Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1938)

k Say, who said the boss wasn't human? Right in the middle of a Board meeting he wanted a stick of Beeman's. And with every Director casting hopeful glances in my direction I opened an extra pack in my purse and passed it around. "Have a treat on Miss Street," said the boss. "You never tasted a tangier flavor. Relax and rejoice with Beeman's. Even our new budget will be easier to take. You will find that flavor as fresh as an ocean breeze." And so did the tenants. But Flynn claims it was worth the price it cost him. Weigh Below Par I HERE'S a fine old gag that if you work hard enough you won't have to diet to get thin — and that's true of several stars this summer. This is no sob thing, asking you to feel sorry for people who are being paid fortunes for their exertions, still— We were sitting in Claudette Colbert's garden, chatting with a house guest the other early afternoon when Claudette staggered in weakly from the garage. She'd left the set because she couldn't stand up any longer after ten days of doing the cancan for "Zaza" — and because she hadn't any stockings to wear for the scene. They'd been ordered three weeks in advance and, after the long practice and rehearsal, Claudette's shapely pins (still the most beautiful legs in Hollywood) were an inch thinner. Cukor, sending her home, remarked to an aide: "Please announce that to be fashionable Milady's legs must be an inch thinner this season." And the male leads of "Gunga Din" are having weight trouble, too. It's a blasting 118 degrees F. at the location site and they must rush around attired in heavy woolen uniforms. Cary Grant lost twelve pounds the first two weeks. It's a field day for tailors, anyway. But Her Power Line Worked! HE tenant of apartment number ten in a downtown Los Angeles apartment building phoned up the manager in a fury. "This faucet leaks again and I'm not going to put up with it. I'm going to complain to the owner immediately. Give me his name and phone number at once. "Well, lady, I can give you his name but I haven't his phone number unless you phone him at the studio. You see, Tyrone Power owns this building." There was a stunned silence for all of two minutes. The voice that came back over the wire was thin and fluttery. "You mean — I — I'm living in his building? I'm Tyrone Power's tenant? Well, look, I love every drop out of that leaky faucet. And please don't say I complained. Boy, wait till my bridge club hears this. "Oh man." And the receiver went BANG on the hook. Dime a Dozen M AXIE ROSENBLOOM, fighter and screen actor, fumbled at the door of a movie agent's solid mahogany office door and finally scared up the courage to enter. "Hello, Maxie," greeted the agent. "What can I do for you"" "I want to buy an actor," Maxie announced. "You which?" the agent said, leaning forward in his chair. "Well," explained Maxie, "it's like this. Al Jolson, Dick Powell and all the actors are buying fighters and I thought, being a fighter, I'd buy an actor, for a change." To this day the agent can't be sure if Maxie is kidding or is in earnest. (Continued from page 47) Flash! WHILE Herbie Kay, orchestra-leader husband of Dorothy Lamour was playing in Texas, Randy Scott was the approved escort. While Tony Martin, orchestra-leader husband of Alice Faye was playing through the East, Franchot Tone was the official escort. Tweeds for Twerps PHYLLIS BROOKS' eighteen-year-old brother thinks his sister's beau, one Cary Grant, the best guy in Hollywood, and not without reason. It seems for a long time Bill had admired Cary's clothes, especially the tweed suits, so one day Cary figured a way to present some of his wardrobe to Bill without the boy's resenting it. "Listen, Bill," Cary said, "I've got to get rid of some of my suits to get new ones and I'm planning a little sale. Would you like to see the things before I tell anyone else about them?" Bill's eyes practically popped out of his head. "Say, would I?" he said. "Lead me to them." Cary had them carefully laid out on the bed and over chair backs. Each was carefully price-tagged. Some (the best) marked five dollars, some two-fifty and so on. Bill had a Roman holiday — and all priced within his budget limit. Don't ever try to tell Bill Cary Grant isn't wonderful to let him in on a bargain sale. Lew Ayres — His Column OTRANGE about Lew Ayres," people are saying today in Hollywood. "Funny about the way he's been up and down the ladder of fame so many times. His role of Cousin Henry in 'Rich Boy, Poor Girl' was so marvelous." Yet those same people never bother to find out about the real Lew Ayres. We visited Lew on his hilltop home the other day and discovered many surprising things — in fact, amazing is more the word. He lives on the highest hill in Hollywood because years before he fell in love with the spot. As soon as he felt he had enough money, he bought the site. On it he built his modest white home and swimming pool. And here he moved with one middle-aged man to look after him. The servant had gone off on a twoweeks vacation the day we drove up. There sat Lew, all alone, by the pool. He showed us through the homey, com A MAN YOU'D LIKE TO MEET He would be the last to say that he eould take Will Rogers' plaee in your affections — but he might — according to IRVIN S. COBB, the famed humorist! BOB BURNS OF VAN BAZOOKA... In December PHOTOPLAY fortable place, pointing with pride the five sprinklers in the cement ne the front porch where the hose could attached. "I had them put there when I'm old I can sit on the porch ai water the lawn," he said, smiling b meaning it. "Aren't you horribly lonely?" y asked, visions of swimming parti among the younger set and gay doin flashed before us. "Oh, no," he shrugged. "I have n music. I like to compose a little, yi know, and I like to read and sun batl and swim here alone when I'm nj working." We talked then of his career that h gan so auspiciously with "All Quiet < the Western Front," made almost t( years before. Suddenly it was bon . in on us that a change had come ov Lew Ayres. From the sullen, sulky la fresh from "All Quiet," to this mellowe kindly, tolerant boy on a hilltop. "Well, it's about five now," he sai glancing at the sun. "Mind if I just | on with my watering? I like to sprink my lawn about this time every ev< ning." Some people, I suppose, will alwa; remember Lew Ayres as the unforge table glamour lad of "All Quiet." Others will think of him only as tl husband of Ginger Rogers. To me, Lew Ayres will always be rt membered as the lone star on a hillto who likes to be home every day alor about five because it's the best time l' water the lawn. Russia's Rainbow — CHUCKLES are flying through th Hollywood air at the latest Gregor Ratoff story. It seems Ratoff, proud c his Russian birth, dubiously eyed a vis itor to his set. "So?" questioned Ratoff, "you are Russian, eh?" "Yesss, a Russian," was the reply. "White or Red?" demanded Ratoff. "I am a Yellow Russian," said the vis itor. Ratoff gestured wildly. "A yelkn Russian? And vat is a yellow Russian? "I am a yellow Russian," shruggei the visitor, "becus I am afraid fror everyone." McCarthy Would! THERE'S no living with Charlie Mc Carthy, so claims Edgar Bergen, sinci' the blase dummy was invited to plac<> his footprints among the great in th Chinese Theater foyer. And here's a comical bit that tool place at that imprinting. John Stah! a marvelous director noted for his stern1 ness and hard-driving manner, wa; present at the affair with Bergen anc: McCarthy. While Bergen was convers-; ing with a friend, Stahl quietly slippec' over and picked up Charlie. He turnec him this way and that way attemptinj to make the dummy move and live. Charlie endured this embarrassmen in utter silence, for Bergen was talkini to a friend. Stahl's fussing with Charlie however went on until suddenly Charlie spokf up. "It's no use, Stahl. I'm just not u the mood, so cut it out." Abashed at the unexpected retort Stahl quickly laid down the dummy and walked off. 74 PHOTOPLAY