Radio mirror (Nov 1936-Apr 1937)

SOMEHOW the very word Hollywood has come to connote sums of money in no less than six figures, imported gowns and motor cars and, above all, homes that rival in their splendor and costliness the very settings of the motion pictures themselves. In sharp contrast, then, are the lives and the homes of radio stars, because radio is essentially the entertainment of the home. For example there is the charming, simple Provengal house of Dick Powell who shares his talents unselfishly with radio and movies alike. His only concessions to Hollywood are his magnificent swimming pool and the landscaping of his wide grounds. Yet in all major details, the Dick Powell home is within the reach of Mr. and Mrs. Averageman in quest of guidance toward comfort and coziness. Naturally, you may have to wait until your ship comes in for a swim-' ming pool, but even if it does founder on troubled waters your cottage or house can be just as lovely as you choose to make it. For example, you may not be able to afford the imported Gallic screen of hunting scenes in Provence which adorns Dick's library, but if a screen you must have — make it yourself. Persuade friend husband that he is a carpenter at heart after all, or if you fail to convince him, buy any ordinary screen of the proportions you desire. The charm of the screen lies in its covering. A pictc \l printed chintz or the better grades of modernistic wall-paper in floral, nautical, even old French and English hunting scene design can be bought reasonably and applied with decorators' glue. Cover with a coat of lacquer to withstand dust and fading. Best of all if you have any latent artistic ability paint it yourself. Remember, your grandmothers did it— why not you? The pine paneling in Mr. Powell's home is an authentic reproduction of a Provencal inn. Today, all outstanding lumber companies can furnish reproductions of any European design you fancy. So if you saw the house of your dreams in an English meadow, or in Normandy or Brittany, or in sunny Spain or Italy, you can have your house paneled according to the best traditions of the country you fancy. Naturally with a pleasant setting, you will want your furniture upholstered in appropriate fabrics. Mr. Powell uses gay, colorful peasant cloth. Against the coarse natural background, primitive reds, blues, oranges, greens run riot, creating a warm yet harmonious effect. In Hollywood, many of the feminine stars have revived the art of weaving on hand looms as a successor to the popular knitting fad. Most large department stores carry a complete line of equipment, including the looms, and you will have fun and an interesting way of spending long, house-bound winter days making home-spun fabrics for upholstering. Home-spun in peasant designs would of course be perfect against the background of a French peasant home. If the art of weaving seems too ambitious for you, certainly you can buy a variety of attractive cloths such as Dick Powell has used, to make covers for day-beds and ordinary upholstered chairs and to glorify an uninteresting piece of furniture into one with definite style and dash. Undoubtedly you will notice the unusual framing of the movie star friends and associates on the walls of Dick's den. Ordinarily one would hesitate to hang photo 44 LERRI1 HOmEIMIKinG FROmtheSTRRS IT'S BUT DICK REA A HOLLYWOOD MANSION, MANY OF THE FURNISHINGS OF POWELL'S HOUSE ARE WITHIN CH OF THE AVERAGE PURSE graphs of one's favorite radio stars anywhere but in the privacy of one's boudoir but with this unusual framing treatment they graduate with honors to library or living room. Get pictures of your favorite radio stars. Perhaps you already have a collection culled from the pages of Radio Mirror. Certainly you can supplement your collection from future issues of this magazine. Then over a board of suitable size, one which would leave about a three or four inch margin around the picture, paste flowered cretonne or chintz. Mount the picture in the middle, cover with glass, and frame with a (Continued on page 105)