The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-10-11
The Heart of
Hollywood
By THAYER WALDO


still before the picture would begin,
thirty minutes more of glare and blare
and babble. then another Garnhelms
Arabian theatre premiere would be
history. l stood on the fringe of the
crowd, watching and listening to 1t all.
Out In front of the forecourt there
was suddenly commotlon. Into the
hanging microphone the voice OF the
announcer near me cries:
"Here 1t is, ladies and gentlemen
the big moment everyones been walt
Ing for. Miss Sylvia Malvern, the
lovely star of tonight's picture, Is just
arriving. In a minute we'll have her
here to say few words to you."
Up the narrow cleared passage from
the curb Sylvia made her glitterlng
way. Jewels. fur. and her flashing
smile created picture Of dazzling. II
overdone, charm. AS she passed few
| feet from me I became aware OF some
one at my elbow, squlrmlng and push
Ing forward. l glanced sideways With
a scowl-and hardly stlned an explo-
sion of mirrh at what | saw.
There beside me stood 4 short, squat
man whose face was the most absurd
concoction of features / have ever
looked upon.
I'd just gotten the full startling I'M
preston when, to my further astonish-
ment, he grinned and waved at Sylvia
Malvern. Moreover. she returned 1t
with gracious nod. Then she had
passed on and I became aware that
the fellow was regarding me, his bliss
full smlrk still active.
"Gosh |" he exclaimed In gurgiing
voice Amt she grand7"
"Sure Isl" I agreed heartily. DO
you know her?'
He bobbed assent and the pop eyes
rolled happily.
.Oh, yeah-she's my best friend,
really. Course l only met her couple
o. weeks ago, but now 1t seems almost
like we'd known each other always
The perfect satisfaction In his tone
decided me. I told him:
That's certainly fine! I've wished
for years | could meet her myself
How did you manage it?'
"Well, guess | was just kinda lucky.
But 1t was awful important to me !;
maybe that helped. | think y get
most anythin' y want bad enough"
Realizing that he was fully launched
now and willing to talk, | suggested
that we seat ourselves upon small
stone bench which stood beneath some
potted pnlms near by.
$50 you were very anxious to see
Miss Malvern, eh7"
, Gee, you bet I was!" he replied
with something like wlstful note
"Y' see, she was the first person to
ever make me feel real happy. Back
when ! went to school, all the other
kids used to laugh and point at me
and boiler 'Funny-facep So | go'
kinda In the habit Of stayln' by my
self. Sometimes I was pretty lone
some, too, and--but aw, shucks, tina
sounds like | was feelln' sorry FOL
myself; | didn't mean 1t hathaway.
Il went to movies lot cause 1t wa
dark In the theayters and-well,
liked 'em. One day bout year az
first saw Sylvia-Miss Malvern, tina
ls-and right Off I was crazy abou
her. Her face was so pretty an
sweet and-and kind-lookln'. Guess
musta gone back to see that pitche
five or six times. and the same wit
oil Of hers after that"
After an instant's pause he went O
more eagerly than ever:
Then long some time last winter
got the Idea how swell It'd be II
could see her herself, and maybe eve
talk to her. So just up and sold som
land my folks had left me and com
straight out here from Cedar Hollow
that's my home town, In Ioway.
Il didn't have much notion what
do. but / found Zenith studio an
hung around the gate. One day tn
man In uniform there asked me whs
I wanted and / told him. and he Gale
u somebody else. First thing | knowe
az they was takin' me right into til
ls place. | waited In some office just
no few minutes. and then they told n
where to find Sylvia.
well, 1t all turned out like I hope
for. We was alone, on the stage whc'
she'd been actin for this pitcher.
don't remember just what said; ma
be some OF 1t was kinda foolish, {
account of I was so nuts about he
But 1t don't matter now--all | ca
about Is thinkin' how swell sale w
to me. aln't never gonna forget thu
Hi and I'll never mind no more wh'
other people make fun OF me. All
fella needs is one real friend"
Suddenly he noticed many OF {
throng drifting toward the theatre G
trance. and sprang up.
"Golly" he cried i gotta go !;
might miss some of 1t. Well, hope y
meet her some time, too. G. bye"
Before I could summon pose
move or speak. he was gone. | W
still sitting there. pondering the Il
and its strangely touching teller, VIII
crisp voice came to me from beyo
the palms-the announcer signing
Quite idly listened.
4And finally, ladies and gentleme