The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 30

Theatrical Sunerstitions FILM COWBOY WAS REAL ONE JL Enough to Scare Actors Associated Press Staff Writer By Tod Gill, ff 'OLLYWOOD, March 13. in the lives of theatrical folks That's why you who are and jinxes are as common as grease paint and divorces superstitious may find interest in this ft i I coincidence Recently Bing Crosby, Lynne Overman and Eddie Foy, had a movie rehearsal reading aloud, in turn, the pages of their script. Overman, coming to the last line, stopped suddenly It's stage custom never to read the last line of a play until the opening night or some ill-luck may happen That got Overman, considered an authority on stage jinxes, to reminiscing to him, he said, "Macbeth" was an unlucky play because of the. witches' song which is said to raise evil like an incantation A friend. Actress Lillian Bayless, died, he recalled while it was being chanted Foy remarked it was bad luck for rhorus girls to whistle in dressing rooms and Crosby cracked that squeaky shoes were an ill omen to him Overman spoke again: "It used to be ill-luck to wear anything yellow on the stage even to have a yellow clarinet in the orchestra, sueh as there is in this picture but since yellow photographs white, and makes a better white film, it's all right to use yellow on the set, I guess That's one jinx the movies have Shortly afterward, Lynne Overman was dead victim of a heart attack.

And Crosby, running for a train, had an accident which keeps him off the sound stage for at least a week. This happened some time after the superstition discussion. Maybe there is something in the actors' sentiments after all! ,1 1 JtX 1 A'' 'J If A 4. il 4 1 S. Cowboy Actor Bill Elliott By Kate Holliday, Associated Pre Staff Writer OLLYWOOD, March 13.

Bill Elliott is a cowboy movie star who, oddly enough, used to be a cowboy. He learned his profession in the stockyards of Kansas City, where there are some of the greatest cowboys in the world. They know how to maneuver a horse in a small space, cut out one steer from thousands, drive cattle and rope. Seven years' experience there Bill Elliott's stint is comparable to a lifetime on the range. Career Folded Elliott always knew he was tiltimately going to be a Western star, even when he was a kid in Missouri.

When he was 9, his mother went to a fortune teller and got the good news. From -then on, Bill did nothing that hadn't some tie-up with horses. After his session in Kansas City, he came to Hollywood. Hollywood didn't care. Bill decided that perhaps it was because he couldn't act.

He barged over to the Pasadena Playhouse. The only thing he remembers about the succeeding months was a drawing-room comedy called with a guy named Robert Young. Played With Jolson Hollywood noticed the opus and, with its usual attention to casting, thought Elliott was a killer amid the damask. He was signed to play the lover of Louise Fa- zenda in "Wonderbar" with Al Jolson, and got the feel of a top hat and tails. This went on for three years.

He hated it, but he received training. Then Columbia stuck out a contract, following an unbelievable part in "Boots and Saddles' with Autry. Columbia, praise be, wanted Bill as "Wild Bill Hickock." He was glad to oblige. Is Blissfully Ilappy But at Columbia, Westerns were a mere sideline. So Bill bowed out gracefully and went to Republic, the mecca of screen cowboys.

There he is now, blissfully jumping off walls onto running nags, roping villains and shooting up the joint. Contrary to usual, Elliott does not wear a halo. He smokes. He jMMMWMMillA v. screen after absence to commit "Larceny With Music" DRESSER RETURNING Kitty Carlisle returns SWELL ITTY CARLISLE, who has the "ten best-dressed women several occasions, has returned to to the screen back to America to win immediate on the musical comedy stage.

Following adventure in films, she became a in swank night spots in New Chicago, and is now recalled to Universal Pictures. after a long absence to co-star with Allan Jones in "Larceny With Music." Kitty is the New Orleans girl who sought a musical education in France and New War Play Has Plenty of Thrills been named among of America" on Kcndrick, Associeted Prcs nevertheless does all the knifing and neck-cracking shown on the stage. He rescues an American pilot, who suffered broken legs when his plane was shot down. Tf'ell Stayed Scenes The operation of setting the legs, a bloody but well-staged scene, is barely completed when a German spy disguised as a stranded English flier walks in on the group. He is immediately under suspicion, but the sabo- Italy, then came stardom a brief headline personality York, Miami and the screen by and his horse, Sonny.

nags, plus a barnful of cattle and a mudhole of hogs. He raises the latter on a Government contract. Farther away from town he has 640 acres, where he pastures quarter-horses, the breeding of which is his hobby. His home is in North Hollywood. Equipment Expensive The business of being a professional cowboy is an expensive one.

Besides his clothes (thirty pairs of boots, twenty-five specially-made hats, endless trousers and shirts), he owns nine saddles. He has about $6,000 worth of equipment for his horses alone. He carries three lucky pieces, two silver dollars and a Mexican matching coin given him by Tom Mix. The only time he ever had an accident in pictures was when he didn't have them with him. He has blue eyes, brown hair turning gray, and the slightest suggestion of a drawl.

He loves screaming ties, and even wears the ones his wife selects. He believes that love scenes embarrass the kids, and seldom plays them. His motto is "Be a good cowboy," but in parenthesis he adds, "But don't be stuffy about it." to assume any role for which they are cast. "Morning's At Seven" was one of the most delightful comedies ever to be shown in Louisville. It was presented at Columbia Auditorium several seasons ago with Effie Shannon and Donald Brian in two of the parts, but so few people attended the production that Little Theater authorities believe there is still a large audience in Louisville for such a comedy at this time.

TH AND Buddy Pepper is Pepping it up for the Army now, Pepper Writes Score For Film Musical OLLYWOOD, March 13. Buddy Pepper, whose home town is Louisville, today achieved a goal in filmdom all young songwrit- 11 ers seek to accomplish writing the entire musical score Staff Writer teurs cleverly execute one ei their operations directing Allied bombers to strategic targets. Th staging of the bombing is dona effectively. When the identity of the spy is discovered, Lew breaks tha German's neck in a hand-to-hand fight. From then on the play revolves around the plans and efforts of the group to escape to another hideout, while carrying out another sabotage act.

iliiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiimmiiiiiimiiiiiiiiii Ulillillllilil OF FIGARO occasionally takes a drink. He hates hill-billy music. He wears cowboy clothes constantly, but isn't weighed down with embroidery and buttons. This is in his private life. As far as the kids are concerned, he feels he has responsibilities.

Ilrst, to be a good cowboy, to give them pictures that are true, honest, historically correct and clean. Second, to be the kind man they will look up to, to make Westerns as thrilling a part of their lives as they are in his. For this reason, he never smokes or drinks in front of his juvenile public. If the sprout? ask him about such things, he admits that he does indulge, but says that he waited until he was grown before he started. He does not sing and never will, for which many people (including Bill) are very happy.

Leads Quiet Life He lives a quiet and happy life. He doesn't mix with the Hollywood crowd. He is 38, married, and has one daughter, Barbara. At Calabassas, thirty miles from Hollywood, he leases 125 acres and a ranch house. There he keeps Sonny, his pet picture horse, and twenty-five other formance as Rosalind and Frances Grace for her work as Toni.

Misses Kaynor and Grace, the latter a University co-ed, made Little Theater debuts in this play; Miss Garret "had a small part in "Jason," the opening play of the season. The announcement of the result of this voting will be made at the tryouts for "Morning's At Seven," the fifth production of the Little Theater, Paul president, reported last evening, Tryonts Monday Tryouts for "Morning's At Seven" will be conducted at The Playhouse Monday night beginning at 8:30. This play by Paul Osborn, who wrote "The Vinegar Tree" 'and "On Borrowed Time," calls for a cast of mature and experienced players, and both President Kendall and the director hope all the more seasoned pla'yers in the organization will appear at the meeting and evince a willingness Bl'Y WAR BONDS and STAMPS AT LOEWS lhe greatest picture ever put on celluloid!" says (Juentin Reynolds. COWARD'S a motion picture. But young Buddy Topper achieved it in Universal Studios' forthcoming musical comedy, ''Oh, Say Can You Swing," which co-stars Gloria Jean, Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan.

In Louisville, Pepper is better known as Jack Starkey, which is his real rfame. Buddy Pepper is his stage name. Pvt. Jack Starkey he's in the Army now was a vaudeville singer and dancer. He wrote his own songs and music.

Three New Medallion Candidates Voted HI Memorial Auditorium Tucs. Mar. 16, At 8:30 Mozart's Greatest, Gayest Lyric Opera A few months before he joined the Army, Pvt. Starkey came Ry J. Sr.

EW YORK. March 13 "Men In Shadow" is a war play, with plenty of well- mixed suspense and action. In short, a good, exciting melodrama which contributes to an interesting evening in the theater. It has been running for some months in London, and the Amer ican production was offered this week by Max Gordon at the Morosco Theater under the direc tion of Roy Hargravo, who also plays the leading role. The play is by Mary Hayleji Bell.

Story of Saboteurs All the action takes place in the loft of an abandoned mill somewhere on the French coast and concerns a group of American, English and French saboteurs, who euide A1Iicd nlanes to tarepts and otherwise make life generally un- pleasant for the Germans. The group, operating in dark- ncss in constant danger, of course, of capture and death, con- sists mostly of American and Eng- hsh fliers who have cracked up in France. Roy Hargrave, as Lew, is the leader, who sickens at killing, but THOMAS MITCHELL ciom jean O'CONNOR COMES UP LOVE 31. to Hollywood and teamed up with Inez James, another young song- writer. Together they v-ote a few songs.

Miss James is a close friend of Peggy Ryan, the Universal come- dienne-dancer. It so happened that Miss Ryan heard the new songs and introduced Miss James and Pvt. Starkey to musical directors at Universal. The result was that the two young songwriters clicked on twelve successive songs, all purchased for motion pictures. Now, Tvt.

Starkey is in the Army, but his songwriting has not ceased, nor has his vaudeville talents, for he has the dancing lead in IX ENGLISH A Dramatic, Streamlined, Modern Version Revealinj the Great Comedy as well as the Great Music of "Figaro Hilarious 20th Century Entertainment. 5th Event of the Community Concert Series Headquarters: Baldwin's, WA 1565 AFTER each performance of the Little Theater, audiences vote for the members of the cast that, in their opinion, gave the three best performances. By the end of the season there are eighteen candidates whose names go to all members on a ballot for the purpose of selecting the one among them who gave the best performance of the year. The award is a silver medallion the winners of which compose what the active members term The Ham's Club. The membership of this club now includes Elizabeth Wilson, Homer Burton Blackwell, Philip H.

Hollenbach and Roy E. Finnegan. Three On Ballot 'After the performance of "Heart of a City" last week three young women were nominated for positions on the final ballot of the year. These were Patricia Kaynor for her performance as Judy; Dabney Garret for her per NOEL sua TAXI, NOW I Kit II UNITED Plus 2nd the Army's all-soldier show, "Hey, Rookie." HENRY MAUREEN FONDA O'HARA JOHN BROPHY'S immorfol war romonc mew tor 14, 1943 SECTION STZrlblb PT mm mfdT 2 HIT ill in ii iimiiii MM Jf CT HK SCREAM CLAUDE RAINS to IrO HNeW CONRAD VEIDT A' sNsatiow GREENSTREET StNSATlOW Starts FRANCES GIFFORD JOHNMY(BOY) SHEFFIELD Every woman lias 1710 HAUNTING YOU WILL WITH EXCITEMENT! WHUnSDAY imi mil 'l I II III I II I TISTJ RELEASE Big Hit JJ William BENDIX oe SAWYER MISTER" THURSDAY OB I IRFD ATfin loyal warrior? Starts r.L: TYRANT renecade or II v. her hA for THE COURIER price 1 i wmmmm anil no price loo high io pay Hie love of her sisler! OURNAL, MARCU MM FT 1 TERESA WRIGliT JOSEPH COTTEfJ 2, A 10.

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