Screenland (Nov 1937-Apr 1938)

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Featured in "The Goldwyn Follies," they're practically ■itting on top of the world now, and Charlie says there's no place like it providing he's resting on Edgar Bergen's knee. Charlie often confesses that he was connived in the kitchen of the Bergen home when Edgar was just sticking around watching his ma make her famous pies. Just for a joke, Eddie made one of the pic-, murmur "Hello! Hello!" as it was being removed from the oven. Mrs. Bergen looked at the pies suspiciously, not being a superstitious woman, she was a little annoyed rather than frightened. The only other person in the room was Edgar and she knew his voice too well to make any mistake about it. "I did it!" Eddie finally burst out. "I made that noise, mother. Isn't it wonderful?" "Oh. you did, eh? Well, don't let me catch you playing those tricks again." And Eddie didn't — not in his mother's kitchen— tor he soon discovered that instead of beingreprimanded for his ventriloquism, people were actually willing to pay money to hear it. It was shortly after discovering his ability that Bergen got the idea for creating Charlie McCarthy, a real dummy who would be the attraction of his art. The inspiration was a little street-urchin newsboy with an impish face and bright red hair from whom the Bergen family often purchased their newspapers. With his wooden associate, Eddie started out to earn money even while he was still attending Lakeview High School. On Saturday afternoons, he entertained the children in the old Victoria Theatre in Chicago between serials. During the summer vacations, he worked in Chautauqua and his success as an entertainer stimulated his desire for a theatrical career. But there was one thing that bothered him. He wanted to go to college and it almost seemed as if he would have to postpone his career until he got his degree. But good old Charlie McCarthy came to his master's rescue. Bergen found that his dummy was a sensation on the campus and the students always invited him to all the college functions providing he bring Charlie. Soon Charlie not only became the most popular personality on the Northwestern campus but was greatly in demand at all sorts of theatricals and entertainments and was chiefly responsible for earning enough money to see Bergen through college. Charlie himself will tell you if it were not for him, Bergen would never have been able to graduate. And Charlie, incidentally, is the only dummy in the whole world who can boast of having gone to college for Eddie often took him to classes when he had to play an engagement. After the pair left Northwestern, they travelled widely on a circuit that took them through every state in the Union and later to London and the Continent. But on their return to the United States, they were confronted with the disheartening news that vaudeville, because of the sudden popularity of talking pictures, was breathing its last. For a while they led a hand-to-mouth existence. Engagements were few and far between and it looked like the future for ventriloquists was doomed. Then came that climactic night of Elsa Maxwell's party which was followed by radio engagements and night club appearances. When an offer came to open at the swanky Rainbow Room in Radio City, Bergen had a terrific case of jitters wondering how the cream of society would take him. Engaged for a single week he remained to break all existing records of the famous rendezvous. His next stop was Hollywood— all the picture companies were clamoring for him— and he signed so many contracts that the work will keep him busy for many months to come. Right now Charlie McCarthy is a bit dizzy after making his first feature film. His wooden head is reeling with the haunting images of lovely faces, intoxicating bodies and slender, dancing legs. But Charlie thinks the effects of love are too fleeting to have any lasting impression on his wooden heart. Instead, he is concentrating on the public's reaction to his singing in the picture. Bergen admits that Charlie is one of the very few people who can actually brag of a bona fide family tree and will even tell you where the tree grew. But on most occasions, he is too shy and retiring to talk very much himself. He lets Charlie assume the role of spokesman for the pair, confessing that the wooden whiz does a much better job of it. He will tell you he envies Charlie for his frank, outspoken manner and his brilliant repartee, but there is no doubt that Charlie is merely the other half of the real Bergen, the half that says the many things the soft spoken Eddie would never have the nerve to utter. The quiet, young Swede from Chicago has merely created a personality of wood that receives fan mail by the truckload. He has developed his brain child into a being whose name is familiar to every man, woman and child in the country and there is even some rumor of putting Charlie up for President at the next election. The impish, freckle-faced dummy can do and say anything and get away with it. He isn't afraid of anyone or anything. He makes the sages of Hollywood go speechless with his dazzling comebacks and witty remarks. He parries them with withering wisecracks that would ordinarily demand a "smile-when-you-say-that" expression. What Should Claire Trevor Do? Continued from page 55 from foolish expenditures. When she told me she lived simply I was a trifle skeptical. But when she inventoried one servant, one car, one dog, and no tennis courl or swimming pool, I began to believe her. She likes small parties of six or eight, dancing under the stars, Fred Allen's comedy, and champagne cocktails. She admires Ronald Colman, Schiaparelli, Katharine Cornell and Mickey Mouse. The swing to Donald Duck and the Seven Dwarfs, she thinks, just indicates the fickleness of man. In common with many another stellar body (Kay Francis and Brian Aherne, for example) Claire dislikes the lack of private life that accompanies a career in pictures. She hates to be stared at. phoned to by strangers, elbowed for autographs, and harassed by reporters. She understands that she has let herself in for all this, but still she doesn't accept it. Recently a fellow player. W alter \\ inchell, broadcast of a Sabbath ^ evening that she was on her way east "to marry a wealthy New Yorker." As a result the press camped on her doorstep, followed her on all excursions, no matter how personal, and pestered her for a Statement whenever she so much as put her foot outside the door. "I'm not getting married," said Claire. "I wish they'd believe it and let me alone. "Of course, when you're working in a picture you can't call your soul your own. Sunday's a holiday, sure. But suppose someone invites you on a yachting party. Cono-enial crowd, lovely weather, change of AT YOUR Sand. \Oceat STORE! 92 SCREENLAND