Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1962)

miles from Sinatra’s retreat), everyone expected JFK would tepee at Frank’s place. Frank not only is an ardent Democrat, but he worked very hard to help elect Mr. Kennedy. Instead, the Chief lived in Bing Crosby’s nearby manse. Mr. Crosby is a Repub. Is a pilzzlement, no? Anyway, that’s Topic A. It also keeps the dinner conversation breezy among the Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Westwood and L.A. movie people. “Oh, it’s only gossip,” said one, “and I hate people who repeat gossip. But what else can you do with it?” P 92 Topic B is the return of Darryl Zanuck as chief at 20th Century-Fox, which is practically shut down until the backerbankers catch their breath. As this goes to press, a Fox-Movietone exec told us: "We had to lay off over 300 people yesterday.” The Elizabeth Taylor picture "Cleopatra” (which emptied the coffers at that studio) is partly blamed for throwing so many innocents out of work. The veteran publicist there, Harry Brand, was dismissed along with others of his staff. Because Mr. Brand refused to carry out orders to fire them. "Please go easy on my chiefs,” he asked us, "they are all good people. I’ve nothing to squawk about, really.” "You must be very rich.” we said. "Yes,” he replied in his warm way, "rich in friendships.” That sums up Harry Brand, former newspaperman, whose monument should be inscribed: "The Most Popular Man In Hollywood.” We suggest that he set himself up in the public relations business. Not that he needs money. But inactivity and far from the press crowd he grew up with (and loves) would make him unhappy. Besides, the name Harry Brand on a public relations office door would attract the Stars, who could be guaranteed action. Every movie mag editor in the world and every newspaper movie editor and colyumists in every state in the Union would welcome "copy” bearing his name. Knowing it was reliable. Besides, look at all the jobs Harry Brand’s Office could provide to the newspaper talent still looking for work since two Los Angeles papers died. Both gazettes enjoyed hefty circulations, too. Over 350,000 each. We have three newspapers in Manhattan without that much circ. (Is another puzzlement?) Bette Davis is a good actress. That’s no skewp. But she is another “who remembers the bumps and forgets the caresses.” As one of our favorite quotes goe_ In a magazine, recently, Miss Davis (who barked at dozens of people in and out of Hollywood) scolded us for reporting that she had cancer of the jaw. She wrote, “I had osteomyelitis of the jaw.” “After I had left the hospital,” she noted in her article and book, “Walter Winchell informed me and the rest of the nation that ‘Bette Davis had been operated on for cancer of the jaw.’ Gary Merrill (her husband at the time) was determined that an important retraction of Mr. Winchell’s story should be written — not just an apology in his column. Gary called another newspaper publisher, who had a story which was the truth. It helped — but no retraction completely does it; the rumors still existed. Recovering from this operation was quite a long haul, two years before I really felt myself again.” Well, let’s get that story straight. At no time (according to my Girl Friday) was any request for a correction— a retraction — or an apology — received at our office in the N.Y. Mirror. Or at the network where I broadcast news. We would have been happy to debunk the report. We never received any such request from Bette Davis, her ex-husband, her surgeons, physicians or her lawyers! Miss Davis simply ran to another newspaper columnist, who obliged her. Of course, we were (and are) happy that the item used about her agony didn’t rob the stage and screen of her talent. The source for the “cancer” report was top medical people at a famed cancer hospital in Manhattan. They may have “suspected” or feared cancer — and, again happily, they were wrong. Perhaps they got their Osteos mixed up. Osteomyelitis, according to medical dictionaries, is defined: Inflammation of bone caused by pyogenic organisms. Osteoma. according to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is defined as benign tumor composed of bone. As the founder of The Damon Runyon Cancer Fund (and its treasurer — and thanks to all donors for making me the trustee of their nineteen million dollars to date to fight the No. 2 Killer), I am invariably informed of cancer victims. Especially when they are renowned. The news depresses me. I wish they wouldn’t tell me. They told me, for instance: “Your friend Red Skelton’s little boy is going to die in a year from leukemia.” “Your friend Eddy Duchin is going to die in a year from leukemia!” “Your friend Hoot Gibson is going to die soon. Cancer.” But to get back to Bette Davis’ forgetting the caresses and remembering the bumps. When she braved Broadway First-Nighters in a new musical show and challenged the critics (which I am for the N.Y. Mirror), I found her song-and-dance routines delightful. Not many critics thought so and turned in discouraging notices. The show closed shortly after. But Walter Winchell did a rave about the Revue and its star — Bette Davis. He did try to prolong its engagement with sugary reports in his column and via his broadcasts Sunday evenings at 9. She never bothered to say she was pleased, which is fine and dandy. But she at least could’ve demanded a retraction. Considering how “wrong” I was? Oh, let’s liven things up: Arthur Murray’s press agent says Mr. Murray says: "A movie actress is one who starts out by being too big for her sweater and winds up too big for her britches.” Sight-to-See at Dodgers Stadium when the Dodgers play: Doris Day (she never sits down at the games) rooting hard. She occupies the field box next to the Dodgers’ dugout. So she can greet the players every inning with a blown kiss, etc. Doris Day and Dodgers Dugout — a pair of Ds. That’s why her nickname is “Do-Do.” Did Mrs. Richard Burton give anybody a black eye which sent the target to a hospital in Rome? The guessips had a holiday with that unconfirmed tchit-tchat. Mrs. Burton, they added, hits like a man. Burt Sugarman, who courted Ann-Margret (despite the opposition of her kin and studio bosses), was devoted (a minute ago) to newcomer Pat Woodell, a Warners actress who can sing. Pat reminds some of us of Sandra Church, who clicked on Broadway in “Gypsy,” as 2nd lead to Ethel Merman. Her big hit tune was “Make Somebody Happy.” La Woodell has Sandra’s brunettiful way with a song, face, figger and other female flapdoodle that traps The Male Animal. Remember Jo Ann Campbell, the oriole, Bobby Darin was expected to marry when he wed Sandra Dee? Jo is back from Tokyo where she learned Karate in six lessons. So, don’t mess around with Jo Ann, fellas, this tiny package of Girl will throw you in front of a speeding car just like that! Quote from actor Laurence Harvey: “I despised ‘Walk On The Wild Side.’ I hated it so much I even tried to have my name taken off. But the producer threatened to sue, so I let it drop. But it was a ghastly experience; the more ghastly because of that woman, Capucine. It’s not her fault she can’t act, I suppose. But it didn’t help my performance. I’m sure it is one of the worst films ever made, although I haven’t seen it and don’t intend to.” Did Laurence try giving back the money? That would’ve been the thing to do. (What a meanie, eh, Capucine?) Producer H. Miriseh saw Carol Andreason, a beautiful blonde nurse, on hospital duty. He signed her for "Two For The Seesaw” in which he cast her as Beatnik-Beautnik. Ever hear of Jean Martin? Well, tennyrate. Jean (before the divorce from husband William Black, the Chockfullanuts tycoon) sang on his radio-tv programs. She got a settlement of $2,000,000. Just shows-to-go-ya that a singer can make big money without a hit record. Remarkable Remark from Nancy Kwan: "In marriage you must be able to talk to your husband. You cannot just sit around watching TV in between love making. You must be able to talk.” "Yes” or "Nope” will do, lady. As this essay went to press we reported to our newspapers that Desi Arnaz was smitten mitten a divorcee named Edie Mack, who went to Reno to shed her wealthy dog-food mfg. husband Clement Hirsch. He is a well known horse breeder at California racetracks, too. Their next door neighbor (at del Mar) was Desi. Desi vigorously denied “marriage plans” with Edie, whose orange-colored hair is exactly the same shade of Lucille Ball’s crown. But Edie told intimates, “Could be.” From a H’wood col’m: "What does Frank Sinatra think of the report that he and Juliet had resumed (via a dinner date) the night he returned from London? T just i took an old friend out to dinner,’ he replied, 'that’s all’!” (Those are the joaks, [ foaks!) Item from a gossip col’m: "Sinatra and Fisher are still making news with Juliet Prowse.” There’s a Hollywood switch for you. Getting into the papers by running around with an unmarried woman! The End ,