The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-03
VICKI BAUM, OF
SHINING FAME
HERE ON FRIDAY
Noted Author Will Speak on
Town Hall Course
at EnqIiSh's.
BY BERTHA L. HARDING.


Indianapolis audiences, having
thrilled twice to the dynamic power
Of Grand Hotel" may look for
ward to glowing experience Friday
morning, when the famous writer
of last years best selling play and
novel will appear on the stage at
English's theater, under Town Hall
auspices.
Vicki Baum, in private life Frau
Richard Lest and mother Of two
sons, Wolfgang and Peter, runs
counter to most traditions in the
intellectual and literary field. She
is neither stodgy nor solemn, but
chic, vivacious, versatile (she studied
to be a musician, not writer and
altogether she embodies the femi-
nine ideal of these interesting times
wherein one must make the utmost
of talent, work, pleasure, and expe-
rience.
The author of fourteen novels,
numerous articles, and even bit Of
verse, Frau Richard Lest lived
quietly in Berlin, where her hus-
band fills an important position as
an opera conductor.
Written in Leisure Hours
In her leisure hours she composed
story entitled People in an Hotel"
which, to her great surprise, cap
tured the imagination of theatre
cal producer, who promptly saw its
dramatic possibilities and urged
that the manuscript be transposed
into a play.
To enhance and further stress the
universally of its appeal the title
was changed to Grand Hotel and
Vicki Baum became a world figure.
She was overwhelmed and a trifle
upset. In one of her charming ar
ticles for that smart fashion maya
zine, Die Dame" she confesses her
bewilderment at waking up one
morning, like Lord Byron, to find
myself famous"
Today, Vicki Baum belongs to this
world that sought her out and
crowned her with laurels. More
specifically she has chosen to belong
to America, where the laurels fell
more generously than in places
where she had enjoyed a previous
modicum of fame.
Heart Won by Calamity
1t is this gallantry of the Amer
lean public toward strange and I'M
known talent that has won her
heart. She feels that lin these vast
United States every one has a
chance" and it is here that she
wishes her children to be educated.
Her two boys, Is and IL years old,
attend the Urban school in Califor-
mia. AS soon as their fathers con-
tract in Europe expires, the family
will be reunited and a modest dream
modest as dreams of celebrities go
will be realized.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Lest will
spend their time in a Hollywood COT
tage, close to the film colony, with
occasional trips to New York for the
theatrical season. A furnished
apartment may be added to the
domestic paraphernalia, giving a
personal touch to metropolitan in
terludeS.
So clearly does Vicki Baum know
what she wants that a vital prelim-
mary step already has been taken.
She is in possession of her first
citizenship papers ano soon will be
a full-f1edged daughter of Uncle
Sam.
She Loves People
She loves people - movie people,
artistic people, rich PEOPLE, queer
people, common people-and she has
come to land where all abound,
and where her creative mind will
shape them with a profound and
sympathetic understanding.
She has exchanged old things for
new because she is modern. She
has left Europe, the cradle of an
old culture, behind because she be-
lieves that there are fresh heights
and fresh horizons to be reached in
this western hemisphere. Her phil
osophy should prove a helpful,
timely theme.
We hope she is right. We hope
she makes no mistakes, though, if
she makes them, daresay the world
will profit in the end.
For nothing is wasted where tai
ent, intelligence and courage COM
bine to make of life a fine, hardy
adventure.