The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-26
Series on how THE CHILD MOVIE STARS ARE GROWING UP Freddie Bartholomew, In Debt, Struggles To Make a Comeback
Growing Rapidly, Voice Deepening
BY PAUL HARRISON NEA Service Staff Correspondent

NEA Service Staff Correspondent
 Hollywood-By the time you see Freddie Bartholomew in "Kid- naped," that young star will have been off the screen about 8 year. An actor whom many critic and play CT said deserved the 1897 Academy Award for his performance in Cap tains Courageous" Freddie finds himself trying to make a comeback in 1888.
 Hard-luck stories are rare in the high places of Hollywood, but Bar- tholomew, just turned IA, could tell three of them-the long custody squabble with his parents which he and his Aunt Myllicent finally won; the surprising court order to pay one-fifth of his earnings to his parents and $15,000 to their attor- neys; and his own long suspension by Metro, ostensibly over a salary disagreement.
 However, recently both court or- ders compelling the payments to his parents and attorneys were set aside, and although he is not only broke today, but in debt, there is actually a fair. fortune in sight for him ahead. The trusteeship of his estate has been removed from bank which had depleted it from $30,O0O to less than $400, and Fred die is now financial ward of Su- perior Court. Even his aunt can- not spend any of his money without court approval.
 Immediately behind him is year of idleness which might have been his most profitable one.
 Actually, though, it was the best year of his life," said Miss Myllicent Bartholomew. You couldn't realize how much the freedom meant to be able to do things like other boys. I didn't have to say, Be careful on those skates, Freddie or Better not climb that tree, Freddie; you couldn't finish the picture with 8 broken leg.'
 "He rode often at one of the sta- bles that rents horses. He learned to take hurdles, and he was trying to go under the horse as they do in circuses. He went flying several times with a friend of ours, and wants to take lessons when he is 16.
 "On his birthday few weeks ago, March 28, he was up practically at dawn. He kept saying, 'Cis, can you realize it-I'm IA! I'm 14!' He's proud of his long pants and his big feet; he buys shoes about two sizes too big. His voice is getting lower, but it doesn't crack.
 "You know he used to be a bit undersized and rather - ah - fragile looking. Well, he weighs 104 pounds, now, and is 5 feet inches tall, and has an appetite like a wolf. He grew more than an inch in the last three months, and-.But here he comes now"
 Getting Wild and Husky
 We were on location with the "Lord Jeff" company. Bartholomew, with other naval cadets, had been climbing some marine rigging erect ed for practice on the grounds of a school. In the recently completed "Kidnaped," for which he was loaned to 20th-Fox, he had 8 more rugged, young manly role than ever before. For Lord Jeff," though, he again is an arrogant brat. His next assignment probably will be Kim" and after that "One Young Amer ican"
 Freddie said, Hello there," in voice that seemed to originate from the region of his ankles. He shook hands in the Victor McLaglen man. ner. He seemed pleased when I noted his conventional haircut-his first. But he showed marked un- willingness to chat about the pie ture or future roles. Kept looking at me speculatively and finally burst out with, T say-do you want to go to sleep"
 I said no, thinks, but I would call on him next time I was troubled with insomnia. He said, "Oh, you must; it's real jiujitsu. Now take three deep breaths and hold the last one"
 Strong hands (Mr. Bartholo- mew's) grabbed me. I took three deep breaths and held the last one. Then two strong thumbs moved athwart my ears and pressed on a couple of nerves, or arteries or something.
 I saw stars lnon-movie) and the