The Washington times., 1936-03-16

This reporter Immediately tele-
phoned Ieo Spitz, president Of
RKO. ,"I think" we said, "Td
like to see Miss Hepburn work
today. Mr.. Spitz was not his
customary authoritative self, it
was evident. . His reply came
slowly and hesitant.. you've got
me on a spot-honeSt I haven't
been on that set myself Tell
you what don't like to intrude
in that one case, but I'll get
Pandro Berman-I think therell
be an exception in your case"
Unfortunately there was no To-
eating of Mr.. Berman. We got
Producer Cliff Reid on the phone
Reid is Director John Ford'S
closest pal. Cliff" we said. IT
think I'd like to see Heppie
work-get me on that set"
"You mean," he roared, "they're
keeping you off that set-they
cant do that. Just let me call
you back" a few seconds, Cliff
Reid called back. His tone
lacked confidence. you've kinda
got me on a spot" he said, "it
seems nobody-nobody at all can
get on that set-not today any
way. You kinda got Ford on
a spot, too. because he thinks
you're okay-but I guess you'll
have to wait until maybe tomor-
row" We remembered that one
Hollywood reporter had gotten
on that set last week. We called
this to the attention of Howard
Benedict, who explained. "Sure
but it was between takes-no-
body's been on while she's work
ing. There is no dram t C
punch-1ine to this. the truth is
your Hollywood correspondent did
not get on the set to see Kath-
arine Hepburn work-not yester-
day he didn't The explanation
volunteered which it was hoped
we wouldn't say in print is that
Fenburn is a very iittery. nervous
doll when she's doing dramatic
scenes-and not even RKO must
be permitted to see her work.
Thev call t artistic temperament
:. We call it the nose of a gal
with an intense inferioritv COM
plex-a gal, incidentally. who has
been drawing the sneers of every
newSpaperman and WON a n in
this section Of the country.
So MANY of Broadways' little
girls out here. Many Of them.
strangely enuf. we're at the Tro-
cadero the other night come
climbing to their place in the film
sun. Others just hanging on
here. unwilling to admit defeat. :.
Dixie Dunbar, still one Of the
most popular babies here, out with
q different escort every night
refusing to get entangled with any
one boy, although her personal
yearning is still for little Jackie
Heller Beautiful blonde Willye
Mae, who is scheduled for a role
in the next Hal Roach pic. Red
headed Iris Adrian. who was
signed Tuesday by Roach for a
picture. Sally Bynam, who calls
herself Delma Byron now. Anita
Counihan (now Colby, showing
amazing prorsiS4, VINO has cap
tured an excellent role in Mary,
Queen of Scots" g. They were all
there, each with her particular
escort. Howard Lloyd. slightly
stouter. sat at a back table. yawn-
ing. Bette Davis, Academy's darl-
ing this year. had her Mama in
tow. Charlie Butterworth and
Humphrey Bogert wandered
around like two orphans. Lupe
Velez, clinging-but clinging-to
Johnny Weissmuller's arm, sur.
veyed the gathering-and then
dragged him downstairs to the
oyster bar.
To get back to our visit to the
r. X. o. lot, we ran into Dudley
Nichols, who has lOOmed into
the limelight by his dramatic
rejection of the Academy prize
Still sticking to his guns,
although the Academy sent the
statuette to him. Ginger ROg-
erS, in smoked glasses, accom-
panied by pretty Phyllis Frazier,
her cousin, enters the commits
Sary. The Frazier gal had been
after Ginger since she was IA to
get her a break in the pictures
$50 on home" ordered the
Roger" wench; "cOme back when
you're grown up" Phyllis re-
turned 2 years later "I'm
grown up-I'm 16-get me a
job -. Sh e'S under r. X. o.
contract now .Burlp into Ed
SwaSey on Sunset blvd "Run-
ming up to Frisco tomorrow
They're hOnoring Bill CrOcker-
so years a Bohemian, SO the
BOhemianS are giving him this
party, and Nicholas Murray But
Ter is flying all the way out here
just to be sire Of the occasion
-tOaStmaSter. They do things
right in that tOwn-best town
In all the world, Frisco" We
drift over to the Famous Door
to inspect Louis Prima in his
new Hollywood sports shirt j..
Lured by his promise to blast
out a new tune which he has
composed and Swears will sweep
the country "Sing. Sing, Sing"
Is its tag-and it runs along he
no de no ah hah ha lines. But