The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 83

"AW ftftft wsk mm and te Losangeiea Cimts SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 24, 1949 Part IV Stork Wait Busy Time pis I i Asia's i for Esther Swim Star Williams Teaches Blind Tots W'hile She 'Vacations' BY HEDDA HOPPER Esther Williams, in a brown maternity dress and white linen jacket, looked radiantly happy as she sat in my patio. "Having a baby," said she, "is a wonderful way to get a vacation. I've been going from picture to picture, but after I finished 'Neptune's tha doctor said, 'That's all until after you've had your Studios are not un-co-operative, but they have their schedules to consider. So in this business you almost have to use split-second timing in making your date with the stork. The trouble is nature didn't equip girls for split-second timing in such matters.

Has a System 1 I' "If you're doing a musical, you have to begin rehearsals usually the most strenuous part of the picture a month in advance of the shooting, so you can't risk getting mixed up with the stork then. If it happens in the middle of the picture, you'll likely be too heavy for the final sequences The ideal time is the last month of shooting. You usually have three months off before starting a new film, and by then you'll be in no condition for the studio to take a risk on you. ttnmmtwsmmmsmmmmmmsmmtwmmmmmmmmmmmsHmswmtsmm I've figured this system out, because I plan to have a baby every two years until we get three or four. I'll do enough films to serve as a backlog during my layoff, then date the stork.

My baby's due in August and I'm supposed to return to work Nov. 1. If I can finish two pic tures by next June, I'll be ready to start having another baby. That way I think I can keep both my career and family going fTJLL VACATION WITH STORK Looking radiantly, happy, Esther Williams confided to Hedda Hopper that "having a hahy is a wonderful way to geta vacation." Actress Buzzes Out of Jf like RX JOHN L. SCOTT Myrna Dell, 25-year-old Hollywood-born actress who has been buzzing around for five years in a hive of Bs pictures, that is has reached a decision.

"To heck with the honey, meaning says the pretty blue-eyed blonde. "From now on I'm going to play in the top-drawer cinemas, even if it Aids Blind Children Esther's always been interested in kids. Two years ago, I asked her to help out with a benefit for RETURNS TO COMEDY This picture shotvs Rosalind Russell as she appears in her comedy role in. "Tell It to the Judge" kick she has just completed for Columbia. Tomorrow she starts work at the same studio on another comedy, "Woman of Distinction.

She has plans Jor a third comedy, "You Cant. Judge a Woman" She is all out for comedy. Rosalind Russell Loves the Nursery School for Visually Handicapped Children here. She modeled an Adrian gown; then did a strip teaset ending in a gold bathing suit, all for sweet charity's sake. The stint was the high light of the party.

lipllllllilli ir jihiVtXt -'--'---I 'K 4 Tv 1 Bflllllll During the early stage of ma means smaller roles." ternity, she called me and said, enture movie a nervous B. "Hedda, my doctor's forbidden me in Iier Life Laughter That did it! The next day I changed agents and now I'll take my chances in A productions to do anything strenuous but being idle is driving me to distraction. Do you suppose that school would let me teach some of those little blind children to swim?" 1 only." BY E. J. STRONG Has Good Role The actress, who began her Above the door of a large brick home in the 700 block on Beverly Drive is written in said it was a wonderful idea.

The nursery thought so too. theatrical career about the time most girls her age are worrying spirit, if not in stone, "All who pass this portal must be quick to laughter. The home is But Esther had difficulty in find what to wear at the high school that of Rosalind Russell, film actress, and her husoana, rreaericK frisson, me nrsi cn terion in considering house guests is, "Do they laugh?" dance, Is inaugurating her "new" career fairly auspiciously with a ing a suitable pool. A surprising number of our good citizens told her she was welcome to their pools personally, but not the children. The management of the Miss Dell has "worked in 27 films since she handed the wardrobe mistress at Earl Carroll's Theater her costume, picked up her final pay check and kissed the girls good-by.

She started at Metro in "Ziegfeld Girl" playing, of all things, a chorus girl. Then according to the pert young woman, she traded her scanties for a cowgirl's garb. Commencement Time I ate dust with Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson in their westerns," she said, "and what an experience. We turned out epics in seven days. "In the past five years I have worked at seven different studios, and I.

wouldn't have missed a minute of it. But there comes a time when every 'studenf wants to graduate. The other night 1 good part in 20th Century-Fox picture, "Ticket to Tomahawk." its her ability to laugh away trouble with keeping her serene She'll be in stellar company, in Chase. Hotel in Santa Monica through it all. cluding Dan Dailey, Anne Baxter, Walter Brennan and others.

The onetime queen of the sophisticated farce recalled some of finally came to the rescue. Great Physical Help "I was under contract to RKO her lighter stints, "His Girl Fri for four years," she continued. day," "My Sister Eileen," etc. "When I started the project," said Esther, "I thought it would 'Everyone there treated me won derfully, but when administra This home attitude is being strongly reflected In Rosalind's film career. For the time being, at least, Roz, is through with heavy drama and is glorying In a series of comedies.

Must Love the Water On hearing of this new trend In the Russell career we went out to her home to find out about it. We had just seen a layout in a national picture magazine showing her up to her bust in evening clothes and up to her neck in water In a Columbia stu en for several consecutive years, three Academy Award nominations, awards for wartime service, awards for co-operation with the press, awards from foreign critics, awards from Ireland and Los Angeles businesswomen and a few of the usual etcs. Lives Her Roles Miss Russell also has had her full share of the usual film star misadventures. She has had her jewels stolen, been prematurely reported engaged, haled into traffic court several times, had her and remembered how much fun they were, how easy they were for her to Then came the be fun for the kids. I had no idea of the actual therapeutic value it tions change well, you know how it is.

The new boss, wants to make his own discoveries. My last appearance there was in plunge into the heavy roles in "Sister Kenny" and "Mourning Becomes Electra" for which she fP CLy4SS Myrna Dell, Hollywood-born actress, is forsaking films because she says they eventually stifle, ambition. The blue-eyed blonde's career takes an uptvard turn in 20th's picture, "Ticket to Tomahawk" Roughshod After that I worked won Academy Award nomina sneaked into a theater and saw mvself as leading lady in an ad- i n.u in voiumuia iusi lor vjuiu, Republic's 'Rose of the Yukon, tions. "When I am working in would have. "The exercise did wonders for their bodies.

And it also got rid of a lot of what's called 'blind-isms' mental complexes caused by their handicap. I had to explain things very carefully. When I told the kids to put their left hand forward, one little girl, for Turn to Page 4, Column 5 Search for Danger and Univer- highly dramatic- role I feel sal's 'The Western bouts with the studios, worked weighed down with worry. The herself into a state of ill-health night before going on a set, I feel Home-towner Handicapped While Miss Dell has kept busy and got her nose bloody as an CIRCUS FILM TO FULFILL OLD DREAM OF DE MILLE Turn to Page 3, Column 4 independent producer. She cred' as an actress ever since her debut.

she is of the opinion that it is harder for a girl born and brought up in Hollywood to get the big 11 i.u -Tr break" than it is for an out "I have no story or stars In sider to achieve quick fame. mind. First I am going to travel When you know many people connected with the film business with the circus for a period of preliminary observation. It will be in the heart of America, starting in Chicago, Later I expect to join for a long time they are apt to pass you over when choosing can dlo water tank. The story said she had spent an entire day in the tank doing a sequence for "Tell It to the Judge." The pictures made one feel mentally soggy and aroused the thought that Rosalind must have had enough of water for a long time.

But where do you think we found her when we reached her home? Climbing out of the pool. She received us, appropriately, dripping wet. Proud of Her Son Her 0-year-old son Lance, a chubby, husky lad, large for his years, paid no attention to visitors. He continued to plow his way around the pool with a fairly expert crawl stroke. His mother looked at him with indulgence, pleased with the knowledge that her years of worry about Lance falling into the pool and drowning were over.

didates for stardom," she opined. the circus at its winter quarters It's the brand new face that in Florida for further observation proves intriguing, it seems. of that nhase. but always I will try to keep in mind its signifi Ambition Still Strong However, don't think I'm the BY EDWIN SCHALLERT When Cecil B. De Mille starts filming "The Greatest Show on Earth" in 1950 he will fulfill a 10-year dream for a mammoth motion picture.

Paramount's super-duper showman, who has gloried in a more- extensive output of screen spectacles than any other producer-director, has the documentary evidence to prove that he first started working on a circus subject in 1940. Because other projects intruded, this never became fully activated, and just about the time De Mille had decided to do something with the story he learned that David O. Selznick had made a deal with Ringling Brothers and Barnum cance for people in general. bitter type or that I'm not thank- show from Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey interests. The deal was made directly with Henry Ginsberg, vice-president in charge of production.

Ginsberg knew about the De Mille dream. John Ringling North, head of the circus, also had inklings, as did Milton Pickman of the Ferry and Pickman agency who helped negotiate. Coincidence Fate played the biggest part in the whole transaction. Selznick gave tip his ambition to produce the picture, even though he saw its exceptional possibilities. De Mille again was putting forth inquiries about the film at.

the very moment North and Pickman arrived on the scene, along with others concerned. Everything dovetailed perfectly, "Already I have become aware of one thing, namely that there is not an actor in Hollywood who hasn't at some time or other been a tightrope walker, according to his own story. The people who have evidenced interest in ap pearing in a circus picture are legion. They all profess to have appropriate backgrounds for an ful for the breaks I've received so far, It's just that too many picture sometimes stifle that burning ambition to have a brilliant career." Miss Dell's desire to become a top-notch actress is not just something she dreamed tip herself. You see her mother, known as Carol Price, was a silent film player, and daughter has had her heart set on a cinema career ever since childhood.

Right Man' Hasn't Arrived The actress is single. Why? "Well," she will tell you, "I gues3 the right man hasn't caught up and Bailey for "The. Greatest assignment. Expects Pleasant Job Show on He therefore wrote finis to his enterprise about "I am sure we are going to have no trouble securing the right play two years ago. Finally Gained Rights "This is not to be a history of the circus' De Mille said.

"I am hoping to" show instead what it means to people in all walks of ers for this picture. It appears We sat beside the pool and Rosalind, probably the most articulate film star in pictures today, talked about drama, both heavy and light, laughter and comedy. Has Vps and Downs Many things have happened to this tall 38-year-old Celtic bru-rette since she left Barnard College and enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She has had her distinctions No. 1 bachelor girl, ne of the 10 best dressed worn- to mean something akin to laric tor everyone, but assure life as an American 'institution.

Now he has launched on it anew as one of the most elaborately planned endeavors of his long, you it's going to be a long, diffi' cult job, as far as I am concerned, We may have to touch on its growth and development, though A A3 I in. with me yet." lustrous screen career. Through While Myrna Dell seems to be only incidentally, We will tell the story of the circus and its people the easy going, fun-loving "I know it will take a full year to -accumulate the data, and prelum to Page 3, Column 1 an unusual train of circumstances Paramount acquired the right to do the story about the big top SVPER SHOWMEN Cecil B. De. Mille, left, and John Ringling North have formed an alliance to bring to the screen "The Greatest Show on Earth," mammoth spectacle of the big top, which will fulfill dream that famous film producer has therithed for decade.

ki relation to all other people. Turn to Page 3, Column.