The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-07


The most distinguished players
in town didn't seem TO mind being
called hams by Mccarthy, who can
get away with anything. They
even dressed the part. Almost
everybody raidcd studio wardrobe
departments during the day for a
period outfit. This gave the gents
chance to stalk around behind
hsndle-bar mustaches and sinister
leers saying, "Ah-ha, my proud
beauty"
MCCARTHY PROVES
HIMSELF A CAD
THE proud beauties. in turn, got
a chance to dance the can-can.
One who didn't kick very high was
the Princess Bahia. Mccarthy re-
preached her, saying she didn't
need TO be so dignified just because
she happens to be the daughter of
the Maharajah OF Ssrswak. She
said it wasn't that at all: she SIM
ply hadn't put on anything under
her heavy gown. Mccarthy didn't
exactly blush. but for once he
couldn't think of anything 10 say.
About the only guests who
didn't wear old-time outfits were
Norma Shesrer and Brian Ahern
and the Basil Rathbones. They
came late. after attending an up
pity little gathering to welcome
Noel Coward to Hollywood. They
didn't dance the can-can, either.
SHE LEFT CONFUSION
BEHIND HER
THE photographers also were in
modern dress, and there were
lots of them. They spent most OF
their time swapping Betty Cradle,
who spent most Of her time snap
ping her garters. She had real
can-can costume-the one worn by
Claudette Colbert in "Zaza" Miss
Cradle was a more authentic &C.
cupant Of the dress. though; she
wasn't equipped with the full
length hose which the Hays Office
ordered on Miss Colbert.
Nobody paid much attention to
Shirley Ross when she arrived in
what appeared to be a demure.
old-fashioned gown. The photog-
raphers stampede began when
Miss Ross turned around. The en-
tire back Of the dress was missing,
from hem TO neck. There was
just one startling expanse of cor
set, pink interchangeable, and
Miss Ross
No real reason is required for
holding a costume party in Holly
wood. but this one was in celebra-
ton Of finishing the picture. You
Can't Cheat an Honest Man"
which stars w. c. Fields. Mr..
Fields didn't show up. Producer
Lester Cowan stood in for him.
though: he came disguised as the
man-with-the-nose. Tyrone Power
came as another famed Fields
Lew, the partner OF Joe Weber.
He arrived by horse and buggy. an
equipage probably left over from
Jesse James"
BERTs GOOD ENOUGH
FOR THE CUSTOMERS
PERT LAIR, happy to escape
from his hot and heavy lion
costume in The Wizard Of o."
did a couple Of dances during the
impromptu show. His solo impress
sion Of team Of ballroom dancers
was something that likely will be
re-enacted in some picture soon.
Harry Ritz and Martha Raye did
an imitation of couple OF imbe-
Giles singing a song. II was some
thing about Hitler and Mussolini.
parodied on Mister Pagsnini."
and il would have severed all Hol-
lywood's diplomatic and CONNER
cial relations with the dictator
states II there had been any left
to sever.
There vas dancing, Of course. to
modern tunes from an orchestra
in old-fashioned dress. Somebody
observed that people have trav-
eled half way around the world TO
see spectacles less astonishing than
q rear view Of Miss Ross. in her
completely backless gown, doing
q rhumba.