Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1959)

Looking Back: She was Hollywood’s first golden girl and I look back now to her blond beauty, frank quips and generous heart with a nostalgia we all feel at the mention of Carole Lombard’s name. There was a surface vivacity about Carole that attracted everyone who knew her. And there was an inner sadness only those who knew her best could sense. As if she knew the fate that lay ahead; a fate that snatched her up in the time of her greatest happiness as Clark Gable’s wife and left her dead on a western mountain side. An air crash victim on her way home from an eastern bond rally, Carole was and still is mourned by all of us who knew her. Born Jane Peters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she came to Hollywood with her well-to-do family while still very young. It was only a step later on to movies and stardom. And what a bright comedienne she became, tossing her hair and letting fly her devastating observations. She was the original modern girl — open, generous, frank, free. I recall the day she surprised us by marrying Bill Powell ; I remember, too, the day she first met Gable and found a new way of life; and when it all ended. Though I tried to say goodbye, I couldn’t. . . . The flame burns on in memory. • — cal York Carole Lombard ivas the forerunner of the modern girl. Lunch at Universal: “Peter Gunn’’ walked into the Universal studio dining room and off in a corner someone softly whistled his TV theme song. With a smile in that direction and a friendly wave toward us, Craig Stevens, who is “Peter Gunn” of course, sat down to lunch. I had expected a quiet hour of newsgathering in the dining room and instead met up with a banquet of males. Handsome John Forsythe, a very old friend, greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. John is again shooting his TV “Bachelor Father” series. Producer Ross Hunter stopped by our table with “happy talk” over his latest movie, “Anyway the Wind Blows” with Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randall. In the next instant. Rock himself, in his shirtsleeves yet, sauntered in. With a “Do you mind?” he sat down with me and studio publicist Betty Mitchell to eat his cottage cheese with pears, to swipe the hard boiled eggs from Betty’s plate, to sneak forkfuls of my chicken salad and to scrape the gooey icing from Betty’s cake and eat it all. “This is the Hudson diet method?” I asked. “I only eat because I’m so nervous. Let’s you and I stop smoking,” he suggested to Betty. “I smoke two packs a day,” he told me, “and I’ve got to cut down. First thing I do in i the morning is reach for a cigarette. The minute I step out of the shower, I reach for the lighted cigarette that’s waiting.” Betty was a little dubious but finally the contest was agreed to, with me as referee. At this point, another coatless and equally handsome gentleman, Cary Grant, strolled in, took a second glance at the three of us, and came over, instantly getting into a discussion with Rock on boats. , Rock told us he’s renamed his boat. ‘T used to call her the Lady i Claire,” he said, “but I found the new name ‘Khairizan,’ in a book, i, Later I discovered that it’s an Arabic word meaning ‘Luck and Good 1 Fortune.’” After the discussion, Cary asked, “Are you going to the 'i Cannes Film Festival?” Suddenly I remembered that was precisely ^ where Kim Novak was planning to be. And remembering the way Kim had nestled up to Cary on the dance floor a few evenings before, i I began putting two and two together and came up with two — Cary and Kim. And what a handsome pair! Coming out of my dream I , listened to Rock explain his near-future plans to Cary. “The minute i this picture is over. I’m getting on my boat, crossing to the island of ' Catalina, tying up for a few weeks to just read and listen to music and sleep.” “And eat,” I suggested. “And eat,” Rock agreed. ; Across the room Sir Laurence Olivier and Peter Ustinov were having their tea. Tony Randall waved on his way back to the set. Tony Curtis, who grows handsomer day by day, especially since his dark hair has become silver-tipped, came by to say goodbye to Cary, his co-star in “Operation Petticoat.” His role in the film had been completed that morning and he W'as off to join his friends Kirk [ Douglas, Olivier and Ustinov in “Spartacus.” And then it was time for both Rock and Cary to return to their sets. As for that no-smoking contest, “Betty smoked first,” Rock told me later. “I didn’t have one cigarette,” he added proudly, “till evening!” And that’s what the stars’ve been saying to — sara P Shirley MacLaine looks sad — till Steve {left) comes home. Big Coop and Duke Wayne made us women feel so-o-o 78