Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1963)

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Continued from page 43 some school of higher learning, because she is convinced that what Vince has told her is sound advice. Karen knows how he had done all he could to get an education before he struck out for movieland. It was 1947 — the year Karen was born — when Vince was still in school, a student at the University of Hawaii. A short time after that, Vince quit and went to Hollywood to begin his acting career. And ever since Karen was old enough to remember, she has been a fan of Vince’s, watching him through dozens of films — films that led nowhere, really, until he got his big break in television with the “Ben Casey” show. But even though he never hit it big with the fans until his TV debut, Karen nevertheless always looked on Vince as a star of the first magnitude. In her eyes, there simply wasn’t any actor as great as Vince. More than a fan Through all her many years of growing up, Karen’s overriding ambition was to meet Vince Edwards someday. “I wanted to see him and tell him how wonderful he was,” Karen confided. “I wanted to see what he was like in real life.” Karen’s years-long dream finally came true early last summer when her father, Joe Zoine, took her to meet Vince. It was at the home of Vince’s twin brother Bob in Westbury, Long Island, where there was a big family reunion. It was only natural that Karen would be there since her father is not only Bob’s brother — but Vince’s as well. And as the account of human family pedigrees goes, that makes Vince Edwards — Karen’s uncle! Yet, in all her life Karen had never seen her uncle Vince in the flesh. He’d been so busy pursuing his career in Hollywood that on the few occasions he had come home to visit his family, his stays were so brief that Vince never had the opportunity to see Karen. Now, at last, they had met. “You’ve got a beautiful daughter,” Vince said to brother Joe. “I know I have,” Joe smiled. “And she wants to be an actress.” Sensitive and still somewhat shy, Karen blushed as she overheard her father divulging her ambition to follow her famous uncle out to Hollywood. “I was a little embarrassed,” Karen said. “I didn’t want him to think I was trying to get ahead on his name.” But Vince never got that impression. Her father made it clear to Vince that Karen was determined to make the grade as an actress on her own — that she did not want any help whatsoever from him. t Nevertheless, Vince vowed to do everything he could to help Karen — provided she did what he thought was best for her. Then he took Karen aside and talked with her at length about her appetite for the glitter, glory, and gold that lies in the world of make-believe. He impressed Karen with the importance of completing her education, and Karen agreed. Then Vince promised her: “I’m going to bring you out to visit me in Hollywood — I want to show you around.” Vince even set a date: for last August. But there was heartfelt disappointment ahead for Karen, as well as for Vince’s mother, Julie, who was supposed to take her granddaughter out to the Coast. Vince had signed to do “The Victors” and had to leave for England and Italy during that month. When he came back in September, Karen could no longer make it because of school. “We put it off until later this summer,” Karen told me recently when she dropped in with her family for a visit at my home in Westbury, not far from Bob’s place. I had asked Joe to come over for a social call because my family — especially the kids — had wanted to meet Vince Edwards’ mother. They had heard and read what a wonderful woman she is, and they were anxious to see her. While the Zoines were there I found the opportunity to ask Karen about her plans. “If all goes well,” Karen related, “Grandma and I will go to Hollywood and stay with Vince for a good part of the summer. It’ll be a wonderful opportunity for me to see what Hollywood is like. Vince promised to take us everywhere and show us what makes the town go round. I know I’m going to love it.” I asked Karen what she’d do if she suddenly found herself confronted with an opportunity to take a screen test. “I’d take it,” Karen laughed. Then she quickly added, “But I doubt that Vince would let me. He’s a bug about wanting me to finish school. He’d probably put Grandma and me' on the next plane and send us home.” Actually, Karen sincerely believes the advice Vince has given her is the best she could get. “I don’t think I’m ready yet to take the big step in Hollywood,” Karen admitted. “I want to finish high school and then go on and study for an acting career.” She plans to enroll either at Northwestern University, which offers a fine dramatic course, or the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, the same school Vince attended early in his career. Confidence and scholarship Karen is confident she will have the entrance requirements for Northwestern, or practically any other college she may choose, for her scholastic standing is very high. In fact, when I saw her she had just taken a college scholarship test which is given to selected groups of New York City students with only the highest academic averages. The winners can take their choice of any college or university in the country — tuition free. Karen is taking an academic course which includes geometry, biology, physics, and other cerebral subjects. Her favorite courses, however, are English and public speaking. “I believe they are the most important subjects for a person who is going to act,” Karen said. “It’s important to be able to read and speak properly. That’s why I have the most interest in English.” Karen also reads a lot, mostly novels. “I like to pick out a certain character in the story I’m reading and put myself in her part,” Karen related. “Then I can live through the experience, which is what I would have to do if I were acting.” Because good grades are dependent on a lot of study, Karen finds little time for much else during the school year. Occasionally, however, she will go bowling with her girl friends, or take in a movie. On Sundays she attends St. Fortunato’s Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn. Marriage? “Yes,” Karen admitted, “but not until I'm at least twenty-four.” On the subject of boy friends, Karen had this to say: “Lots of boys try to date me, but I don’t go out with them. In the first place I haven’t got that much time, and in the second place I haven’t met any boys yet that I can say I like a lot.” What Karen didn’t say is that she is often too busy at home helping with the household chores — and in recent times with being Grandma’s strong right hand. Grandma Julie had suffered a painful broken varicose vein in her leg just before Thanksgiving. She was laid up for months in her apartment, a virtual invalid. Karen, who lives a few blocks away, brought her grandmother food and helped around the house. “It was the least I .could do for her,” Karen said. “I can never repay her for all the things that she’s done for me.” Mother to Karen and Vince Her mother, you see, died when Karen was six years old. Beside Karen, there were two other children — Jo Ann, who was eight, and Terry, who was ten. For six long years— until Joe married his present lovely wife. Ginger — the children were cared for by Grandma Julie. “She raised them as lovingly and tenderly as she raised her own sons and daughters,” Joe told me about his mother. “We owe her a great debt of gratitude for being a mother to my children when they needed one the most.” Today Jo Ann, who is eighteen and has graduated from high school, is a beautician in a neighborhood beauty parlor and someday hopes to open her own shop. Terry, who is twenty and also a graduate of high school, is on his way to becoming a New York City policeman. He has passed his written examination and only the physical test remains before he is admitted to the Police Academy. “He’s just like Vince,” Joe told me, taking out a picture of his son for a comparison. The resemblance to Vince in height, build, and looks is remarkable. “He looks more like Vince’s son than he does yours,” I told Joe. It wasn’t the first time someone had mentioned that. More remarkable, however, is another interest: “My Vinny used to go in for health foods, weight-lifting, and bodybuilding,” Mrs. Zoine said. “Terry is just the same way. He will not allow himself to miss a single session at the gym. He practically lives there.” Those of you familiar with Vince’s background probably recognize the similarity at once. Terry, though, is a bit of a disappoint