Screenland (Nov 1945-Oct 1946)

But she definitely hasn't changed in other loyalties. Her best friend is still Myrna Bower, and the other friends she had before she went into pictures. And though none of them are professionals, the fact that she's a celebrity doesn't cut any ice at all in their common friendship, nor does it give her any priorities over the others. "Maybe two of them like me because I'm in pictures," she said after a moment of thought. "But I'm not sure. Myrna certainly doesn't, that's one of the reasons I like her." A year ago she didn't have any hankering at all to be sophisticated, but now she thinks that if you could be sophisticated the way Joan Fontaine is it would be pretty wonderful. And one of the grown-up things she likes is bubble baths, another enthusiasm she shares with Myrna. * She also feels that growing up is definitely more fun than she thought it would be and that a few years ago she never dreamed so many wonderful things could happen. "Each age is so new and exciting," she said. "And though everything is so super right now, I am looking forward to being sixteen in a way because that's when I can start dating without a chaperone. Right now I don't date regularly and I never go out alone with a boy. At our parties we don't separate into couples, just have good times all together without any boy or girl being especially interested in each other. We are all just about the same age, and though I think older men are interesting and all that I'd rather go to the movies with a boy of my own age to see older ones like Bill Eythe, Peter Lawford or Tom Drake. We all have a lot of fun, I guess maybe because we never get a chance to be bored because of too man}' parties and things like that. I never go out when I'm working and ten thirty is the latest I'm allowed to stay out, ever, and that's only for something very, very special." The first very, very special occasion was her first formal. That came just after she'd finished making "Junior Miss," a picture which certainly influenced her own life. For it wasn't only that she had a chance to look not only pretty, but really glamorous in that picture; it was, to quote Peggy Ann, "a wonderful way to get to know all about growing up." "Up to then," she elaborated, "I'd only played children that were definitely children, if you know what I mean. But in 'Junior Miss' I was almost adult, and it made things different all around." It gave Peggy Ann ideas even when the picture was being made, about formals, for instance, and high heels. For when she was wobbling around in the high heel sequence of that picture she realized that wearing grown-up shoes certainly did do funny things to a girl's equilibrium and thought it might be a very good idea to get a pair, just to practice on against the time she'd be ready to wear them, and getting a formal seemed even more practical. "Just in case," as Peggy explained it, "a boy asked me out somewhere, for I wouldn't ask a boy, ever." But those ideas went the way the ones about monogrammed matchboxes and costume jewelry had gone, and not until she was fifteen was the verdict. And then just after "Junior Miss" was released, a boy did ask her out, and no girl could have asked for a more exciting first date than that one to the sophomore dance at Harvard Military Academy. She was vacationing in Palm Springs and Darrylin Zanuck, the young daughter of Twentieth Century's boss, introduced them, so any element of coincidence in what afterwards happened is automatically ruled out. For before Peggy Ann could even start a new campaign to snag a formal of her very own, 20th CenturyFox presented her with the one she had worn in the picture. And Peggy loved it more than she possibly could have any bought especially for her because of its associations. It was her favorite dress up to the time she got another formal, this time for an even more important event, the presentation of the Academy Awards. And after that, and the excitement of getting an Oscar, Peggy Ann can't tell for the life of her which dress she now prefers. "Of course," she says, "everyone is partial in a way to their first formal, but still the other brought me luck, so I just can't decide." Getting the all-important Oscar was another milestone in Peggy Ann's growing-up process. It quickened it, just as playing a subdeb matured her in other ways. Only the Academy Award changed her in a subtler way, a more thoughtful way. For it must have given Peggy Ann that all-important feeling of security in her own talents which is so important to anyone's development. It made her humble, too, as success will do to nice people, made her more than ever determined to show that she is grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened to her. Another happening impressed her almost as deeply as receiving the Academy Award, "the most thrilling thing that has ever happened to me." That was when she went with her crowd to see Frank Sinatra's short feature, "The House I Live In." It was a moving experience for all of them. "It conveyed such a strong message," Peggy Ann said. "Particularly because of Mr. Sinatra's own sincerity. I admire him so much, all my crowd does, for his ideas on the subject and all he's doing about it. And I know that his fans will listen to his message too, for I think boys and girls are becoming more and more tolerant of religious and racial differences. "I'm interested in people of all kinds. That's why I want to travel when I get old, say when I'm twenty, so that I can meet and know people of other countries. Of course I'll still want to be an actress, not only in the movies, but on the stage, too. I guess I'll always want to be an actress, but I don't want to get so caught up in my own career that I can't appreciate other things, too." She made her sound very nice, that person Peggy Ann wants to be at twenty. But how could she be anything else, that mature Peggy Ann Garner, with the child who is even now creating her, the altogether grand little trouper that she is? HOW TO WASH HAIR SHADES LlGKYERJMffiy With New Home Shampoo Made Especially for Blondes This special shampoo helps keep light hair from darkening— brightens faded blonde hair. Called BLONDEX, it quickly makes a rich cleansing lather. Instantly removes the dingy, dust-laden film that makes hair dark, old-looking. Takes only 11 minures at home. Gives hair attractive luster and highlights. Safe for children's hair. Get BLONDEX at 10c, drug and department stores. SONGS WANTED A well-known composer will write the music for your words on a professional basis. His songs have sold millions of copies. Send for free booklet. 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