Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1954)

Nothing sad about Johnnie Ray when he talks about exwife Marilyn and the future impertinent interview “as long as you’re dating your ex-wife all the time, why don’t you re-marry her ? I asked Johnnie Ray. I had cornered the Nabob of Sob on the set of Irving Berlin’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” in which he’s co-starring with Marilyn Monroe. Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, Dan Dailey and Ethel Merman. It’s Johnnie’s first movie. He was nervous. An assistant director was signalling him to get back before the cameras for a scene with Marilyn. But I had him by the collar. “I’m traveling all the time,” said the Tearful Earful. “You can’t make a marriage if you’re on the road nine months out of the year.” ^ “You’re not traveling now, 1 countered. “This picture has a six-month shooting schedule and you’ll be stuck here in Hollywood for months. Come on, Johnnie, why don’t you marry the girl?’ Director Walter Lang was having some trouble with the next set-up. So the assistant gave Johnnie a green light to relax for a while. The Squealer’s ^Delight shrugged his eloquent shoulders. “Okay, he said. “Let’s go in a corner and talk about it." p Off in a corner of 20th Century s fabulous set the Cry Guy let his hair down and said. “It’s true that I’ll be in Hollywood quite awhile for this musical. In fact, this is the longest time I’ve ever stayed put anywhere. But it wasn’t that way when Marilyn and I were married. We traveled then, for many months. We traveled all over the country: Chicago this week. Buffalo next, then Syracuse and then double back to Omaba. It was too tough a schedule for Marilyn. She wasn’t always in the best health. I had to leave her behind some weeks, with only her sister to look after her. in towns where she was a total stranger. And then before and during the trying period when we lost our baby, I wasn’t with her at all! It was just too tough for her. “Marilyn needs companionship and a good deal of warmth and love and tenderness. I think I give her plenty of that when I’m here. But it’s not often that 1 am here, except for this present stretch, and it just isn’t fair to ask a girl to join me in my kind of life. She doesn t like it, neither do I. And why get married when you and your wife see each other only once every three months? I don t want that kind of marriage. “So here we are, making this big movie here in Hollywood. What happens now . It’s my first picture. If I’m a success in it and can make this my home base. 1 11 stay in Hollywood. Then we’ll see how it works out. , . “Meanwhile I’ve been dating no one else but Marilyn during my stay here. 1 love the girl. I have no desire to date anybody else. In other words, it’s a case of not being able to live with her and not being able to live without her. “There’s so very much that goes into making a happy marriage. The most important thing. I think Marilyn and I discovered, was being together. We couldn be together and that’s why we broke up. It isn’t fair for a man to ask his wife to lead the life of a gypsy, which is exact y the kind of life I’m leading now. “If I thought we could be compatible insofar as my professional life is concerned. and mutually understanding of the demands of being in the limelight I; wouldn’t hesitate a moment to seek a reconciliation with Marilyn. But right now I can’t think about it. My career comes first, and Marilyn agrees to this too In other words, the public dictates mv' life. And if the public accepts me in this and future movies, so that I can make my home here in Hollywood and just travel a few weeks out of the year, then I will base my life here— with Marilyn. Thus spake the Anguished Bard.