Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1950)

p 16 INSIDE STUFF (Continued jrom page 14) how to have fun from those playboys and playgirls he’d read about. So, a short time later, with wife and luggage in his car, he leisurely drove west. After a week of sight-seeing, the wife decided she needed lighter clothing. Stopping in a small Valley shop with an attractive window display, they were both struck by the beauty of their efficient saleslady. “Really, you look so much like Maureen O’Hara of the movies,” the woman observed. “It’s amazing.” “No, not really,” the saleslady smiled. “I am Maureen O’Hara. You see, I own this shop with a friend and every moment I’m not working at the studio, I come out here to sell.” They were still discussing the oddity of a movie star working in her free time, several days later, when they drove into a gas station to be greeted by a familiar smiling face. “No, I’m not from Chicago,” the smiling face said, in answer to his customer’s query, “but maybe you’ve seen me in pictures. The name’s James Craig. I own this gas station and I kind of like to oversee things here when I’m not working at the studio.” They didn’t need to be told who the couple was behind the counter of a restaurant they visited a few evenings later. They didn’t even inquire if Esther Williams and husband Ben Gage owned the eating place. By this time, they took it for granted. But it wasn’t until they watched Lionel Barrymore at work on an M-G-M movie set that the full import of Hollywood at play struck the retired business man. In his seventies, painfully handicapped with arthritis, Mr. Barrymore patiently did the scene over and over. “He must leave soon for the broadcasting station,” they were told. “Mr. Barrymore has a ‘Dr. Kildaire’ broadcast this evening. He has three other broadcasts of his own each week, too.” The would-be playboy headed for home the following week. “All my life I’ve wanted to own a little camera shop,” he confessed to his wife, “now I’m going to do it. I can see to things in the evenings after my regular job.” Friendship: When Johnny Scott, wl plays piano at those weekly jam sessioi held in Dan Dailey’s sound-proof pla; loom, wrote the tune, “Maybe It’s B cause,” Dan heckled every band leader 1 knew into playing the tune at least one Apparently, once was enough, f( Johnny’s song proved a hit, thanks i Dan, and the lad is on his way. Mark Stevens felt he couldn’t get alor without his stand-in Fred Fisher, for Fr< was more than a stand-in. He was Mark own private wailing wall and father coi fessor. Yet, when Fred yearned for a acting career, Mark did everything 1 help. To the east of his first picture “N Way Out,” Fred’s first film, he proud] displays the wrist watch, a gift froi Mark, engraved “To Dad.” Even bosses and heads of studios ei tend a hand of friendship. At least, Darn Zanuck did when his competent office bo; Lee MacGregor, confessed he wanted t be an actor more than anything in th world. Mr. Zanuck arranged for a tes which Lee passed with flying colors an after several minor bits, Mr. Zanuck gav his former office boy a break. You’ll se Lee as the sensitive young officer i “Twelve O’Clock High” whose flying ei ror causes him to commit suicide. An bigger things are ahead for Lee. Behind the Film Curtain: June Havei a wan and pathetic figure since the deat of her fiance, Dr. John Duzik, has allie herself almost completely with the Duzi family, as if seeking solace in their com pany. When June is not visiting their they are in California with June . . . Am Sothern said “no” to Cy Howard, write of “My Friend Irma” who immediate! latched on to pretty Cleatus Hutton Hardly think Ann will change her mini about Cy, either . . . Hollywood foresees split between Barbara Stanwyck and Bol Taylor just because he falls asleep afte dinner. If all the wives in the world di voiced husbands who fell asleep afte dinner what a broken-up world this woul be ... If the Bogarts ever come to i serious deadlock, it won’t be over a pand: or the problem of two careers in a family (Continued on page 92) All eyes — on Gertrude Lawrence, shown dining at Mocanibo following recent premiere. She’s right, with Peter Shaw, Angela Lansbury and Zacli Scott