You Read It First In Vintage Paparazzi

Tangled Hearts: The Julie London-Bobby Troup engagement looks off again, and the reason could be a handsome guy you know well, one Richard Egan. Which leaves Pat Hardy, Dick’s long-time girl friend, dangling from the end of his short announcement, “There will be no marriage for Pat and me.” . . . Ben Gage, Esther Williams’ hubby, lived on uneasy street while Esther was in Rome making “Raw Wind in Eden.” Seems Esther was having a ball and wasn’t too eager about leaving the land of spaghetti and meatballs . . . The reason Jeff Chandler, in Rome for the same picture, flew home before wife Marjorie is a simple one: This marriage is once again as shaky as Elvis doing “Hound Dog,” and Jeff wanted to get away fast and think it over. The decision? Next issue, please.

Location News: At Gregory Peck’s invitation, I flew up to the “Big Country” location near Stockton, Cal., where nary a telephone pole or pumping oil well spoiled the 1870 view. Here, on a dusty, deserted cattle ranch, an entire western village had been constructed, replete with cowboys, saloons and “ornery” villains. And durned if we didn’t almost turn actor. “Come on,” Greg insisted. “Put on some western clothes and play ‘extra’ with my three boys over there.” And sure enough, there stood Jonathan, Stephen and Carey Peck, playing local kids all agog at their dude Dad riding into town in an ancient stagecoach. I got out of there fast. No acting for me!

Inside Stuff: That the Pat Boones are a happy couple is a well known fact. That the Pat Boones live under a shadow of fear is known to very few. Shirley’s RH blood factor, that makes child bearing a hazard, is a constant worry to Pat and his lovely wife. And yet the Boones are so eager for a family, Shirley is willing to take the risk. So far, the three Boone youngsters and Shirley have come through safely. But after the newest arrival, their medico has said “no more.” And the Boones are listening.

The Lowdown: Friends are pretty certain Johnny Stamponato will be husband number five for Lana Turner. And for several reasons, they’re not happy about it Universal Studios isn’t exactly publishing the fact that John Saxon drew more fan mail than Rock Hudson for two months in a row. In fairness to Rock, he was in Italy during that time making “A Farewell to Arms.” Nevertheless, Johnny is U-I’s big news for 1958, and until proper vehicles come along, they prefer to stay calm . . . Ted Wick is Tommy Sands’ new manager (a modified version of Elvis’ Col. Parker), but I can tell you firsthand that Mrs. Sands is the big wheel in that set-up. Tommy’s Mom wasn’t exactly happy about Tom’s ditching high school two months before graduation to take on a singing job. But now that the decision has been made, Mrs. S. will see to it her son is done right by. And who can blame-her? . . . Mae West will sizzle the pages of her biography, “Queen of Sex,” with stories about Jayne M. and Mickey Hargitay. Seems Jayne stole Mickey, the former “Mr. Universe,” right out of Mae’s nightclub act. And Mae can’t forget it. Neither can Mickey’s former wife, so rumors have it . . . Speaking of Jayne, hers was the party of the month recently. The pink paint, the pink champagne and the pink swimming pool were all wet at the fling Jayne flung to christen her new pool. Mickey had only just completed “pinking” the fence and the walls around the pool before the guests arrived.

As a hostess, Jayne is strictly a glamour girl. In a white satin, blue rhinestone studded bathing suit, Jayne didn’t greet the guests exactly, but did grant interviews, pose for photographers and coo with Mickey. The buffet table, also soaking wet from champagne foam, was strangely bare of glasses, canapes and organization of any sort.

Guests stepped carefully, to avoid trampling the dozen or so cats, of various sizes and breeds, that romped, yowled and mewed underfoot. At the bottom of the pool reposed a lifesize mosaic portrait of Jayne, executed by Mickey, of course, while over the fence on the hill above, peered two utterly out-of-sorts great Danes, the size of Metro’s Leo the Lion, and twice as fierce.

The men outnumbered the women twenty to one, but were little missed. Like flies around a honeypot, reporters and photographers swarmed around the shapely hostess, who announced she is buying a larger house upon her return from Europe, with a larger swimming pool, which, of course, will need christening. And that means another party. I can hardly wait.

Surprise Party: Yvonne de Carlo’s birthday came along while she and I were in Stockton, Cal., visiting “The Big Country” location. Yvonne’s husband, Bob Morgan, who is in the picture, threw a party at Bruno’s, the local bistro, that was a real surprise. Poor Yvonne—her foot in a cast (the foot that accidentally went through a glass door) and expecting her second child any minute—looked anything but a party girl. Seated between Yvonne and Charlton Heston, I half-expected De Mille to rush in demanding another take. And do you know Charlton constantly doodles on the tablecloth? “What does your wife think of this?” I asked him. He merely moaned.

Carroll Baker brought both husband Jack Garfein and eight-month-old Blanche Joy, explaining “No baby sitters.” The Garfeins’ second heir is due in March. The Pecks left early. When an actor turns producer, with all the attending cares and tribulations, how they do change.

People: Kay Kendall’s sparkling personality enchants every male who meets her. So bright is Kay she creates the illusion of great beauty—which, off-screen, she really isn’t . . . Greg Bautzer was so distressed at the loss of the little blonde Yorkshire he’d given his wife, Dana Wynters, as a gift, he offered a reward of $1,000 for its return. Dana was in Europe for a film at the time . . . On “The Young Lions” set they were calling Marlon “The Snooper.” He liked to probe into every department of the film, wanting to know why such a set is being used, why he must say this or that; why, why, why. Which only makes him the great actor he is.

More Eddie and Debbie: When Debbie Reynolds telephoned the BIG NEWS that a second baby was on the way, I sighed with relief and genuine happiness. That the Fishers have been “tense” about things has been known to a few of us for some time. That Debbie has carefully guided her marriage over many rough waters has also been known. Now, with a sister or brother for little Carrie next spring, those of us who are devoted to the Fishers hope both Debbie and Eddie will take this time to mature and grow up to their responsibilities.

Kim: Kim Novak got everything she asked for in her battle with Columbia Studios and more. Columbia granted their “Miss Lavender Rebel” that promised raise in salary, plus a percentage of her pictures and a brand new house, limousine with chauffeur, and the privilege of taking her favorite hairdresser to Paramount for “Amongst the Dead,” in which she costars with Jimmy Stewart. The deadlock between Kim and the studio ended when the Columbia Board of Directors in New York screamed at Hollywood heads the big question of ancient vintage: “Why are you killing the goose that . . . etc.” And that did it . . . Kim’s romance with Mac Krim is about over. Speculation is the Bandini affair will come to nothing. With everything she wants, why should Kim renounce it all for life as Mrs. Bandini of Rome, Italy? But don’t bet on anything. Not anything in Hollywood, anyhow.

For Your Information: Rock Hudson has had it. Not fully recovered from the too-rich food after four months in Italy on “Farewell to Arms,” facing a $1,000,000 court suit filed by director Raoul Walsh for alleged non-fulfillment of four promised films, and irritated by columnists’ references to “domestic problems,” Rock would like nothing better than to crawl under one—rock, that is—for a good, long rest . . . Friends are concerned over the persistence of Jerry Lewis in trodding the semi-serious path laid down by Chaplin. They claim Jerry ain’t the type for pitiful patheticness . . . The town is crazy over that former tourist office clerk, Miiko Taka, star of “Sayonara,” but wonder about the limited possibilities of her roles. “It doesn’t matter,” Miiko answered. “Memories of ‘Sayonara’ will last a lifetime” . . . James MacArthur started a bald-head fad at Harvard. After that ghastly topknot of a Mohawk brave for “Light in the Forest,” it was either shave it off or go in hiding . . . Prediction: Nick Todd, handsome younger brother of Pat Boone, will have it made on records and in Hollywood in no time at all . . . Jean Simmons will go right on living in that Wilshire Boulevard motel while husband Stewart Granger is movie-making in Europe for nine long months.

As Hollywood Sees It: The Red Skeltons are held together only by the critical illness of their nine-year-old son, Richard. Otherwise, Georgia and Red are worlds apart . . . Word’s out that “someone from the front office” got to Tommy Sands about his one-girl dating. Thought it bad for his career. From now on, Mollie Bee must share Tommy with other dolls . . . Yul Brynner’s photographic layout of Cary Grant and Sophia Loren on the “Houseboat” are the envy of every camera popper in town. If many-talented Yul ever seriously lets fly with his expert “geetar” strumming, Elvis may curdle around the edges with envy. The only thing Yul hasn’t perfected is fibbing. Those many-splendored tales Yul spins about his birth-place and childhood are taller than Clint Walker of TV’s “Cheyenne.” And Clint’s a mile high, any day . . . Jack Palance is the grumpiest actor in town since the judge upped his monthly support to estranged wife Virginia from her requested $3,500 to a neat $4,600. Jack is so mad he could spit . . . One of the most interesting twosomes in town these days is Tony Perkins and pretty Maria Cooper, Gary’s daughter. Tony dated quite a few of the Hollywood younger set, but none as long as Maria!

Purely Personal: Tab Hunter’s new recording, “Don’t Let It Get Around,” was made with Warners’ blessings (see pages 46 and 47). His “Learning to Love” recording, the theme song from “Lafayette Escadrille,” canceled all objections Mike Todd, who leased Madison Square Garden for the first birthday celebration of his film “Around the World,” will probably go broke trying to launch a publicity campaign to the moon.

Kids: Watch for Jim Mitchum, sixteen-year-old son of Bob Mitchum, playing his Dad’s brother in “Thunder Road.” . . . Insiders claim Pat Wayne, who worked all through “The Young Land” with the gun Big John toted through his first big hit, “Stagecoach,” is determined to become a priest and wants no part of an actor’s life . . . David Nelson, son of TV’s Ozzie and Harriet, is doing fine in his first big role, a dramatic job in “Peyton Place.” And his brother, Ricky, is killing teenagers cold with his first record, “I’m Walkin’.” No doubt about it: The second generation has it!

—BY CAL YORK

 

It is a quote. PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE DECEMBER 1957