Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1955)

the end of her first year under contract, she will have made four pictures, “The Trouble with Harry,” “Artists and Models,” and two more not, as yet, decided upon. The cost will be $20,000,000. How has all this affected Shirley? It hasn’t touched her. She would still rather eat lunch in the Paramount commissary with an obscure but talented actor whom she knew in New York than at the big table where the high and mighty gather. She dodges big parties and abhors smart Hollywood chatter because, she says, it is insincere. “I don’t know how to handle flip talk,” she stated, “and off-color stories just make me mad. I don’t drink because I think it’s silly. So, you see, I’m a dud at big crushes.” Her disinclination to look or act like a typical Hollywood star sometimes results in amusing frustrations. One of these occurred at the recent Academy Awards blow-out. Shirley and her husband attempted to pass down the lane reserved for the screen elect when they were halted by a policeman. In all fairness, it must be stated, the cop was justified. Shirley, dressed in a simple frock, which she might have worn for a quiet dinner at home, in no way resembled the glittering personalities who shone in the bright glare of exploding flashlight bulbs. “Wrong pew, girlie,” he growled, “get back where you belong.” “But I do belong here,” she protested. “Look, kid,” the officer said, “I know a star when I see one — and you ain’t no star.” Shirley, who still gets most of her clothes from the studio wardrobe, smiled quietly and took her place with the ordinary mortals in the lobby of the Pantages Theatre. Miss MacLaine, born Shirley Beaty, in Richmond, Virginia, April 24, 1934, is the daughter of Ira O. Beaty, a former musician and band leader now a real-estate agent in Arlington, Virginia. Her mother is the former Kathlyn MacLean, who once acted in little theatres at Toronto, Canada, and taught dramatics at Maryland College. She has a brother, Warren, 17, trying to decide between being a jazz musician or a lawyer. When she was three years old her showpeople parents started her in ballet lessons and she made her first professional appearance at four in the famous Mosque recitals at Richmond. She attended Washington and Lee High School, Arlington, and was cheer leader and avid participant in most school activities. In 1950, and not yet out of high school, she went to New York and immediately got work in the chorus for a revival of “Oklahoma!” Later she was in the chorus of “Kiss Me Kate” at St. John Terrell’s Music Circus at Lambertville, New Jersey. Returning home she finished high school and set out for New York again. She auditioned and auditioned and finally got a job in an electrical appliance trade show, demonstrating refrigerators by dancing and prancing around them. One special routine had 55 consecutive ballet turns. “Enough,” she said, “to whip cream in a box if I’d been geared.” She did guest shots on tv, modeled for stores and photographers, danced summers with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington and got her first good job in New York in the chorus of “Me and Juliet.” She stayed with it until Frederick Brisson accepted her for “The Pajama Game.” What the future holds for Shirley MacLaine is still in the lap of the theatrical gods. But one thing is certain. She’ll never, never have to eat another peanut butter sandwich. KISSES CLINCHES SCORCHED THE MOVIE SCREENS From GARBO and VALENTINO to MONROE and BRANDO SCREEN LOVERS presents a pictorial history of Hollywood’s greatest, most memorable romantic moments starring the screen’s champion lovers — from vamp Theda Bara to wholesome Grace Kelly — from latin-type John Gilbert to boy-next-door-type Bob Wagner. You’ll see the most famous and torrid love scenes ever filmed — from 1896 to 1956 THRILL to the GRETA GARBO-JOHN GILBERT love scene from “Flesh and the Devil” CRY with JANET GAYNOR and CHARLES FARRELL in “Seventh Heaven" balcony to safety HISS the villain forcing his attentions upon BILLIE DOVE HOWL at the clothes that adorn the “ladies of the night” LAUGH at the first love scene ever censored. The year was 1896. The picture, “The Kiss” SIGH as TAB HUNTER and MONA FREEMAN in “Battle Cry” prove that today’s crop of stars are as good at love 6cenes as the oldtimers HATE JACK BALANCE as he terrorizes JOAN CRAWFORD in “Sudden Fear” ENJOY the most spectacular orgy ever filmed RECALL all of your favorite movies in this one big roundup ADMIRE swashbuckling DOUG FAIR COLLECT never-before-published picBANKS sweeping his heroine off the tures for your scrapbook ♦PLUS THE 20 MOST MEMORABLE LOVE SCENES EVER FILMED all this and more in SCREEN LOVERS AT NEWSSTANDS NOW if newsdealer is sold out , use this coupon , MAIL COUPON TODAY 1 j BARTHOLOMEW HOUSE, Inc. WG-1255 J j 205 E. 42nd St.. New York 17, N. Y. ! Send me postpaid, a copy of SCREEN I j LOVERS. I enclose 50c. j I Name j t Please Print j: I Address ■ I City State i The End 87