You Read It First In Vintage Paparazzi

Bits and Pieces: A long and amusing letter accompanied Tony Randall’s gift to me of his new platter, “Bits and Pieces.” I wonder if Tony didn’t snitch that title from me, after all. I’ve been using that heading for a long, long time. . . . Charlton Heston feels people who live in glass houses should never move to New York. Charlton had no sooner taken possession of his glass house, atop a California mountain, than he took off for Broadway and the play “The Tumbler.” And there stands that beautiful California vista with no one to view it. . . . The feeling is that Anna Kashfi Brando was badly advised by well-meaning friends in her arguments with Marlon over visitation rights to their son Chris. But Superior Court Judge Allen T. Lynch finally took care of that ugly mess and now Marlon is permitted to have the boy he adores for short periods twice a week. . . . Liz Taylor, in establishing a trust fund for her three children—“those grave, those quiet, those questioning children” as someone termed them—made a wise move. These serious little ones seem to need all sorts of security—financial and emotional. Understand Liz’s son Chris imitates Eddie Fisher’s singing. gestures and all.

Close-ups: John Saxon is quietly dating other girls. “Vicki and I were never married,” he now confesses, “and she’s free . . . Jack Lemmon would have had a stroke had he known how frantically Glenn Ford tried to date his best girl, Felicia Farr, before he left for England. On the other hand, it may have jolted Jack into realizing what a prize he has in Felicia. . . . Millie Perkins took off for London to visit her best beau, Dean Stockwell,without a word to anyone. Dean is making a movie in England and Millie couldn’t bear the separation. . . . Doris Day is all ablaze since Rex Harrison agreed to co-star in her “Matilda Shouted Fire.” Rex is one of the best in the acting business and Doris is thrilled to the absolute bursting point. Peter Lawford hustled over to furrier, Abe Lipsey. and ordered a full length. broadtail coat as a gift to his wife the day her brother, SenatorJohn Kennedy, became a presidential nominee. And should Senator Kennedy win the presidency, wont it seem strange to have Peter and his pals, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., roaming around the White House? . . . Judi Meredith’s romance with Barry Coe may have ended in disappointment but you couldn’t tell it from Judi these days. The town’s bachelors are really giving Miss Meredith a whirl.

Fads and Foibles: It’s chic to wear red satin slippers with pink evening dresses. At Johnny Mathis’ opening at the Cocoanut Grove, Zsa Zsa Gabor trotted from table to table to show off her red slippers. “It’s Dior’s idea, dollink,” she enthused. A few evenings previous, Zsa Zsa showed up at an elegant party all done up in white chiffon edged with ostrich feathers. After she leaned over to kiss me, I combed ostrich fuzz out of my hair for a week. A beautiful and amusing woman this Zsa Zsa. . . .

Babies, Babies Everywhere:—“I want a child of my own,” confided Ava Gardner some time ago. “I will never be lonely again if only I can have a child.” Ava’s dream is now about to come true and adoption papers may be taken out any day now. . . . Steve Lawrence tore up from his Army post at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, to be with his wife, singer Eydie Gorme, when their son was born at Doctor’s Hospital in New York. Papa Jacques Charrier greeted the crowds outside his Paris apartment with a big happy grin. “It’s a boy,” he called. “We call him Nicolas Jacques.” And so Brigitte Bardot Charrier had her first child, while in a cafe nearby Jacques ordered champagne for all. . . . And if Loretta Young isn’t just about the youngest and happiest grandmother that ever so gracefully swung through an open TV door, then I give up. Loretta’s daughter’s baby girl is, of course, its grandmother’s Pa is pride and joy.

Mail Box Corner: Letters and greetings poured in this month. Among them, one from my friend Van Johnson,now living in Switzerland. I remember so well when Van’s popularity among fans equaled that of Elvis today. Unfortunately, his marriage to Evy Wynn, divorced wife of his best friend Keenan Wynn, spelled doom to the big freckled-faced redhead and today his few movies are usually made in Europe. . . . Will Marilyn Gavranplease send me her address once again. I seem to have mislaid it and so many readers want to join the Nelson Eddy fan club. . . . Marlene Schultz of Mayville, Wisconsin, is a real Earl Holliman fan and would love an autographed picture of her idol. Earl—please oblige. . . . Vivian Nelson of Helena, Montana, is so grateful for the mention of those former screen idols and hopes we keep stressing “those stars of yesterday.” . . . Anna Van Hausen of Paterson, New Jersey, writes that hers is the only National Fan Club for Robert Fullerof the “Laramie” TV series and tells how devoted Robert is to the club. . . . M. A. Pearce writes to ask “Who is Ralph Meeker?” Let’s say he’s that handsome and virile actor of stage and screen who has been woefully neglected by Hollywood, but may soon appear in a TV series. . . . And to Bobby Jean of Mississippi, start right where you are to act in school plays and little theaters and one day, my dear, you may be discovered. I do hope so.

A Line or Two: Ask those seasoned men who drive stars around studio lots who their favorite is, and they come up with one answer—Barbara Stanwyck. “She’s the greatest, the most thoughtful, the most human,” they claim. I decided she was also the handsomest woman in town, with her natural grey hair and trim figure. . . . Steve Boyd, the Messala of “Ben Hur,” seems to me one of the loneliest souls in town. “I’m alone, but not lonely,” he confided. I can tell him if Connie Francis had her way, Steve’s life would be a happy one. . . . If “The Alaskans” TV series folds, as rumored, maybe Dorothy Provine will respond to Buddy Bregman’swooing, and Roger Moore will play the lead in Errol Flynn’s story, “My Wicked Wicked Ways.”

A Day at the Studio: Bob Horton sat at the table behind me and Ward Bond two tables away, at lunch in the dining room of Universal studios. Even with his arch enemy, Ward Bond, nearby, Bob seemed more relaxed than usual, it seemed to me. I wonder why? . . . John Ireland, David Wayne, Venetia Stevenson, cowboys, Indians, agents and writers, were all milling about discussing their favorite subject television. But over on Stage 26, Kirk Douglas was still making love to Jean Simmons, for that ever lovin’, ever livin’ movie “Spartacus” that goes on and on and on. And on Stage 18, producer Ross Hunter’s “Portrait in Black” was in full bloom with Lana Turner and Sandra Dee in the midst of a heavy, dramatic scene. And what two beauties they are, again playing mother and daughter as in “Imitation of Life.” As I watched Lana through the scene, I suddenly recalled a prediction she’d mentioned to me all of ten years ago. It seems an astrologer had told her that no matter how glaring the headlines, the scandals, the tragedies that lay ahead, her career would go right on zooming upward. And how right he proved to be. . . .

Later, in her dressing room, Sandra Dee had me drooling over the Jean Louis wardrobe she wears in the movie and which the studio gave her outright as a gift. And what a figure for those dreamy, dreamy clothes! It’s a fact her waist measures 19” ! But oh those clothes! Grey tweed suit and coat, green chiffon with ermine-trimmed green velvet coat, a brown tweed with beaver trim and a beaver hat. Sandra’s mother was all excited about an original painting Ross Hunter had given her and Sandra for their new house. Sandra has another “Gidget” movie after “Portrait” and then she flies to Europe for “Romanoff and Juliet.” . . . On a Monday, I stood chatting away with Jeanne Crain on Rodeo Drive, and the following day, Jeanne and Paul Brinkman became the parents of little Mary Jo, their sixth child.

Young Set: George Hamilton and Susan Kohner played brother and sister in “All the Fine Young Cannibals,” but off-screen, they date like crazy. George, in his Ivy League tux, and Susan, in her Sophia original, step high, wide and handsome. After the release of “Home From the Hill,” M-G-M expects young Hamilton to emerge “your favorite.” . . . It’s The Thing to get away from curls and swirls and wear one’s hair in a smooth sweep. Sandra Dee calls hers the “Dee Sideswipe” and naturally on her it’s divine. . . . It’s smart these days out here to wear three shades of eye shadow, one above the other—black next to the lashes, with a line of green above and finally topped by a thin line of blue. So mysterious. . . . It’s elegant, too, to wear jeweled chokers but it’s more fun to wear fake ones, gobs and gobs of them. . . . And if Gloria Swanson is a living example (and she is) of health food diets—organic vegetables and estrogen free meats—then it’s sensible to get on the wheat germ bandwagon. What a beauty this Swanson! And at her age, yet.

Orange Blossoms: The bride wore a plain silk dress and a temperature of 103 when Julie London married her long-time suitor. Bobby Troup, in her home just before a group of guests were due to arrive. “I have the flu and I’m married.” Julie greeted her friends who weren’t sure whether to shower the bride with rice or aspirin. . . . “The courtship is now over.” Darryl Hickman assured Pamela Lincoln after fifteen months of wooing. “Now we get married,” Darryl said. “Yes dear.” sighed Pamela as Darryl led his lady love to the marriage license bureau. . . . “It’s almost spring and now Lance and I will be married as we told you.” Jill St. John said. Which is wonderful with me, as I’m fond of both Jill and the handsome Lance Reventlow. “And I worked out the problem of Lance’s sport car racing,” Jill added. “I won’t go to see him race and then I won’t get so nervous about it.” And Lance’s mother, the fabulous Barbara Hutton, has given her approval of the bride, I’m told. . . . Fess Parker took his secretary Marcy Rinehart as his ever-loving bride in the town of Santa Barbara where the couple will make their home. Fess will commute to Hollywood in his own helicopter. if you please, and Mrs. Parker will continue as her husband’s business partner in his record company and various other enterprises. Which makes it cozy. . . . Hollywood, it seems, has its eye on a young beauty called Juliet Prowse. But so has Frank Sinatra. Juliet and Frank made “Can Can” together and now they are both constantly in each other’s company. Wonder if anything will come from this.

Around Town: Debbie Reynolds arrived home from the day’s shooting on “Pleasure of His Company” with a story for little Carrie. “Today I wore a beautiful dress that one day will be yours.” she told Carrie. “It’s a bride’s dress made of wonderful old lace and I’m putting it away for the time when you grow up. fall in love and become a bride.” “Will it be tomorrow?” Carrie asked. “No, not tomorrow.” Debbie assured her. “but someday.” After Debbie’s name appeared on the worst-dressed poll. Paramount gave Debbie the Edith Head wardrobe she wears in this particular movie—the wedding dress among them. . . . When Kay Gable’s children “Bunker” and Joanie had their tonsils removed, the kids insisted Clark and Kay stay overnight in the hospital. “For a minute there I was afraid I’d have to promise to have my tonsils out, too.” Clark grinned. He’s so crazy about those two children it really wouldn’t have surprised me at all if he did have them removed. The Gables had just moved bag and baggage into their new Palm Springs house only a few weeks before. and had to return to town because of this tonsil business.

Unbelievable: Marilyn Monroe’s invite, to meet her co-star Yves Montand, was handwritten and, surprisingly, Marilyn was on time for the party and couldn’t have been more gracious or more lovely in her pale chiffon. A few evenings before. Marilyn was scarcely recognizable in Chasen’s restaurant. with overdone eye makeup, the lowest possible cut top with odd slacks and her hair piled on top of her head, on which rested a pair of dark glasses. She sat as close as possible to husband Arthur Miller, whom she fed huge forkfuls of marinated herring. The contrast between this Marilyn, so unbecomingly dowdy, and the gracious hostess at the Montand cocktail party, was almost unbelievable.

Cal York’s Jottings: The whole town mourned along with Joe Cotten, whose wife died quite suddenly in Rome. The Cottens had been one of Hollywood’s happiest and most constant couples. . . . Dick Powell and June Allyson sold their Mandeville Canyon home for a half-million dollars in favor of a smaller house in town and perhaps an extra one in that flourishing suburb of Newport, near Balboa. . . . David Ladd, who has been offered the “Tom Sawyer” TV series, may find it too strenuous. along with his school work. David. by the way, is a sensation in “A Dog of Flanders.” And the movie’s young producer, Robert Radnitz, thinks beauteous Margo Moore, the only girl in the world. . . . That Mt. Kenya Safari Club in East Africa is the talk of the town, with owners Bill Holden and Ray Ryan rather snooty over its memberships. Bill Holden, by the way, is building a house on a Hong Kong hilltop, so dear knows when we’ll ever see him again. . . . Good luck Van Williamsand Vicki Taylor, who surprised niost of their friends when they were married on December 31, 1959, at 9:15 a.m. in the Wayfarers’ Chapel in Palos Verdes, California. The couple originally had planned to wed next February in San Francisco, but a short break in the production schedule of Warner Bros.’ “Bourbon Street Beat.” in which Van co-stars, enabled the couple to move up the date. It was a lovely wedding.

 

It is a quote. PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE APRIL 1960