SHELLEY & JANET: WISE UP!

NOT BEAUTIFUL
How does Shelley Winters rate the big publicity build-up Hollywood always offers? Sure she has sex appeal. What shapely girl doesn't? But as for looks -- she's out!
I haven't met one person yet who thinks she's beautiful. And I've never seen an actress with such messy hair. If Hollywood can spend so much publicity on her, why don't they put her wise to a hairdresser? -- Mrs. Emily Bortel, Grand Rapids, Ohio.

IMMODEST
Why doesn't someone wise up Janet Leigh and some of the other younger stars about some of their indecent evening dresses? In my opinion they are a disgrace to the female sex. You never see any of the older stars like Loretta Young, Irene Dunne and Barbara Stanwyck wearing daring evening dresses. They use their heads for more than just a hat rack! -- Janet Robey, Detroit, Michigan.

Letters to the Editor, Motion Picture magazine, 1954

A REGULAR VANDAL-A!

THE GUEST NO ONE INVITES AGAIN IS:

* A LAZY DAISY
* A LEM-ME GIRL
* A PLAIN JANE

THAT CAMERA she's toting on a tippy-canoe ride: It's expensive; it belongs to her hostess. Like the swim suit she's wearing -- and the tennis racket she'll use later. Don't be a lem-me girl ("lend me" this or that). When visiting, bring your own sports props; why inconvenience your friends -- or risk being dubbed a vandal? Dodge calendar-time risks, too. You get safety you trust with Kotex, for this extra absorbent napkin gives protection that doesn't fail! -- From an ad in Movie Life magazine, 1954.

A STRONG DISLIKE FOR JOANIE

"JOAN Fontaine makes the hit parade in a social sense, for she is gay, gregarious, charming and witty and is invited to all the finest parties in town. But she is alleged to be almost hated by a certain group of -- her leading men!
HER fellow actors claim she's utterly ruthless and that she knows every way in which a leading woman can spoil an actor's lines -- and uses them!
ANY picture made with Joan means a constant battle for the leading man to get his face into the picture, and they end up with a strong dislike for Joanie." -- Motion Picture magazine, 1951

GOD GIVETH THE SHOULDER...

"I thought if I played an erudite, articulate person who was multifaceted and who was struggling between the maculine and the feminine sides of his/her nature that this was a great opportunity to do lots of amazing things as an actress. I was really attuned to the fact that I really needed to do something that showed that I had more ability than I was given credit for at that time -- that I wasn't just a body and a face."

--Racquel Welch recalling her role in MYRA BRECKENRIDGE.

FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE LIFE IS NEVER FUN

WHAT WOULD CARY GRANT DO?

"Cary never gave autographs, but his turn-downs of requests for them were such studies in charm that I often thought they served as come-ons even to people who knew wouldn't actually get one. In any case, this proved itself on this occasion -- and, as usual, Cary was up to the challenge. To one woman who gushed 'My friends will never believe I met you unless...,' Cary gently interrupted, 'You mean you have friends like that? You really shouldn't.' To a man who began, 'I hate to bother you, but...,' Cary's interruption was firmer. 'Don't ever,' he advised, 'do anything you hate.' And finally, to a third man, who started 'My wife will kill me...,' Cary was also admonitory. 'Tsk, tsk,' he smiled. 'You really shouldn't have that kind of relationship -- it's too dangerous.'"-- Cleveland Amory on having drinks with Cary Grant at the Polo Lounge. From his book "The Cat Who Came For Christmas."

MY RULES FOR ROMANCE ARE...(#3)

CLAUDETTE COLBERT:" I'm strictly of the old school. I think the bad taste some girls flaunt by their intimate confidences is even worse than indiscriminate love-making, if possible! Men are more decent -- most men wouldn't think of discussing the girl who had their affection." -- Photoplay magazine, 1943

AMONG THE LESSER PEOPLE

HOLLYWOOD is far less than enthusiastic about another of the fans' favorites, June Allyson. They say June has a habit of acting indifferent to those who work on her sets, that she often forgets to say hello to the grips, and that she's been guilty of being less than cordial to those who knew her when.
WHILE JUNE may not be a glowing favorite among the lesser people in Hollywood, she's very popular in the upper-bracket social set in which she travels. This is due, in part, to the social prestige of her husband, Dick Powell, who introduced her to the Leonard Firestones, the Edgar Bergens, the Justin Darts and others who rate high socially. And with these people June is warm and gay and thoughtful! -- From Motion Picture magazine, 1951

AND WHO'S CLAIRE TREVOR PLAYING?

THEY MEET ON AN ADVENTURE THAT SPANS THE 2400 MILES FROM HONOLULU TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY. OUT OF THIS MEETING OF STRANGERS COMES ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY, THE STORY OF EVERY KIND OF LOVE THERE IS !

LYDIA: Who was as low as high society could get!
CHILDS: A wealthy collector -- of other men's wives!
MAY: Strictly a night-time woman!
NELL: Still burning with honeymoon fever!
DAN: Who had used up his nine lives, and was starting on ten!
SALLY: Who lived in a world of whistles!

--from an ad in Movie Life magazine, 1954

VERA, HONEY!

"Sometimes Hollywood's no different than any other boy-meets-girl town. When I asked Rock Hudson why Vera-Ellen was dating A.C. Lyles every night, Rock said "Well, you see, I'm trying to save some money." Vera, honey, I didn't realize you were so expensive!" -- Motion Picture magazine, 1951

REMEMBERING RONA BARRETT

from “When Watching TV You Can Be Sure of Seeing…” in “Mad” October 1972

TRY ALL 3

DOES THAT VERY SWISH SHINDIG CALL FOR:

• A new hairdo?
• Your usual style?

Yah -- you look different, all right, with that new siren-ish chignon! In fact you're a "stranger" in Harry's eyes -- so now you feel unsure. A special occasion's no time to try new hairdo tricks. But at "that" time, it's no trick to be sure about whether Regular, Junior or Super Kotex suits you best. Try all 3. Each size has chafe-free softness, holds its shape!
--From an ad in Movie Life magazine, 1954.

A DIANA DORS STORY

Ms. Dors was born in a small town in the north of England. Her birth name was Diana Fluck.

In the mid-'50s, she was tapped by Hollywood as a Marilyn Monroe rival. She still had one English picture awaiting release before she departed. Her studio decided to premiere the film in her home town as the feature event of a Diana Dors Homecoming Day to celebrate her departure.

The mayor arranged to have bleachers set up in the town square, erected a stage and hired a local band for the event -- all part of a ceremony in which he would present her with the key to the city. In preparing his speech, he was very conscious of making the obvious mistake in pronouncing her name and rehearsed the presentation endlessly. "Diana Fluck. Diana Fluck. Fluck. Fluck. Fluck. Fluck. Fluck."

The big day arrives. Flags are flying, the band is playing, the bleachers are filled and the mayor is standing on the stage awaiting the star's arrival. A black Bentley quietly pulls into the square from which emerges Ms. Dors dressed in a red scoop-neck peasant blouse, gold toreador pants and wedgies. She insinuates herself up the stairs to the stage where the mayor waits with a giant key to the city.

The mayor is nonplused. He has never seen such a voluptuous vision and is clearly rattled by her. The band stops playing, the citizens hush and he begins his speech, unable to keep his dazzled eyes from straying from his prepared text to ogle her.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he begins, then sneaks the first of several peeks at the blonde goddess. "Today we have with us one of England's greatest stars who will soon be departing for a brilliant new career in Hollywood."

He cops another surreptitious glance at Dors, then continues.

"Moviegoers all over the world know her as Diana Dors. But those of you who have grown up in our town will always remember her as..."

He takes an anxious breath and, tremblingly, gazes at her once more.

"...our own Diana Clunt."

-- As told by the still-mourned but never-forgotten Joel E. Siegel (aka MovieMan on Songbirds.)

TALLU & MAE STORIES

ONE OF THE (arguably) endearing eccentricities of the late/great Tallulah Bankhead was a penchant for flashing. During the making of Hitchcock's 1944 LIFEBOAT some members of the cast got together and reported to Hitch that it had become very distracting having Tallu make it clear that she had no use for underwear. Hitch paused for a moment, then, thinking out loud, said "Well, I don't know if this is a problem for costume, hair and makeup or props."

DURING AN EARLY 1960s run of her play SEXTET at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miss West, always the gracious star, made time after the show to greet the fans and sign autographs. When a young man approached her and gushed the usual compliments, he added that he had just seen SHE DONE HIM WRONG at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Mae, blinked once or twice and said "Museum? What do you mean museum?"

WHETHER IT'S DANCING OR BOWLING OR WHATEVER...

WHEN A BLIND DATE'S DISAPPOINTING, WOULD YOU:

• Back out gracefully?
• Make like a martyr?
• Grin and bear it?

Your blind date's gruesome? Grin and bear it! Even stupor-man has feelings. Besides, he probably has friends...dream-beam material you'll get to know, in time. So stay in the picture; whether it's dancing, bowling or whatever. And on calendar days let Kotex keep you comfortable, with out-of-this-world softness that lasts because Kotex is made to stay soft while you wear it.

JUST AS SPEEDY!

"RACE GENTRY says he was born lucky. When he was 12, he found $125 in an old drain pipe. When he was 17, agent Henry Wilcox drove into the gas station where he was working and said: "Would you like to be in pictures?" A few months later he found himself playing with Rock Hudson at UI in The Lawless Breed, and he's still there, doing very nicely. His latest is Black Horse Canyon.
Race was born John Papiro, son of an Italian jewelry manufacturer, in Los Angeles on February 23, 1934. The name Race is more appropriate, for he grew up to be a hot rod enthusiast. Except for dates with many gals, racing is still his favorite fun. Fans predict stardom will be just as speedy!" -- Movie Life, 1954

BUT WET SHE'S TERRIFIC!

"THE OTHER DAY Esther Williams, having broken four dates for a publicity layout, arrived an hour late, much to the annoyance of a half-dozen people who'd been waiting for her.
Esther appears to be too much concerned with herself and her family to care much about the other fellow. She blithely goes her own way, suiting things to her own convenience, even if her actions may hurt others who have to take second place to her.
ANOTHER THING, many people think Esther talks too much about her money and her shrewd financial investments. Maybe it's just plain jealousy, but everyone seems to get a little irked at the way she brags about her ability to pyramid money. Some say if she lost some of that smugness she'd be very popular, indeed, for she has the qualities of humor and humanness to make her a wonderful person." -- Motion Picture and Television Magazine, 1951

MY RULES FOR ROMANCE ARE...(#2)

"When I married Pev Marley, I was thankful that there was nothing in my past that I would be ashamed of. Remember, regardless of what men say to you, they will never, in their hearts, respect you if you make yourself cheap!" -- Linda Darnell, Photoplay Magazine, 1943