Screenland Plus TV-Land (Nov 1953 - May 1955)

ignore the dreams a man cherishes, Julia doesn't suffer from the frustration that springs from determining to change another human being. Her bonus for refraining from being foolishly too bossy is the enchanting relaxed air with which she's blessed. Of course, she explodes when imposed upon. She recommends blowing your top and getting it over with. "Men enjoy and remember an emphatic stand when you have just cause for not being walked on." In her case, it's literally officiousness that irks her most. "There are people who fancy they have the most important tasks in the world, or that they know everything better than anyone else possibly can. They attempt to herd you, as if you'd remained a child." Julia delights men because she uses her head. She knows it's a personal must to be immaculate, but she's no fussing ash-tray emptier, perpetual sofa pillow smoother, or indignant protector of her furniture. She early discovered that excellent taste is a nice thing to acquire, but that it doesn't have to make you tense. She is stunning in the all red or all black sheath evening gowns that are so beautifully cut to her figure, and every designer in Hollywood now longs to create something outstandingly chic for her. But she'll never become a clothes horse because men would be appalled. "The girl who spends most of her time debating what to wear and shopping, who makes a production out of everything she puts on, and who wants to be seen instead of contributing what she can to an invitation is apt to have more girl than boy friends!" Julia exclaims. She's one actress who happily confesses she doesn't dote upon being domestic. She loves to decorate a new abode when she moves because she has an artistic streak. But she doesn't flutter at the faintest reference to a stove, dishwashing, or dusting. She's never going to be helpless, or run a home badly, because she's remarkably capable. But trotting to a market and carting back bundles isn't her notion of heaven on earth. Let's not kid — Julia would far rather be glamourously escorted to dinner at La Rue's than fix a little snack herself. She early discovered there are worthwhile men who understand her wanting to fill her spare hours with more than a domestic routine. Julia was born in Waterloo, Iowa, about as far from the bright lights of fame as she could begin. Perhaps one of her most fortunate breaks was the father she recalls fondly. "My dad was a cotton buyer whose work was chiefly in the Fall. He did what he enjoyed the rest of the year. We lived in small towns in Arkansas when I was little and I've always kept the memory of how much fun a natural life is. On the day the circus came to town Dad was as anxious to make a project of that whole day as I was. We'd get up at dawn to go down to the tracks and watch the train unload. Then we'd see the tents go up and marvel. I suppose I've always wanted to be an actress because I remember watching the circus so clearly. Life is something to marvel at, and a girl whose father takes time to teach her this is getting a solid start, I think. "I'm not at all surprised when men wish to remain true to their own natures. I'm stubborn in the same way," admits Julia Adams, "Wings Of The Hawk" star. "I reveled in the tomboy urge, liked to play cowboys and Indians rather than stay alone with dolls. Dad took me fishing. We had a great many dogs, and he could train them to do any trick that we thought about. I was mad about horses, and loved to ride." She refers to Little Rock as home, as they eventually settled there. Her father died when she was fifteen. She took to school plays instinctively. She never doubted that she'd be a real actress, although it was such a far-fetched goal ;he received warnings she was silly whenever she confided her intention. To earn extra money she worked every Saturday in a hat shop. She went on to junior college in Little Rock, joined a sorority and was duly awed by the handsome boy, then the athletic hero, and the lad with the cutest car and snappiest patter. Because she went through each of the normal phases of growing up there are no gaps in her maturing. She tried out for every college play successfully. She took a business course, too, and during her Summer vacations was a secretary in the Arkansas State Capitol. "I'm glad I had to be practical about acting," Julia says. "But then you have to be practical about everything!" She was straightforward with her dates who had marriage in view. "You'll get your heart broken in Hollywood," they announced. "It's ridiculous for you to spend so much time rehearsing in plays." She didn't abandon her hope. Her try for a career came first, she explained over and over. She was willing to make her own mistakes, and profit by them. On finishing junior college she had enough money saved to tackle either Hollywood or Broadway. She flipped a coin. California came up heads, so she bought her plane ticket one-way. The moment she first saw the million lights of Los Angeles spread below is one she'll never erase from her heart. She hurried to the home of an aunt in Long Beach. Through her she met a girl who wanted to share an apartment near Hollywood. Julia landed a secretarial job that permitted time to study acting from Florence Enright, a distinguished dramatic coach. Up till then she didn't know she had a midWest accent that would be a fatal handicap in itself. The dozens of diction lessons for which she budgeted ironed it out. Plenty of persistence and patience are required after you reach Hollywood and can support yourself till you get the big break. Julia saved every dollar she could working as a secretary, so she could tide herself over during another chapter of concentration on her dramatic coaching and possibly getting an interview at a studio. Then, her money spent, she'd look in the papers and take another shorthand and typing job. Television was her final springboard. When a hundred aspirants were auditioned for a TV comedy, Julia, Peggy Dow, Paula Raymond, and Marilyn Monroe were picked. The records indicate Marilyn was dropped before that show went on, because she needed more acting know-how. A second TV play followed for Julia, however, and then she was asked to make her screen debut as the heroine of a B Western. This led to being set as "the girl" in six class C Westerns. If you can visualize being in those six in a total shooting time of five weeks you can estimate correctly that Julia's introduction to the movies was a prolonged, hectic initiation! To escape from that rut she searched for a new agent as soon as she was rested enough. He managed to get her the spot as the girl in a screen test U-I was making of All-American Leon Hart. Neither 57