Evening star. [volume], July 21, 1940, Page F-4, Image 64

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Extra Answers the Phone,
Dreams of His ’Break’
Being an Account of One Day, One Job
In the Hollywood Career
Of a Cinema ‘Bit’ Player
HOLLYWOOD.
Ed O'Neil’s phone rang early. It was a call from a studio—his first
In weeks. Come down at once, said the man on the other end of the wire.
Ed was at the Warner gate in half an hour. He discovered why ha
had been called. He was tall enough—six feet, two inches; thin enough
165 pounds, gaunt enough and with strong, rugged features.
“You'll do,” said Jack Sullivan, assistant director on "dispatch
from Reuters.” «
Ed smiled inwardly as he stepped
forward out of a group of four oth
er tall, thin men, who had been
called for the interview. He could
do with this Job. Even If it was
just a day-check call, one day only.
It might prove that one big chance
every extra and bit player in Hol
lywood dreams about whenever the
phone rings.
“Qo to wardrobe and get fitted.
Then to make up. Be on stage 19
at 1 this anfternoon,” said Sulli
van over his shoulder as he hurried
away.
Ed rushed from wardrobe to
make-up. Now wearing a long frock
coat and trousers of black broad
cloth, he was being made up as one
of his greatest heroes—as a char
acter never before played by any
other than an established actor
with many years of experience.
Ed O’Neil was being made up as
Abrahajn Lincoln I
Ed strolled proudly down the
street toward the commissary. Stars
and workmen, on their way to lunch,
stole admiring glances at this re
markable imitation of the Oreat
Emancipator. Bette Davis and
Helen Broderick paused and turned
to look after him. Even the studio’s
general manager, Jack Warner,
made comment to some accom
panying executives. “We’ve had
Lincolns and we’ve had Lincolns
around this lot,’’ said Warner, "but
look—there’s a real Lincoln!”
Ed hurried through an untasted
lunch, although he knew he had
plenty of time. He had seen Edward
G. Robinson wearing his make-up for
the star part in the film enter the
cafe at 12:30, ao he knew the com
pany couldn’t report back before
half after 1. Everybody con
tinued to (tare, but Ed tried to be
casual.
It turned out to be almost 3 o'clock
before Director William Dieterle
finally called Ed to get ready for the
scene. He was told to take a chair
in a theater box constructed on a
high platform overlooking a stage.
Yes. It was Ford’s Theater, Wash
ington. the night of April 14, IMS.
This was to be the assassination
scene. It would take a bit of act
ing here, Ed reasoned. Who was
to play John Wilkes Booth? He
wondered. And who was to sit be
side him as Mrs. Lincoln?
“All right, Jimmy,” Dieterle was
talking to his cameraman. “This Is
a very short scene. Just a flash.
No dialogue. We play it from the.
back of the box. Shoot only the back
of Lincoln’s head and shoulders and
we get just a suggestion of Booth’s
hand firing the gun. No dialogue.
Let’s do it quickly.”
Ed O’Neil’s hand went to his face,
the face that so carefully had been
made up in Abraham Lincoln’s
tragic likeness. Ed’s hand went to
the back of his neck, smoothed his
hair. That was the only thing that
was going to matter, the only thing
that was going to show on the
screen.
Maybe, the phone would ring
again tomorrow and Ed would get
a better chance, the one real chance,
to register as an actor of parts.
(Releaeed by the North American
Nf we paper Alliance, tne.)
They Won’t Be Actresses
Andrews Sisters Haven’t Yet Had to
In Their Eight Busy Years
By Vern Haugland,
Associated Prut BUS WrtUr.
„ HOLLYWOOD.
Remember “Well, All Right,” that insane, extremely popular song of
a couple of years ago? (“Dig, dig dig; well, all right.”)
Remember “Hold Tight”? (Want some seafood, mamma; shrimpers
and rice, they’re very nice.”)
Then you’ll remember the Andrews Sisters, singing trio whose phono
graph records zoomed those songs, and others, into public favor.
Tne sisters—Patty, Maxine ancn
Laveme—are in the movies now.
They may make 11 pictures before
they’re through with Hollywood, but
they’ll never become actresses.
“Wewe been in vaudeville and
radio eight years now and haven't
had to do any acting yet," says Patty
in a voice even huskier than when
it’s raised in song. She recalls only
one serious setback—more than four
years ago, when they went into the
Hotel New Yorker with much fan
fare as a "New Boswell Sister Trio”
and didn’t go over at all.
“Then,” says Patty, “we changed
our style of delivery. We used to
like sweet music, especially anything
about the South or with the word
‘rhythm’ in it. We were pretty
corny. So we changed to hot dy
namic delivery and made the record
that made us—‘Bel Mir Bist Du
Schoen.’
“That one sold 220,000 copies.
Since then we’ve sung with more of
the top-ranking swing bands than
any other trio. We like Gene Kru
pa's orchestra best, because his mu
sic matches ours."
Their best-selling record to date
has been "Beer Barrel Polka,” which
backed up with “Well All Right,”
has sold 525,000 copies. The one
they made with Bing Crosby, "Ciri
Biri Bin” and "Yodlin* Jive,” is do
ing almost as well. Their manager
says they get royalties of *25,000 a
year-now on an average annual sale
of 1,500,000 records.
Informal in dress, addicted to
slacks which they roll halfway to
the knees, the girls are easy-going
and unaffected and sort of slap
happy In manner. Gaunt and
spare in face and frame, they would
be almost Momely but for their en
ergy and their engaging enthusi
asms. Maxine, the one in the mid
dle when they sing, has the best
voice end is red-headed. The others
have black hair.
They are unmarried, Minneapolis
born of Norwegian'and Greek par
entage, and like to talk of their
vaudeville days, "before we became
famous.” Their parents travel with
them.
"Pop, being on the foreign side,
didn’t like it when we began to go
on the stage,” says Patty. "He
wanted us to be stenographers or
college girls. Now we can buy him
a college.”
The sisters are teamed with the
Rita Brothers in “Argentine Nights.”
Best scene in the film, they say is
one in which the Freres Rita “im
personate us, in dresses like curr
ent! do our act better than we can.”
New Novel Bought
For Cary Grant
Columbia Pictures has purchased
the screen rights to "Penny Sere
nade,” a new novel which shortly
will appear in a national magazine.
Cary Grant probably will appear as
the star and George Stevens will
act as producer-director. The story
by Martha Cheavens is a romantic
drama.
Cary Grant, currently playing as
co-star with Martha Scott in “The
Howards of Virginia,” has appeared
in numerous starring roles since he
was placed under contract by Co
lumbia. His pictures include “When
You're in Love.” "The Awful Truth ”
“Holiday." “Only Angels Have
Wings” and “His Girl Friday.”
George StOvens, the latest addi
tion to Columbia's Imposing list of
top-flight producer-directors, in
eludes among his latest produc
tions, “Gunga Din,” “Vigil In the
Night" “Alice Adams," “Swing
Time,” “Quality Street,” "Damsel in
Distress” and “Vivacious Lady,”
Do you remember the brave days of 1914 to ’18? Then
by seeing “THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH,” you will redis
cover much that you have forgotten of your country’s
might and courage and integrity in those days of peril.
Excitement? "THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH” shows you
half a world in torment and flames—thunderous overture
to the inferno threatening to sweep a whole world today!
Drama? In “THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH,” you will see
touchingly sincere portrayals of war’s cruel, smashing im
pact upon decent, kindly, everyday folks like yourself and
those you love.
for a new kind of world!
Every one of us knows that this is a solemn
hour for America.
That is why you may well come to feel that
VTHE RAMPARTS WE WATCH” is the year’s
most significant motion picture.
For, “THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH” makes
vivid a period which holds a striking parallel to
our own—the period of World War I. No one can
see this new form of motion pic
ture and fail to come away better
prepared and heartened to face
whatever may lie ahead.
It is a picture such as you have
never seen before. Throughout an
absorbing record of the fateful
years that began in 1914, this picture weaves a
gripping story of our time. Of fathers and mothers
who were tom between a hatred of war and a love
of justice... of how American youth anticipated
the nation in deciding to face the challenge of ag
gression ... of conflicting loyalties that wrenched
the lives of first-generation Americans ... of
young love, accepting heartbreak as its special
burden in a world at war.
And across the screen flash the great figures on
the world stage at that time—Wilson, the Kaiser,
Pershing, Churchill, young Franklin Roosevelt
... and countless others.
1‘THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH” is a great
and inspiring film—a picture every American will
want to cherish as a memorable motion-picture
experience. That is why you will want to see it—
just as soon as you can after it opens this week!
™ RAMPARTS WE WATCH
A Now Kind of Movlo • First feature picture produced by The March of Time •
«
World Premiere, July 23rd,
Reserved seeds only
RKO KEITH’S
\
Regular engagement begins Wednesday, July 24th. No reserved seals.
Doors open 10:45 A. M. Continuous showings. No advance in prices.
If you ore too young to remember World War I—you’ll
want to see “THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH.” In it, you’ll
see great figures of that crisis as they guided our destinies.
And you’ll see everyday people, like yourself and your
neighbors, as they came to grips with those destinies.
If America able to rouse herself to quick, concerted,
effective action? See “THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH”—
and see the greatest nation on earth plunge into the most
stupendous military, economic, industrial, and spiritual
effort in history.
Are you asking, “Where do we go from here?" “THE
RAMPARTS WE WATCH” will give you knowledge of the
past and an awareness of the present that will help
you make intelligent and courageous decisions for the
future.
* M
RADIO PAGE SPECIAL
REPEATED BY POPULAR DEMAND
This Week Only
_ t
SILVER VEGETABLE DISH
Formerly Valued Up To $9.00; This Week
*3.95
Fine Silver Plate
Made by the Famous International Silver Co. |
Dish ond Cover con be used os two dishes—mokes a welcome
wedding gift—or a splendid addition to your own silver col
lection. Wrapped as gift—selection of 4 styles.
SHAH & SHAH SILVERSMITHS
The House of Diamonds
921 F St. N.W.
Air Cooled
It’s Easy To Happen
When it’s Hard To See!
l|ONT wait to stumble upon your eyesight trou
ble—have your eye condition clearly revealed
to you by Dr. Shpritz, our registered optometrist.
If there IS an eye error present Dr. Shpritz will
show you plainly how—and where—your vision
has been “letting you down.” His simple correc
tion will sharpen your sight, easing your every
day tasks, relieving the constant, tiring strain of
faulty seeing . . . “Precious Jewels—ROSS has
them all but most precious is the jewel of sight”—
protect it.
HAVE YOUR EYES SCIENTIFICALLY
EXAMINED BY DR. M. SHPRITZ
REGISTERED OPTOMETRIST
Easy to See How You Can
Pay—On ROSS Easy Terms
Don’t Defer the Purchtue—Defer the Payment
CALL NATIONAL 5000,
ASK for CIRCULATION DEPT.
Tho Evening fr Sunday Star ...... 75c par month
lie ear veek
Tho Evening Stor..45c per month
10* ear week
Tho Night Final Sr Sunday Star-85c par month
Tho Night Final Stor---60c per month
lie eer week
Tho Sunday Star .............— 10c par copy