The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-18
Ry PAUL. HARRISON
NEA Service Staff CORRESPONDENT


NEA Service Staff CORRESPONDENT
HOLLYWOOD, July lN.-How-
ard Hughes told friends i'm Holly
wood that if his world flight was
successful hcwouId rc-cntrr mo-
ton picture production and that
his first film would DC an avla-
ton story dealing with an exploit
similar to his own.
These friends say that movie
toxin would welcome the !ankN.
laconic advcuturcr now. 1t needs
his colorful personality, his cour-
age-and his money. Seven and
eight wears ago most Of the grand
pooh-bahS OF the industry were IN
clined 10 look down their nose at
the fabulouSIy wealthy young up
start who WAS cutting such 4 wide
Swath i'm the news and In box of
flee profits. He was accused OF
trufticking in ScnSati"nallSm. OF
raidin" the StaffS of other studios
and of being phcnomcnaIly lucky
in picking stories and making
star.
He was the only major produc-
~ who backed his own Snowman
ship entirely with his own money.
And every one of his pictures WAS
profitable. Hollywood SnickcrCd,
though, i'm 1892, when stubborn
business Judgment lost him ST.
coo, 900 i'm a color process and a
chain of thcatCrS. He also had Il
couple of million in cash tied up
I'M his last two pictures. BY no
means broke, but drained OF his
pocket money, Hughes said he was
tired of movies and quit.
With his interests conferred in
aviation, Hughes driftcd farther
from the picture colony. Once on
the triplc-A guest lists for the
most uppity parties, nc started
stunning them. And he did not
entertain i'm mis- modest for Il
Hollywood millionairc) VIII t e
house near the Los Angeles Coun-
try club. Sometimes he has gone
to night clubs. generally with wo-
men friends. de likes to dance,
but not to talk. He usually drinks
only q glass of champagne. and
does not smoke at all.
Except for Neil Mccarthy,
prominent motion picture attor-
ney who has handled his legal at
fairs for 10 years, Hughes has
had only few Hollywood friends
and no real intimatcS. He has
been called highhat, Sul!cu and
suspicious. He is generally unpop-
ulaT with photographers and re
portCrS because they believe his
avoidance OF personal publicity is
an act. like that of his good
friend Katharine Hepburn.
Hughes already is being liken-
cd to Lindbergh, and he expected
20 react to hero worship in much
the same way. The Texans ac-
Quaintances. however, mostly at
tribute his aloof attitude to Il
physical Observation-Disclosures.
He is Just deaf enough that he
has difficulty in understanding
ordinary conversation. particular
ly the speech Of strangers. Hughes
is likely 10 stare at the floor. or
off into space. as though he were
paving no attention. Actually this
is his way of concentrating to
catch the words.
Two years ago Hughes car
struck and killed a pedestrian
here. Policemen at first believed
that Hughes was drunk because
he seemed to have difficulty in
cOmprchcnding their questions.
They found, instead, that he was
deaf. Several witnesses testified
that the accident was unavoidable,
wholly the fault of the victim.
and the driver was exOnerated by
a cOrOner'S jury. Such things,
though, have left Hughes shy and
seasitivcly silent.
FThat'S why he breads inter-
VIEWS said a former associate,
now an assistant to Samuel Gold
wyn. But believe me, if you put
that guy in Il room with some
tough businessmen, and let EN-
get to hollering at each other,
Howard Hughes can argue them
all down"
Lincoln Quarburg, famous NOV
ie publicist who coined the term
platinum blond" for Jean Har-
low. a Hughes discovery. repre-
scented Hughes company through
out it's life. The two men had
some exciting battles against GEN.
sorship because Hughes always
was ready to lash out with
charges that political motives con-
spiraeies to suppress his gangster
pictures 'Scarface" and "The
Racket" These films did show
political and underworld alliances,
and "Scarface" was held up near
ly a year before pressure aided in