TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1959)

you may count on me to finance your next two years exactly as if you were still in college. You're entitled to that much help, ^ and I'm afraid you're going to need it." ■ As John recalls it, his masculine dignity m suffered from this gentle hint that failure on Broadway was a possibility. Still, he permitted himself to accept help for two years. "At the end of that time," he told his mother, "I'll be on my own. You've been wonderful, and I'm appreciative, but I'll get along just great." There came a bitter winter morning when John stood in the kitchen of a friend's » apartment, stirring up a king-size bowl of his friend's instant cereal, and wondered if the flavor of steak had changed much in past months. "That cereal was my first bite of food in three days, and I had to eat hearty because I couldn't foresee a substantial meal in the immediate future, unless conditions changed fast. I told myself, 'Boy, you've made some silly mistakes in your life, but the silliest was using pride as scissors to cut off the life-line from California.' " Then he laughed. Like the poet Francois Villon, standing in tatters, he laughed at himself, and at an unpredictable universe, but mainly he laughed because he was young and he knew that triumph often dawned with the morning sun. John's particular triumph consisted of getting a daytime job in a cigar store, with subsidiary candy department which sustained John until payday. On his days off, he searched for a theatrical job, but all he found at better pay was work as a parking'ot attendant at the World's Fair. hen the Fair closed, John found stockI company work here and there, and in the iprocess fell in love. The object of his afIfection was a beauty from Texas who was lalso trying to win a Broadway break by Icracking the touring companies. "They Iworked together in several plays, but parental disapproval put a damper on their plans to get married. John kissed his beloved goodbye and flew westward. "There's gold in California," he said. "Be back as soon as I've located some." He had some idea of becoming a rich .and powerful film tycoon and returning in la Cadillac twenty-two feet long. Meanfwhile, he took a job at Disney Studios, where he worked furiously, hoping to adrance himself quickly to animator ranks. Occasionally, when John's fingers grew Tiumb and his eyes saw five lines where bione actually were, he swore softly in French. The man at the next drawing board said [sympathetically, "You should meet Roma . Meyers. She's traveled a great dealspeaks French. She's a secretary in the front office. Tall girl with the greatest smile I've ever seen." The next time she came in to pick up the time cards, John jwas introduced to her. It wasn't long before notes were being passed back and forth under cover of the time cards, simply because John and ■Joma couldn't seem to discuss their mu'lal interests fully enough during their j^ening dates. There was always a postcript to be added. To improve comnunications, they were married on Febuary 22, 1941, and — foiling their plans — Bohn was drafted on March 2, 1941. r For a while, John was a gunnery instructor. Then, just a week before Pearl larbor, he became a civilian again. It had been discovered, while he was undergoing tests preparatory to shipping east to Officers Candidate School, that he had a stomach ulcer. He was given a medical aischarge and with it drove north to Los Angeles and Roma. He still remembers, vividly, that Christaas of 1941. They spent the day hovering pver the radio, tuned to catch the news casts about the war developments. "'If there was only something I could do," he growled. "Never mind. You'll find something— some way to serve," Roma answered comfortingly. John found his place before a mike, serving as anouncer and newscaster. At the end of five years, he had acquired thousands of fans and wide experience with three major stations. Yet he still wanted to act, so his agent lined up a Western role at Republic. John loved it, even if he did break a bone in his right hand during a fight scene. He was "decked" by Hugh Marlowe on another occasion when principals fought in place of stunt men. That brief period of unconsciousness has inspired the following Dehner philosophy: "No actor should ever fight another actor. A competent actor crawls into the skin of the character he is portraying and reacts with authentic emotion to scenes of violence. Stunt men know that he who fights and pulls his punch will live to eat another lunch." Since 1946, when he made his film debut, John has worked in more than a hundred motion pictures, and he has lost count of the number of his TV appearances. Numbers don't matter, but the fact that he is supremely happy in his profession does. Another reason for John's contentment is his family. Kirsten, the Dehners' elder daughter, was born January 16, 1944, and Sheila was born March 2, 1946. Kirsten rides like a lady centaur. So far, she has won twenty-three ribbons and four trophies in competition. In addition to horseback riding, Kirsten shares another interest with her father. She is studying French, so it was natural for her to ask Daddy's assistance with vocabulary and pronunciation at the beginning of the course. For several months, he was the fair-haired linguistic hero around the house. Then, one evening, Kirsten regarded John thoughtfully and said, "Your accent is terrific. But, Daddy — your grammar!" Sheila, the yotmger daughter, hopes to become a ballerina. She is studying with Madame Nijinska, sister of the immortal Nijinski. Sheila decided early that Daddy wouldn't be much help in the terpsichorean department, but he was someone to help with her math — briefly. "Halfway through the semester. Sheila was solving her percentage and fraction problem in half the time it was taking me to 'help' her," says John. Roma Dehner has her own accomplishment. She is the family chauffeur. On New Year's Day, she was figuring out how many thousands of miles she'd driven, just moving the family around to its various destinations. Suddenly, she and John looked into each other's eyes and smiled. In unison, they said, "Remember Christmas, 1941?" Roma nodded, glancing from Kirsten to Sheila. "Little did I dream that, eighteen years later, I'd be living with an equestrienne, a ballerina, and the star of a Western radio series," she said. John's reply revealed another facet of a remarkable personality. Quoting from the Bible, he said in simple solemnity, "Consider the lilies how they grow; they toil not; and yet I say imto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?" With deep conviction, he recited the glowing words of St. Luke, concluding reverently: "Seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." PLAY RIGHT AWAY! ANY INSTRUMENT — even if you don't know a single note now! TVrOW it's EASY to learn ANY instrument. No boring ■^"exercises. Even if you don't know a single note now. we 11 have you playing delightful pieces RIGHT AWAY nght from your FIRST lesson I And properly, BY NOTE Simple as A-B-C. Wake amazing progress. No special talent needed. 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