davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
Traffic Boys Outing
Plans Near Completion

Plans are nearing completion for
the Junior Traffic Boys picnic at
Carolina Beach on Friday, May 81.
This will be the first time in 10
years the boys have held their an
nual picnic elsewhere than Wrignts-
vile.
Sergeant J. r. Wilson will be in
charge of the food and refreshments
and Lieutenant John Davis will be
in charge of the activities.
Young traffic officers from every
school in the city will take part in
the picnic, which will last through
the entire day.
Entertainment planned includes
swimming and various athletic con-
tests, for which valuable prizes will
be awarded.
Buses to transport the boys to
the beach will leave Third and Anne
streets Friday morning at 10 O'CLOCK.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
PIRATES ARE HELD
TO SIX SAFETlES
Visitors Touch Sh0af And
Lamb For Ten Hits; North
cult Leading Batter

A pair of Eastern Carolina Teach
ers college pitchers-Mack Flythe
and Kelly Martin-held the Will
mington Pirates to six scattered
hits last night while the Teachers
combed two local hurlers for 10
hits to win handily, 8 to 4.
For five innings, Flythe gave up
but two safeties and n run. Mar
tin had less control and the Buc-
canneers combined four walks with
four hits to mark UP two runs in
the seventh and one in the ninth.
Jack Shoaf went seven innings
for the locals, giving up nine base
blows and seven runs. Roy Lamb,
New Hanover High school mounds
man, gave up n hit and a run
in the final two frames.
A walk, an error and two singles
CAV the visitors a pair of markers
in the opening frame. Shoaf held
them in hand until the fourth
when with one out Mickey North
cult, visiting catcher, slammed out
a long home run Flythe grounded
out. Shelton was safe on an error
and then a brace of hits and an
other error gave the Teachers three
runs.
A triple by Northcutt and a
single by Flythe were enough for
one run in the fifth. One safety
and a walk gave another marker
in the seventh and a walk and a
single another in the ninth.
The Pirates four errors and a
passed ball helped the Teachers
cause, with three runs being scored
on miscues. A balk and a passed
ball gave the Pirates two runs off
the visitors.
A walk and a single by frog
den gave the locals their first tally
in the third. Two walks and two
hits were enough for a brace of
runs in the seventh and Smidt,
who garnered two doubles to lead
the BUGS at bat, scored in the
ninth on a passed ball to end the
base running for the day.
Strikeouts were fast and heavy
n the game. In the first three
innings Shoaf whitfield seven men
and had a total of nine s%trikeouts
in the game. Flythe famed nine,
Lamb two and Martin two.
Northcutt with a homer, a triple
and a single out of five attempts
together with Winstead who col
lected three for five led the visi-
tors at bat.
The Pirates will resume play
against the New Bern All-Stars
here Friday night.
Tho how coCra
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
Junior SoftbaU Team
Defeats Phalanx, 1910

The JOUAM softball team defeat
ed the Phalanax fraternity outfit
IA to 10 yesterday afternoon at
ROTC field.
Vause, Hunter and Russ COM
posed the battery of the Junior
Order while Jewell and Whitaker
handled the ball for the fraternity
men.
Leading in hitting for the WIN
ners were Russ, Starcil and Hick-
man. The Phalanx bat attack was
spanked by Harper and Duncan.
The Junior Order will meet the
Star-NeWs team this afternoon at
Robert Strange at 6:15 o'clock.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
White Sox Blast Out
Is Hits To Beat AS

CHICAGO, May 22-(R-The Chi
cago White Sox Embossed Is hits
today to defeat the Philadelphia
Athletics, 10 to l, behind the seven
bit pitching of Lefty Edgar Smith.
1t was the Chicago teams third
straight home victory.
Mike Kreevich, S outfelder,
made four hits in five times up,
while Luke Appling and Larry Ros-
enthal got three hits each off
George Caster, who pitched t h e
whole game for the Athletics.
PHILADELPHIA All u II n A
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

professional baseball.
Devils in the Ranks
Among the former Duke men in
pro ball this year are Bill Werber
of the Reds, and Chubby Dean and
Hal Wagner of the AS. Eric Tip
ton, Sammy Bell, Ace Parker,
George Barley and Wayne Amber
are among those in the lnterna-
tional league. In fact, there's
hardly a league in the nation that
does not have at least one former
Blue Devil within its ranks.
At least one member Of this
years Duke team is slated for the
big time-Eddie Smokes, first base
man who has been hitting well
over the 400 mark this spring, is
definitely sewed up for the Reds.
Coombs feels that four other boys
leaving the campus this year are
fairly good prospects. They are
Laurence Davis, George m,
Glenn Price and George McAfee.
College-bred baseball players
are plentiful around the major cir
cults. COMBS idea of it is sum-
med up in a statement: There
aren't any born ball players on the
sandlots any more. We've got to
take boys with some natural abil-
ity and educate them"
And when it comes to educating
ball players, old Jack Coombs is
among the best of them. John Cad
dell was another good educator I'M
til his retirement at Wake Forest
last year. In fact, Caddell was so
good that it always had trouble
keeping boys around the Deacon's
campus after their sophomore
year. The majors usually h a d
them on the well-known dotted line
at the end of the freshman year.
This and That
Two players who r going like
houses ablaze in the Southern as
sociation are former Coastal Plain
league performers ALI Anderson
and Charlie Burgess with the At
lanta Crackers got their starts
with the New Bern Bears. That
meeting of the North Carolina High
School Athletic association will
come up soon, and we wonder if
some of the disgruntled schools are
still planning to back out of the
circuit. . Look for Fayetteville to
ask for a berth in the Eastern
Class A conference. Reports have
it that during their years dropout
from the circuit they have matters
to the point where they want to get
back in. .. Charlie Keller, on the
bench for several days due to his
inability to hit, celebrated his re-
instatement in the Yankee lineup
Tuesday by blasting out a home
run. The Maryland boy h s a
brother, Hugh Keller, who is ex-
pected to jump from the Univer-
s;ty of Maryland campus into the
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
DAVIS SIGNED

HARRISONBURG, Va, May o.
H9-Ludwig Davis, 10, pitcher on
the Elkton High school team, was
signed for the Philadelphia Athletics
today by Scout Ira Thomas and will
report to the Quaker City after his
graduation in June. Davis, a tail
youth weighing 1856 pounds, lost only
n game for his team during: the
last two years.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
Hoyle Elected Captain.
Of Wake Forest Nine

WAKE FOREST, May 22.-P-
Dick Hoyle of Zebulon, star short
stop, has been elected captain Of
the 1871 Wake Forest baseball
team.
Jim Smith of Black Creek was
reelected manager of the varsity
baseball team.
Hoyle last summer played short
stop for Zebulon's entry in the
Tobacco State league. He plans
to play this summer with the Err
win Red Birds
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
Eddie Smokes Elected
Captain Of Duke Nine

DURHAM, May % Up Eddie
Smokes, brilliant first baseman from
Charleston, S. c., has been elected
captain of Duke university's base
ball team for the season Of 1941.
Smokes, rated one OF the finest
collegiate players in the land by
major league scouts, is both a sensa-
tional fielder and a terrific hitter.
In 1889 as a sophomore on one CT
Dukes greatest teams he hit 1888
and fielded 1892. Among his hits
were eight doubles, five triples and a
home run.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Boston 10; Cleveland p. Bases on
Hash 4, Eisenstat 1. Strikeonts nv.
Hash 8, Harder 5. Hits off: oster.
mueller 3 in 2-3 innings: Baebv < in
2 1-5; Hash Z in 5; Harder y in d %.
Eisenstat 4 in 2 2-3; Dobson. none in
l 2,S. Wild pitch: Bagby. Winning
pitcher: Harder. Losing pitcher. Rag.
by, Umpires: Rommel, Rue. Moriarfv
ana hubbard. Time: 2:22. Attendance:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
SMOKE RINGS
Player Factory
By SAM Raglan

in recent years baseball ivory=hunters nave 1ouho
ferti1e feedino in North Carolina and at least two Big Five
colleges-Duke and Wake Forest-invariably send a man
to a major league club or a farm outfit OF the majors
each year. e
Duke either in the majors or one of the big MINOR CIR
cults. The proteges of Jack Coombs, old-ume pitching
hero of the Athletics. have a knack Of catching on IN
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
PIPPEN SOLD

DETROIT, May 22.-lR-Henry
Pippen, right-nanded pitcher OBJ
tanned by the Detroit Tigers last
year from the Philadelphia Attn
l%etics, was sold today to the Oak
club of the Pacific Coast
league. The amount involved was
not disclosed. In four games this
season Pippen had one victory and
losses. His sale reduced the
Detroit squad to "a, n under the
players limit.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Summary: RuDs batted in: North.
cult 2, Hinton, Trogden, Davidson,
Flythe, Smidt. Two base hits: Smidt
2. Three base hits: Northcutt: Home
ms Northcutt. Stolen bases: Car
ter 2, Stefano 2, Shelton, Mayo. Left
On bases: E. C. 7. C. 9; Wilmington
10. Bases on balls-off: Flythe 4,
Shoaf 2 Martin 4, Lamb 8. Struck
out-by: Flythe 9 in Z; Shoaf 3,
Martin 2, Lamb 2. Hits off: Flythe 2
in 5; Shoaf 9 in Z; Martin 4 in 4,
Lamb 1 in 2. Balk: Flythe, Martin.
Passed balls: Larkins, Northcutt.
Winning pitcher: Flythe. Losing
pitcher: Shoaf. Umpires: Baker and
Griffith. Time: 2.10.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Buns batted in: siebert, Appling 2.
Rosenthal 2, fresh, Smith, McNair. Two
Dase hits: Rosenthal, Kuhel, Appling.
Three base hit: Smith. Left on bases.
philadelphia 10; Chicago 10. Bases on
balls off: Caster 8, Smith s. Strikeouts
by: Caster 2, Smith s. Wild pitch :
Caster. Empires: Basil, Ormsby and
Grieve. Time: 2:23. Attendance: (es-
timated) $500.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
Washington Cops Game
From BROWNS, 9 to Z

ST. LOUIS, May %. III The
Washington senators got more
long-distance hits than singles to-
day as they made their first ap-
pearance of the season in St. Louis
and defeated the Browns, 9 to 2.
In their 13-hit offensive against
Jack Kramer, Johnny Whitehead.
who couldn't get anyone out in
the eighth inning, and John Mig
ceiling, the senators included six
doubles-Two each by Rick Fer
rell and Cecil Travis-and a home
run by Buddy Lewis.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Yankee fold this summer. Rea-
son for the pending sale of the
world champions, it seems, is to
collect the 81, 900, 900 in order to
pay Inheritance tax on the Rupert
estate. From the sale the three
b%enefciaries are expected to re-
alize about $500, 0O0-the U. S. gets
the rest.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
A E. E SLATED

CHAPEL HILL, May PIP
The University of North Carolina
track squad, Southern conferenoc
outdoor champion for the third
consecutive year. will hold its an.
nual inter-class track meet here On
Thursday and Friday afternoons.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
National

Cincinnati at New York - Walters
600 VS.. Schumacher Q-4).
Pittsburgh at Brooklyn - Bowman
1-2) VS.. Hamlin (2-2).
st. Louis at Boston-Warneke CD
VS., Posedel (2-2).
Chicago at Philadelphia (night) -
Root (0-0) VS.. Mulcahy (4-1).
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Error: Derringer. Runs batted in
Myers, Rizzo 2, OFT. banning ?, Wer-
Der, Demaree, Young 2. Two base hits :
Rizzo. Home runs: Rizzo, banning.
Werber. Sacrifice: OFT. Double play
Frey and F. Mccormick. Left on bases:
New York 6; Cincinnati 8. Bases on
balls off Derringer 2. Strikeouts by :
Hubbell 4, Derringer 2. Umpires: Sears.
Dunn and Jordan. Time: 1872. At
tendance: 1887.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Errors: Weatherly 2, Hash. Runs
batted in: Foxx, Tabor 2, Doerr. Pea
cock. Williams, Chapman 2, Trosky 3
Hemsley, Mack, Weatherly, Keltner .
Two base goh n1ts; r Boudreau, Keltner.
new Home runs: Trosky, Tabor. Weath
eriy, Keltner. Sacrifices: Harder. Chan-
man. Double plays: Keltner MacL naap
Trosky; Boudreau. Mack and Tros dyu
Cronin, Doerr and Foxx. Left on bases
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
THE STANDINGS
American T,aarua
National Legaue
TODAY,S GAMES

NEW YORK, May 22.-P-Probable
pitchers in the major leagues tomorrow
(Won-lost records in parentheses):
American League
New York at Detroit-Ruffing (2-3)
VS.. Newsom (3-1).
Boston at Cleveland-Wilson (2-O) VS..
Feller (5-2).
Philadelphia at Chicago-Babich (4-2)
VS.. Lee (2-2).
Washington at st. Louis Leonard
(4-3) VS.. Coffman CD.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Z 0rs: Kramer, Strange ., Lewis
Whitehead, Travis Runs batted in
Case 2, Lewis 2, Bloodworth 3, Terrell
Berardino, Radcliffe Two base hits ::
Terrell 2. Radcliffe, Travis ., Walker
Bloodworth. Laabs. Home run: Lewis.
Stolen bases: Case ?. Sacrifices: Chase
.. Double plays: McQuinn and
Strange: Bloodworth, Travis and Bo,
nura. Left on bases: Washington 5,
st. Louis 10. Bases on balls off: Chase
). Kramer 3. Strikeouts by: Chase Z
Niggeling 2. Hits off: Kramer s in I
innings: Whitehead 4 in 0 (none out in
Sth) Niggeling 1 in .. Losing pitch
er: Kramer. Umpires: Hollis, Geise,
and MCGOWAN. Time: 2:1S Attend
ance: paid, 1914.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

ETTUrS: CrUSetu = huHs Datteu IN
Rolfe, Gordon, SeIkirk 2, Dahlgren 4
Two base hits: Crosetti, Selkirk, Dick
ey. Three base hit: Gordon. Home
runs: Dahlgren, Selkirk. Sacrifice
Breuer. Double plays: Keller and
Dahlgren; Dahlgren and Dickey; Bar.
tell. Gehringer and York; Higgins
York and Bartell. Left on bases: New
York 10; Detroit S. Bases on balls off
Breuer ], Newhouser 2, Benton 2
Strikeouts by: Breuer 4, Newhouser 5
Benton l, McKain 1 Hits off: New
houser I in 3 innings; Benton 4 in 3:
Mckain 4 i ?: Rowe 1 in 1. Losing
pitcher: Newhouser. EMPIRES: Quinn,
Summers and Pipgras. Time: 2 :06. At
tendance: 9,914.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Color blindness is more preva-
lent among men than among
Wopr-
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
E. e. I. &C. TRlUMPHS OVER BUGS. "a
Giants Get To Derringer For 6-4 Triumph
, STANDINGS
RESULTS
American League

American League
Chicago 10; Philadelphia 1.
Cleveland g.; Boston 6.
New York 8; Detroit ..
Washington 8; st. Louis 2.
National League
New York 6; Cincinnati 4.
Brooklyn 8; Pittsburgh l..
st. Louis at Boston, postponed, rain.
Chicago at Philadelphia, postponed
rain.
Evening star., 1940-06-09

DEGlN A MEAL with Heinz tempting Home
- style Soup-and everything tastes better.
It's the perfect hot dish that every cold meal
needs! All ready for you to heat and serve, it's
made from old-time home recipes with all
the tasty goodness of fine ingredients and rare
spices slowly cooked in. Have you served
Heinz Vegetable Soup lately? It's better than
ever! And Heinz new Countryside Chicken
Soup is masterpiece. Order supply of Heinz
summer soups. They cost less than the home
made kind. Hot-weather meals will be easier
to fx-thriftier appetizing.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11
Observation-Disclosures
)urdnt Personals


Frinds of Mr.. Hendricks Fleming
are aad to see him back on duty at
the pstoffice after a long illness.
Frinds of Miss Jean Perkins will
be iterested to know that she is
enjosng a trip to points in Virginia
and will go trom there to New York
when she will spend ten days.
Mis- Dorothy Ann Durham and Miss
Caro- Steen accompanied Miss Ann
Bogad home to Parkin, Arkansas
when they will stay some time.
Ms. Graham Field returned Satur-
day ron a delightful visit to the Gulf
CoaS. Mr.. Field, Kosciusko, spent
the weekend at home.
Ms. Frank T. Shields of Clarksburg,
Yves Virginia spent the 4th of July
holidays with e sister Mrs. Horace
Wei.
Ms. Joe Daniel mas returned to
her home in Houston, Texas after a
delightful visit in the home OF rela-
tive&
Hbrace Weir was called to Wen
Wednesday to attend the funeral OF
his cousin A. w. Weir. son of the late
Col John Weir.
Nj. and Mrs. Herbert Montgomery
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11
is employed in the Bank Of West:
Bridge Club Holds Meeting

Il LAtA6C SAG A11A
afternoon in the lovely suburban
home of Miss Keturah Campbell. The
house was aglow with beautiful vari-
colored gladiola prize blooms from her
mothers garden. Mrs. L. ]. Hand was
the final possessor of the travelling
prize "a double deck of cards). Mrs.
Malcolm Holmes held high score
Mrs. Bill Hand bingoed, they received
cards. Miss Campbell was assisted
by her mother in serving a delicious
salad plate and ice tea.
Mrs. c. b. Alexander is visiting her
neice Mrs. William McAIullen at
Brookhaven.
MIR. and Mrs. Herman Johnson OF
Walden were Sunday guests of Mr.
and Mrs. Harvey Campbell.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pate Johnson returned
Saturday from a weeks visit TO Mr..
and Mrs. Doc Johnson's in Texas.
They also enjoyed a trip to Mexico.
Marion Rogers and Camillus Aubrey
went to Canton and Jackson Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harvey Campbell,
Dale Davidson. Miss Elizabeth John
son, Jim Bowie and Miss Laura Mel
ton spere the 4th at Camp Choctaw
near Alderman.
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. l.. Afford and son,
John Thomas, of Indianola were week
end guests of Mr.. and Mrs. John Al
ford.
Miss Norma Elizabeth McCrary of
Lexington visited her parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Norman McCrary Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh Mcclellan and
family OF Bowling Green drove up to
| West to see the high water Sunday
afternoon.
Mrs. Marion Rogers entertained for
her neices and nephew Patsy and
| John Kier and Virginia Moore and
a few of their friends from Lexington
at a weiner roast Saturday afternoon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew Smith and
daughter Connie visited Mr.. and Mrs.
Murley Tate Sunday afternoon.
Mr.. and Mrs. S. P. johnson of
| Greenville and niece, Adele Ware OF
| Winona visited Mr.. and Mrs. S. L..
| Murff and Alice Wednesday ar d
Thursday.
Miss Laura Melton is visiting her
sister Mrs. Ernest Davis at Benoit.
Friends of Mr.. w. T. Hand are
!. GLAD to know he is recovering from
a tonsil operation at the Baptist
Hospital in Memphis.
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. d. Thornton made
a business trip to Kosciusko Satur-
day.
Miss Ida Owens of Grenada and
Mrs. Collins Jones and Miss Dick
Jones of Jamestown spent Sunday in
the home of DR.. and Mrs. w. G.
Brock.
Miss Castell Cade Is visiting he1
aunt Miss Sue Cade in Jackson.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eris Tate were Gre
NADIA visitors Monday.
Mr.. and hrs. Paul Hand of Good
man were Sunday guests Of MIR. and
Mrs. L. J. Hand.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eris Tate spent the
4th with MIR. and Mrs. Evans Mussel
white Of Thornton. Jean Musselwhite
returned home with them.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11

and children, Mr.. and Mrs. Chas.
Montgomery and children of Wash
ington, d. C. and their mother Mrs.
Louise Montgomery spent last Sun
day in Jackson as guests of Mrs.
Nichols.
James whitehouse has returned
from Indianapolis, Indiana, where he
joined his family there in a brief
visit. Mrs. whitehouse will remain
until about the middle of August.
Miss Irene McMaster will spent the
weekend in Durant, the guest of Mr..
and Mrs. Edwin Steen.
Willie Martin Renacker has return
ed home after a month visit with
Mr.. and Mrs. John Motlow of Clarks-
dale, Miss.
Tom Renacker left Thursday for
Clarksdale on business. While there
he is with his sister, Mrs. John Mot
low.
Buddy Renacker is in Clarksdale
visiting with Mr.. and Mrs. John Mot
low.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11
A Gentle Laxative
Good For Children

Most any child who takes this
tasty laxative once will welcome It
the next time he's co~nstipated and
it has him headachy, cross, listless.
with bad breath, coated tongue or
little appetite.
Syrup of Black Draught is a tasty
liquid companion to the famous
BLACK-DRAUGHT. The principal
ingredient is the same in both
products; helps impart tone to lazy
bowel muscles.
The Syrup's favor appeals to
most children, and, given by the
simple directions, its action is
usually gentle, but thorough. Re-
member Syrup of Black Draught
next time. Two sizes: SOC and 25c.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11

her suffering, the minister's, Brother
Haynie and Brother Lewis for their
words of comfort, and Mr.. Oliver for
his efficient service. We are deeply
grateful for the beautiful floral Of
erings. May Gods richest blessings
abide with you always.
j. B. Williams,
Miss Bette Williams,
Mr.. and Mrs. Dave Stevens,
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. G. Hutchison,
Mrs. Corinne Roberts.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11
Cord OF Thinks

We wish to express sincere
appreciation for each deed OF kind
ness and expression of sympathy
shown us in the passing of our wife
and mother, Nancy Cutrer Williams.
Especially do we wish to thank Or,
Hyde for his untiring efforts to ease
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11
WEST NEWS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
b. t. U. Convention At west

B. T. U. Convention At West
The County B. T. U. Convention
met with the West Baptist Church
Sunday afternoon. Durant, West,
Goodman and Lexington were repre-
scented. Mrs. Ford of Goodman had
charge of the program, the theme
being seeking Wisdom From Above
Devotional by Rosa w. Ford OF
Goodman.
Duet, Magaret Moore and Eloise
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11
statesmen

MAN WANTED for Rawleigh Ror
Permanent if you are a hustler.
Dealer w. p. Waldrop averaged near
ly $50 Sales per week. Write at once
Rawleigh's, Dept. MSF-54-210, Mem
phis Tenn. As, 6, Z, 8
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-07-11

King, Durant.
Being Christian in School, Peggy
Chastaine, Lexington.
Iiving Epistles"j Herman Teal
Goodman.
Piano Solo, John Howard, Good
man.
MIR. Albert Browning of Isola, Mr.
and Mrs. Jim Kent of Greenwood
Mrs. Hubert Mason n daughter
Patsy, of Memphis, and Mrs. VIII
liam Brock were guests in the Brow
ing home the 4th.
Miss Catherine Chrisler OF Duran
is boarding in the home of Mr.. ano
Mrs. Walter Taylor. Miss Chrisler
Evening star., 1940-04-07
Discovering Joan Fontane Long and Tedious Task

studio stan. They rated Joan the
last of the four. I sent the four
tests to my New York staff. They
did the same. I looked at the tests
20 times with Hitchcock. We final
ly decided it was either Sullivan or
Fontaine. We finally decided that
Joan was better than Margaret be-
cause Margaret would have been
too clever. She would have turned
on the man Laurence Olivier
quicker than Joan.
They All Said ''No!"
4By this time Joan had made
The Women and Metro had an
option on her, but it had expired.
I asked Metro If they would share
q contract with me for Joan. They
said, NO. I then approached Gold
wyn and Roach to split Joan's con-
tract three ways with me. This
deal was almost clinched when
Goldwyn looked at The Duke of
West Point Gin which Joan played
the feminine leado, and his mo-
could be heard all over Holly
wood. :...-.-
II couldn't believe was so wrong
about Joan," says Selznick, who at
this time had just seen some of
the rushes Of another newcomer,
Vivien Leigh in "Gone With the
Wind" $50 I decided to take the
plunge and told Joan I was will
ing to sign her all by myself for
limited deal with options. I don't
want it!' Joan told me curtly when
I gave her the big news. She was
about to be married to Brian
Aherne, and she didn't want any,
thing to cut into her honeymoon.
I had a heck of q time persuading
her to play the part. I had to up
the money terms and agree to stop
production If for any reason Aherne
had to leave town!"
But the more obstacles Joan put
in the way, the more Selznick was
now determined to get her for "Re-
becca," which is the way with pro-
ducers, who, alas, follow the usual
pattern Of humanity. s'Rebeccas