Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1945)

More married than ever: Jess Barker and Susan Hayward call off all separation plans and start baby-planning ( Continued from page 4) at their studios; dancing at Mocambo — going to parties — but always together. And now it’s Turhan who is blatantly jealous of anyone who even asks Lana for a dance! News Note: Capt Dan Topping phoned Sonja from Honolulu and asked her to cancel her skating tour and come on over to Hawaii and do some personals there instead. But she decided to stay in the U. S. A., which makes Cal sure that she’s come to another important decision as well. Fashions Plus: Lana Turner’s been looking stunning lately. A definite eyeopener was the oh-so-low-necked dress that she wore to one of Elsa Maxwell’s sensational parties. It was black and heavily beaded — and slinky and decollete to boot. . . . Sonja Henie is going in heavily for dresses that are beaded or heavily trimmed in sequins or embroidery. Most of them would look better if she didn’t wear so much jewelry with them. Cal saw her one night in a stunning long white dinner dress with long sleeves. It was high at the neck but across the shoulder line and down across the left side were brilliantly colored sequin flowers, striking on the plain white background, even to this male eye. Sonja is one of the few gals in Hollywood who’s still wearing her hair piled high up on her head and completely off her ears. . . . Claudette Colbert went for an Adrian gown that set her back a pretty penny. She admits she had no business being Guess who? Major Wanger, too absorbed in Olivia de Havilland to turn around. that extravagant but she couldn’t resist it. It was a two-piece dinner dress of heavy white crepe with enormous shoulders and a plunged neckline. The top, which was an over-blouse, had a flared peplum, the skirt underneath was almost tight — right down to the ground and slit in front to the knee! It was splashed all over with black sequin discs about the size of a quarter, put on by hand, of course. And what makes this dress such an extravagance is that it’s the type one “can’t get away with” season after season — it’s that striking. . . . No doubt about it, the short evening dress has just about disappeared from the Hollywood scene, we’re happy to report. The gals look so much lovelier and more glamorous in the long skirts. Really formal dresses are appearing more and more — along with black-tie parties. At a recent party Judy Garland wore a white draped gown trimmed sparsely with gold embroidery. Judy is perking up and looking lots healthier and happier. Coupling Up: Eddie Ryan, who is doing very well for himself over at Fox ever since he made such a hit as the( youngest brother in “The Sullivans,” and Virginia Weidler, really in the glamour-girl class now, are the warmest in the young-love department. They make a cute couple — and might even make it permanent. . . . Esther Williams was spotted out stepping with Lieut. Frank Cookson, but she was in a big hurry to explain that he’s a school-chum from her childhood days, who’s visiting in Hollywood. Reason for Esther’s explaining? Well, her real feller is Sgt. Ben Gage — as we told you last month. This is a really steady combination. He even went way up to northern California to visit Esther when she was there on location — and when a guy only has a few days leave from his Army post — well — it must be love! Smoking Corner: Imagine this! Even though Nelson Eddy has smoked for years, he never “tasted” a cigarette ( Continued on page 8)