Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1943)

Record Details:

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In the Nations Service I ? HAS been observed that the pain of going without a new hat in order to have the money for a War Bond is not comparable to the soldier's pain of a searing bullet or the agony of a world without democracy. So it is not as a demand for praise that this story is written about the Hollywood stars who toured the country for twenty-three consecutive days, helping the nation oversubscribe the Third War Loan. It is written so that this smaller sacrifice of those who were on the Bond Cavalcade will not go unrecognized in a world of so much greater sacrifice. If you were one of those whose purchase of a Bond entitled you to see the Bond Cavalcade two-hour show you knew that you were displaying as much patriotism as those who were entertaining you without any cost to their sponsor — the United States Treasury. Yet the fact remains that these stars were contributing twenty hours a day of their talents, were measuring against your Bond purchase their exhaustion and their month without salary, as much to their scale of living as a month without pay would be to yours. Philadelphia was the first city on the Cavalcade. Rehearsals had been scanty, limited by the physical space of the train speeding eastward. Each performer knew what he was expected to do, but had no sure notion of how well he would do it. And before rehearsal could begin that day, there must be a two-hour parade through the city streets ending at the Ritz Carlton hotel already engulfed by waiting crowds anxious for a glimpse of the celebrities. MO ONE reporter could have recorded all the sidelights of that day. This reporter was able to record the following: Kathryn Grayson driving to the hotel to meet her accompanist for the first time, hoping he had been told to be ready with the same music she had been told she would sing. Betty Hutton backstage at the auditorium swapping a coke with a cop for a joking promise not to arrest her if she ever came back to Philadelphia. Mickey Rooney on his way to the show sitting on top of the back seat of a convertible. Jimmy Cagney sitting immobile in a special bus being led by motorcycles with screaming sirens. Dick Powell pleading that he be allowed to play the trumpet with Kay Kyser's band as part of his act even though his best friends were willing to tell him. Lucille Ball breaking the nervous tension with her rehearsal clowning. Paul Henreid striding onstage that night into the blue glare of spotlights and into the outburst of exclamations from pleased feminine spectators. Fred Astaire from the wings watching the closing act of Mickey and exclaiming to everyone within earshot that there was the most spectacular performer in movies. Harpo Marx as part of his act spending most of the show's time pursuing the lovely young starlets back and forth across the stage in various stages of undress. Kay Kyser in the hotel lobby after the performance anxiously inquiring for his mother and whether everything for her comfort at the hotel had been arranged. Back on the special train which served as hotel every night, Greer Garson offering everyone candy from a huge heart-shaped box and later, in the dining car, ordering champagne served to every lady. Judy Garland eating her first meal of the day at the same table with Henreid and listening to his Tales of old Vienna. Ruth Brady, Twentieth Century starlet, asking whether her fur coat — missing since their arrival — had been found yet by the stationmaster. This reporter was not with the Cavalcade the remaining twenty-two days but he saw enough in the first to know that America can be proud of the stars it adores and be pleased with the certain knowledge that, of all our home front, none takes its responsibilities more seriously or with more downright hard work than Hollywood. Bonds buy victory. What will be your share? C^^Zo^ /Z&ZUn*-r?<-*-\ p H M 27