Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1952)

Stuff studio insisted, would have to build her chest out! A year or so later she was called out again, this time to play Lana’s girl friend. And this time, said the studio, to be convincing in the role — Natalie would have to flatten down her frontage! Whei'e, oh where hut in Hollywood. Hollywood Party Line Junior Gee Man: Doris Day was on the phone, so Cal settled down for one of those hour-long “chats” he has come to cherish. “The nicest thing happened last night,” enthused Miss Velvet Voice. “William Warfield (the great negro singer) came up to me to say how much he enjoys my singing. Can you believe it?” Cal could, but Doris still can’t accept herself as a celebrity. “Oh, a very funny thing happened, too,” she continued. “You know, I always believe I’m just plain mother to my son, Terry. Well, yesterday he asked me to sign a photograph for a carpenter working down the street. I brought out a new head portrait. ‘Gee, Mom,’ he grinned, ‘not that one. Men like to look at all of you !’ ” Looks like, we told Doris, sonny boy’s developing wonderful powers of observation. “Looks like sonny boy’s growing up,” she sighed. Reformed Redhead: Cal caught up with Susan Hayward in her dressing room. “You’ve come a long way, Susan,” we had to say. “That was a great performance you gave in ‘With a Song in My Heart’.” She flashed us a fast look to make sure we weren’t kidding. “Listen to this guy play,” she answered quickly, as she spun a record. “His name is Erroll Garner. I collect his records.” It was twelve years ago that the former Edith Marriner and her Brooklyn accent arrived in Hollywood. Cal reminded her of those dear dead disgruntled days. “I was so scared then,” Susan recalls. “Dietrich, Colbert and Lombard were the great Paramount stars. No one spoke to me and I was full of defenses. I think established stars should always take on newcomers and make them feel welcome. A studio lot Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount Vice President, receives citation from George Murphy for a winning film, “Here Comes the Groom” BY EDITH GWYNN You’ll see all the details of Photoplay’s annual Gold Medal Awards dinner on page 52, but we do want to add a few personal sidelights on the affair which surely was the biggest and most glamorous to date. And oh, the gorgeous gowns! Don’t know when I’ve seen more beautifully (un)clad femmes under one roof. Ava Gardner was breathtaking in a short white lace, fullskirted gown made extra graceful by a long-waisted, skin-tight basque top, the entire bodice mounted over a nude-colored lining. Katie Grayson and Ann Blyth were visions in white. Ruth Roman wore a long flowing white chiffon dress with a “see-all” bodice that was criss-crossed with silver sequins. Lovely features of her gown were the two hem-length chiffon panels (one from each shoulder) that breezed out behind her as she walked. Then there was Betty Hutton’s gorgeous gown of heavy white satin with pearl and bead embroidery. Bettina told us its tremendous skirt is detachable at the waist so she can whip it off any time she wants to go into a “dance act” on a stage, etc. It has matching satin shorts beneath it. Greer Garson, in black lace over white. Sue Ladd in a charming halter-necked dress of oceans of periwinkle blue net that shaded into deeper hues; Doris Day, among all the belles wearing necklines as low as the law allows, was in a long-sleeved turtle-necked gown of white cotton lace — as demure as all git-out! I giggled at Bill Holden’s half-inch haircut that he had to have for his role in “Stalag 17” — but on him even that looks good. In contrast to the elegance that prevailed at Photoplay’s dinner was the hectic, mad, wild and woolly twenty-four-hour whoop-de-do that Howard Hughes staged for stars and press to premiere “The Las Vegas Story.” Two Constellations flew more than a hundred to the Nevada resort town and planted them in various hotels for the night. But not before handing each guest a leather pouch containing fifty silver dollars! That was for gambling. But before people got to the gaming tables, such as Jane Russell, Bob Waterfield, Vincent Price, Mala Powers, Keith Andes, Ursula Thiess, Margaret Sheridan, Jack Buetel, Lex Barker and others “took over the town,” heading a big parade to the two theatres holding the joint preem. Police had to hold back bobby-soxers screaming for autographs, bits of hair or clothing. Later came the round of night clubs and that “episode” when Bob Waterfield almost socked Ben Blue for “blue” remarks he was making about Jane Russell during his act. It was only an overnight “ball” — but it was real crazy while it lasted ! Bill Holden, Brenda Marshall ! Saw Cyd Charisse the other day wearing one of the new hats from Keneth Hopkins’ [ latest collection. A large-brimmed, honey-beige Milan straw, covered with double circles of maline edged in narrow horsehair braid to make them stand out and ripple ■ just beyond the brim’s edge. For trimming — just one large rose close to the shallow brim in front. Sally Forrest went for another of Keneth’s lids — a little bonnet-type reminiscent of the gay I nineties, with flowers and ribbons sitting atop it and I ribbon streamers down the back. Speaking of collec| tions, Don Loper's summer duds are divine. Lots of I sheer wools, new linens and gauze fabrics. His new I silhouette is a skirt that is very slim all down one ■ side, but with varied “jutting out” effects on the other. Something else new — the stunning coats now emerging made of Orion. That’s the wonderful new material that looks like wool but is much lighter. Lately it has come forth in lovely light pastel shades. | Though as warm as wool, this “zephyr fleece” weighs | almost nothing, is wrinkle-proof and supposed to be | moth-proof. What’s more, these coats can take rough I wear and when you wash them, they need no pressing. Peggy Dow has one of pale lilac. Odds and ends: Although Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck are divorced — at this writing her favorite piece of jewelry still seems to be that dia Ronald Reagan, Greer Garson mond heart-shaped pin clip he sent her shortly after | they separated last year . . . Dingle-dangles are still popular — and those anklej bracelets of old are coming back. Lana Turner wears one — a thin gold chain with a j tiny gold heart on it, and Viveca Lindfors has one that sports a little bell that i tinkles when she walks.