TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1957)

of loving blue eyes and blond curls. She spends six months of the year with Gail in Hollywood. During the days, Gail drives off to work at five in the morning, and Terry is watched over by her grandmother. Every summer, too, Terry, Gail's sister Shirley, and Mrs. Grayson come to Gail's North Hollywood home to play and vacation in the sun. And, when Terry is "home" in Little Rock, Gail sends her love by phone three or four times a week. Besides her frequent three-day flying weekends in Little Rock to visit her daughter (Gail was divorced five years ago), Gail is very close and much interested in her younger sister, Shirley. She loves to share the little triumphs that are part of her growing sister's life. For example, when Shirley won a lead in the high-school senior play, "I Remember Mama," Gail felt a great pride in her sister's ability. She worked doubly hard on her latest Annie Oakley episode so she could take an extra day off to fly home for the performance. "It was only because I was the smallest one in the class," says Shirley, "that I was asked to play Dagmar." But Gail disagrees, saying her sister is an extremely competent actress. Gail's ability as an actress, of course, goes unquestioned. She has been singing and dancing since she was two. Her first public appearance was made at three, when she was voted "the most beautiful baby in Arkansas." Her parents. Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Grayson, encouraged her from the start and provided dancing lessons to develop her talent. She was active in all outdoor sports (which later came in handy for her Annie Oakley role) and, in high school, she became an outstanding dramatic student. For the next two years, Gail studied drama at Harcum Junior College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The well-known director, Richard Nash, was her instructor at that time. "We did one show a month," says Gail, "built sets, learned the art of make-up, stage technique, and hair-dressing — it was grand experience." Gail later went on to the University of Texas, where she continued her dramatic work and won the distinction of being selected as one of the famous "Blue Bonnet Belles." Gail met Gene Autry through some mutual friends when she was still in Texas. They met again in 1950, in Hollywood, and Gene asked Gail to co-star with him in one of his Westerns, "Cow Town." "I was scared to death," Gail recalls, "because I wanted so desperately to succeed." For years, Autry had wanted to produce a series of motion pictures which would establish the first girl Western star. As Gene says, "Little boys have had their idols— Tom Mix, William S. Hart, Buck Jones and, later, Roy Rogers and me — from the beginning of the picture business. They've always had it over their sisters in this respect, because little girls had to idolize the same stars — all men. Why not give the girls a female Western star of their own?" This is and has been his reasoning— but he was stymied in his search for the right girl. He wanted an actress who looked the type, who could ride and shoot, yet at the same time reflect freshness, youth and dignity. He could find no one who fulfilled all the specifications. Then came Gail Davis. Gail is one of the hardest-working girls in television. When the Annie Oakley series is being filmed, she is sometimes up at 4:30 A.M. — does her own hair in pigtails — drives to the ranch for the outdoor scenes, and often works until 7:00 P.M. that night. Then she goes home to do her own housecleaning and cooking. Gail admits she gets tired. On location —after dinner, after studying her lines, after a nightly hairwash, and after creaming her sun-and-wi'^id-swept face three times — Gail turns in for a well-deserved sleep. She's found that rest is her best beauty preparation. At home, as on location, Gail follows the same rigorous work pattern — the early-tobed, early-to-rise routine is followed religiously. She only allows herself an occasional Sunday-night date; then, more often than not, she entertains the Annie Oakley crew with a steak dinner prepared on the outdoor barbecue. She works so hard there is not much time left for dating. As a result of her hard work, Gail had an unfortunate experience shortly after moving into her new home. She came in one night, put a steak (her fare, three nights out of five) on the broiler and fell asleep on the couch. When she woke up two hours later, the house was filled with smoke. Her new home was nearly ruined — the drapes and carpet had to be cleaned, the kitchen repainted. Even the bedroom needed repairs. She spent $5,000 and moved out of her precious paradise for a month while it was again refinished. When Annie Oakley is not in production, Gail — being a stickler for detail — rehearses as much as four hours a day, spending two hours practicing her riding and two hours at target practice and other Western stunts. She is methodical — when given the Oakley role, Gail began building a library of books about Annie Oakley. Now she's an authority on the character. Also, when Annie Oakley isn't in production, Gail is on the road making personal appearances. In 1955, for example, it was estimated she flew some 50,000 miles, and drove another, 40,000. Her yoimg fans, having learned that Gail travels by air so frequently, have taken to hanging around Los Angeles International Airport in the hope of an autograph. Gail's methodical nature saves her time and effort in packing, a routine she now has down to a science. For a recent trip to Casper, Wyoming, she took four costumes— enough for three shows. "In doing shows," she says, "you have to pack in such a way that your clothes do not get creased. I put tissue paper in the sleeves and under the shoulders of all my coats. For speed, I keep my gun belt and boots in special bags — that way, the white polish does not come off on the clothes. I put my full slips in a bag, too. I roll them up tightly, and put a rubber band around each end. This not only saves space, but keeps them from crushing. Skirts, I pin on the hangers with small bits of ribbon. They hang straight and full — and, again, are not creased. After making these trips for three years, I think I've finally learned how to pack a bag. "On toxir, we are like a big family — some of the crew members have been with Mr. Autry for over twenty years. Though it's hard work, I enjoy it. We work until eleven P.M., then all eat together and don't get to bed imtil two A.M. — then up again at six to get to the next town — but it's stimulating." However, Gail admits, that, after three or four weeks of these one-night stands, the gang are all looking toward Hollywood and home. As important and rewarding as her home is, something equally important in relation to Gail's career happened just recently. Gail was invited to the wedding of John Wayne's daughter, Toni. Wayne remembered Gail from a very small part in a picture they did together when she first came to Hollywood. After the ceremony, he came over to say: "Gail, I never miss you in your Annie Oakley series . . . you're just great in it. Say, would you mind giving me your autograph? For my youngest daughter, Melinda, you know." Coming from the Duke of all Western stars, Gail felt this remark the ultimate compliment, adding to the joy she feels about both her home and Annie Oakley. Save $1.00 Under Newsstand Prices Mail This Coupon Today TV RADIO MIRROR, TV 1-57 205 East 42 St., N.Y, 17, N. Y. Yes! Enter my bargain subscription at once. Send me the next 16 issues of TV Radio Mirror for only $3.00. I enclose $3.00 as payment in Full. Name Address. . . (Pleas* Print) City Zone . . . State . LEARN WHILE ASLEEP! PHENOMENAL RESULTS! $2 rushes fact'filled instruction book, "Sleep LearninE— Its Theory, Application & Technique. Guaranteed. RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. P.O. BOX 610-V. Omaha, Nebr. 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