The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 37

DES MOINES SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18, 1945 MAGAZINE SECTION. THREE 4 -f 1 A yy. She's Doing What She's Always Done, But the Pay is Better ACTIVE as an ant, chipper as a chipmunk, Virginia Belmont is the only actress in Hollywood who doesn't have to act. She just slaps on the grease paint, walks out in front of the camera and does something she used to get paid less for doing before she became a starlet. Virginia (she likes to be called Gina) has been in 12 films at RKO during the last eight months.

In nine of 'em she played roles that paralleled phases of her earlier working career. "Some day they'll ask me to play a part I really don't know anything about," comments the perky and shapely little red-head, "and then I'll probably be scared stiff! Of course, I did play a Parisian debutante in one picture, also a burlesque dancer and a gambling hall entertainer but what girl with a little deviltry in her nature couldn't!" Here follows, then, the official box score of Miss Belmont: REAL LIFE Can-can dancer, San Diego Model, Hollywood Guest at lots of hotels Hat check girl, the Mocambo The same, in San Diego Film actress, Hollywood Hostess, Hollywood canteen Cigarette girl, the Mocambo The boys still take her out! ON SCREEN Can-can dancer, "The Girl Rush" Model. "Betrayal From the East" Hotel giest, Wonderful Crime" Hat check girl, "Johnny Angel" Beauty contest winner, "Pan-Americana" Film actress, "Falcon in Hollywood" Canteen hostess, "Enchanted Cottage" Cigarette girl, "Sing Your Way Home" Night club guest, "Zombies on Broadway" If Frank Sinatra didn't have a prior claim to the title, Virginia Belmont might be labeled, most appropriately, "The Voice." It's such a lovely voice that directors make steady use of it when dubbing in vocalisms from unseen players. Gina, to illustrate, was a telephone operator's voice In "Heavenly Days, also the voice of a secretary in "Two O'CIock Courage" and "Music in Manhattan." But the red-headed lassie with the classy chassis really doubled in a big way in "The Girl Rush," when she was seen and not heard in one role, heard and not seen in another. In the first, she danced the can-can with other luscious movie maidens; in the second, she snored for Vera Vague! Just why Miss Vague didn't do her own snoring has not been satisfactorily explained.

Perhaps she never studied horn music. Virginia Belmont was born in New York City, but there is no need to hold that against her inasmuch as she hastened to California while still a child. As a student at San Diego High school, later at San Diego State college, she majored in music and foreign languages, took dancing for physical education, became a violinist and orchestra leader. Then she up and bolted her home ties, set out to conquer a grouchy, upset world, landed last May on the RKO payroll after a talent scout saw her in a Bliss Hayden little theater production, "This Thing Called Love." Virginia has earned her way. Not only did she labor at all the jobs listed in the box score above; she also has been an usherette, library clerk, wait' ress, theater cashier and soda jerker.

No dead-head, this red-head. William Borzage has an accordion with 21 sound effects, including trains, whistles, sirens, barking dogs, Bronx cheers and Donald Duck. Some wit says that maybe the Japs haven't heard "Clang, Clang, Clang," but tbey know all about BONG. Date Virginia hurried Lloyd Nolan's small Melinda came home from Sunday school with a large envelope. When asked what was inside she came forth with "just an ad for Heaven." Dress -Jt J.

1 the ground floor. Tremendously successful on Broadway is "The Tempest" by W. Shakespeare. It co-stars Ballerina Vera Zorina, who plays Ariel, the spirit, and Canada Lee as Caliban. This is the first presentation of "The Tempest" on Broadway since 1916.

SfC 9t Josef Van Sternberg Is back In Hollywood after a long absence. He's at work on King Vidor's film, "Duel In the Sun," which Is supposed to be of the caliber of "Gone With the Wind." The Mike Todd production "Up in Central Park" (story of Boss Tweed) is so good that some critics call it better than "Oklahoma." The critics also welcomed with their best adjectives a new star, Maureen Cannon. Said a drama critic of GLORIA SWANSON in her Broadway play, "Goose For the "She's remarkably good natured about doing almost anything the impulsive plot suggests." "Breakfast at popular radio show, icill very likely find itself in the movies one of these days. Danny Kaye will do a picture next based on the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. He'll play Andersen, also several starring parts in the fables.

His little helper will be Virginia Mayo. One of Hollywood's glamazons, June Cuendet, six feet tall, weight 149 pounds, prefers her men about five feet, nine inches. She says shorter men have more personality. Puzzling Director Jean Negulesco is the guy who said to Anita Colby (The Face) "I love you but I don't want to marry an institution" and "You're the only woman I would enjoy paying alimony to." 'I 4'-' il V-s. 4 to California as a child to get in on Hedda Hopper is drooling over Blue Boy, the big porker in the musical version of "State Fair." He may look fine in the picture, thinks Hedda, but beside some candied yams oh pass the Ted points, Uncle.

The story is told of a once big-timer around Hollywood who has borrowed so much small change that he is now called I. O. Silver. You're not going to see sultry LAUREN BACALL very often for Producer Howard Hawks thinks pepper should be used sparingly. Keep the public anxious to see her again, is his idea.

Arthur Treacher, who buttled for bonds and raised five million in California alone, says he definitely does not like being a comic butler and having to drop soup down people's necks. Robert Duke, who makes his debut in "New Faces of 1935," is of the famous Godey family that published "Godey's Ladies Book." He has ideas about reviving it. The cigarette shortage has handed George (Gabby) Hayes a marvelous amount of publicity space. He's made layouts for several magazines showing how to roll 'em. Tit hi Greer Garsoti collects sea-shells, Irene Dunne blends her own perfume, Hedy Lamarr has taken out several patents on inventions.

Donald 'Bain, who does the animal sounds for "Mr. and Mrs. North," is the lad who plays the part of the mule in the stage show, "A Bell for Adano." Jean Arthur's retirement from movie making (that's what she says she plans) should give JANET BLAIR of Columbia a big chance. There will be a movie In Mexico based on the life of Lupe Velcz. Somebody's going to have to unscramble this in Hollywood for three movies have virtually identical plots "Dear Ruth," "Dear Mr.

Private" and "Don't Ever Leave Me." They're all about young girls who write letters to soldiers and sign their sisters' names. A faithful reporter tears a few adjectives over Maureen O'Hara in "Spanish Main." Calls her a gorgeous hunk of stuff in technicolor. ijc jj Well, what do you know about this name a bar in Hollywood is called "The Bottle Front." Mervyn Leroy is all set up, and properly so, over an autographed picture General "Hap" Arnold gave him in appreciation of "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo." Before a performance, Sonja Henie eats five raw eggs mixed with the juice of a sirloin steak. Signs of the times: Paramount paychecks had a coupon attached recently that allowed purchase of a pack of cigarettes at the commissary. This and thats on BARRY FITZGERALD: Barry once worked 11 years in Dublin as an actor by night for nothing as a clerk by day to keep from starving.

Barry, also, is a Protestant. "The Blue Dahlia" sounds like something out of Burpee's but it will be a romance with murder and ALAN LADD. In "A Song to Remember," it's JOSE ITURBI who really does all the wonderful piano playing. With Umbriago A columnist who heard MGM was contemplating doing "Cyrano de Bergerac," starring William Powell, has a good suggestion. Why not a swing version with Jimmy Durante? Chartreuse, yellow and black on a gray background make a date dress for Actress Joyce Reynolds of Warners.

The shirred front is caught into self -covered ball buttons and the sweetheart neckline is accented with three bands of narrow black velvet ribbon on both sides..