that game you only bet to win. Thert a nice fellow from San Francisco who was playing explained it to me. He's a peach, never mentioned Hollywood or movies or having seen me on the screen. Funny thing — people do not stare or ask for autographs or anything. It's nice not to be treated as freaks, for a change. Guess they realize we're out for relaxation just as they are. Only one strange thing ; my new friend asked me if I was a Malahcne? I didn't know what that was so pretended I didn't hear him. Wonder if that's some kind of an Elk? Guess I'm not going to be seasick. Glad too, because the food's so good. Every time you turn around they feed you — six times a day to be exact. Hot dogs in the middle of the morning, or ice cream, or whatever you want, also at four, then a midnight supper — in addition to the three regular meals. Being a MacMurray I must also note — it's all paid for ! Monday Today we were invited up to the bridge, to watch them send up balloons