Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1949)

Confessions of Leo ( Continued from page 59) day whether John would report for work or report to Elaine. I miss him. John was the greatest of them all. Thank goodness, we have two other wonderful Barrymores, Ethel and Lionel, still on the pay roll. I’ll never forget my roar of surprise when Clark Gable walked on the lot, way back in 1930. They told me he was to be the new great lover. In a pig’s eye, said I, looking at his big ears. I’m a lion who loves to admit he was wrong, and I was wrong plus, about this Gable. From the moment they saw his mug on the screen in “The Easiest Way,” the women swooned and the men approved. They still do. You know I was around when June Allyson told her producers that she was in love with Dick Powell. “Don’t marry him,” they warned her. “It’ll kill your career.” That’s a joke, sister. Almost from the day of June’s marriage to Dick, beg pardon, Richard, her career zoomed into high gear. And she is, in my opinion, the best young actress on the screen today. ONE thing I’ve tried to cure at my studio, but without success so far, is the “Queen” system. I do not believe in monarchies. A throne is a mighty lonely seat. And the gal who occupies it usually loses contact with her subjects. Take Norma Shearer. Ah, what a woman and what an actress. And what a blunder she made, and what a pity it had to cost her a throne. When Norma said she could not see herself in “Mrs. Miniver,” that she preferred “Her Cardboard Lover” instead, a great career faltered. And a new queen, Greer Garson, was bom. Greer Garson! There’s a lot of woman. And she’s been through a lot. But I believe she’s happier today than at any time in the ten years I’ve known her. Maybe because she does not expect so much! You’ve probably forgotten, but Greer sat around in Hollywood for one whole year before the studio finally gave her the break she’d been screaming for, in “Goodbye Mr. Chips.” And after “Mrs. Miniver,” how the studio coddled and protected her! Came a new queen from over the waters, Deborah Kerr. I watched Greer suffer as her throne tottered. I heard her sob inwardly, as the best picture properties at my studio were announced for Debbie, a very sweet girl, by the way. But glory be, I have seen Greer come out of her downward spiral to make a happy levelling with her career and her private life. I was one year old when a flashing, dark haired girl, Lucille Lesueur, Charlestoned her way into L.B.’s office. You know her as Joap Crawford. Those were the very gay twenties. And Joan was j the gayest of them all. But Joan educated i herself. She learned to be a great lady as well as a great actress. I tip my tail to her. You can’t be smart all the time. But I was a very angry lion when Deanna Dur! bin clicked in “Three Smart Girls” at Universal. We had her and let her go. It was a choice between keeping her or dropping another fourteen year older, Judy Garland. Judy was a fat little butterball then. Deanna always had the voice of an angel. I could have bitten L.B. for keeping Judy and letting Deanna go. But . time tells the story. Judy is now a top ■ star. Deanna? Well, I still say, all she needs is one good picture. What do yoii flunk of Wally Beery! He’s still making front page news. And still making good pictures. Wally was at Metro almost before I was. He opened the joint, so to speak. Will you ever forget the great team-work with Wally and Marie Dressier? I hope she is happy in her heaven, because she sure made millions of FOR BATH N' BEACH ^CANNON ERRY CLOT SCUFFS a As pretty with your dainty lingerie intimates as with a gay beach costume. Fluffy-soft next to your toes, they wash and dry in a wink. Everybody that wears ’em loves ’em, including mother, big sister and little sister. Bon bon colors are Sky Blue, Yellow, White and Peach. Sizes 4 to 9. FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY . . . LITTLE MISS HONEYBUGS SIZES 8 To 3 . . . WITH ELASTIC BACKSTRAP only $1.99 AT YOUR FAVORITE STORE OR WRITE TO HOLIDAY CASUALS 47 W 34TH ST. NEW YORK JUNIO write 16 dept. P R & M Kaufmann, Inc., rainbow butterfly life is gay in Vicky Vaughn's rainbow -hued bright surprise! The merry-go-round skirt of excitingly blended colors and its carefree butterfly appliqued bodice will whir] you thru a lighthearted summer! Of Camac's Carnalin, a fine rayon linen. ■ color combinations (a) white with aqua, lilac, navy (b) white with light blue, pink, (c) white with chartreuse, (d) beige with green. Sizes » to 17