Screenland (Jul-Dec 1948)

And get mashoogie with the boogie! 'Cause "beat-me-daddy" Freddie Slack really stiffens your back with this fresh albumful of 8-to-the-bar material. There's B.W. by a small group and B.W. by the whole band. There's "Beverly Boogie," "The Brown Danube," "Boogie In G" and "Is I Gotta Practice, Ma?" with Don Raye vibrating his cords, all with Frederick and rhythm section comin' in your direction. And with the full band there's "Chopstick Boogie" and "Boogie Minor," a whole torrent of B.W., enough to make your wig fly! (Capitol Album CC 83) FROM THE MAN IN GRAY Dear FR: I hear that Bob Mitchum (pause for sigh-lence) has made some records. Is that true? If so when will they be released? I dig your column every month and it really knocks me out. Sincerely, Marylyn Morse, San Francisco, Calif. Dear Marylyn: Not that I know of, unless he did 'em before the ban. If so 'twas probably for Decca, 'cause they do most of the waxing with movie stars. Thanx for the nice words. Recordially, FR — o — Dear Fred: Do you happen to know how tall Mel Torme is? I've heard everything from 5 feet up. You really started something when you labeled him "The Velvet Fog." I've heard him called everything from the "Flannel Smog" to the "Cordu was once under contract to RKO?) are taking no chances. He's sold out his successful San Francisco restaurant and moved down to Hollywood. Frank's going into business that will allow him to be with his adored wife during regular hours. In the meantime, they aren't going to give the gossips a chance to say something's wrong because they were living in different cities. Being an active member of the Screen Actors' Guild, Dana Andrews never misses a meeting. Sometimes they last beyond midnight. Invariably Mr. A. invites a group back to the house for late supper. His wonderful wife thinks nothing of getting up, getting dressed and whipping together a mess of eggs for the hungry thespians. No wonder she's so popular. — o — If we hadn't seen it with our own eyes, we'd still think some press agent had blown his top. There they were at Mocambo — Ingrid Bergman and her husband, Dr. Peter Lindstrom. So help us, the great Swedish star and the good doctor were jitterbugging all over the place! And doggone good, too. — O — Life can be beautiful — but not for Bill Holden until he finishes "The Dark Pass." His wonderful head of hair has been ( lipped to the skull and every night when he gets home, his adoring wife. roy Haze." How many records has he made by himself? Sincerely, Eleanor Smith, Arlington, Mass. Dear Ellie: With or without heels? 'Bout 5 feet 5, eyes of blue and a blond thatch on top. Tall enough for you? Should be 'cause Ava Gardner, Cathy Downs, Marilyn Maxwell didn't complain. Mel's cut about 25 sides on his ownsome and about 10 with his group, the Mel-Tones. You'll be diggin' him in "Words And Music." Recordially, FR To JULIA GAY°, BAYONNE, N. J.: Buddy Rich is on tour with his fine band, has no lace trimmed ball-and-chain as yet, and records for MGM records . . . IRENE GREER, NEDERLAND. TEX.: Ray Eberle has his own band and they're at the Hotel New Yorker in N.Y. all summer. Look for a Columbia short subject with Ray and this kid. We're gonna do it right at the hotel and build it all around the ice show there. Probably fall on our jismogressum, too. Wanna help us lace our skates? . Lemme hear from you via one of Mr. Donaldson's men in gray (he's the Postmaster General) if you have any little thing bothering you about sharps and flats and the people who dispense 'em. Address letters to Fred Robbins, Screenland Magazine, 37 West 57th Street, New York 19, N. Y. Brenda Marshall, just looks at him and groans. Bill doesn't wear any makeup in the picture and being a prolific beard grower, he has to shave twice a day. Well, at least his producer loves him!! — o — Jane Withers has retired to await the stork, but hasn't lost interest in making movies. When hubby Bill Moss was about to produce "The Cat," Janie quick read the script to see if there were any suit Ingrid Bergman, now in "Joan Of Arc," dances at Mocambo with husband, Dr. Peter Lindstrom. able parts for her huddy-buddys. As a result, Lon McCallister gets the big lead. Hollywood is wondering: What did Director Otto Preminger whisper to Joan Crawford, that caused those beautiful blue eyes to swim with tears? It was at a dinner party Joan Fontaine gave in honor of Mary Martin, who was appearing locally in "Annie Get Your Gun." When the ladies retired to the powder room, Joan kept right on going — home. According to co-workers, Burt Lancaster and Norman Foster, who directed "The Unafraid," didn't agree on certain points. Mostly story points. The rumor does exist that Burt is amongst those (and there are many) who believe b° is one of our most impressive stars. Personally, we still find him the same unspoiled, earthy guy who first arrived in Hollywood. Cast and crew of "Yellow Sky" are heartily in accord with the committee that named Gregory Peck the Screen's "Father Of The Year." Every weekend while they were on location, Greg chartered a plane and flew back to Hollywood to visit his loved ones. Every family man in the troupe was invited. — o — Ever since Clifton Webb convulsed the nation in "Sitting Pretty," he hasn't had a moment of peace. In stores, restaurants, and on the street, strangers coyly ask if they can hire him to sit with their babies. Finally, in desperation Cliffy-Pie threatened to strangle the very next person who presented the question. The next one was — the visiting King of Yugoslavia! — O — It will always remain Bette Davis' most important party. The occasion was little Barbara Sherry's first birthday. Being born on May Day, the young lady was fittingly presented with a head wreath of real posies. She wore it like a queen while her proud parents snapped a few dozen pictures. Speaking of dauntless Davis, while her more acidic reviewers may not have liked "Winter Meeting," it still rated Bette her greatest number of enthusiastic fan letters. Studio Sights: Roy Rogers eating lunch and at the same time, reading those hundreds of letters from kids in Madisonville, Texas. Each one wrote a page asking their idol to attend the annual rodeo. Roy coxddn't make it, but the kids' invitation sure thrilled him. — o — Premiere Night in Hollywood! The place, the Paramount Theatre. The picture, "The Emperor Waltz." Searchlights sweeping the skies — stars — jewels — motor cars — loud speakers and thousands of fans going mad when Clark Gable arrived with Anita Colby. Speaking of that fabulousfaced creature, about her new short-hairdo, she humorously remarked: "I had it cut this way so Clark would think I looked more like Dolly O'Brien!" — O — Oh brother, is the town burning at the James Masons, for those alleged cracks taken at Hollywood! No one has seen them out in public and everyone's wondering if they'll dare show up at Roman Latesf Hollywood Gossip! Continued from page 49 54 Screenland