Radio mirror (May-Oct 1935)

Mrs. Cobina Wright has made many friends since joining radio's ranks. One of her best ones is Rudy Vallee. because of the other. Only once, I remember, was a mistake made, and I think that should be told here so it will be of help to you if you're in a similar situation. W HAD planned a party to which, among others, were invited Prince Christopher of Greece, Ralph Barton and his wife, Charlie Chaplin, Feodor Chaliapin, George Gershwin, ' Paul Kochanski, the violinist; Mrs. Graham Fair Vanderbilt, William Rhinelander Stewart, etc. At that time I had an English secretary who was not as alert as she might have been. I had given her the list of guests to invite. Most of the gay and exciting people already mentioned were assembled when I was amazed to see being ushered in a dignified elderly woman all done up in purple plush from head to heels — you know that type of dowager, the sort who. wears a bird rampant on her hat. She was accompanied by her fat, pudgy, beaming son, a man about thirty. I searched my memory and at last realized that her name was the same as that of a brilliant younger woman of my acquaintance who, with her husband, I had on the list given to my secretary. N'ow this lady in purple was all right and socially thoroughly acceptable but she was a woman of the old school and 1 felt that she would not fit in with the guests assembled. I thought that it would not only be uncomfortable for her but for them, too. Mrs. Vanderbilt whispered to me, "For heaven's sake, Cobina, where did you get the plush horse?" 1 explained as hurriedly as I could, but I told no one else except my husband. Only we three knew that she had not been invited intentionally. The rest must think what they liked. And then I realized my problem at the table. Where could I seat these two misfits? Could I put her next to Charlie Chaplin and have her ask him to tell her about "wicked Hollywood?" And what would happen if she told George Gershwin that she loathed jazz, as she undoubtedly did? I went into the dining room and quickly changed the 28 WHAT WOULD YOU DO If two strange and unintentionally invited guests appeared at your party? If just before a dinner you learned that part of your dinner service had been broken? If the dinner you had planned for the guests, already arrived, hadn't been prepared at all? place cards, putting the mother next to my husband and the son next tome. We, in on the. secret, would be able to guide the conversation and steer clear of difficult subjects. Any hostess knows that if she can get through dinner in a bad situation the rest of the evening will take care of itself. The dinner was good, the wine was the best. I was particularly pleasant to the son, my husband unusually gracious to the mother so that they would not feel ill at ease. But when dinner was over I heaved a sigh of relief. I could now count on the rest of my guests to be so amusing that any embarrassment would be eliminated. And what a wonderful time we had ! I shall never forget that evening. Kochanski went to his home which was nearby and brought back his violin and played, accompanied by Luboschutz. Then Luboschutz began playing Boris Gaudinoff and Chaliapin began to sing, strutting up and down the room and getting bigger and bigger as he sang. He is enormous anyhow and both his voice and his person seemed to fill the house. Charlie Chaplin then asked for three buns and began to juggle them in the most amusing manner and while he juggled he sang — in Chinese, Russian, Italian and German. He knows scarcely a word of these languages but his imitation was so amusing and entertaining, that we were all in hysterics. Then they all insisted that I sing some Debussy and Ravel. Suddenly then, Prince Christopher jumped to his feet. "Everybody here is doing something," he said. "I'm the only stupid one." He left the room motioning Ralph Barton to follow him and when he returned he had evolved the most amusing stunt of all. Prince Christopher is baldheaded so he had had Barton paint a face on the back of his head. . He turned his coat hind part before and got Kochanski, who is a very small man, to stick his arms through the sleeves and to use his hands like a mechanical doll's. 'W'HEY all stayed until nearly four o'clock, including the lady in purple plush who I knew was having a wonderful time. It was almost touching to see how she enjoyed it and the next day I received a most charming and gracious note from her. And now I know the doubt that rises in your mind. I can hear you saying, "Ah, yes, but at your party you had interesting and amusing people who could do things, could entertain. But what am I to do when my friends come to dinner and none of them is talented?" But I've an answer for that. Anyone can be amusing if he is properly encouraged by his hostess. And many, many times there were no artists at all at my parties. I think I was a good wife. I know that I had my husband's interests at heart and since he was a broker it was my duty, as well as my pleasure, to entertain in my home men and women of the financial world, the backbone of American business, who could not sing or play a note, who could not tell amusing stories and who certainly would not allow their bald heads to be painted. But even at these parties we had wonderful times and never once did I have to resort to parlor games, the badge of the lazy hostess. There has never been a game of bridge played in my home, never a charade or a guessing game. We were always much too interested in talent or (Continued on page 68)