Evening star., 1940-02-24
Mr.. Gardiner
Airs Views
On Parties
British Actor Has
Definite Likes
And Dislikes
By the Associated Press.

oy tue ASSOCihteQ FIcS9.
HOLLYWOOD.
It's becoming automatic here
abouts that the way to stage sue
cessful party is to invite Reggie
Gardiner.
Since Hollywood. collectively, con-
siders its parties paragons by which
all others anywhere, any time,
should be judged. the dapper and
ebullient Mr.. GARDENERS views on
such things merit consideration.
But first let's consider Mr.. Gar
diner.
He is 36, the dark and handsome
son Of an English actuary. He wears
a thin mustache and was born in
Wimbledon, which is better known
for its tennis courts.
London's music halls remember
him well. So do Americas night
clubs. He has entertained In vaude-
vile, on the legitimate stage and has
10 years of movie experience, much
Of it in Great Britain.
He's capable as a film actor. But
he's at his best when he has the
floor to himself. He's been known
to keep blase bigwigs in stitches for
70 minutes at a stretch with his
monologues. He can, and will, mime
almost anybody or anything. In
turn. he'll do characterizations of
Shirley Temple, John Barrymore
and, Of all things, an imitation of
wallpaper being slapped on.
II am," he says, "punctually 80
minutes late at any party"
Enough Of him. Let's hear his
views.
He doesn't think much of the af-
fair where the hostess has every
thing mapped out in advance and,
because it's 9:44 and the schedule
says so, buttonholes you and says:
Now you must come over here. It's
time to try out that new game my
aunt In Cleveland wrote me about. -
People 60 to parties" he opines,
ito enjoy themselves. Men either
bring their best girls or come look
Ing for one. Vice versa for the
women. Mostly they all want to be
left alone. If they're intelligent
they can figure out a good time
Tor themselves. Just keep q drink
IN their hands and they'll go home
happy"
| What kind of parties does he dis
like most?
Buffet suppers. Good grief,
they're awful.
Somebody shoves you into a
room with long table. It's covered
with spaghetti and green salad and
cold potatoes and strange looking
red stun. You ask what it is, and
the hostess gushes:
"Oh, my dear, you'll love that.
It's something we brought back from
Ensenada. 1t usually tastes like q
Mexican revolution. Then you 20
over and sit down on q spindly
chair with plateful of junk on one
knee and a cup of coffee on another
and try to keep from dumping the
whole mess In your shoes"
He thinks the greatest mistake
most people make Is inviting groups
that don't mix.
The hostess has some relatives
out here from Wisconsin" he sur-
gests. They want to see Hollywood
after dark. So she invites q lot of
film friends.
Some young thing busts up to
one of the old ladies with oh, dar-
ling, let me try your lipstick.' Or
the men stand around and listen to
lot of us ham actors talking about
ourselves. It's no wonder they 20
home thinking we're q bunch Of
nuts"
What annoys him most at such
social functions?
"Guys Like me-" rays Gardner.
u. get home from one Of those
things and I say My gosh, Gardi-
ner, but I'd have been bored listen
ing to that silly business Of yours
tonight. Why can't you keep quiet?' !"