MAE WEST’S EX-LEADING MAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1940, Page 12

MAE WEST’S EX-LEADING MAN

NOW WITH CANADIAN ARMY LONDON, 'Sept. 14. In the latest contingent of the Canadian Active Service Force to arrive in Britain is Gerald Johnston, wellknown in the United States as Gerald Kent. When you ask for him his friends invariably reply: “He’s gone up to see her some time.” For Gerald Johnston was Mae West’s leading man on the New York stage 10 years ago. “I was finishing an engagement with ‘Royal'Family’ when I met Mae West,” he* said this week. “She had heard about my performances and sent for me to play opposite her in ‘Diamond Lil.’ I played the part of the Salvation Army captain which was later taken by' Cary Grant in the film' version’.” Gerald Johnston, is now in one of Canada’s famous Highland regiments from Quebec. He left his mother in New York, where they, have lived for 12 years. •. , ’ “When ! heard things were blow-

ing up in Canada I set out for Winnipeg, my home town. We had startling reports in New York when the thing first started and I could not stay behind if the Old Country wanted me.” Gerald Johnston has already started to form a concert party. He said there was a great deal of talent in his regiment. Asked whether he ever found out if Mae West married, he replied: “That is a secret which she seems to have kept to herself. She certainly never confided in me.” Their commander, Major-General Victor W. Odium declared: “I have a fine bunch of..boys here, and I feel sure every man wants to emulate the great deeds of the Canadian Corps of 1914-18.” There are Americans, ( Poles, Norwegians and Dutchmen. But when you ask them to talk about themselves they are all Canadians. There is John Warburton who ■hitch-hiked 3492 miles from New Mexico to join up in Montreal; and Vernon Terry of Texas, who came 3000 miles to be in on the adventure