Evening star., 1932-12-02
FONTANNE-
TEAM" PERSISTS
Ardent Theater Lovers Are
Still Offstage SWeetheartS
After Ten Years.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

GpCIlhl O4SpdsbH W 4IC oval
PHILADELPHIA. December 2 tN.A.
NAo-L-nn For>:a-nn and her lead
ing man husband, Alfred Lunt, are as
srGcat sweetheart Gil tlr SAGE e.
thew cre before t,lo fo95ligllt- Th-y
delight in each others company: they
rcan the streets Of strange cities
together. shopping in quaint shops and
dining in out-of-the-way restaurants.
In Europe they hclp each other in the
selection CT their wardrobe. she in
Par.-, he in London. And their con-
stan. companion is cylindrical. sum-
bling dachshund, FudClpl MaXinlili2n.
Alfred beasts of his cooking ability.
Lynn Is proud Of her art needIework
and general all-around household ef-
ficiency. While playing here they oc-
cupied housekeeping apartment,
where Alfred donned the kitchen apron
and concocted some rare and tasty
dishes. That is, when they we're not
locking for some of Philadelphia un-
usual restaurants. Next to New York
and New Orleans, Philadelphia has
more and perhaps a greater variety OF
restaurants than any city in the
country.
The Lunts have farm in Wisconsin
and tripleX apartment in New York.
In both these establishments Husband
eral buffer of those who seek to annoy
or disturb the head of the team.
They never disagree-except on clothes
and details of the stage. Practice their
lines together-interminab
The amazing harmony of the most
famous team on the stage today is
taken for granted by their public. The
team has cleverly and subtly made
respectfully married" add to, rather
than detract from, the romantic aura
surrounding them.
She was born in the village of Essex,
England, of an English mother and
French father. Jules Pierre Antoine
Fontanne. They named her Lily
Louise. She soon fixed that. Became
Lynn along with other preparations for
q stage career.
Parallel Stage Careers.
Though he was born in Milwaukee,
Wis, their theatrical beginnings have
q curious parallel
As small children both loved to re-
cite Did it constantly in spite of dis
couragement from their elders. At IL,
she decided to be an actress. Went to
London to live with her mothers friend,
who knew Ellen Terry. Obtained an
interview with Terry. Recited Shake
speare for her and became her pupil
Was only moderately successful
actress in London, even as an adult.
Couldn't get job during the war. SO
became an Army truck driver. Was
driving her truck one day when tele-
gram was handed her from Laurette
Taylor, who had seen her act. 1t was
an invitation to come to America and
to act for S100 a week Thought she
was in a dream. Managed to sail in
10. days Her first success as the an
noying. babbling Dulcy followed soon
after.
Alfred Lunt used to recite pieces in
school Every one said he was terrible.
At II, was determined to win recita-
ton contest in the school. Had an old
lawyer and lover of Shakespeare tutor
him in a Shakespearean speech. And
he won. Decided to become an actor.
Studied dramatics at Carol College,
waukesha. Wis Used to perform for
the insane at Oshkosh. Calls it his
Oshkosh period and an ap-
preciative audience it was. At least.
they didn't stick their tongues out at
us the way they did at Gala lilies,
which always figured in the decora-
tons
His first professional Job was with the
Castle Square Stock Co., in Boston,
where he went intending to matriculate
at Harvard Had only minor parts
and remained unknown for some years
until Booth Harrington wrote "Clar-
ence" for him.
A Romantic Mishap.
Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt met
at the Hudson Theater. They were at
tending stock company rehearsal.
Tvl-<--r SwzAw 49, ~N,
backstage. He was impressed by her
beauty and tried calamity to kiss her
hand. but tumbled downstairs in the
effort.
He proposed two weeks later in
taxicab They weren't married for
three years 1929. Neither was max
ing much money and both had finan-
cial responsibilities at home Now
married 10 years and the breath of
scandal has never come near them.
Both climbed slowly to fame after