Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1952)

Inside THAT’S HOLLYWOOD FOR YOU By SIDNEY SKOLSKY Sidney Skolsky I’d say that the right caption for a photo of Bob Waterfield and Jane Russell is “Male and Female.” Don’t know another couple who fit it better . . . I’m a Jerry Lewis fan but not a fan of Jerry Lewis imitators . . . Charlie Chaplin said that the only thing he learned about himself from the book, “The Littler Feller,” is that “Limelight” is his eighty first movie . . . Performers who bill themselves as “Mr. Showbusiness” annoy me . . . Shelley Winters is the only actress I know who shakes hands with you ... I don’t dig Zsa Zsa Gabor as an actress or as a personality. So sue me! . . . Hollywood is a place where, if you can afford what you have, you should have something better . . . Errol Flynn sleeps in a bed he describes as “medium-sized, about the size of a medium-sized football arena” . . . Alec Guinness is my idea of a great actor. No ballyhoo, no Oscars, just great ... I believe that most of the girl ushers in movie theatres are girls who wanted to be movie actresses . . . Piper Laurie in the romance department is playing the field. So far, with Piper, it’s no hits, no runs, no errors. Bing Crosby makes bad lyrics sound, well, almost good . . . Television is making progress. Milton Berle no longer leads the popularity polls . . . Mitzi Gaynor is like “for two cents plain” . . . No matter what Betty Hutton says, I have a hunch she’d even give up her career for a happy marriage . . . Since Jean Simmons got married she has taken to wearing a nightgown occasionally . . . Katharine Hepburn said it, I’m only quoting. Katie said, “I don’t care what anyone prints about me, so long as it isn’t true” . . . Marlon Brando in “Viva Zapata!” proves he’s good, too, when you can understand him ... I consider Irving Berlin one of the best businessmen in show business and he could make deals for me . . . Doris Day is a member of the Van Johnson fan club . . . I didn’t think anyone in Hollywood could he as innocent as Debra Paget is . . . Hollywood is a place where you should take along a spare reputation . . . When Marlene Dietrich asked a certain interviewer, “How old do you think I am?” this interviewer replied, “I’d whistle at you first and worry about mathematics later.” I would rather watch Clark Gable in a bad picture than Guy Madison in a good one ... I think Rodgers and Hammerstein’s best score is “Carousel.” I never tire of it . . . George Jessel can’t stand anyone chewing gum . . . Marilyn Maxwell is so considerate. She wears low heels for me . . . That hunk of French pastry, Leslie Caron, was startled by her quick success. “When people stare at you, you look around and wonder, ‘Who is it? Who are you?’” Leslie is honest enough to admit she loves it . . . Gloria Grahame’s sex appeal is in her expressive lips. “I use my lips,” explains Gloria, “the way other actresses use their eyes, hands, bosoms” . . . Cary Grant and Betsy Drake are sweet and lovely on the screen and off . . . I’m still campaigning against double features. I think it was an outrage to show “A Place in the Sun” and “An American in Paris” on the same bill. The next program can only be an awful let-down ... If an exhibitor must give away dishes, it should be dishes like Liz Taylor. I’ve been told by Lana Turner that a pretty smile is a woman’s best asset. But even when Lana isn’t smiling she has assets . . . When a man schlepps an umbrella with him in a movie, it’s a signal to the audience that he’s a Mr. Milquetoast . . . I want to make a prediction and say that Shirley Booth will be a strong contender for many awards for her performance in “Come Back, Little Sheba.” I’ll take odds right now and bet she wins the Oscar ... I haven’t seen a good Western for years and don’t care if I do . . . Richard Widmark is a nice guy period . . . Hollywood is a place where, when you remove the false tinsel, you get the real tinsel ... I would love to have a tape recording of Bette Davis and Gary Merrill spending an evening at home . . . When John Derek gets in late from work and rushes to the refrigerator, he often finds a check there, which reads: “Pay to the order of John Derek — One Million Kisses.” And it is signed by his wife Patti. That’s Hollywood for you! Marlon Brando Tease for Two: According to VeraEllen (who should know) she has no intention of marrying Rock Hudson, publicist A. C. Lyles, a Hollywood agent or any of the local lads whose names have been linked with hers . . . Despite those beautiful baubles Monica Lewis received from Edmond O’Brien’s brother Bill, no official engagement’s forthcoming, ’tis said, until a religious problem is settled . . . Write your own caption on this one! Marilyn Maxwell’s Valentine Day present to Rock Hudson was a white sport shirt with a black heart ( ? ) printed pattern . . . Something new under the Hollywood sun— Agnes Moorehead and her handsome new boy friend featuring the same color hair-dos. Faith, Hope, Charity: Hollywood as usual was there when needed and $10,000 was raised at the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund Ball. Highlights of Irene’s fabulous fashion show in the Ambassador’s Embassy Room: Van Johnson charmingly introducing such celebrated models as Arlene Dahl, Ann Rutherford, Mona Freeman. Pat Nerney, Frank Sinatra, Don Budge, Paul Clemens, all stood up holding burning cigarette lighters over their heads when Mona passed their table! Last and loveliest, Ava Gardner modeled black lace over flesh. Carrying a fragile fan, she demonstrated the “language of the fan.” Ava actually took lessons from an expert on fan talking and Frank Sinatra obviously got her “message.” He grinned from ear to ear as he gazed upon his beautiful bride! Front and Center: It’s gay, witty Natalie Schafer’s story and we love it as much as Ann Sheridan and John Lund did, when she told it to them on the set of “Just Across the Street.” At one point in her career, it seems, Natalie was called out to M-G-M and signed to play the role of Lana Turner’s mother. There was one stipulation, however. In order to be convincing as Miss T.’s mater, Natalie, the To young stars like Rock Hudson, Lori Nelson, Gold Medal dinner was a preview of such honors as they hope some day to know