Screenland (Nov 1941-Apr 1942)

Mark it urgent, Miss Priddy! HAT'S right . . . all smokers sometimes inhale . . . knowingly or unknowingly. And inhaling increases the chance of irritation to sensitive nose and throat passages. But — see what eminent doctors found ... on comparing the leading cigarettes! They report that: THE SMOKE OF THE FOUR OTHER LEADING BRANDS AVERAGED MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS IRRITANT AS THE AMAZINGLY DIFFERENT PHILIP MORRIS — AN IRRITANT EFFECT WHICH LASTED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AS LONG ! You can't avoid some inhaling — but you can avoid worry about your nose and throat . . . you can have true smoking pleasure without penalties — if you smoke Philip Morris! CALL FOR PHILIP MORRIS AMERICA'S FINEST CIGARETTE telling me, "It's a crime not to give that child a chance. She'll do big things in Hollywood — if she ever gets a break." My husband and I talked it over. "Jane and I could live nicely on $100 a month," I told him. "Try it for a few months," he agreed. So Jane and I came to Hollywood and lived on $100 a month. On the other $150 of his salary Mr. Withers kept up his life insurance premiums, met the payments on our car and home in Atlanta, fed and clothed himself. We came to Hollywood when Jane was not quite six, armed with letters of introduction from every exhibitor in Atlanta. It was kind and generous of them to give us those letters — -but they didn't help. I cannot say our time was up and our trunk packed to return to Atlanta when the break came. It would be dramatic — but untrue. But we had been out here six or seven months, getting nowhere, when a neighbor invited us to drive out to the old Fox studio. David Butler, a director, saw Jane and said he could use her for extra work in "Handle With Care." That was the opening wedge and for the next year she worked fairly regularly, playing extras, bits and small parts at a salary ranging from $5 to $25 a day. It was through these bits that she went on the radio again, working in a serial. She was called "The Pest." And, paradoxically, it was through her work on the air that James Ryan, casting director at Fox, contacted her and signed her for the part of a little meanie in "Bright Eyes" — after testing over two hundred children. After that picture was finished the studio put Jane under contract at $150 a week. From that day to this Jane, herself, has insisted that her father keep his money for himself. After the picture was released and Jane was a hit, her agent came to me and wanted me to ask for more money for Jane. I said, "No. I realize she's a hit and if I struck it would probably end by them giving her $500 a week and that would seem like all the money in the world to me and I'd take it. But I want to give the studio time and a chance to make money out of Jane before I ask them for anything and then I'm sure they'll give it to her." She was starred soon after that but she worked a year at $150 a week. Then they raised her to $1,000. And all during the time she was getting $1,000 a week, $500 of it was saved. Her state and federal income taxes, her agent's fees and our living expenses came out of the other $500. Jane has always been a sensible child and she has always been fully aware of the sacrifice her father made to send her to Hollywood. Of all the things about Jane I'm proud of — and there are many — the thing I'm proudest of is that when I told her how much would be left of the $500 a week we were keeping out of her salary after running expenses were paid, she said, "Gee, mom, we can live on that easily. I want daddy to save his money for himself." As I was out here with Jane, in her interests, I felt it no more than just that my living expenses should come out of her salary. Older stars have secretaries and companions whom they pay and there is no adverse criticism. I was both of these rolled into one and my living expenses cost her far less than stars pay employees occupying those positions. Meantime, Mr. Withers was still in Atlanta with the tire company. Jane's savings began to mount and the bank was looking for investments. The manager of the bank with whom we did business had always taken a great interest in Jane and I had told him something of our private circumstances. He asked me to drop in and see him. He said, "We are looking for an investment for Jane's money. We think it would be a good investment for her to lend Mr. Withers some money at the usual rate of interest and let him, with what he has saved, start a business of his own out here. We don't think it would be risking her money." So Jane lent her father the money needed, in addition to his own, and he started in business for himself. While his name is still not spoken of in hushed tones in financial circles, he has met with gratifying success and every cent he borrowed from Jane has been repaid "at the usual rate of interest." Almost ever since Jane was made a star the studio has paid me a salary for being on the set with her. It more than meets my own requirements and I earn it. I oversee her wardrobe, her make-up, her hairdress and see to it that she knows her lines. Consequently, neither Mr. Withers nor I feel we. have ever taken advantage of Jane's earnings. One day we were out driving and passed the place where we now live. It was built as a model home and was open and for sale. Jane begged to go inside. She rather whimsically informed us it was her "dream house." After we had looked around a bit it was mine, too, for not only was it a beautiful house, it was a model of convenience and practicality. We consulted the bank and they bought it for her as they considered it a good investment. As it is her house and she is well able to afford it, we did not feel called upon to share in the payments, but the three of us go share and share alike in its upkeep, so we still are not living off Jane's income. So much for that. Now I'd like to take up this" business of "no normal childhood SCREENLAND 65