Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1942)

JniAk otuff your handwriting is still terrible — and now all the youngsters are trying to copy it. So from now on, don't autograph any text books for us!" Lookie, Skyscraper Girls: There have been other tall girls in movies, but never one that has caught the attention of fans as has Alexis Smith. So, to meet the flood of letters from up-in-the-air fans, Alexis has organized a Tall Girls' Club for girls over five-foot-seven throughout the country. Letters are sent by Alexis to members with nuggets of pure-gold suggestions. For instance, Alexis' suggestions in her first letter dealt with the problem of shorter escorts. Some of her tipoffs were: 1. Always let him take your arm. Never take his. 2. Wear small-crowned hats. 3. Stand straight up. 4. Don't gaze down at him while dancing. You can always keep your eyes closed and it's more flattering to him. 5. Don't wear large-brimmed hats. It's hard enough for him to see around you without obstacles. Pretty good advice, eh, girls? If you're interested, why not write Alexis at Warner Brothers and get on her mailing list? And happy dating to you all. Col's Chitchat: We have Betty Grable's word for it, there is no feud between her and Carole Landis. "The fact I go to my dressing room between scenes on the set does not mean I am feuding with anyone. Nor does it mean I am high-hat. The whole thing is ridiculous." Maybe, but those two lovely blondes, Carole and Betty, are not the closest of friends, either. Take our word for it. Since her separation from Roger Pryor, Ann Sothern is the belle of the ball, with Cesar Romero, Ann, John Howard and Hedy Lamarr a happy quartette. Robert Sterling is a bidder for Ann's attention, too. in This started something in Hollywood: Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Raymond's "Date Leave" party for service men and co-eds Barn-dancing, cheek to cheek version: the George Murphys in oldfashioned gear and modern mood at the West Side Tennis Club Ham-and-corn close-up of Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert in a back-to-the-farm movement at the Tennis Club barn dance ■l^-sJ %l^ i Ri^^s W' 'j^Br *" ^1 ML ^Jm 8tt A M m ■' Jte Jta ^B^iWWM Jr "■■ ■■"■. ^S '-. *■■**« ' ^!wf*b&M Hex The premiere of "Sundown" was the occasion for the biggest party of the month. Joan Bennett acted as hostess, as husband producer Walter Wanger was called to New York on business at the last moment. Ciro's was jammed from roof to rafters, with practically everyone in Hollywood on hand. As usual, Marlene Dietrich created a riot in a mile-high (or so it seemed) hat dripping with ermine tails. More ermine tails and Jean Gabin dripped from the sides. Patricia Morison has an idea that's catching on like wildfire. It's called the "Invite a soldier for Christmas dinner" movement and already Pat has twenty-seven boys lined up in twentyseven homes for a Merry Christmas. Say It Right: Take Hedy Lamarr's name. It's Haydee, and not heady, please. And Charles' name is Boyyay, which at least is close enough to the French pronunciation to make Monsieur Boyer happy. The handsome Nils Asther is Neels Astor and Nelson Eddy's new leading lady is Rees-ay Stevens, and not Rise as in Rise and Shine. There are three syllables to Dietrich's first name. It's Mar-Lan-a, to rhyme with "I have a pain-a." Miss Turner's first name, on the other hand, is La-nah, to rhyme with Hannah. And as for Jean Gabin, the French actor, he's called everything from G to V. According to his studio, it's (Continued on page 12) photoplay combined icith movie mirror