Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1947)

p TRY THE Alka-Seltzer •S5 S/mSH't , — Alka-Selt*er. To re Uevethatheadache-y, feverish, a taking W-pltS-as di pa'ka6e O o f^\ Be ‘^^'<1 drafts Ta^i) warmly , aV get Itr wisely . C°mAr,oatwi«rH» Syn>CrXf»^ cow by (g®“ "You’ll Ukfthe relief it brings. 0 0*0 J 60c— at all drug [oS U S. and Canada. AlkaSeltzer ( Continued, from page 6) I would like to go on record as viewing all practical jokes, tvhen there is danger of someone being hurt emotionally or physically, as shocking examples of human cruelty. It will be useless for you to tell your friend the truth now. He won’t believe you if his lady love insists that she ivrote the letters and you are only trying to discredit her. Luckily you have time on your side. The thing to do, if this girl is as undesirable a wife as you seem to think, is to diminish her charm in your friend’s eyes by subtle means. You might ask him how his mother would like the girl, how she tvould fit into his home town, what sort of a cook and housewife she would be, whether he can imagine her taking care of children properly. It is to be hoped that the infatuation wears off. In any case, this should teach you not to mislead gullible and lonely Marines in foreign outposts. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: I’m twenty-two years old, and work in a dress shop. In the morning I rush around to get ready, tear down to work, wait on cranky women all day, drag home at night, have dinner without much appetite, then go to my room and listen to the radio. Once in awhile I see a movie, but that is my only entertainment. I used to go dancing with a group of girl friends, but now they are nearly all engaged or married, and those who are still free live a long way from me. Because I don’t enjoy being a wallflower I swore I’d never go dancing again. The same thing goes for parties. I feel silly playing any sort of a game, so rather than be a bad sport or a drip, I stay away from parties. I have had some good times, but whenever I had a date it was because some friend of mine got the date for me. Miss Colbert, please tell me how I can make my life a little interesting. I’m miserable, and I’m making my family miserable. Everything annoys me. (Miss) F. S. The first thing for you to do is to go to a good medical doctor and have a basal metabolism test made. You should have a physical check-up because it isn’t normal for a girl of twenty-two to be as world-weary as your letter indicates. If the doctor finds no physical problem to be corrected, you should take an inventory of your mental attitudes. Life can be a bore for anyone too glum or lazy to exert herself. We are living in one of the most dramatic eras of all time. What are you, personally, doing about the challenge of the future? Nothing. You are moping and feeling sorry for yourself. You live in a large city, where willing hands are altvays needed. Why don’t you go to night school and take up some special course? Why don’t you volunteer to work at the railway station for Traveler’s Aid once a week? Why don’t you serve as a baby sitter one night a week so that some weary young mother can get some recreation? In short, the secret of building a busy, happy life is to be of service to the community in which you live. Get busy, contribute, and you ivill have so many friends that you won’t know how to keep up with all of them. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: I clipped the enclosed advertisement from a magazine which I was reading recently. As you will see, the ad says that a person can learn to become a motion picture actress by studying their booklet at home. Since you are right there in Hollywood I thought that you might know something about this company. Jane M. Dear Miss Colbert: Some time ago I received a letter from a screen guild telling me that they were conducting a talent search for new faces for motion pictures, radio, stage, etc. I sent them my photograph with the other material requested, and two weeks later I received a second letter, which said I had been accepted for membership. The membership fee is $10.00 payable in advance. Will you please tell me exactly how reliable this guild is. Would I really have a chance, or would I be wasting my hardearned ten dollars? Doris B. Dear Miss Colbert: Recently I answered an advertisement in a newspaper, and soon received a letter from a man who calls himself “Chief Registrar of Studio Employment.” He is supposed to be connected with a studio registration bureau. His letter says, “Our fee is $2.00 for registration and photo processing, plus 50c a month, or $5.00 per year for keeping your file on the active list.” Would I be getting some value out of spending $7.50 to be placed in these files? Mary J. If everyone, before paying out cash for dubious investments, icould consult someone in a position to know what is an honest offer and what is dubious, a great deal of money would be saved and — more important— a great deal of unhappiness and disappointment could be avoided. I telephoned the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (to which all reputable firms belong) and was assured that the companies and individuals referred to in your letters were entire strangers to their bureau. Next I checked the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau, and received the same answer. In short, none of these people are operating legitimate business enterprises. First of all, if a person really could be taught to act by mail, why would studios waste time and money training people in Hollywood? Next, registration bureaus undoubtedly do put your picture on file, but I am convinced that no studio official takes those files very seriously. Please don’t be taken in by these schemes. Check through your local Chamber of Commerce, or tvrite directly to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Hollywood, California, or to the Better Business Bureau, 7 25 South Hill Street, Los Angeles 14, California, before you invest in any Hollytvood training course or registration bureau. Claudette Colbert THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE SAID •@!tout Di ene &u.nne by £l±a Maxwell In the January issue of Photoplay it.