Evening star., 1940-03-03

very day, however, we were offered
another engagement.
The job gave us enough for tick
cts home to dad and California.
California really looked golden to
us. Cupid reappeared at our house
about this time and his arrows
worked, for both Sue and Jimmy
married. Sue has little girl now.
She's 3 and her name is Judy, jr.
I was busy at school and having
fun with the neighborhood kids,
so 1t really looked as though our
acting days were over. One week
end mother took me to Lake Tahoe.
We were sitting around a camp
fire singing. I sang few solos
for the crowd. As I was leaving a
gentleman walked up to me, said he
was talent scout from the MGM
studio and suggested I apply for an
addition there when I returned
home.
Have you ever tried to get into
a studio? It's like knocking your
head against a brick wall. But 1
finally slipped through the door
(don't ask me how and told them
l wanted a job-that I was told
to come. They were awfully nice,
but said they didn't hire babies. I
started to leave; then got mad,
I had come to sing and sing I
would. So I just perched on a
desk and started to sing everything
I knew before anyone could stop
me. I didn't even stop after a
song, but went right into the chorus
OF another. 1t was lucky for me
it was a dull day or I PROBABLY
would have been thrown out. But
soon several executives came in
and Mr.. Mayer heard about the
"saucy" little girl who was sere-
nading casting. He called mel
sang-and then I signed.
At 13 I had a motion picture
contract. I was going to be an
actress!
My first day on the lot! What
would it be like? I knew it would
open the door to a magic city. Do
you want to know what really did?
I went to SCHOOL,!
Yes, sir, for one solid week I
didn't do anything but 60 to school
right on the studio lot. It seems
even actors and actresses must 20
to school if they aren't 18. OF
course, that really Debated some of
my dramatic ego, but after the first
shock it was almost as exciting as
being in picture. Because my
schoolmates were Deanna Durbjn,
Mickey Rooney, Gene Reynolds,
Betty Jaynes and Lana Turner.
They were fun and made me feel
right at home.
Then the first thing knew was
IN a picture-it was a short with
Deanna, called Every Sunday" I
sang swing and Deanna sang opera.
We've been good friends ever since.
I spent every day after school
visiting the different sets. It was
wonderful meeting stars I had
dreamed of and watched for so long.
OF course, my favorite always has
been Clark Gable. The day met
him was another time I couldn't
touch dinner because was Just too
thrilled. That night I wrote a song
about him and six months later.
when was better acquainted, 1
sang it to him off the stage. I
called it Fan Letter to Clark
Gable"
Now I really settled down to work.
I went to school three hours a day,
but when started my new picture,
Broadway Melody of 1885," I had
my own teacher, Rose Carter. Since
then she has always been with me
and We have private lessons to-
gether in my dressing room.
broadway Melody of 1898" really
put me on my mettle. In that one
I met just about everybody. Eleanor
Powell, Robert Taylor, Frances
Langford. Una Merkel. They were
wonderful and treated me like a
grownup, too. I appreciated it,
especially after having Mickey call
me Baby Gumm every day in school
for six months! Before I could get
my breath after it, I went into
'Thoroughbreds Don't Cry"
Really, I must have been born
under a lucky star. For in that
same picture was Sophie Tucker.
Do you know what she did? She
gave up her lunch hour every day
to coach me. She taught me every
little trick she had learned from
her years as stage star. If 1 do
put a song over, it's because of
Sophie Tucker.
Then came Everybody Sing"
next my favorite picture of all,
Love Finds Andy Hardy" There's
picture which is picture. It was
about real people. I didn't feel I
was acting at all. Mickey and I
really became good friends in the
ANDY" picture.
OF course, he still treated me as
child and I would have to listen
to him rave about his latest girl,
but then, we had fun together
Sometimes Freddie Bartholomew
would come, too, and then when
we got home mother would have
hot chocolate, brownies bursting
with nuts, popcorn and lots of other
things to nibble at. We would dance,
or sing, or just talk.
Just before I started 1.-THE Wizard
of Or mother surprised me with
new home-but the best surprise
of all was my own rooms-yes,
rooms. In addition to my bedroom
there is little sitting room, dress
ing room and a music room! I have
my own radio, victrola, banjo, piano