Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1951)

that’s HOLLYWOOD lor you Sidney Skolsky BY SIDNEY SKOLSKY John Wayne, the big heman, carries his own makeup man from studio to studio. Wayne must have a certain type of make-up patted on his face just so . . . Esther Williams in a bathing suit may be pin-up art to most guys, but she reminds me of the line about a certain leading man who told his tailor that he wanted a suit with shoulders like Esther Williams’s ... A few of his intimates call Spencer Tracy “The Donkey” . . . Mickey Rooney always appears to be in a hurry even if he’s merely standing around . . . Cornel Wilde makes no secret of it, so I guess it’s okay to tell that for certain scenes in a picture he keeps that curl in place with a There have been all kinds of premieres in Hollywood, but I rather go for Gabe York’s suggestion that a novel premiere would be for the actors to sit in the grandstand and watch the public go into the theater. I can’t remember seeing a movie hero smoke a cigar. Tracy bobby pin There’s always a show in a studio commissary. I like to watch, say, Ruth Roman and Steve Cochran having lunch together when they’re working in a picture, each asking the other what they should eat . . . L. R. Mayer is the only executive who has a dish named after him. Mayer Chicken Soup is a specialty over at M-G-M. A studio commissary is a place where all the ham isn’t in sandwiches ... I don’t believe Piper Laurie ever ate flowers. Sue me! ... If you ever go to Hollywood, try the fried shrimp at the Beachcomber, the Belmont special at Chasen’s, the spaghetti at Chianti’s, chicken Milanaise at Romanoff’s, but regardless of the restaurant, be sure to bring your own bottled water . . . Only recently in a prominent restaurant I saw Shelley Winters darting from table to table. When I asked the proprietor if there were any celebrities in the place, he answered, “Yes. Ten Shelley Winters.’’ Anne Baxter wears lacy black nightgowns to bed. When Anne had to wear a nightgown for a scene in a picture, she brought one of her own to the studio, but was told that she couldn’t wear it— the censors would object ... I know several actresses who make up to go to bed, insisting that this is the place a lady should look her best ... I wonder how Elizabeth Taylor looks when she gets out of bed in the morning ... A producer asked the husband of a certain glamorous actress making a screen comeback if she is still as beautiful as ever. He replied, “Yes, but it takes her half an hour longer” ... I am convinced that Corinne Calvet is sexy, but not as sexy as she talks it . . . Whenever I go to a drive-in, I always look upon every car-hop as a girl who came to Hollywood to get into the movies and didn’t make it. Baxter I often get the impression that Doris Day is amazed that she is a movie actress and that she is muttering, “Look what happened to me — strictly a singer with the band’’ ... I don’t know of any actress who did so little in a picture and got so much out of it as Denise Darcel. It could be because Denise pul so much into it . . . One night Ronald Colman’s agent phoned him and when told Mr. Colman wasn’t in said, “When Mr. Colman comes in, please have him call me no matter how late it is. However, if it’s too late, tell him I will call him in the morning.” Although I don’t watch Hopalong Cassidy on TV, I am mighty pleased by William Boyd’s tremendous success. It’s nice when it happens to a nice guy . . . Ronald Reagan is just about the most romantic president the Screen Actors Guild ever elected to office . . . Joan Crawford is still the movie actresses’ idea of a movie actress ... I can’t stand those actors who read their lines so that their diction lessons show . . . Jack Carson seldom makes me laugh on the screen, and never off . . . Wonder what became of Senator Johnson? . . . Telling me about his early days in Hollywood, Kirk Douglas said that he was once invited to a party which was crowded with celebrities. “In fact,” emphasized Kirk, “I was the only person there I never heard of” ... I know it’s hard to believe that a dish like Marilyn Monroe goes to the movies alone or with her dramatic coach — female — but it’s true, because I’ve seen it with my own eyes . . . George Sanders’s voice always seems to fit his dialogue . . . Romance in movietown goes like this: He fell in love with himself and she fell in love with herself and they were married That’s Hollywood for you! Boyd INSIDE Beautiful Dreamer: Ann Blyth, in her high Grecian hair-do at Photoplay’s Gold Medal Award party, was breath-taking. Cal stopped by her table, where she introduced us to handsome John Hudson. ' After you see him in “Lights Out” you’ll understand why we’re predicting ; a brilliant future for him. “Something wonderful’s happened,” said Ann, glowing. “An engagement, maybe?” we asked eagerly. She gave us that Mona Lisa smile. “When I made ‘The Great Caruso’ at M-G-M, I sang ‘The Loveliest Night of the Year.’ Now, Johnny Green, who made the arrangement, has received my studio’s ! permission to put it on the market. It’s my first commercial record. I can’t help looking so excited.” Or so beautiful, we added. So in Love: Hollywood has certainly overworked the divorce courts recently. ] But in the midst of all the tottering teams, Cal points with pride to Anne Baxter and John Hodiak. If anything ever happens to these two, we’ll eat our own copy! At Photoplay’s Gold Medal Awards party, John was disconsolate because Anne was up north nursing her sick mother. In the midst of the festivities, someone whispered in Hody’s ear. The announcement had just come through — Anne was nominated for an Academy Award! With tears in his eyes, John grabbed a glass of champagne and raced for the phone. He insisted that Anne at the other end pour a glass for herself too. He told her the wonderful news and drank a toast to his “best girl.” Then the happy Hodiaks drank another toast to the little visitor who will join them this summer. Stars in His Crown: “Please watch out for Christopher,” pleaded Cal’s good friend, Joan Crawford. “I’ve had pneumonia and can’t go to the Photoplay Gold Medal Award party. My son is going to accept for me.” Cal finally located handsome little Christopher in his military academy uniform. He was sitting in the jampacked Crystal Room-next to Elizabeth Taylor, in back of Ann Blyth and opposite Joan Evans. When we reached his side, Christopher’s face lit up in great Greg Peck, whose acting in “Twelve O’Clock High” won him Photoplay Award, gets a hand from editor Fred Sammis