HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL HOSTESS

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3392, 24 December 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL HOSTESS

" How do you do it ? " Marie Dressier looked at herself in the hand-mirror, and met our question with a laugh. ' That morning we had read of a dinner she had given, at her famous Santa Monica Beach home, for a distinguished group of visitors the night

before. And here she was, soon after nine o'clock, fresh as a dewy rose, wide awake and energetic, commencing work on the studio set. "Last night was the exception to the rule," she whispered, like a school girl confiding having played truant. " When I am working I seldom do my entertaining except on Saturday evenings, and, of course, my customary Sunday afternoon open-house gatherings. But my guests of last night were leaving town, and in addition we celebrated a birthday. I was off to bed at midnight, so I really was not very wicked.' Marie' Dressier is noted as one of the most popular hostesses of Hollywood; her home is a veritable salon of international celebrities. Yet she has none of the hauteur which might accompany such social distinction. "I never think of any of my din- , ners or parties as being society. 1 always invite those I believe have most in common, who will find each other interesting, disregarding thenstation in life," she explained. We recalled long lists of prominent guests who had graced various functions given by the vivacious star. "But—the social order—isn't there some distinction between different sets you invite ? " we asked. "No, not at all," was the frank reply. " While it is true —naturally— that most of my guests are in pictures, it does not follow that they are all stars or particularly famous. A are frequent guests at my house whose standing in the film profession is little higher than that of ' extra.'

But they happen to be friends and just as interesting and welcome as any others. There is a sort of unwritten law, however, that producers, stars, directors, and so forth don't talk shop. Perhaps that levels them all and places them on the same footing, conversationally at least. " What do they talk about ? Well, I must confess that I like to talk of pictures, and almost everyone who comes to the house seem similarly inclined, especially the English and Continental players. They want to meet all the stars, watch how films are made, see the studios, and talk about everything that they ever heard or read about Hollywood. I always run one or two pictures after dinner. Then there is the set constituting the intelligentsia of motion pictures. They are sure to get off in a corner and settle the affairs of the world—for the time being, at least. If the guest of honour happens to be a particularly interesting person, conversation usually centres upon him or her." According to Miss Dressier (and all hostesses should take heed) the best way to entertain is not to worry over the job and thus become too strung up and nervous. "I find people have more fun if you leave them alone," she explained. " Some will want to play tennis; others, again, will want to sit around and talk. Why try to encourage them to dance or participate in some other entertainment you may not have planned ? If I am having a good time myself, I can be pretty sure that my guests are happy."