Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1947)

Wonderful Life with Donna ( Continued from page 65) said an office colleague. “Who is Donna Reed?” said the stricken heathen. “She is an actress and you are working for her.” “Already?” gasped Tony who can take things as they come but not that fast. “Our agency has a contract to manage her,” said his side-kick. “Heavenly ordinance!” said Mr. Owen, quoting Montaigne, for Mr. Owen is a scholar and gentleman from old New Orleans, a graduate from the University of Chicago, and a literateur who earned fifteen thousand a year as saloon columnist on the Chicago Daily News. With the variegated culture of his Chicago background, Tony quotes at will from Montaigne or Mayor Kelly or Alfonso Capone. But never in his reporting career had he picked up anything so sensational as the flash he got on beholding Miss Reed. He had scooped himself and couldn’t believe it. HE LEAPED into his car and drove to Palm Springs to reduce his blood pressure. But his Hamlet soliloquy — “It can’t be, it can be” — kept on driving him nuts. At length he achieved a sort of optimistic fatalism which by heavenly ordinance is the philosophy of the vision he was to wed. She describes it as a feeling that everything works out for the best if you just keep doing your best. Tony dashed back to Hollywood and started doing his best. He telephoned Miss Reed. “This is Mr. Owen, your business agent, Miss Reed.” “How do you do, Mr. Owen,” Miss Reed said. “Would it be possible for you to have dinner with me, Miss Reed?” “No,” said Miss Reed, “but thank you.” “It is a business matter of some importance, Miss Reed.” “I am sorry, Mr. Owen. Perhaps we can meet at the studio or your office.” That’s the way it went for two years, “Miss Reed” and “Mr. Owen.” Tony can’t remember when it ended. He thinks that when he proposed he probably said, “Miss Reed, would you consider marrying Mr. Owen?” “Anyhow it was refreshingly novel in Hollywood,” says Tony. “Here everyone calls everyone by nickname on sight, or honey or darling if you don’t know the name.” Miss Reed and Mr. Owen honeymooned on the Iowa farm with Donna’s folks. Relatives and friends came from all over Crawford county, and banners hung across the streets of Denison. “After three years in Hollywood,” says Tony, “I thought you had to die and go to heaven before you met such people — no one envious, no one with personal ambition but all for the family. It was heaven. I understood Donna then. She has quality; the quality of being wholly and transparently genuine.” Serenity out of fortitude is the substance of her beauty. Through her girlhood she endured with her family the desperation of ten years of heart-searing drought on the farm. “We were able to eat because it is always possible to carry water from a well to a vegetable patch.” Her worst experience, she says, was starting high school in Denison after attending the one-room country school. The Stars Model Photoplay Fashions on Page 99 Too much of a good thing isn’t ever too good for tiny tots. For instance, when you start your baby on Gerber’s Cereals, measure out the amount your doctor suggests. Gerber’s (ready-to-serve) taste so good even beginners often want more than their share. And, my how they go for . . . Luscious fruits, vegetables and all the many delicious Gerber’s Strained Foods. When your baby’s ready, he’ll find them as easy to swallow and as much fun as Gerber’s Cereals. Thousands of babies prefer Gerber's from . . . Start to finish! So, follow through with Gerber’s Chopped Foods when he can chew a bit. Gerber’s one-portion containers ( same size and price as Strained Foods ) help you serve baby wholesome variety — without leftovers. First, last and always, mother, it’s Gerber’s for happier mealtimes. 3 CEREALS FREE SAMPLES of all 3 special baby cereals! Write to Gerber’s, Dept. F7-7, Fremont, Mich. erber’s FREMONT, MICH. OAKLAND, CALIF. 18 STRAINED FOODS 13 CHOPPED FOODS ONE MOTHER TO ANOTHER Once we thought only fat babies were healthy. But modern child experts have upset that theory. If check-ups prove your baby's healthy, why worry if he isn't a roly-poly? ) 1947. G. P. C. r 87