Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1963)

GOSSIP SECTION Continued from page 21 plain Mrs. Harry Karl, is spending more and more time away from home. She followed her night club debut in Las Vegas by going right into another film, "Mary, Mary." Stunt Of The Year. Troy Donahue and Suzanne Pleshette gave a "Come as Your Favorite Disease" bash. Troy had a sign placed on his bedroom door which read "For Big Operators Only." Connie Stevens didn't show but threatened to come as her favorite disease — so she said — Dot Provine. Their feud's on!! Gary and Olga Phillips chat with Bette. Celeste Holm’s escort is Wesley Addy Johnny Carson kisses Patty Duke adieu. She left early, he stayed late. Continued from page 41 honored is this unspoken, yet successful togetherness between Debbie and Eddie, for the children’s sake, that it is difficult to explain why, when the couple were husband and wife, they couldn’t have used the same technique to settle their differences. When Eddie left Debbie for Liz, it was assumed that no abandoned wife ever had more right to complete custody of the children. Few argued Debbie’s unhappy privilege. But, contrary to all presumptions of vindictiveness, Debbie, when the air had cleared, got the message to Eddie that anytime he wanted to be with the children all he need do was ask. Debbie’s generosity surprised everyone except those who knew her. So for nearly three years now Eddie has seen his children whenever possible. During some periods when he is close to Hollywood, Eddie has seen Carrie and Todd as often as three times a week. The children, as may be imagined, love to visit Eddie. And they also love his favorite gift to them — a stuffed animal, the big plushy, snuggly kind they take to bed with them. Neither Debbie nor Harry Karl ever accompany the children on their visits to Eddie. Debbie feels it is wiser to be absent and Harry believes that his presence might be misinterpreted as interference or overprotection. This remarkable air of togetherness which the children always find is not superficial and in many ways is much stronger than the casual observer might believe. Not through fear. Debbie’s awareness of her special responsibilities to the children is sharp and alive. Her dedication to the proper rearing of the Fisher offspring goes far beyond the simple publicity image of her being a “good” mother. She is more than that. Carrie and Todd are never pampered during the everyday routine of their lives. Special privileges, such as the movies, a trip to the park, the circus or other little private festivities, are earned. “Those children behave,” says a friend of the family. “But they know why they must behave. They are obedient not through fear, but through understanding. They have been taught the need for good conduct, not only as a convenience to Debbie, but because they seem to sense that good behavior is important to their own self-respect. You’d be surprised, considering their age, at how much self-respect they have. “Once Todd wanted to pull apart one of the big cloth animals Eddie had given him. Carrie, a remarkably intelligent little girl said, quite casually, ‘Do you want to own an animal with all its stuffin’s pulled out?’ She looked just like her mother then. “Todd considered that for a long moment and then said, ‘No . . . and people would think I’m mean.’ The animal is still in one piece.” Eddie’s feelings toward the children are extremely emotional. His joy and enthusiasm in their presence is unbounded. Those who work with him point out that when he gets up on certain mornings he is a different man than he was the day before. “He eats better and even sings better during rehearsals,” one says. On those days Eddie will say, as often as ten or fifteen times before noon, “I feel great, I’m going to see the kids today.” And his feelings of protection and attachment to his children are a powerful force in him which are not to be trifled with in any way. He’s definite about that. “Over my dead body!” Recently, during a party in the home of a business associate, Eddie was discussing his latest romp with ‘‘my kids.” Someone asked if he had heard that Harry Karl was considering adopting the children. “I heard that,” Eddie commented, “but I don’t believe Harry is considering any such thing. He knows exactly how I feel about my kids. The only way he could ever adopt them is over my dead body.” The relationship, incidentally, between Harry and Eddie has been called “strained.” This is not true. Prior to his romance and eventual marriage to Debbie, Harry had met Eddie many times. They were never really close friends, not because of any incompatibility of personalities, but their paths just never crossed that often. But Karl is keenly aware of Eddie’s feeling for the children. And he has taken great care not to interfere nor disturb the togetherness that Debbie and Eddie have developed for the children’s sakes. He understands how it is. Harry has children of his own with his former wife Marie MacDonald, and he understands the delicacy of Eddie’s status as a “daddy” who does not live with “mommy.” Those close to Eddie and to Debbie respect the divorced couple’s high-minded approach to a predicament frequently mishandled by the most well-meaning of divorced parents. And that was why a lot of people were surprised recently when a trade paper printed an item that Debbie and Eddie had taken the children to a PTA circus. Both Debbie and Eddie hesitated to comment on the item for fear of creating more publicity. But, finally, Debbie not only denied it for Photoplay, but became furious at the irresponsibility of the columnist who printed the story. Debbie’s wrath was understandable. For weeks, false rumors grapevined all over Hollywood that she and Harry are not getting along well. Another disturbing item, adding fire to her incense, recently stated that ber neighbors were thinking about tape recording the supposed quarrels she was having with Harry. Again Debbie suffered the exasperating aggravation of having to cope with completely unfounded reports. Those who know the Karls, of course, discount such stories. Debbie knows this, but since much of Hollywood believes anything it sees in