The Bells of San Fernando (Screen Guild) (1947)

HOLLYWOOD VACATION AND SUMMER JOB GETS SCREEN TEST FOR YOUNG STAR A vacation in Hollywood and a summer job at an exclusive department store in Beverly Hills culminated in be_ ing seen by a talent scout and a motion picture test for petite Shirley O’Hara who plays sultry “Nita” in “Bells of San Fernando,” latest Screen Guild Productions release now playing at the _....theatre for a run of -..__ Born and reared in Rochester, -Minn., where her family now live, Shirley O'Hara has studied faithfully to further her professional career which was first fostered when she won a Shirley Temple dance contest in her home town. ‘Following a successful studio test, lessons were started in singing, . dancing, acting and diction. Miss O'Hara, who has long chestnut curls and large expressive hazel eyes, has appeared as a cover girl on many prominent | national magazines. Life Magazine has used two displays on major studio releases in which Shirley was prominently featured. A member of the Westwood Village Players, the little actress recently played in ‘Dinner at Eight'’ and had a leading role in ‘’Bachelor Mother’’ with Ginger Rogers on the Erskine Johnson radio program, Recently, Miss O'Hara was Gloria Warren and Donald Woods, who are currently being co-starred in the Screen Guild release, “Bells of San Fernando.” featured on a television show when she portrayed how a young aspirant to the screen receives her first test and is ‘‘glamourized" for a motion picture part, Shirley was made queen of the Industrial Exposition held in Los Angeles at Pan-Pacific Auditorium and made: appearances with Arthur Lake, known to his fans as ‘’Dagwood" of “Blondie” fame. Among recent pictures in which Miss O'Hara has appeared are “Ghost Ship,” “The Chase,” with Robert Cummings and Michele Morgan, ‘Tarzan and the Amazons’ with Johnny Weissmuller and Maria Ouspenskaya. Amused because she has been killed off in some manner in each picture in which she has been cast, Shirley is not discouraged, for she expects to live, as the star of a picture, until the final scene, someday. “If I ever tire of the motion picture business, I can go home,” the little actress said, ‘The business men and women of Rochester are proud of me and | have a standing offer of my own program on the air,’ she concluded. Preparing for a Christmas trip home to the family, Shirley hopes that her brother, John, now in the Navy will have a holiday liberty, Little sister, Barbara, age 10, is “princess’’ of the neighborhood kids who idolize Shirley O'Hara. Mistress Barbara recently sent her “big sister” a set of glamour pictures with the idea of a “career” for herself and to show off a dainty wardrobe of lovely Hollywood little-girl clothes, a gilt from sister Shirley. In spite of full days and loyal and sweet attention to her family, Miss O'Hara has faithfully gone to Birmingham Hospital in San Fernando Valley twice a week with actress Susan Peters, to entertain and talk to veterans of World War II. She also finds time to follow her favorite recreation, deep sea fishing off the California coast. First Time Blue Is “Loaned Out” This is the first time in a long and famous career as a star and leading man of the silver screen that he has been “loaned out” by a major studio to play in an independent company, according to Monte Blue, who plays the role of a Spanish grandee governor of California in the latest Screen Guild release. titled ‘Bells of San Fernando” now showing at the Lee eee Theatre for a run of run through a rcmantic sequel on locaticn, 1 Col. Scene Mat No. 1A Leonard Has 30 Years of Stage Experience With more than 30 years experience on the legitimate stage to his credit, an outstanding dramatic performance is given by David Leonard in the role of the Padre in the new Screen Guild Productions release titled ‘‘Bells of San Fernando” now showing at Pi. koa Theatre: for ugos 3k A native of New York City where he graduated from New York College with honors, Leonard is a veteran writer, producer and actor, Comparatively a newcomer to the world of motion pictures and Hollywood, Leonard has been kept busy in dramatic character roles. Among his most recent appearances are “Arch of Triumph,” “Woman of My Own” with Greer Garson and “Philo Vance.” Warde Plays ‘Button,’ ‘Button’ On Screen Set Usually it is anything for a gag and actors and press agents are | | suspected of stretching every point for a laugh or a name in print, but it was no trick on the set of “Bells of San Fernando,” latest Screen Guild Productions release now showing at the____. Theatre when Anthony Warde, who plays ‘Mendoza’ wandered around muttering that nursery line, “Button button, who's got ae ° Dressed as a Spanish Don of the early 1800's, Tony Warde’s costume included a row of handsome gold buttons up the outer side. of his fitted trousers. One button was missing creating a wide gap. Giving up the hunt, the actor joined his fellow players on the camera line for a_ short rehearsal. Busy with his lines, Tony slipped his boot off as he spoke, and hunted for a “pebble” that had been bothering him. Out came the missing button .. . to the delight of everyone concerned and wardrobe mistress, ‘“‘Nikkie” Nichols, who dashed over with needle and thread. Irish Folk Song Heard In “Bells Of San Fernando” An old Irish folk song, “Green Grow the Rushes, O," is sung by Donald Woods in the latest Screen Guild Productions release titled “Bells of San Fernando” now showing at the _..._._._ Theatre ro days, Shirley O'Hara, who plays the sultry ‘Nila’ tries to sing it, too. This meant a rehearsal for preity Shirley, and coached she was around the lunch table during location. Ai the table was Donald Woods, light baritone and musical comedy lead, Paul Newlan who plays “Gueyon” and is a radio and stage robust baritone of note, Gloria Warren, feminine star of the .picture and well-known coloratura soprano, Anthony Warde, basso, and Gordon Clark, baritone, composer and musical comedy singer. The vocal “Jam Session” entertained the company and made Producer Sam Burkett wonder if he had better change the whole Picture into a musical comedy with such singing talent going to waste on the set, Donald Woods playfully romances Gloria Warren is a gay scene from the Screen Guild release, “Bells of San Fernando.” 2 Column Scene Mat No, 2A BYRON FOULGER AND ANTHONY WARDE HOLD REUNION ON SCREEN SET It was a reunion on the set for Byron Foulger when he © met his old friend “Tony” Warde, who also had been cast for a leading role in “Bells of San Fernando,” latest Screen Guild Productions release now showing at the ______. theatre for _.__... days. Not only professional pariners, Foulger and Warde met again during the war when both worked together in the Westwood branch of a civilian defense unit made up of theatre folk anxious to aid their country. Born and reared in Ogden, Utah, Byron Foulger was active in high school and church drama. tics, and at University extension classes. Encouraged by his drama ccach, Maude May Babcock, whe retired recently after 50 years of dramatic work, the young student decided to make acting his career. During World War I, Foulger joined the student Army Training Corps at the University of Utah, To further his career, he also became a member of the old Social Hall Theatre in Salt Lake City, oldest theatre west of the Mississippi, Offered a scholarship at the Cornish School of Anthony Warde makes love to the exciting new Hollywood find Shirley O'Hara, in a scene from Music and Drama in Seattle, Byron went west and then toured in a stock company which play ed also at the old Garrick Theatre under the auspices of the New York Theatre Guild, then in its infancy, Appearances followed for the young actor at Provincetown Playhouse, Greenwich Village Playhouse and many others. These were highlighted by roles in the Greek plays and activities on the legitimate stage which include more than 26 years of acting, producing and part ownership of a touring stock company. Upon his marriage to actress, Dorothy Adams, Foulger stopped touring and road company work to settle in Portland, Oregon, and became director of the Portland Civic Theatre, a municipally sponsored theatre similar to the Portland Symphony Association. After three years as the head of this organization, Byron Foulger | received an offer to direct and teach at the Pasadena Playhouse. “I spent another three years of my career on the stage before I heeded the call of motion pictures and the ‘gold’ to be made in that branch of the profession,” the actor said, “That was 10 years ago and I have been so active as a character actor and played in so many pictures with so many big stars that one publicist tagged me as ‘The Little Man Who Is Always There’ and it has stuck with me.” Cast as a lunatic, comedy relief, meek little man, Nazi spy, Foulger has played a wide variety ot roles since his debut in motion pictures. Unable to completely forsake the legitimate stage, Foulger has ‘been active with a group known as “18 Actors Inc.’ Among the professionals with whom Byron appeared are Victor Jory, Dana Andrews, Anthony Warde, Donald Woods and Otto Kruger. The group was disbanded, but plans are in the making for post-war preseniations, Among the many motion pic tures in which Byron Foulger has : appeared are “Arch of Triumph” with Charles Boyer, “They Wouldn't Believe Me” with Robert Young, “Mother Wore Tights” Starring Betty Grable, the title role in a serial entitled “The Mystericus Mr, M” and “The Michigan Kid” with Victor MeLaglen and Jon Hall. the Screen Guild release, ‘Bells of San Fernando.” 1 Col. Scene Mat No. 1B Burkett Has Spent Third Of A Century In Film Business A third of a century in the motion picture business is the record compiled by James S, Burkett, who produced “Bells of San Fernando,” Screen Guild Productions’ story of early California mission life which opens —..--.. PAIN ss oe Theatre. Burkett entered the film industry with Sol Lesser’s distributing organization in 1914, later operating his own exchange systems for 15 years, No stranger to Southern California despite his birth in Meriden, Conn., Burkett had his own exchanges in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle prior to his start as a producer in 1928, making the first sound pictures in which famed Norman Kerry starred. As distributor for Chesterfield, Invincible, Majestic, Mascot and other companies, Burkett discover. ed what the public wanted in the way of film entertainment, and embarked on his own producing ventures, preferring to make his films independently and with free reins. He produced “Bells of San Fernando” under the banner. of Hillcrest Productions, Inc., in which he is partner with Sam K. Decker and Herbert J. Yates, Jr., other industry veterans, Don’t Starve Teo Get. In Pictures “You don’t have to starve your way to stardom in the motion picture industry,” Donald Woods asserts, “I've had my ups and downs but I never missed a meal in my life. Whenever I've been’ out of a job I've splurged—gone out and bought something to give me a lilt and a sense of prosperity, if nothing more than a pair of gloves or a hat.” Donald Woods is currently being co-starred in the Screen Guild production, Bells of San Fernando,’ which will open.____._. Gt these eo SS Theatre,