Express and News from San Antonio, Texas • Page 81

Mil Save for Use All Week January 19, 194 PAGE 1 INSIDE Puzzle 12 Radio Loos 17 Travel 19 i -t Benaderet's Own Star Shines i Brightly as Any HOLLYWOOD--After years of playing the second lead--usually as a next-door-neighbor-- Hea Bcnadcrcl finally rates a star of her own. It isn't Ilia! nobody ever considered her for a starring role. It's jusl thai she has been practically indispensable as a supporting actress for so many successful scries, including "The Burns and Allen Show" and "The Beverly Hillbillies." As Blanche Morton, the Beverly Hills neighbor of Grade Allen for eight years, she survived four husbands, played by Hal March, John Brown, Krcd Clark and lliclale Larry Keating. THAT SKHIICS I.KI) Indirectly lo her first starring role tills season, as cotmlry-holel proprietress Kale Bradley on ('US- TV's "Pctlicoal Junction," seen ai 8 p.m. Tuesdays on Ch.

5. II was during "The Burns and Allen Show" a i she met Paul Denning, one of the program's writers. When Ilennlng cieated "The Beverly Hillbillies" scries last season, he originally wanted Miss Bcnadcret for one of the starring roles, but lie needed her most for a featured part, thai of Cousin Pearl. When Ilennlng viewed Ihc pllol film "IIIIIlllllo.s" In December I9GI, months before Hie premiere of the hll comedy, he was entranced by Miss licnaderel's performance. He screened Ihe pilot dozens of limes and became obsessed wllh the Idea of creating a glairing vehicle jusl (or her.

"Pctlicoal Junction" is lhal series. So, Ihis season, Miss Bcnaderct is no longer a sugar- liorrowing next-door-neighbor or a backwoods country cousin She is Ihe star, the hub of activity at a small a hotel Nnmlrer I stop for the lloolcrvillc Canmmball, an antique wood-burning locomotive. Coincidentally, Hie scries films on the same stage al Con- cral Service Studios in Hollywood where Ihe attractive aclrcss worked for so many years wilh Bums anil Allen. MISS HKNADEIIKT finds it difficult gelling used lo hor new star slalus, and she is well aware of Ihc importance of her supporting casl Kdgar Buchanan, Smiley Iliirnetlc Itufe Davis, Charles Lane, Roy Itobcrls and three gorgeous girls Riley, Pal Wnodell ami Linda Kayo, who play her tccn-ago daughters. "The real star of the show is never scon," she says, referring lo Paul Ucmiing, (ho program's guiding genius.

"And lha Hooleivillc Cannonliall runs him a close second Thai Illllc! train lias such a wonderful personality lhal I'm II steals the show." Hickinan Succeeds On His Third Try NKW YOTIK--Darryl Ilickman, who succeeded lo succeed Robert Morse In the lead of "How lo Succeed etc gol Ihc part on his third try. sa llc show a ago." Hickman recalled. "And I decided thai I was righl for Ihe part. I've teen wanting to gel Inlo musical comedy for a long time. If I stayed with what 1 had been doing--television guest star things-I lie just another mediocre name and I didn't want lhat So auditioned for the London company of 'How lei They told me I wasn't Ihc type.

Then I auditioned (or Ihe national company. Same deal. Finally, I auditioned for Frank I.oesser and Abe Burrows for the Broadway re- placemcnl. They said I was perfect and signed me.".