Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 80

STRAIGHT FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO FILM STARDOM GISH ADMITS SHE WAS WRONG ABOUT TALKIES featured role in Lester Cowan's Columbia film "Commandos Striko at Dawn." Lillian says she'd make a very punk seer. "In 1928," she recalls. "I told everybody who'd listen to me that talkies were just a fad. I was certain they wouldn't last. I'm still surprised" Miss Gish made an awful lot of mone in the old days by a very good devise.

She owned interests in many a movie and stage property and they all paid her wonderful dividends. "But I made it a she says, "of never putting money into anything. I just toe it out." Which sounds like wonderful work if you can get it. In the old days Lillian Gish had a rule, financially speaking, of never putting 'anything into a movie She just took it out Evidently she's worked out the same sort of deal with time. She's taken a lot of time out of life, but time hasn't taken anything out of her.

She's prettier today than she ever was; she has the enthusiasm and vivacity of an 18-year-old and she's just as modest and genuinely friendly as in the ays when she was jetting her breaks as an actress. Miss Gish is also the first person to admit she made a bad guess about sound pictures. Back on the screen, for the first time since movies became articulate, in a Bluebook Fails as Key to Films; Diana an Exception -y ''vi 1 I. Screen Newcomer Draws Deathbed Scene for Debut Martha MacVicar. 17-year-old photographer's model recently placed linden long-term contract by Universal studios, will make her screen acting debut tutter circumstances which might be shunned by a less anxious-to make-good beginner: She will play a violent death scene id her first role: Assigned to the east of "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf-Man," Miss MacVicar will portray the teen-age daughter of a village innkeeper.

As such, it was disclosed by the studio, she will be fatally mutilated by the wolf-man. Little Miss MacVicar poo-hooed the suggestion that the role might be ill-omened. "I'm only superstitious about eats." said Martha Lon Chaney portrays the wolf-man in the new horror production. whQe Bela LugosFwill be een as the Frankenstein monster. Iturbi, Kathryn Criyson In Private Miss Jones' In scenic settings reproducing the interior of Carnegie Hall.

Metro-Goldwyn-Msyer's newest technicolor production, "Private Miss Jone." is under way. The film marks the debut of Pianist-Conductor Jose' Iturbi into the realm of screen dram, and finds Kathryn Grayson definitely a glamour girl for the first time in her career, with sophisticated Coiffures and an elaborate Irene-designed wardrobe. An important support cast is headed by Sene Kelly. John Boles, Mary Astor. Dick Simmons and Connie Gilchrist.

"Private Miss Jones," is a story based on the adventures of young concert singer gives up her career to keep house at an Army camp for her colonel father. A double romance is woven into the pint. a The film is being produced by Joseph Parternak whose recent successes included "Seven also with Kathryn Grayson, and "Presenting Lily Mars." starring Judy Garland. George Sidney Is directing. Dorothy Morris is a native of Hollywood, where she attended public school and Hollywood High.

She has never been East in her life. "Hat will come later she says; "for thepresent I am content to stay right here. Hollywood has done aH right by nve, and I want to do all right by it by becoming a really fine actress." She seems to mean what she; says, Tor while she is one of the film capital's glamour girls, she is seldom seen at the night spots. Rather, she if a serious minded young woman who studies diligently with voice and dramatic coaches and gets her' fun cycling or swimming. Incidentally, she is a great movie fan.

It was during- her senior rear in high school that she became interested in Given the leading role in the class play, the week before the opening she came down with laryngitis. She rallied, however, and proved to be the hit of the snow. After graduation she was even a tryout for "What a Lft" at that famous little laboratory theater, the Pasadena Playhouse, where she became a memberof the 1940 company. The same year (he appeared in television, and at the Bliss Hayden Theater in Lbs Angeles. During all mis time she was attending Madame Maria Ouspenskayrs School of the Subsequently, she was signed by M-G-M for a part in "Down in San Diego." "Design for Scandal" followed, and then "Babes on Broadway" and "We Were Dancing." In "Seven Sweethearts" she is playing her most Important jart to date.

She will also be seen soon in "War Against Mrs. Hsdley" and "The Human Comedy." Dorothy lives with her family in Hollywood. She is feet i Inches in height, weighs 107 pounds, has brown hair and hasel eyes. has yet established a firm grasp on fiim importance. Among the precious few others who have overshadowed thei blueblood origins with their achievements as actresses art Katharine Hepburn, also of the theater, Rosalind Russell, a staunch New Englander with Imposing social connections.

Likewist from the social registry is Jant Wyatt. whose performance "Lost Horizon" a few seasons ago, eclipsed suspected handicaps of Blue Book registry. Robt. Young Turns Jitterbug for Una Robert Young kisses Lana Turner for the first time and pays for It ht learns to jitterbug! Lana teaches him. Young has been very frank about -not being the best dancer in tht world.

When he learned he and Lana had to dance for one of tht scenes in, "Nothing Ventured" ht balked. Finally. Director Wesley Ruggles persuaded him that thert was nothing to It. What Bob didn't know was that the sequence, at Lane's suggestion, had been lengthened. It waa almost a jam session.

Now he not only dances, but gets Into the groove and swings Lana around to the strains of "Back to Back" one of Tommy Dorsey's hottest favorites with the hep eats. Film's Famous Flinger Of Pies Flings Again After ten years Buster Keston Is up to his old tricks only now instead of throwing custard pies he's teaching Lana Turner and Robert Young how to toss a banana split and chocolate cake where It will do the most good. Kenton is "technical for "Nothing Vetftured." He has Lana throwing Ice cream, whipped cream and soda pop at all and sundry while Young has to sock chocolate layer cake in Howard Freeman's face. And Keaton is the man who can do tossed more than 10,000 custard pies in his career as a film funny man. Incidentally, this marks his first return to a studio since 1932, when he appeared In "The Sidewalks of New York." Dorothy Morns poses lor hat first portrait sitting after being signed to a term contract at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayar.

Tha former Hollywood High School dramatic starlet was dlscor- red while playing the lead In "What a Liia" at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Miss Morris plays an Important role as one of the sisters In "Sevan Sweethearts." Untrained Child Best Actor, VACATIONS Says Director Bruce Manning BANNED FOR This Is What Saying About Intimates claim that the Red Skelton estrangement will never become a divorce Jane Froh-man describes a scene in a WAAC beauty ssloft The General Dyed at Dawn" Garbn has taken a furnished apartment in the mid-town Central Park West sector which means theTeservolr fhouW freete faster than her salary Add to two woosomes: Morton Downey and Mollie Vanderbllt. Before George M. Cohan waa dead a week, Broadway was m-paigning to change the namt pf Times Square to "Cohan Square" and to erect a statue to honor his memory. The Tirst Man of Broadway would have preferred the street to be canopied with American Flags a tribute to a Fellow Needs a Friend Attrttt 'Mary Raid, foo44ook lag gM rht sot trpd for vinegary HtM tptnsttrt, received wail by ataa tfom hm husband, Allan Dcufla, P.r.CwMedlcal Corpi, MifwiMW ti Tmii.

K'A htm tasting about htr to Vis irittidi, wrott Itouglaa. "Then fee? hw htr in of twkSMt-tac. Nov all ht tot wai to 1X0, lUdie took nott. And though Mary Jitld li a tevtrt spinster i The Grtat Glldersleeve," ttudHa sow gives her one scent in which aba tan let down hat half ba herself Allan Douglas. PJT.C, teed it -longer hang his head.

Ritoff Preps Production On Epic Film, 'Russia' Gregory Ratoff checked in at Metro-Ooldwyn-Mayer thla week to boffin preparation on the epic film, Producer Joseph Pasternak it assembling the largest library of TscheJkowaky compositions in exlstanet. Radio atationa and eon-cert halli are to be polled to detamlna which of the great ftuaalan eomposer'a music. li mos popular with American audiences. The screen play deals with Pus-ala'a tftanlc struggle for survlviL Although Hollywood ha- Jt- Juvenile acting families the Several, Watsons, Weldlers, Quigleys, O'Connors and others child stardom today Is by no means exclusively a family affair. AS a matter of fact, mpjj children who reach film prominence cannot tract their talent to klnfolks.

Bruce Manning, producer director of Unlvtraai'i "Foraver Yours," has the answer to why untried youngstera are so often given screen opportunities. Manning speaks with authority, for has nine children, ranging in age from 2 to 11 years, playing featured roles In his picture. "Most directors prefer to have their youthful actors fresh from a schoolyard or a street corner, rather than 'fresh' with the precocity that results from exposure to professionaUJrte." Manning pointed out, "An unspoiled child gives tha most natural performance." Deanna Durbln, star of "Forever Yours," Is an excellent example of a young star without professional precedent either for her voice or her acting in her family. Her background closely parallels that of another young soprano on the same lot, Gloria Jean. This also held true In previous Hollywood "generations." Deanna's.

stand-In it Marle Osborne, tht Baby Marie of silent films, who was taken off a street corner and started on a movie -career at the age of tht only professional in her family, Shirley Templf li a banker'! daughter. Sabu, now 18 and one of start of Universale "Arabian Nights, was a 12-year-Sld Indian orphan living in an elephant barn In the Karapur jungle when he was selected for the" title role In "Elephant Boy." And Sandy, the baby star, is a milkman's offspring. Another street corner "find" is Edna Mae Wonacott, 10-year-old Santa Rosa girl, who gets a big "break" In Universal'! "Shadow of a Doubt." -t Cdp Rote Changed; Still in Uniform Edgar Deering has played more motorcycle cops in motion pictures than any actor alive. He is so famous as a portrayer of. cycling policemen that every studio has a uniform which will neatly, Today, however, came a He was called to play the role of an Information desk clerk in the lobby of a movie studio for "Star Spangled Rhythm," Paramount's musical comedy which will boast more than 30 I told hi Hollywood's preoccupation with beauty, talent and glamour, without regard for its origins, has virtually "frozen" it as1 a market for the talents of Blue Bookers.

Only in a precious few instances have so-called blueblooo succeeded in gaining an inning or outstanding success in pictures. The omission is significantly emphasized by the absence of society playboys from Hollywood's stellar roster, observers note. A few notable exceptions among feminine social registrants have cropped up from year to year. The current year, for instance, saw Diana Barrymore's remarkable achievement of stardom in films through striking performances in "Eagle Squadron, "Between Us Girls" and "Nightmare," despite the seeming obstacles of Blue Book aristocracy. Suggestive also of adding to the list of Blue Book glamour mistresses are Cobins Wright of socially elite New York background snd 1 Reynolds, who achieved Blue Book recognition previously.

through marriage into tobacco wealth. Neither, however, They're Stage People Cohan and the birthday he shared the U.S.A.-July 4. There are still only three falgs flying on Broadway, between 40th and 63rd Streets. Harry Richman is In Miami to make still another plea to get Into the air force. Not succeeding, he -will Join a civilian air patrol corps In the area If they ever held a fashion show of Hedda Hopper's hats they'd have to stage it In the Bellevue Observation Ward Look for a series, of "Mr.

Livingston, I Presume" ags from. North Afrlcs. There are several hundrtd Livingstons In the A.E.F. Jack Haley thinks that Hitler Is the world's most popular football star. Air the world, Is waiting for him to kick off! SHE SINGS AND DANCES DURATION Hollywood has gone all-out In banning vacations for the duration.

Even week-end- Junkets to nearby mountain, beach and desert retreats have been voluntarily blue-penciled In favor of all out collaboration with the war effort One hundred per cent, Hollywood has gone on double-shift in mobilising for the conflict with spectacular results. Since the star-studded Victory Caravan swept the Nation with such hetdliners as Charles Boyer, Bob Hope and Claudette Colbert setting the pace, Hollywood has plunged itself into the war program without restraint. The recent bond selling Junket by Abbott and Costello, which brought $78,000,000 into war coffers, indicates the extent of contribution-being made by Hollywood. Without a dissenting vote, workers have allied themselves with one or another Victory objective. Rosalind Russell is one of the camp-tour leaders.

Bob Hope, Edgar Bergen, Rita Hay-worth, Bing Crosby, Joe E. Brown, James Cagney and scores of others are constantly on the move, reaping scads of tens of thousands of dollars for the Treasury and entertaining our forces not only in camps here, but from Alaska to On the home front. Hollywood Canteen is going full blast with MarleneDletrich one of its leaders. Miss Dietrich devoted as many as ten hours nightly to its successful launching while on dally work call for "Pittsburgh," her current picture. Scores of other stars were as signally and exhaustingly involved in its successful launching are continuing to pledge off-the-set and between-pictures time to the canteens and other war activities.

The billion-dollar Stars Over-America drive was another spectacular all-industry contribution. It will be followed by others. Meanwhile, the less spectacular contributions of writers, publicists and executives to morale-building campaigns are being constantly Infiltrated through entertainment channels in Hollywood's all out drive. Won't Hit Player Sans Introduction Several years ago when he was acting In Warsaw, Poland, Kurt Katch saw the American picture "Scarface" and immediately conceived a tremendous admiration for George Raft. The other day he met Raft for the first time on a Warner Bros, sound stage and without time for formal Introduction they went directly into a rehearsal for a scene of "Background to Danger." Katch, playing a Nazi "hatchet man," was to slap the tightly bound Raft in the face.

Sy hen it came time to deliver the blow, he hesitated. "Go ahead," said Raft, "let me have it!" "I've been waiting for'years to meet you and shake your hand," replied Katch. I meet you and have to slap your face. If you don't mind, I'd like to shake first" i i a i V- i 'i i 4 v.4 1 I A 4 jy' rt 'l A 'f 5 ffo. 4 A ri i I i I L-a atara in its cast.

Deering reported for work and got another policeman's uniform. It seems that a reception lobby clerk looks more realistic ln a copper's uniform. Rudy Vallee Changes From Left to Right Hollywood is making Rudy Vallee a right handed man. Ordinarily, Rudy is left handed, writes with his left hand, eats with his left hand, and carries a wicked left jab. However, Hollywood has little respect for such matters and has accepted "the routine of almost everything In a scene being done with tht right hands.

Rudy is currently with Mary Martin end Dick Powell in Paramount's "Happy Go Lucky," and ao far in all of his acenes the camera has been at such an angle that 'Rudy has had to use his right hand for most of his action and animation. When Rudy protested. Director Curtis Bernhardt had an answer, quipping: "But, Rudy, you're my right Tiand." War Brings Aussie Argot to Screen They may be strange words to American movie audiences, but they'll be quite common in a short time, which Is why such expressions as "I've got the Joes;" "I'm atonkered," "She poke me on the boko," are glibly, voicpd by Richard Quinc lo Lionel Barrymore. Van Johnson and others in "Dr. -Gillespie's New Assistant." It marks the introduction of Australian alang to Yankee audiences.

The reason is explained by Willis Goldbeck. who directed the new medical detective mystery. "We don't know Australian slang yet," aays Goldbeck, "but in a little while there will be many American soldiers and sailors coming back who have learned to use it. It was for tbji reason that we thought we'd give Americans sort pf preview of It" "When we meet in publio places, he greets me with a kiss that makes folks turn around and smile. "When we play cards even after.

I have just done the dishes he often tells the others that only a lady of leisure could have hands as nice as mine. "My husband wouJ.dn 1 still be saying sweet things about my hands if I hadn't changed to Ivory Soap for dishes. "How red 'n' rough they got from the stro'ng washday soap I used to think I hed -to use for speed 1 "Then Edith told me Ivory's 'velvet suds-' "clean dishes just as fast as the strongest washday soaps. only 12 days after I changed to Ivory Soap, my hands were whiter, smoother, softer! "Easy to see why. 'Velvet-suds' Ivory is baby's beauty soap.

Try it for dishes. see the" change in your' hands I Costs only about li a day, tool" 99ioo pure. floats. MMtMH m. i.

mt. m. tmmt mm 4.1 HWtlh tht release oi "Seven Days Leave," moving picture lams from coast to coast will get their first glimpse of a new tar, Mctpy Cortes The little Puerto Rican dances and sings la the Lucille Ball-Victor Mature musical- OAKLAND TRIBUNE, SUNDAY, DECEMBER. 1942 fir. .1 12.