Evening star., 1940-01-08


getting around.
Miss Simon, best known to the
public for her slight ups and her
terrific downs in Hollywood, arrived
in Washington yesterday for her ap-
pearance tonight at the National in
the Shubert musical. Three After
Three" From the time of arrival
until she was scheduled to appear at
the theater for further rehearsals
with Jack Whiting, new leading
man, she had approximately two
and one-half hours. In spite of the
fact that she was supposed to unpack,
dress, and dine in that interval. she
found plenty of time to talk OF
many things, in amiable contradic-
ton of the Hollywood legend that
she and interviewers were not the
most harmonious people in human
history. Even with critic. she
talked about critics with Gallo
frankness and with no evidence Of
harboring either anger or revenge
for the fact that they have not
always been the greatest of mutual
admirers Audiences, autograph
seekers, fans who send her cookies,
the acting genius of Frenchman
Jean Cabin, the prospects OF re-
turning to Hollywood, and num-
ber of others topics popped in and
out of the onversation-in addition
to the income tax and strip tease
subjects mentioned previously.
OF the strip tease, which should
be disposed of first because it has
greater elements of suspense than
the income tax (or does itO, 1t
should be said that it is a very polite
form of the art in which Miss Simon
is involved-and which crept into
the conversation only indirectly.
Even though it is in the spirit OF
the same kind of thing Mary Mar
tin did with such pretty, completely
charming emphasis, Miss Simon
finds it the most difficult part of
her saucy role in Three After
Three"
She finds it, how we say, "embar-
raising"
Most pleasing part of her first
appearance on the American stage
is Miss Simon's discovery that she
is remembered with pleasure by her
old movie audience. Most touch
ing evidence of that, to date, was
the instance of the woman who sent
her the cookies, an anecdote which
she relates with humor yet without
loss of its affecting qualities.
II had eaten the cookies before 1
discovered the note asking If she
might come .backstage to see me"
says Miss Simon. We'll. you couldn't
eat a woman's cakes without seeing
her. 1 did, and I was very glad
afterward, in spite of the fact that
we were rehearsing all day. playing
all night and having neither the
time nor the spirit for doing any
thing but sleeping between sessions. :"
OF income taxes. which it is high
time this account was reached, Miss
Simon has nothing against those OF
this country or her native France
at least, no more than any one else.
The levies on earnings in England,
however, once stopped her from
making picture there.
II was on a vacation at the time,
she says. The offer came and 1t
looked like a good one. However,
when my agent explained the in
come tax rates to me I found 1t
more profitable to go on just taking
the vacation at no pay"
1t might be different now that
France and England are engaged in
their big mutual undertaking and
Miss Simon is heart and soul for
them, but this was another time.
The petite, we'll sort of petite,
French actress indicates no DISPOSE
ton to avoid Hollywood in spite of
the tribulations of her career in the
movies. She is pleased that Cecil B.
De Mile offered her the leading fem
mime role in Northwest Mounted
Police" which is to be his first ofncial
recognition of technicolor. 1t is a
good role, Miss Simon thinks as a