Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-26

This time, producing and direct
ing Primrose Path" for R-K-O
Radio, it is Queenie Vassar that La
Cava uncovers. And to her he as
signs the role Of grandma to his
star, Ginger Rogers.
But though Queenie Vassar is
wholly new to the screen, she is
not unknown to fame. She was a
reigning belle on the Broadway
stage at the turn of the century,
brought over from London by Tony
Pastor. After a fascinating career
and fame that equalled Lillian
Russells, she quit the stage 20 years
ago and ~ years ago moved to
Beverly Hills with Comedian Hus-
band Joseph Cawthorn.
Her one previous visit to the
studios was at that time, when
Cawthorn. who went on to become
one of the leading character actors
of the screen. was making his first
screen test for De Mile. Under
persuasion. Queenie Vassar played
opposite him.
"De Mile wanted us to play
together the moment he saw the test
on the screen" she said. every
body said we would repeat the
success of Mr.. and Mrs, Sidney
Drew. That stopped Joe. He said
he didn't like limitations. So I
said we'd forget it."
Never once has she visited a
movie set during all the succeeding
years Of her comedy star husbands
association with the screen. A
sprightly little lady with a very
clear blue eve. she was emphatic
about her reason.
"A wife shouldn't interfere with
her husbands work"
So Queenie Vassar. who last
played on the Broadway stage in
"Sibyl' 20 years ago, and began
her stage career in Edinburgh
Scotland pantomime IS years ago
is launched today upon a new
career. And said she:
IT adore It,"
There's only one flaw. That hus-
band Of hers worries too much.
She's little put out with him, but
in a nice way.
Hes such a softly" she said.
We've been married, oh, ever so
many years now, but he's still the
lover. If I have a pain in nv toe,
it frets him. He certainly was wor-
ried my first day on the picture.
He came over to take me to lunch,
and just because I was a little
nervous and upset he wanted me to
quit right away"
But no quitting for Queenie
Vassar. Not after shifting grease
paint once more for the first time
in 20 years.
Husband Joe was so anxious,
however, that she shouldn't under
take too firing a task that he fol-
lowed her right to the foot Of the
long stairway In their Beverly Hills
home that night, expostulating with
gestures. One of the gestures
Tipped his knuckles against a huge
porcelain vase It tottered and fell
Dodging 1t. Husband Joe fell, too,
strained a knee cap.
80 now" said Queenie Vassar,
"he's laid up in bed for a couple
Of weeks-and I tell him. There, you
see. I can take care of myself, but
you can't"
Her eyes really twinkled They're
ageless, anyhow. So is Queenie.
That dainty figure of woman, with
neatly turned ankle and wrist, with
graceful quick movements like bird
well. you don't have to stretch
your imagination very much to see
her as she was in the COS when
Tony Pastor put her into those
daring black silk tights and she
became the toast of New York.
She played and sang with Lillian
Russell. She was courted by every
celebrity from Steve Brodie down
and up. She wore Paris gowns that
made all the women envious.
The raising of two sons-they're
grown now and making names for
themselves in the motion picture
industry-the grandmotherly super