HOLLYWOOD VISIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19454, 13 October 1937, Page 4

HOLLYWOOD VISIT

GISBORNE GIRL'S TRIP MANY FILM STARS MET ACCESS TO THE STUDIOS INTERESTING MEMENTOES After a lengthy trip of exceptional interest, Mis.s Josephine Sherratlj, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Sherratt, Ngatapa, has returned to Gisborne. bringing with her a unique collection of views, photographs, autographs and other mementoes of the happy 18 months she spent in the United States. Of these treasured possessions, one of the most valued is an attractive silver bracelet hung with small silver trinkets which she wears. Each of these trinkets was given to her as a keepsake by a friend she had made during her" holiday, and altogether these little silver tokens represent memories of numerous cherished >riendships. Among them is a tirty silver aeroplane given to her by Mrs. Gillespie, who was formerly Ruth Elder, the first American girl to cross the Atlantic by air. This celebrated airwoman married the brother of Mrs. Hector Dods, with whom Miss Sherratt stayed at her home in Beverly Hills for the greater part of her visit to Hollywood. Her husband, Mr. Gillespie, is art director for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and with him as escort Miss Sherratt and her friends saw the making of a picture and met Louise Rainer, the popular star. With Ruth Elder the Gisborne girl attended the National Air Races, in which aviators from all over the world took part. Many Offers of Hospitality One of the trinkets on this brace let was presented by Colin Tapley, the film actor from Dunedin, and another by Mr. "Bobs" Dods, a brother of Mr. Hector Dods, both former Gisborne boys, with whose mother, Mrs. A. W. Dods, Ngatapa, Miss Sherratt went to Hollywood from Gisborne 18 months ago. Mrs. Dods returned some months ago, but her companion had her passport extended for a further six months, and was enabled to accept the many invitations which her hospitable and generous American friends had offered her.

For the whole extent of her stay in California, the Gisborne girl had a car at her disposal, and enjoyed driving over the beautifully paved concrete roads, which on the main highways were wide enough to carry six lines of traffic. In that country the average speed is 40 miles an hour, and a slow driver holds up the traffic and makes himself unpopular and a danger to other motorists.

While Mr. Hector Dods was engaged in his spacious office at the 20fh Century-Fox studio, of which he is film editor in charge of a large staff, Miss Sherratt drove his car with the 20th. Century-Fox badge, which gave her access to the studio. ■ This was, a great privilege, and afforded the young Gisborne visitor innumerable opportunities of seeing pictures made, film stars at work and in the restaurants of the studio "lot," and meeting many notable people. As there are always a great many motorists and others awaiting admission to the studio, and 60 policeman guarding the entrances, Miss Sherratt described as thrilling the experience—especially in the first few weeks —driving into the "lot" past the dther waiting cars without being questioned or detained. Many Pre-Views Shown Many pre-views of pictures were seen, and at these the visitor often was seated near some celebrated stars. She met personally many famous actors and actresses of the film-world, becoming very friendly with a great many. She saw a great deal of Tyrone Power, the young star who is rapidly rising to fame, whom she describes as a most attractive personality; George Brent, Dick Powell, Errol Flynn, Joan Blondell, who is very sweet and very quick and clever at repartee, and Kay Francis, whom she found always a most charming woman, and numerous others. When asked whether she had met Shirley Temple, Miss Sherratt said she met and saw her on many occasions, and described her as a charming child, quite unspoilt and natural. The only pictures Shirley is allowed to see are the pre-views of her own films, but so idolised is this little girl that the crowd flocks to the previews and do their best to get a glimpse of her and to procure seats near her.

Despite the fact that Shirley Temple is always guarded by two men, as well as accompanied by her mother, on several occasions unscrupulous souvenir hunters have managed to cut off locks of the child's hair and ship pieces out of the frock she is wearing.

Shirley Temple's Ability Miss Sherratt tells a story of one occasion when Shirley was making a picture one of her first teeth came out, and she had to be rushed off to a dentist to have an artificial tooth prepared to fill the gap before the photographer could proceed. This little girl is considered by directors and others of repute in Hollywood to have a developed adult brain of exceptional quality and perception, for once she has read the story of the play in which she is to act she has no difficulty in improvising lines, and in this way improving on the original script, if she has forgotten the words, no alteration ever being necessary and no delay caused. This gift is exceptional and seldom found in even the most experienced and notable adult film stars.

Miss Sherratt's autograph book is a most interesting volume, and one that every film "fan" will envy, those who have written their names and inscriptions in it being people she has met personally.

Autographs Obtained Among the names noticed in this book were those of David Butler LShirley Temple's director), Loretta Young, Janet Gaynor (whose writing is accompanied by a pretty photograph), Tyrone Power, Humphrey Beaugard, Anita Louise, Patsy Kelly, Leslie Howard, Dick Foran (the singing cowboy), Fernand Gravet, Mervin Leßoy, the well known director of Warner Brothers, who refuses all autograph hunters as a rule, but consented at last to sign this book when he heard the owner had come all the way from New Zealand, and the popular humorist, Robert Mortgomery, who, true to type entered Ms.

autograph upside down, saying he preferred it that way, when Miss Sherratt remarked on his holding the book the wrong way up. "To Josephine" are the words preceding the autographs on a number of large signed photographs in Miss Sherratt's possession, some of these being portraits of Dick Powell, Kay wm'ncis, Erroll i.Flynn and Dick Foran. " !^HHBf Among the many other film stars met bv the visitor from Gisborne were the dancing pair, Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers, both of whom were charming and most attractive.