Evening star., 1940-03-24
Truly Holly woods Miracle Woman Is the New Ginger Rogers
Star Has Wrought
Many Changes
Since 1892
Ambition Gets Her
New Personality
And Ability
By Sheilah Graham.
HOILYWm

HOLLYWOOD.
Meet the miracle girl of Hollywood
Ginger Rogers. When Ginger
alighted 1892. upon Hollywood she
couldn't act worth nickel; her skin
was bad; her hair ditto; her left leg
seemed slightly crooked; her speech
was marred with an atrocious lisp;
she was awkward and i'll at ease. To-
day, Ginger's skin is okay: her hair
Is beautiful; both legs appear to be
eperfect match; the lisp departed a
long time ago from her speech; she
is not awkward; she is perfectly at
ease, and her acting in her latest
s.. picture, Primrose Path" Is worth
at least million dollars.
How did she do it? With disci-
pline. In city where all would-be
stars must be on speaking terms with
eelf-control and self-subjection, Gin
ger is the most self controlled and
subjected. OF course, Ginger was
helped a lot by her mother, Mrs. Leila
Rogers. Ambitious as Ginger is, her
mother is yet more ambitious for
her. and 1t was she who changed
Ginger's voice and histrionics into
the 100 per cent attraction and abil-
ity of today.
Until about year ago, Ginger's
mother lived with her in the hilltop
home on Beverly Crest. The house
commands view of two canyons,
ard overlooks the mansion of Lew
Ayres, from whom Ginger recently
obtained divorce, and that of Myr-
ma 10y. The house and grounds cost
Ginger about $150000, and are sur
rounded by high white wall. There
Is studio separate from the house
where Ginger practices her dancing.
Thene is championship tennis court
and blue-tiled swimming pool with
high diving board. Instead of a
bar, there is a complete soda foun-
tstn. Ginger can make every kind
OF sundae and enjoys inventing new
banana splits, etc.
The reason for Mrs. Rogers de-
parture was-according to Lew Ayres
that Ginger had found herself :"
Prior to her mothers departure,
Ginger hated to be alone. felt un-
certain of herself. Now she enjoys
solitude, and when Mrs. Rogers
comes to stay few days, she is
strictly guest, not the hostess.
One of the minor reasons, by the
way, for the Rogers-Ayres split-up
was the too constant presence of
Mrs. Rogers. Another more i'm
portant reason, as Lew now admits,
was his own uncertain temper and
the period of doldrums through
which he was then passing because
of his career.
Spartan Diet Helped.
Ginger effected her complexion
Transformation via Spartan diet
with the exception of that soda
fountain, and even there she enjoys
making the confections more than
eating them. Her leg was brought
into line via specialized exercise.
Her self-confidence arrived with her
new complexion, new figure, and,
above all, with her success as dra-
matte actress-beginning with "Vi-
vacious Lady" continuing with
Bachelor Mother" and now, her
best performance to date, Primrose
Path"
Ginger-her real name is Vir-
ginia McMath-was born in Inde-
pendence, Mo-, % years ago. She
celebrates her 29th birthday ami
versary in July. Her nickname,
Ginger, has nothing to do with the
color of her hair (Which is really
Ight-brown), but is the result of a
childish lisped "Ginia." Her father
and mother separated when Ginger
was a youngster, and mother and
daughter had tough shedding until
Ginger won Charleston competi-