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Photo by Alfred Cheney Johnston
Lew Cody is in great demand as a master of ceremonies at premieres and dinners.
WHENEVER they want a picture premiere or a dinner to be particularly successful, they ask Lew Cody to be master of ceremonies. Lew, you might say—if you knew him well enough to call him Lew — is a panic. They know, too, that nobody's feelings will be hurt with Lew Cody officiating. He can be funny without being caustic, and if you don't think that is a feat, try it. Lew is not only funny — he is tactful. Which is awfully important. Everybody in Hollywood is so — so sensitive.
Not long ago. introducing Norma Shearer at a premiere, he said :
''Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce the luckiest little girl in Hollywood "
All the ingenues got stiff in the back. "Lucky because she has had the good fortune to play with me in two pictures. If her luck holds out, she may play with me again."
The ingenues relaxed and laughed. On another occasion, he and Donald Ogden Stewart presented a little skit that went something" like this:
Donald Ogden Stewart steps onto the stage and in dignity states that he wants to introduce the Count of Monte Cristo, a Frenchman, who speaks
little or no English. Mostly no. Blanche Sweet has, as an Enter Lew, enthusiastically. outstanding quality, the He waits for the applause, gift of conversation.
DoolSttle
The Sketch
A department of observations and im tacts in and around Hollywood, between player of distinction before abandoning
By Dorothy
which he does not get, then launches into a nerveracking jargon of French.
Donald Ogden Stewart (translating) : "He says 'Howdy !' "
Again Lew gestures on in seemingly endless enthusiasm.
Donald Ogden Stewart: "He says, 'The movies are still in their infancy, and wants to know if you have heard the one about the shoe salesman and the chorus girl ?' "
Lew, at this, flies into a staccato back-firing effect that sounds like a sentence composed entirely of exclamation points.
Donald Ogden Stewart: "He says, 'Stop him if you have heard it.' "
The back-firing effect continues in gusto. There is a momentary silence, and then Lew chuckles boisterously to himself.
Donald Ogden Stewart (interrupting loudly and frantically) : "In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, he wants to say that he loves this country, loves his work, loves you all, and wants you to call him Hank ! Thank you !"