Screenland (May-Oct 1941)

Curtis, born Harry Uberroth, a former Chicago advertising model — brought together by those invisible forces of life. Over and over again they told each other, '"Our love was meant to be." Despite the fact that Alan and Ilona have never wanted for the usual attentions (especially from the opposite sex) they found each other when they needed each other the most. A marriage in Vienna that ended disastrously convinced llona that happiness was not for her. Adversity had always been a challenge. Work was to be her life. Music her one true love. Only last year a divorce for Alan was the solution to his problems. He and his young actress wife tried to make a go of it. But somehow they couldn't agree. Alan and Ilona were two of the loneliest people in Hollywood when they were saved by love. Ever since she has been in Hollywood, Ilona has worked and waited for the rewards that are now coming her way. She thought her prayers were answered when M-G-M officials visited Vienna. They saw her photographs and decided to put her in the movies. Being born in the squalor of a tenement, being cold and hungry and miserable, she had always dreamed of becoming an actress. The discovery of music — a battered victrola owned by a man in their crowded dwelling — convinced her that music was food and sunshine and cleanliness. It gave her the will, the abiding faith to make her dreams come true. Much, much stranger than fiction is Ilona*s flight to fame. Men have fought duels over her in Vienna. All along the way her beauty has dazzled. From farm girl to a dressmakers' apprentice. From fullfledged seamstress to musical student. Voung concert singer. Grand opera. But when she arrived in Hollywood, it all seemed to have been in vain. She was plump and must reduce at once. She and the sister who came over with her could no longer indulge in the baskets of baloney and cheese packed by the loving hands of her mother. Her clothes were wrong and caused amusement at her first Hollywood party. Where had she found those square-toed shoes? Her sister went back. The studio decided she should share a small place with an unknown girl named Hedy Lamarr. But Ilona didn't like WATCH FOR CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT IN OUR NEXT ISSUE! First of the winners in Screexlaxd's 6-STAR CONTEST is being selected now, the first of six, with five others to follow. 6-STAR CONTEST in our April issue featured Dorothy Lamour, Jeanette MacDonald, Constance Bennett, Irene Dunne, Claudette Colbert, and Joan Bennett with each star offering not only helpful advice, but a personal gift. Look for announcement in the next — the June issue — of the first of the six winners, with five more to follow. parties. She didn't like going out. Soon she was living in a small home in Beverly Hills with an aunt who served as secretary and housekeeper. Except for a brief appearance in "Rose Marie," two whole years passed before Ilona made "Balalaika." Sometimes she got so desperate she was afraid for her own life. She wanted a career above all else. Every day she'd come to the lot and work on her English. At night she'd go to the movies. Some pictures she saw four or five times. Occasionally she went out with Michael Whalen. A mutual friend had introduced them. But Ilona was lonely and miserable. "Balalaika" had clicked with the critics. Fan mail began to pour in. Yet it was one of those unexplainable things that can only happen in Hollywood. Ilona was lost in the crowd. Alan Curtis, being a soldier of fortune, the kind of a guy who can laugh in the face of misfortune, never took Hollywood seriously when he first came out. In Ch'cago and New York, he was making a comfortable living as a professional model. Hollywood held no illusions for him. Still, when RKO offered him such excellent money for "doing nothing." he hadn't the heart to refuse. Directors tore their hair over his acting. Alan got a tremendous kick out of it. He didn't ask to be an actor he told them. Why didn't they send him back? Then came the day they were searching for an actor to play opposite Joan Crawford in "Mannequin." It was the kind of part that would bring overnight success to an unknown. Oblivion to an established hero. The role demanded a man who was so wickedly irresistible, the girl loved him for making her life a hell. Alan's test was better than all the rest He got the part and settled down this time seriously. Spencer Tracy and Joan Crawford helped and encouraged him. And he all but took the picture. It was during this period at M-G-M that Alan took his eventful trip to Boise, Idaho, and met Ilona Massey. Soon after they started going together both were dropped from the contract list. It was purely coincidence that it happened this way. Alan wasn't satisfied with his roles. When 20thcentury offered to buy his contract, M-GM pleased him by letting him go. Ilona did nothing until she and Alan co-starred in their latest picture. "New Wine." He plays Franz Schubert and she plays a young peasant girl who starts the great composer on the road to fame. Working together was one of the happiest experiences of their lives. As this is being written, the picture is finished. Plans for their wedding are under way. Unless there were last minute changes, around the twentieth of March Alan and Ilona became man and wife. His family is in Chicago. The wedding was planned to take place there. Ilona's aunt went along, of course. There was to be no fuss. A simple ceremony with a plain old-fashioned wedding band. Right after the ceremony the happy pair were off to New York. On April first (according to plans at this writing) they sail for Rio. Ilona will sing at the famous Urea Night Club. Alan will make personal appearances. Right now they have their eye on a small house in Brentwood. Also a ranch in the deep South. There they hope to spend their days and live off the land when Hollywood is but a memory. Great happiness has come at last to the peasant girl who has never forgotten she is a peasant : who has never forgotten the pain of her yesterdays and is grateful for the blessings of today. Always there will be a place in her life for good music. But love, not a career, comes first. Alan and Ilona love each other. May it be a "New Wine" in their lives that will sparkle until eternity! If you're not actually heavy-bosomed but justarn'/k largerthan-average — "Allo-Ette" solves your brassiere problem because it gives that necessary bit of extra fullness through the breasts. 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