Evening star., 1937-08-08
FILM STAR GAZING
Some Intimate Glimpses- -"Angle Shots"
of the Human Side of Interesting
Hollywood Personalities.
be dressed and where her name should

I'm fact. she kept her eyes fixed on
the top of the ladder, and never at
tempted to take the first step up the
rungs in order to get there She kept
wishing to be prma donna without
doing any Of the drudgery that being
prima donna requires.
"A girl who hopes to emulate Grace
Moore must work on breathing, voice,
diction, poise. physical culture, Ian
guages, learning all the difficult roles
in opera or musical comedy She can't
stop working She can't waste time
wishing.
Any one who isn't willing to work
all the time had better give up the
idea of success as a singer. That's
what tell the kids who write to me
for advice"
THE assistant director called Just
then, and the actor shot up from
the tiny stool and became Stephen
Dallas, occupied with work at an
office desk.
The action of the scene was simple,
merely the closing of desk. crossing
the room to the water cooler, taking
milk bottle from the Ice compart-
ment and returning to the desk
Shooting the scene wasn't simple. The
chilled bottle slipped and fell, then
the lights weren't right, the shadows
conflicted the sound track failed, a
new camera angle was found neces-
sary
'Yas, it's Job that needs patience"
the call for "Lunch!"
But any one who is successful
must care about his Job. 1t doesn't
matter if it's building airplanes,
growing oranges or acting You must
care about it so much that the less
exacting features don't affect you. I
try to tell the youngsters who write
me the importance Of this feeling.
"Oh, yes. always give advice, if
they ask. All my stage life I've found
that older players were ready to
help me whenever I asked them. 80
the least can do is to hand on what
can to the new crowd
MY letters are usually divided be-
tween requests for advice about
screen ambitions and calls for help
with romance.
If the kid has screen aspirations I
tell him to go to flrst-class dramatic
school or to try for parts on the New
York stage. II he has funds this is
the best way. Otherwise, join a little
theater group, try to get into stock or
take course in public speaking. If
they haven't such course IN his
town he can join a debating society,
90 in for oratorical contests or get up
an amateur show.
But he should have instruction In
voice placement, diction, poise and
the rudiments of stage technique.
Dramatic training is absolutely neces-
sary unless you have a naturally fine
voice, perfectly placed, and a good
command Of yourself
Kids ask me about taking chances
Well, I'm no gambler. don't believe
in gambling, but I do believe in TAX
ing chance if you have faith In
yourself. I gave up business career
to go to New York and try for the
stage. I had to borrow money to do
it, but I had boundless faith in my
self I knew deep down that If it de-
pended on me I'd come through You
know, they say 'fraid money never
won anything. and that's true. If
you have any fear of the outcome,
don't take chance"
Angle shots Of Richard Arlens
parties: Richard opened an Italian
restaurant in the new Cross Roads Of
the World, Hollywood's rival to Santa
Barbara's Street of Spain He didn't
own the place or have the tiniest in
terest In it, but dozen years ago the
proprietor, then running a small cafe
where the food was filling as we'll as
appetizing, used to stake a penniless
Dick to meals.
pay what you can, my boy" he
used to say. but never 70
hungry while have a yard Of spa
ghetti!"
Times were difficult just then and
sometimes he had to wait for his
money. Now Dick is paying him back
by making the new cafe a rendez.
vous for stars.
Dicks small boy Ricky, gave q party
for his fourth birthday. An tnnova-
tion was the fact that there were no
cameramen present.
Kids hate being lined up for pic
lures every two minutes" argued Dick.
Il want them to feel free to enjoy
themselves without somebody yelling,
Hold it!' They can ride on the pony
and the merry-go-round and stuff
themselves with party food and act
like Indians. What's party for?"
Just then appeared over the top of
the high gate two small boyish faces.
The hair wasn't brushed. the faces
weren't too immaculate, but the ex-
pressions were moving.
Dick looked at them with a grin,
but they had eyes only for the pony
and the -go-round. He opened
the gate. The party-crashers wore
somewhat faded overalls and small
sandals, the worse for wear; nothing
else. Chubby shoulders and backs
were sun-tanned. That yearning ex-
preston remained.
"Aw, come in, kids!" said the actor.
Il give up!"
Last reports were that each one had
ridden the pony l3 times. thoroughly
tried out the merry-go-round, eaten