Evening star., 1939-04-02

The ears of Hollywood were cooked
forward much as those of Mis-
souri, mule when someone men
tions carrots. Even the olives fell
softly into the Martins.
OF course, even with such effort
no one could hear what Mr.. Tone
was saying in New York. Perhaps
the patrons of Leon and Eddie's or
Lindy's or twenty-one Gf they were
vigilant) can supply that end of
the conversation. But in Holly
wood Talbot was heard to say dis
tinctly:
mo, Franchot, they aren't here.
But she's seen all around town with
him. If they come in, I'll call
you"
Far across the continent, Mr.
Tone stopped handing the dough
he'd earned from M-G-M over to
the telephone company-a nickel
at time He hung up and Talbot,
filled with that glow which en-
CULTS an actor when he has played
a scene and held his audience,
walked back to the bar.
A few moments later, as though
upon the cue of director who
knew his timing, the doors opened
and Joan Crawford walked in. Upon
her arm was a tousle-haired and
smiling young man. He appeared
as young Woodley did in the play
before the headmaster started
pestering him. He resembled boy
sscout who has just lighted a fire
without matches. He looked very
happy, confusedly happy.
Now, no one in the room actually
knew what she and what "he, y
Mr.. Talbot. referred to when he
talked to Mr.. Tone in far-away
Gotham. He might have been talk
ing about Burns and Allen or Mickey
and Minnie Mouse. But that wasn't
what those in the restaurant
thought. They thought he was
talking about Joan Crawford and
the man she is seen with every
where in Hollywood lately. Just as
remember st. Bartholomew" was
passed from man to man at the
battle of Ivry, so did the world fly
round the tables, Shes out with
Charlie Martin
In the opinion of Hollywood,
young Charlie is to succeed Douglas
'Dodo' Fairbanks, jr.. and Franchot
Tone as the third husband OF La
Crawford.
In this conclusion the Hollywood
gossips may be all wet Martin is
writer and I learn that Miss CraW-
ford is helping him with his work.
The mutual interest which the town
has observed in them can be we'll
explained as the companionship of
two people collaborating in an ar
tistic creative effort.
Martin, a successful radio scribe,
was imported to Hollywood about a
year ago by Universal Pictures.
. Every year hundreds of young
writer's are brought in, but from
the first Martin seemed different.
The secretaries, and later the eX-
ecutives at Universal, learned to look
on him with awe and wonderment.
They recall the day he first had his
secretary call a Hollywood dentist.
The dentist, grown careless by prox-
unity to the molars of Man Noun
tain Dean and the bicuspids of Bing
Crosby, had grown somewhat lax in
the awe which should be accorded
: celebrities. He suggested an ap-
pointment for 3 o'clock. Martin
fixed his secretary with an imperious
eye and remarked without fury:
There must be some mistake
tell him it is Charles Martin who is
calling"
The studio had engaged him to
manufacture scenario to be called
"Sweepstakes. A glance at the Uni
versal files convinces one that
George Bernard Shaw almost es-
capped that insulting award con-
Z ferred on him by the Academy OF
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,
in favor of Mr.. Martin. The dia-
logue in Sweepstakes may or may
not have been as good as that in
"Pygmalion' But it was longer.
The characters knew nothing of
backwoods reticence, but unfolded
their secret thoughts to each other
in condolences that ran page or