Evening star., 1938-05-25


the Universal cafe or the set Of Let
ter of Introduction. in which he and
Mr.. Bergen are working.
We wanted to interview Charlie.
naturally since he is the more widely
quoted and quotable, of the two, but
had to content ourselves with a brief
chat with Mr.. Bergen. 1t is an easy
thing to content oneself with for Mr..
Bergen, in his own way, is bright
chap, too.
Il want a vacation" Mr.. Bergen
said right off as if we were the boss.
pretty nice feeling; so nice in fact
that if we had been the boss he could
have long vacation with pay.
Il want vacation from everything.
From the radio, from pictures. From
making money. I want vacation"
What would you do with vaca-
tion?" seemed like logical question
so we asked Mr.. Bergen what he would
do with vacation.
Il might go to New York" he said.
mo, I would not go to New York.
There would be no rest in New York.
I would start a round of seeing people
I've known all my life. So, instead OF
going to New York, shall go to Mex
leo. Well, maybe I shall 60 to Mexico.
It's pretty hard to figure out. isn't it?"
It sounded as if it was, so we said
yes it was hard to figure out.
One of the hard things about Mr..
Bergens job is that he is constantly
having to write. He still produces all
his own script, and Charles, not be-
cause he does not trust others to write
it, but because it has become a habit.
He did it back in the lean, dark days
of a few years ago, and it became SO
much a part of his life and Charles
that he can't get away from it. As an
artist, which he is from stem to stern
Cor whatever figure represents the
complete ventriloquisD, he thinks 1t
is better to keep the partnership In
tact. An affair of man and dummy.
He cannot find it in his artistic soul
to modify the existing arrangement
even when he feels at times that the
material is becoming mechanical. He
does feel that way, but that, you tell
him. is because he is tired. Not being
tired, one assures him that his per-
spective is bad; that he is no judge.
Mr.. Bergen says he hopes SO.
While he is saying it, across the
stars and directors wing of the
Universal cafe walks graceful blond
person, who might be June Travis, or
who might be just girl named Travis.
When Miss Travis is told that we are
from Washington, she starts instantly
to remembering Washington. She
wants to be remembered to O. Max
Gardiner and to Judge Wright, to
both of whom she is remembered II
they happen to read this.
And that reminds Mr. Bergen of
Washington. He recalls instantly the
fights he used to have. and may have
again, with Lillian Winnie, who repre-
sents Scandinavia on the sixth floor
of The Evening Star. He recalls, too,
Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Polio OF the
Mayf1ower, with whom he apparently
did not argue. At least he said moth
ing of it. Third Washington remi-
niscence of the partner of Mccarthy
is the Earle Theater which he played
three years ago, and was mighty glad
to play.
"See you on the set." says Mr.. Ber-
gen at this point. rushing over to eat
a luncheon sandwich, which Is all
any one in Hollywood has time to eat
regardless of how much money he may
have.
And, after sandwiches, one does see
Mr.. Bergen on the set of Letter OF
Introduction Charlie still is no.
where in sight. 1t is disappoint-
ment not only to us but to the large
crowd of extras assembled in Uni
versals theater in the form Of
New York first nights audience. The
part Bergen is playing calls for him
to be merely member of that audi
ence in the particular sequence we
saw, and. sitting in an orchestra seat
with a dummy on ones knee just Is
not being done.
There is only one thing wrong with
the audience, probably minor defect
that no one will notice. The critics
seats are filled with people who do
not look in the least like New York
critics. The chap in George Jean
Nathan's spot, for instance, looks like
an overfed, successful Wall Streeter.
And where Richard Watts, jr., and
his defiant blue shirt should be, there
is chap in cleaning white tie. The
effect is startling, but nobody seems
To care. nn1lch as IL HOLLYWOOD uere