Radio stars (Dec 1938)

RADIO STARS WEST COAST CHATTER {Continued from page 9) the grounds. They stand on the running boards of his swank roadster and beat off the frantic fans. We hear that back in his reportorial days Nelson had even the hard hearted Ladies of the Press going in circles. In those days he didn't sing a note — but he did have red hair! FANNIE BRICE is having the time of her life in that new Beverly Hills home — the first she's ever owned down to the last shingle. The house is perfect in every detail, both inside and out. The interior, incidentally, has been decorated by none other than Baby Snooks herself. What surprised us most 'were the beautiful portraits hanging in the hall and living-rooms. "Those?" said Fannie airily, "Oh, yeah, I did those, too." THERE are no parties given at the Brice home, but the latch-string's always out — and a mob is always there. The latest rumor to reach us is that Fannie's been over at Paramount teaching Claudette Colbert some torch-singing tricks. Claudette has a song in Z_aza which had her stumped — and scared. What it needed to be put over was the Fannie Brice technique. Fannie not only gave the technique, but two days' coaching thrown in. DON AMECHE didn't let his studio in on the news of his arrival from Europe. In fact he didn't let anyone know about it except lack Benny. And the two of them sue d out to Yosemite for a week's fishing. On their return they tried to keep the trip quiet, too. But when finally cornered. Jack admitted they hadn't done so well. "The fish just wouldn't bite," he said sadly. "We tried every bait we knew — worms, bugs, fish eggs — everything. Why those fish wouldn't even go for Hedy Lamarr !" KENNY BAKER has really struck it rich — and there isn't a person in Hollywood who begrudges him his good fortune. It was just four years ago that the "timid tenor" "was working as a day laborer on Boulder Dam in order to raise rent money. Noiv he's back in town after making a successful English picture and has two movie contracts to choose from here, besides tempting recital offers from all over the country. "Sure, I'm pleased as punch about it all," Kenny told us, "But the very best is being signed up by Jack Benny again. Say, you can't beat that gang!" EDGAR BERGEN doesn't get perturbed very often, but recently he was considerably agitated because the studio informed him that he would have to give up his latest craze — flying. But Bergen being an ingenious guy, as even Charlie McCarthy admits, is now feeling fine — thanks to a new craze. It's motor-cycling. He has the latest model with the highest speed, which enables him to zoom up the tortuous trail to his mountain home in no time flat. IT WAS a gala night at Los Angeles' famed Cocoanut Grove when Morton 74 Downey opened there with Anson Weeks' orchestra. All the Who's Who of radio and screen circles were there to contribute glamour and applause. And so, of course, were the Bennett sisters — Joan, Constance and Barbara, who is Mrs. Morton Downey in both private and public life. The Downeys, en famille, are the guests of Joan. The family, you know, consists of Michael, Sean Morton, Lorelle Ann, Anthony Patrick and a new baby who may rate the name of Corrigan. DICK POWELh' and Joan Blondell celebrated their second wedding anniversary the other day by giving a "baby preview." Star of the performance, twomonths-old Helen, slept peacefully through the zvhole show. THEIR children don't keep Ma and Pa Powell home every night, though. In one week they were seen at La Conga, learning a new rhumba step, and twice at the Palomar, swingin' a mean shag. The Palomar is a dance hall frequented by high-school and college gangs, usually the most rabid fans. But Dick and Joan weren't even asked for an autograph, so intent were the jitterbugs on keeping legs and arms unsnarled. LOOKS like the Lane girls are doing all right for themselves after review notices on their latest picture. Even Eddie Cantor admits that Four Daughters is a better show than his five daughters. "But Donald Novis, after a long absence, has returned to the air on Fibber McGee's show. The man at the left is his brother Ed, a voice teacher. Printed In the V what burns me," says Eddie, "is that Warners' Four Daughters will get a long run at the box-office while my five get only long runs in their stockings." DID YOU hear about Eddie's newest protegee, Ruth Hilda Summer? A young immigrant on Eddie's boat coming back from Europe, she begged for a chance to play the piano on the program the last night on board. Eddie ivas so impressed with her ability that he's signed her under personal contract. She'll make a concert tour of the country — and a few months ago Ruth Hilda zt>as washing other people's clothes back in Austria. JOHN NESBITT was completely baffled and befuddled when he arrived in Hollywood and was confronted by the strange vernacular of radio and movie studios. So he's now authoring a Handbook of Hollywood Lingo for any of you who might find yourselves in a similar spot. In the book will be liberal English translations of such phrases as "kill the spot," "let 'em roll," "on the nose," "dub it in," "sync the dialogue," "hit the arc" and "muzzle the baby" — all of which make good sense to those in the know around town. VISITING John this month has been Lady Faith Montague, daughter of England's Earl of Sandwich and sister-in-law of the Passing Parade commentator. Lady Faith's "a good egg," in plain American, but that broad English accent makes her host a little leery. "It'll probably be the ruination of me yet," says Nesbitt. "Why, I'd just met her at the train before coming to the studio for a broadcast. And doggone if I didn't hear myself say right into the mike, "This is the Pah-sing Pah-rode 7* DIDJA KNOW: That when Amos (Freeman Gosden) ivas ill in the hospital recently, the program was broadcast from his bedside? That Amos 'n' Andy have yet to miss a performance? That Andy (Charles CorrelT) is due to become a proud papa in December? That Irene Rich slipped into overalls and slapped on a fezv coats of paint at the NBC studios for the sake of sweet publicity? That Frank Morgan has bought a )iczv yacht, the Dolphin, to take the place of the Katinka? That Bob Taylor is to keep right on being a he-man in pictures? That Wallace Beery will break Bob's nose in his next M-G-M thriller? That the Stroud Tzvins plan a personal appearance tour of the country now that they're off the coffee hour? That Lucy Gil man, 15-yearold radio actress, will play Jackie Cooper's girlfriend in Gangster's Boy? That she appeared with him three years ago in a radio dramatization in Chicago and has carried the torch ever since? That Bing Crosby and Andy Devine chugged home with a boatload of fish after just a few days in Mexican waters? That no one ivas allowed to visit William Powell during his recent illness but his mother and Mrs. Jean Bello? . 8. A. by Art Color Printing Company. Dunellen. N. J.