Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1959)

marched into the bathroom and pulled at the curtain in one quick sweep. “I’m only a fan,” squeaked a tiny voice as I drew it back. And there stood a small, thin little girl who looked quite soulful, the top of her head wet from the drip-drip of the shower. “Don’t be mad,” she added, looking up at me out of enormous brown eyes. “Jimmie’s downstairs,” I said. What else was there to say? “I know,” she answered, still speaking in a small voice. “I sneaked in when he went down and left the door ajar” — my preoccupied husband! I thought, he’ll never remember to shut a door — “and,” she went on, “I thought I’d wait till he got backjust to touch him, Mrs. Rodgers. I hadn’t meant to frighten anyone.” Then, like a terrified rabbit, she scurried to the door and disappeared before I could say another word. But seconds later she was back. Peeking her head around the hall door, she said, “Mrs. Rodgers?” “Yes,” I answered. “Could I . . . could I have a souvenir?” What could I give her? There was an old sock of Jimmie’s lying nearby on the bed. So I grabbed at it. “Is this all right?” “All right?” Her eyes lit up. “Gee — Mrs. Rodgers. How can I ever thank you?” “Oh, don’t mention it,” I said happily. I forgot all about the girl and the sock until two hours later when Jimmie and I were dressing for a dinner party we had that night. “Where’s my sock?” he began mumbling, first to himself, then tq me. “Sock?” I said, surprised, for a moment forgetting its fate. Then I remembered and told him the story. “But it’s my only pair of black socks,” he wailed. “Can’t we get it back?” “Oh — Jimmie, be serious,” I scolded. “How can you ask anyone to return a sock?” He looked really hurt. In many ways our marriage has given us both a great deal of insight. One thing you learn — and learn fast — is that nobody’s perfect. Sometimes you’ll say something you don’t mean, and the other person takes offense. And before you know it, the coffee pot’s boiling again. But during our marriage I’ve grown watching Jimmie grow — as an entertainer and as a human being. Before we married, Jimmie couldn’t cry. Now, when he feels things deeply, he’s not afraid to show his emotions. When his father, Pop Rodgers, drowned suddenly on a fishing trip at Lackamas Lake, Jimmie cried. He wasn’t afraid to let himself go. And when we were home recently, one of my friends and I had a long talk, and I’ll never forget her saying, “I don’t know why, but I figured you just couldn’t be yourself and stay married to Jimmie. I expected you to lose your personality. But you haven’t. You’re still Colleen to me.” I like to think this ability to be ourselves is what has made our marriage so wonderful. We love each other very much; yet we have understanding and consideration for each other’s feelings and differences. Jimmie enjoys fried chicken, for instance, and I love steak, but there’s no law in the world that says because we’re Mr. and Mrs. we have to think alike. Fans have told me they envy my having such a perfect marriage. It isn’t so. It’s not perfect. It’s something we both have to work at to make grow, to make better. Marriage is never perfect, but if you want to, every day you can both work at growing more closely together, at understanding each other a little more and so forming a more complete and happy partnership as the years go by. The End “the JIMMIE RODGERS SHOw” IS ON NBCTV TUESDAYS, 8: 30-9 P.M. EDT. Pond’s Moisture Base new kind of greaseless foundation cream! brings you “night cream” moisturizing under your make-up all day! Creates an all-day “moisture reserve.” At last a cream that goes beyond superficial smoothing . , . that actuaily controls the moisture levei of your skin under your make-up, At the same time, it normaiizes your skin’s protective chemistry ail day long. Prevents under-make-up dryout! Protects your skin against sun and wind —the drying effects of make-up itselfl Your skin stays soft and dewy ail day. Leaves a smooth, no-shine finish. Pond’s Moisture Base is greaseiess. Your skin never feels sticky, make-up never cakes or streaks. Transparent, it can't conflict with any make-up shade. For a ioveiier face, smooth on New Pond’s Moisture Base every morning. Use it for nighttime moisturizing, too. p Ponds Moisture Base NEW GREASELESS UNDER-MAKE-UP MOISTURIZER 85