Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1958)

A TEENAGE MARRIAGE Continued from page 32 girl, Gloria Terlitzky, with her solemn dark eyes, her soft lips, and quiet smile. And the second thing was a career as an actor— preferably in Hollywood. Few people who knew Jimmy as a happy-go-lucky youngster tearing about the Philadelphia streets would have predicted that he would ever achieve either goal, let alone both. A lively imp, he never seemed to have a serious thought. Born June 8th, 1936, he grew up in the home of his grandparents, John and Clara Di Josie, who had fourteen children. Meals at the two-story brick-front house at Tenth and Ritner streets were regularly set for nine — Jimmy and his younger brother, their father and mother, two aunts and an uncle, and, of course, Grandma and Grandpa. On Sundays, after Mass, and on holidays this goodly number was increased by an added assortment of relatives. Then the table groaned with Italian delicacies and the red wine Grandpa kept in barrels in the basement. There was much laughter and adult conversation, but Jimmy usually ate quickly and slipped outside to meet his pals. “We have stuff to do,” was the way he always explained it. Jimmy’s father, William Ercolani, is a tailor, and Virginia, his mother, is too. Also Uncle Dominick and Uncle Stanley. William Ercolani is broad and strongly built. Jimmy especially remembers his large, capable hands, which occasionally meted out well-deserved punishment. “He was fair and understanding,” Jimmy says. “But when I needed it, I always felt the back of his hand.” Jimmy’s parents felt strongly about his education, too. A good Catholic Italian boy, he was enrolled in Epiphany School, a parochial institution. But he didn’t take kindly to formal learning. “Books are too thick,” he was heard to say. “I don’t have enough time.” And he soon discovered that Friday was the best day to play hooky because “they forget on Saturday and Sunday.” Tire nuns were very strict, too. One, especially, gave Jimmy plenty of trouble. This Sister had a sweet ecclesiastical face, but an indomitable spirit of discipline. She chided Jimmy for throwing spitballs, laughing in class, and cutting up in general. She warred mightily against the “Imp of Satan” that was within him. Then one day the Imp rebelled and struck back. On a journey to the office of the school Mother, Jimmy and the Sister passed an open clothes closet in the hall. Apparently impelled from behind, Jimmy yielded to impulse, thrust the Sister into the closet, and locked the door. The sweet Sister screamed. The good Mother came at a trot. Jimmy was expelled forthwith. “The following year,” he says, “I was enrolled at Thomas Junior High.” Girls? Oh, Jimmy’s memories are overstuffed with girls. The trysting place was the neighborhood movie house, and the technique of adolescent courtship was invariably the same. “You goin’ to the movies tonight?” he inquired of the object of his delight. “I might,” she replied and giggled enchantingly. “Keen,” he said. “I’ll meet you inside the theater, okay?” And the date was thriftily made for inside the theater, saving Jimmy the price of an extra admission. At thirteen and fourteen Jim’s intentions with the girls had no real depth or permanence. “I was strictly a kill ’em and Look at the brand new stars and brand new pictures. Check the list below for your favorites. All handsome 4x5 photos, on glossy stock, just right for framing. Send your order today. STAR CANDIDS YOU’LL TREASURE 1. Lana Turner 5. Alan Ladd 9. Esther Wiiliams 11. Elizabeth Taylor 1 5. Frank Sinatra 18. Rory Calhoun 19. Peter Lawford 22. Burt Lancaster 23. Bing Crosby 2 5. Dale Evans 27. June Allyson 33. Gene Autry 34. Roy Rogers 5 1 . Doris Day 56. Perry Como 57. Bill Holden 66. Gordon MacRae 67. Ann Blyth 74. John Wayne 78. Audie Murphy 84. Janet Leigh 86. Farley Granger 92. Guy Madison 94. Mario Lanza 105. Vic Damone 109. Dean Martin 110. Jerry Lewis 117. Terry Moore 121. Tony Curtis 127. Piper Laurie 128. Debbie Reynolds 135. Jeff Chandler 136. Rock Hudson 139. Debra Paget 140. Dale Robertson 141. Marilyn Monroe 143. Pier Angeli 145. Marlon Brando 147. Tab Hunter 148. Robert Wagner 149. Russ Tamblyn 150. Jeff Hunter 152. Marge and Gower Champion 175. Charlton Heston 1 79. Julius La Rosa 180. Lucille Ball 182. Jack Webb 185. Richard Egan 187. Jeff Richards 191. Robert Taylor 192. Jean Simmons 194. Audrey Hepburn 198. Gale Storm 202. George Nader 205. Ann Sothern 207. Eddie Fisher 209. Liberace 212. Grace Kelly 213. James Dean 214. Sheree North 215. Kim Novak 218. Eva Marie Saint 219. Natalie Wood 220. Dewey Martin 22 1 . Joan Collins 222. Jayne Mansfield 223. Sal Mineo 224. Shirley Jones 225. Elvis Presley 227. Tony Perkins 228. Clint Walker 229. Pat Boone 230. Paul Newman 231. Don Murray 233. Pat Wayne 234. Carroll Baker 235. Anita Ekberg 236. Corey Allen 239. Judy Busch 240. Patti Page 241. Lawrence Welk 243. Larry Dean 244. Buddy Merrill 245. Hugh O'Brian 246. Jim Arness 247. Sanford Clark 248. Vera Miles 249. John Saxon 250. Dean Stockwell 251. Diane Jergens 252. Warren Berlinger 253 James MacArthur 254. Nick Adams 255. John Kerr 256. Harry Belafonte 257. Jim Lowe 258. Luana Patten 259. Dennis Hopper 260. Tom Tryon 261 . Tommy Sands 262. Will Hutchins 263. James Darren 264. Ricky Nelson 265. Faron Young 266. Jerry Lee Lewis 268. Dolores Hart 269. James Garner 270. Everly Brothers 271 . Erin O’Brien 272. Sandra Dee 273. Li 1 i Gentle 274. Robert Culp 275. Michael Ansara 276. Jack Kelly 277. Darlene Gillespie 278. Annette Funicello 279. David Stollery 280. Tim Considine 281. Nick Todd 282. Johnny Mathis 283. David Nelson 284. Shirley Temple 285. Pat Conway 286. Bob Horton 287. John Payne 288. David Janssen 289. Dick Clark FILL IN AND MAIL COUPON TODAY! t WORLD WIDE, DEPT. PH-5 I 12 Main St., Ossining, N. Y. I enclose $ for candid pictures of my favorite stars and have circled the numbers of the ones you are to send me by return mail. Name Street City Zone State Fill out and mail coupon today. Send cash or money order. 12 pictures for $1; 6 for 50c. (No orders less than 50 cents.)