A Day In Hollywood Among Rising Stars

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 207, 2 September 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

A Day In Hollywood Among Rising Stars

By---Ruby Irene Wood

THOSE visiting Hollywood are, of course, movie-minded and will want to get out to the studios. This is more easily said than done, for only a favoured few are allowed that privilege, and I was lucky indeed to have a "peek see." I was met by Mr. A. C. Janisch of a publicity department, who seemed to know every actor and actress by the first name, and also to be ready" with all the answers to all the questions I asked him.

He explained the workings of each picture as we went around and when we came to the "Battle of City Hall," -which was being filmed at Warner Studios, we were transported into the East End of New York City, complete with streets, push wagons, hawkers, paper boys, tall tenement houses, the family washing hanging out on the lines, people sitting at their windows gossiping, children playing on the streets. Then to see the beautiful Ann Sheridan, who takes the leading role in this picture, pulling tubs full of pots and pans out of a moving van in front of one of the apartment houses, was readily to understand how a picture is so real to the observer.

After Ann had enacted this scene again and again in order t'hat it might be perfect, she spied me and came over. Mr. Janisch introduced us and immediately she put her arm around me and

insisted that the cameraman take a picture of her with a Canadian. She is really and truly a very beautiful girl, full of grace and charm.

Going on to another location we found the picture, "Waterfront," being shot. I met that handsome star of the picture, Dennis Morgan, and his lovely leading lady, Gloria Dixon. Gloria was a visitor to Yaucouver last year wlien she made a personal appearance for her picture, "The Heart of the North."

Then lunch at the famous Green Room, where I simply could not eat for looking. There on my left was Jimmy Cagnev having lunch with his manager brother. Jimmy was not at all dressed up. He had on a soft shirt, his 'hair was long—which was necessary for the part he was playing in a picture. I looked looked across the room and there were the Lane sisters tucking in good substantial lunches—never seemingly giving a thought- to their figures. Then to my right was Ronald Regan, that coming star who is only 16, but looks much older, having lunch with his mother.

Mr. Janisch pointed out Leon G. Turrou. wlio was technical advisor for '"Confessions of a Nazi Spy." As we walked from one location T saw part of a large house being moved. I was told it belonged to Marion Da vies

and had been on the lot for two years. It was being sent on to another studio. It contained 10 large rooms, fitted up beautifully, where Miss Davies could live during the making of a picture and where she could entertain on a large or small scale.

I saw a large truck rushing hither and thither and asked what it carried. I was informed that it was designed and built by studio workmen. In this truck there are 3000 articles, ranging in variety from an aspirin tablet to a set of harness. Actors now wonder how in the world they ever existed without this wonder contraption.

Five large dressing-room building? provide two. three and four-room suite? for the players. More than 50 portable dressing rooms are moved on to the set? for use during the producing of a play. When I looked down at the little blue-eyed fairy who came toward m<I fairly gasped. This small lady \ta Janet Kay Chapman, six years old. She had her little schoolbag over her arm for she was just from lessons provided at a school on the lot for child players.

I stooped down—for she is so little, only 40in tall—and asked her what sh<did. With the cutest little laugh I ever heard she said: "Why, I act." Thir little mite has been in four pictures— "Little Miss Thoroughbred;" "Broadway Musketeers;" "Heart of the Xorth" an'• "On Trial." When she was "discovered" she was only five years old.

Janet asked whether I should like have her picture. When I said I woul<" be delighted, she eat down at the desk and with a big pen laboriously wrote her name, "Janet—Kay—Chapman."