Evening star., 1938-04-03
Maybe! But movie fame, fortuna
and married bliss didn't just
happen in the story Of
Joel McCreo and Frances Dee
by lUPTON A. wilkinson

The cayuse rode wasn't too we'll broke
He decided to turn around, fast, four time,
One end Of the rope was around the Gov
horns, the other tied to my saddle horn y,
in the middle After being almost cut in tv
freed myself.
Il learned there to plan my life. A horse
figured. gets up by raising his front legs fri
A COW, the opposite. Knee deep in mud, q
down behind the cow. l bent over, put i
cows tail around my neck, gripped it vii
both hands. l raised up with all the streng
could manage. 1t worked"
Joels father persuaded him to quit Il
ranch and 60 to college - Pomona. Aftd
ward. he turned to Hollywood
1t wasn't easy. even for lucky boy Tr]
it was only year or so from the day
worked as extra with Marion Davies until
starred opposite her. But how he hated tho
drawing room comedy roles! He secured Il
lease from a fine contract drifted arourI
Hollywood, taking bit parts - but only tho|
bits he liked.
An old customer, Sam Goldwyn, sent Il
him. offered a long term contract.
NO" said Joel ''One picture at time. /
Hollywood's almost mythical right guess
persuaded Joel to accept unique oontra|
under which his pay goes up automaticall
every few months.
Over in Chicago, Frances never snappd
out of her acting dream She did what ever]
Il ,L~ I@
Hollywood and registered as an extra.
There followed hard. bitter year.
Chances golden arrow, the incredib|
opportunity, struck, Nothing remotely lil|
it has happened to any extra since.
Three days before Maurice Chevalier wa
to begin 'Playboy of Paris, his leading lad
was detained at the New York studio for RI
takes. Maurice walked into the Hollywood
studio cafe. Sixty or seventy girls were eatinl
He stopped by Frances.
"Thees ees my leading lady
But she's had no experience.
.'Thees experience, what ees it? had non
either, before my first peectue"
To make it better, Chevalier was France|
(they weren't paired in it, She changed idol
Three months later Frances was starrin
with Buddy Rogers, in one of whose picture
she had been doing extra work when Chevalid
picked her.
Despite her great success, Miss Dee still
studies constantly under dramatic coach
The two young people have kept themselvd
singularly free of follies.
Joel is said once to have interrupted al
interviewer to explain: my wife has thre|
interests - the babies, me and her work
in the order named
Set by itself, that sentence sounds trif1
smart -alecky, which Joel isn't But the fact
are unmistakable.
Sitting near the tall living rooms grea|
fireplace in the Ventura ranch house, Mrs
McCrea is serving high tea. She fixed it her
self; the cook is busy about dinner. The boys
both we'll hammered, fascinatedly watch thu
fire and the high tea!
The door clicks; Joel, needing most of thu
doorway strides in His face is lined all day hi
has helped neighbor dehorn steers mani
job. He is highly pleased because, on the way
home, he picked up twelve Plymouth Rock
laying hens THAT will amuse his motherD
The boys are delighted Frances is on hel
feet, eyes outshining Joel's.
Even dolt could sense love entering, and
love responding.