Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1938)

THIN GIRLS— You have to be thin in Hollywood because the camera adds at least ten pounds to your figure, but many a star has found to her sorrow that extreme slenderness results in loss of vitality; nerves jangle and life becomes a ratrace. We've been hearing a lot about how to reduce, but gaining weight is even more difficult than losing it. People sympathize with a fat woman, anyway, but what sympathy does a thin girl get? Absolutely none. People feel that she's lucky to be so thin and gaze at her with envy as she eats her potatoes and whipped cream and yet never gains a pound. They give a scornful snort when she moans about how exhausted she is. So what are you going to do about it, you and you and you — thin, tired girls who wonder just how long your nervous energy will keep you going and why it is that you simply can't keep your bones covered with enough flesh to give you those curves that fashion and health demand? Pondering this vital problem while wandering vaguely around Warner Brothers Studio, I caught sight of Ann Sheridan, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland and Anita Louise, all talking at the same time. In between sentences Bette was drinking a malted rnilk; Olivia was carrying on her share of the conversation lying flat on her back on the floor with her eyes closed. "What goes on here?" I asked. "Sit down," said Bette. "We're having a quiet little argument. You see, we're all trying to put on weight, and we all have our different methods. Me, I swear by malted milk. I've gained three pounds already." "Just the people I am looking for," I said. "What are the rest of you doing?" "I'm resting and relaxing all over the place," spoke up Olivia from the floor. "My theory is exercise to build you up and, if you encourage me, I'll do my calisthenics right here," said Ann. "Personally, I drink milk at every opportunity," was Anita's contribution. "And we all get a lot of sleep," finished Bette triumphantly. "Do I!" said Olivia. "I don't even go out any more when I'm not working except on week ends and then I'm always the first one to go home. I try to get at least eight hours sleep a day, and ten when I can manage it. The hard part is learning to relax, though, so that you can sleep or rest. And I find it so difficult to do." There is a definite art in learning to relax, and there's nothing more important to the girl who is trying to gain weight. Even going to bed won't do you much good if you lie awake worrying, as keyed up as a violin string. Above all, don't just start to worry because you're afraid you can't relax and get to sleep. Begin by systematizing your routine of living, and you've won half your battle. Have your meals at the same time every day. Don't eat your lunch at twelve today and then work so hard that you don't leave your office until twothirty tomorrow. Before going to bed at night take some relaxing exercises. Do them very slowly, as Olivia does, because, when you're trying to gain weight, the important thing to remember is to do everything slowly. Be sure, however, to see your doctor first, so that you're certain there's nothing organically wrong with you and that you're underweight only because you're run-down and tired. I HIS exercise is excellent to relax the muscles and nerves of your whole body and has the added advantage of being good for your posture. You stand with your feet about eighteen inches apart, with your arms hanging at the sides. Then, inhaling deeply, you raise both arms over your head and stretch high. Lift your chest and stretch all through the middle, holding your abdomen in and your head high. Then exhale slowly and sort of fall forward. Your arms should dangle almost down to the floor; you should be completely bent at the waist; your knees should be bent and your head should hang. If you are in this position, you're completely relaxed. Then unbend slowly to the starting position. Do this exercise about half-adozen times and then have a lukewarm bath. Stay in the water at least fifteen minutes. Take this opportunity to smear your face with a good cream and leave it on while you're soaking in the tub, thus helping your skin as well as your nerves. After this, get right into bed and drink a glass of warm milk, or malted milk, Ann Sheridan (fop) believes in "easy exercise" for the slender, while malted milks solve Bette Davis' weight-gaining problems if you prefer. By this time you should be as relaxed as a newborn babe and go right off to sleep. After you've learned the secret of relaxing — the art of not thinking of anything at all and just unfolding all your muscles so that you're (Continued on page 75) PHOTOPLAY