Screenland (Nov 1950-Oct 1951)

always seems happy, witty, and an ideal companion is that way naturally. I don't think she is. I suspect that long ago she learned to discipline hersell pretty sternly. She may be an actress or a secretary or a housewife, but she's subtly made a career of being appealing because she knows the dividends it pays. "It takes quite awhile for us to recognize that, socially, we actually don't need a variety of talents. All adolescents want to dress, talk, and act alike. Soon they learn that as they venture on their own they acquire confidence in their ability to score at a certain one thing — and one talent is enough for anyone. The important thing is to develop it. If you sing, work at it. If you're an interesting raconteur, work at that. If your greatest talent is projecting warmth, charm, and the ability to make friends, for heaven's sake — work at that. "Don't think you have to top others in their field. In fact, don't even try. I remember struggling through ten piano lessons that were guaranteed to make me — honestly — 'the life of the party!' I finally mastered the ditty, 'Lies,' and played it so persistently at every opportunity that my suffering friends begged me to stop. The moral stuck— fortunately. Now, if there's a Charleston contest I don't attempt to get up and compete with Barbara Stanwyck. I try to get a splendid view of it from the sidelines and make my contribution by applauding. When Dinah Shore begins to sing at a party, a warm pleasantness permeates the whole room. Wouldn't I be an idiot to want to prove I could sing as well? Be aware of your own limitations and you'll never put yourself in a spot where you feel silly. "Talent is not confined to accomplishments like the above. Dore Schary, for instance, is a wonderful guest. I don't imagine there's any busier executive in Hollywood than Dore. Yet he never carries his work over into a party. He makes it a point to enjoy people when he leaves his office at MGM. That's why he's rated a Number One guest. Dore is himself — a good listener — an alert, receptive and responsive mind. He and Danny Kaye were simply hilarious one night at a party in a completely impromptu conversation. Danny was telling Dore about a marvelous 'comeback ball' he'd invented. He called it that because wherever you threw it, it came back. Dore was playing straight man to Danny's fantastically funny and nimble wit, and the entire room of guests was kept hilariously entertained. Dore was being no one but himself, but in his modest, soft-spoken manner had made a wonderful contribution as a guest. . . . as, of course, had Danny. "A willingness to join the fun is characteristic of Tyrone Power, of Claudette Colbert, of Rosalind Russell. If you don't want to pitch in and add something of yourself to a gathering, then confess — you shouldn't go to the party. Nobody wants an 'oddie' or a fish out of water around. Neither does anyone want to sit back and listen politely to the voluble airing of anyone's one-sided opinions. If your only forte or contribu See the N OR E E N can make in SUPER. COL OR RiNS£ What COLOR does for movies, Noreen can do for your hair. Like magic, this Super Color Rinse transforms unexciting hair to full color beauty, but looks completely natural. Noreen long-lasting colors are rich and true— stay fresh until your next shampoo. Try on your color, and see how it glamorizes you, blends-in unwanted gray; or dramatizes all gray with silver or smoke tones. Choose from 14 Noreen beauty-shades. 15c, 30c, and 60c sizes at all cosmetic counters Try Noreen's exclusive Co/or Applicator. Flows rinse evenly through hair in three minutes. For shining results, use Noreen's freer-rinsing Super Satin Creme Shampoo. NOREEN DISTRIBUTORS, 450 LINCOLN ST., DENVER 59