The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-30
"A Friend ReverSeS Burns Pet Joke
 Of Hanging Up On Long DiStancers
Producer InstaIls a Mar Quee Over Magnificent
 Bed to Advertise Films
BY PAUL HARRISON sEA Service stan Correspondent

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 Hollywood-with tongue-in-cheek they're telling this one about wealthy movie-maker: He recently moved into an exceptionally fine new home which was built by dis tinguished architect and exQuiSitely Furnished by the most expensive firm of decorators. One of the in teresting items is a magnificent can opied bed, brought from France, Scores of Hollywood people have dropped in to see the house, so the owner removed the canopy from the bed and has substituted a mar uuee advertising his latest picture
 It may not be your idea of Q screamingly funy gag, but George Burns likes it-when people tele- phone him long distance, he hangs up on 'em. The longer the distance the funnier 1t seemsgto Burns, This has been going on for years, and everybody in the show business knows about 1t.
 About 2 o'clock one morning
 (ln Hollywood) Benny Rubin,
 the writer, telephoned Burns
 from New York. He said, "Hello,
 George-this is your old pal Ru-
 bin! Say, George, Jack Benny
 is here, and he just bet me
 hundred dollars that I couldn't
 talk to you for Ave minutes on
 Che phone. Now, George"
 "Jack wins the betl" said Burns, and chuckled as he hung up,
 Soon the telephone rang again, New York calling. Hello, George --this is Rubin Listen, you zXlb'& fnszllzl""X'Z@ @ ldDlh"-TH1S ONE IS ON MEw And he smashed down the receiver.
 Just shows You Hollywood
 Among the better-known Holly wood agents is an astute fellow named Sam Lyons. One of his prominent actor-clients approached him and said, I'm going to ask your advice about something, Q rather difficult and delicate mat ter. But I believe you're the shrewd- est agent in the business, and maybe you can help me-"
 Lyons said he certainly would do whatever he could.
 "Okay," said the actor. T want you to figure out way for me to break my contract with youl"
 So the agent thought of way, and the client broke the contract, There is no particular point to this story, unless 1t helps to prove that anything can happen In talkietown. Hide and Guzxle Game
 A little group of hot-spot habit- ues agreed to go on the wagon Q few weeks ago, and the penalty for taking drink was to be $l00. Of course Q forfeit could be claimed only if c drinker were caught in the act. An alcoholic breath wouldn't count.
 In no time at all 1t got to be quite an exciting game. Each party to the agreement built up an elab- crate system of espionage, and walters in some of the night clubs were offered as much as $50 for tips by which other members of the pact could be caught guzzling. And guzzle they did, for the sport of 1t. Finally they realized that they were taking more drinks fur lively than they previously had taken openly. So they held a meet ing, called the whole thing of, and wen home ct 10 o'clock cold sober.
 
 An actor and his wife were going to a dinner party, and he disap- proved the evening gown she had bought for the uppity affair. Men really don't like to see q doman in anything as revealing as that" he said.
 She said, T didn't buy this to please, the men. chose it to worry the other women"