Screenland (Nov 1950-Oct 1951)

I'm making the girls take piano lessons, admitting I was too lazy myself when I had the opportunity. I take them shopping with me, let them handle the money for their things so they'll have an idea of values. I love to sew. so I whip up many of their dresses with real pride. Roy always gallantly vows my creations beat any from an expensive shop! I didn't go to college. I hope all our kids do. I think it teaches one to be a little more analytical. Otherwise life is all trial and error, hit or miss. You make a mistake and sigh. "Well. I won't do that again." If one were not so impulsive, there'd be less time wasted on sidetracks. Cheryl worked one day in Roy's new picture, "The Trail Of Robin Hood." It was filmed, her debut scene, on a Saturday, so she didn't miss any school. She doesn't even receive any billing, but she'll always remember that she stepped before the cameras at ten. She was so anxious to do it. But she isn't becoming a child actress. She's to go on with a normal childhood. Mothering the Rogers gang is a magnificent reward, anyway I look at it. It's an intimate pleasure, and a constant challenge, for which I'm grateful every day. And I felt just like a pioneer woman in a Roy Rogers' movie the morning a grass fire started in the canyon above our home. I stood at our backdoor praying. The flames came within fourteen feet before the wind shifted and our house was suddenly saved. One more day, one more wonder! Let's Stop Kidding Continued from page 47 getting more and more uncomfortable. Finally, embarrassed, he walked away. He was no sooner out of sight than this person began unleashing some snide and gossipy remarks about him. What's a star to believe? That business of having to cut through others' veneer is one of the most bothersome items. Another thing that confuses me almost as much is the way some people expect me to live up to the glamour routine. I know the publicity I once received had its purpose, but my private life would be a hectic thing if I tried to live according to the pictures built up about me. Why, I'd be the last person to regard myself as an exponent of the asthmatic sigh, the drooping eyelids. Whenever I'm interviewed. I'm always asked the inevitable question: "What do you think of your sexy buildup?" I won't even answer that one now. Once a writer came to me to do a story on why I wouldn't talk about the "old hat" issue. She valiantly asked a few questions, I gave noncommital answers, and finally she left with this remark, "Well, I can see you don't even want to talk about why you won't talk about the sexy buildup." It's just that I feel enough has been said and written about that and I have no desire to have it all re-hashed again. Naturally I can see the value of the type of publicity I've had. It's been a good saleable commodity. But I've never stopped wondering just what glamour is. Maybe it's an aura around a person. Maybe it's a pink cloud in a life. But, to me, it can only be described as the quality that made the late Lady Mendl — and Marlene Dietrich — remarkable figures. That is real glamour. But glamour without the human element isn't very substantial stuff. I suppose I'm the old-fashioned gal in a way because I believe the human element lasts a lot longer on the screen than glamour alone. Take June Allyson, for example. Her natural wholesomeness has helped to make her a hit in pictures. She's the embodiment of the human element, and I've a hunch she'll be around a long time. But can you see my trying to play a glamour part at home? Why, Robert, my husband, would probably say to me, "Who are you kidding?" Anyway, I do such dull things I couldn't possibly adopt that pose off the screen. On the other hand, in "His Kind Of Woman" I play a part that combines the human element with sex appeal and that combination, kiddies, you'd better take home. On the whole, I'm a pretty easy-going person when it comes to such career demands as publicity. I don't rear back and say, "No, not that!" on most things. I must confess that when I do an interview it's nice to read the story later and feel that I could have conceivably been in on the interview. I guess I haven't been around long enough to understand the fantasy in the minds of some writers. Nor do I actually enjoy posing for certain publicity stills. Not long ago I was doing a sitting and the perennial suggestion came — an alluring shot with an extreme decollete. I talked the photographer out of this since I told him that that era had done a fade as far as I was concerned. Recently, I got the idea I was tired of long wardrobe fittings. In that respect, I'm no different from most actresses. There's nothing more tedious, but it's a vital part of the business. Now, instead of balking, which would get me nowhere, I only hope that the clothes will be attractive. What woman doesn't get a kick out of trying on good-looking gowns? If they are character clothes, I relax and merely make faces at myself in the mirror. One fetish I have may strike some as odd and that's a dislike of working with a new group of people on each picture I make. I'm inclined to say what I think and, too often, new people don't understand. As a result, we take the first two months getting to know each other — and walking softly. Trying to become acquainted with a new crew, trying to figure them out and having them try to understand me gets pretty confusing. I also hate personal appearance tours because they're very hard work. Long 59