The Washington times., 1937-12-20
N~< nM0v1ELAND
Editorial Art Director and Special
Writer of The Washington
Times

tHLCo
GPENCER TRACY at the
~ age of one year rose up
in wrath and yanked all the
pretty blue ribbons off his
little bed. At the age of 8
he con tinually played
hooky from the Milwaukee
grammar school, to dig
worms, fish, and build boats
with "Mousie" and Rattle, "
sons Of a South Side saloon
keeper.
So, can you imagine trying
to describe Spencer Tracy
by wrapping him up in a
batch of admiring adjec-
tives? He'd come out of it
fighting like a tiger and
Cussing like a teamster. It's
not that the guys so tough,
it's just that he hates flutter,
fuss, and fuming.
Before 1 went to Holly
wood, Spencer Tracy was
nv idea of a real "he-man."
Talking to and seeing him
didn't alter that; on the con-
trary, it gave me greater re-
spect and admiration for
him. .......,.,
1 was waiting for him in
the studio of a M-G-M still
photographer, where he was
to have a color photograph
made. When he arrived we
were introduced, and I've
never had such a shock in
my life! Did you realize his
eyes are blue? L had always
thought them brown. He
shook hands and smiled in
that big, open, honest way
we all know so well from his
portrayals on the screen.
Heavens knows he isn't
what we call handsome, but
his face has so much char
acter and strength that one
never thinks of beauty of
the skin-deep type. Who
wants to when faced by a
real person like Spencer
Tracy?
BLOND HAIR
His hair is of dirty blond
color, blond eyebrows, keen
blue eyes, freckles all over
his face, whi h is very
tanned, and something which
isn't so remarkable after
you know how all Hollywood
loves him: A full, soft-look-
ing, kind mouth.
After the picture was
made we walked back to his
dressing room. AS he sat
on the couch and poured
himself a drink of water, l
noticed something else which
went with my surprise about
the blue eyes: Spencer is
five feet ten inches tall, but
he is very short from the
hips to the knees. Most of
the length is from til e
shoulders to the hips and
from the knees to the ankles.
Not a remarkable discovery,
but a little surprising. He has
a soft way of talking, and a
grand sense of humor.
What do you think of the
possibilities of television?" 1
asked.
II think we'll have television
in five years." said the fisher
man of Captains Courageous. :"
81 believe that the radio and
the movies will merge. It will
be a great thing for the actors,
but it will be tough on the radio
stars, for there will be no stand
ing there with script ir hand.
OF course, we had similar ad-
justment to make when talking
pictures came in. Yes, I think
televiSion is hot on our heels. "
HAS SIX POLO PONIES
"You like horses and horse
racing?"
yeah, I'm crazy about horses,
I have a string of six Texas polo
ponies. They're beauties. I'm
hoping to buy some Argentine
ponies on this trip"
Going away?"
Eyes; I'm about to get my
first vacation in a long time.
/ certainly need it. Mrs. Tracy
and plan to go down the West
Coast by boat to South Amer
lea, then take a Pan-American
plane to Miami, and then back
here by rail-"
Sounds swell. Hope you have
q grand time"
Spence grinned in that char
acteristic way of his.
"Well, it's my only chance
If I don't get away now I dom
know when I can. I like littlt
rest once in awhile" He looked
1ua, ar Tary-v Parhier uho WA