The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-01
John Barrymore In
Midst Of Family Feud
Former Wife, Elaine Barrie, Finally Wins Over Daugh.
ter, Diane, Possession of Stage Star For "a Hours

I piled.
Barrymore reached unsteadily for
his glass and made remark which
sounded like Club.
Miss Barrie, rid Of her daughter
in-law and rival, took full charge of
the situation. A reporter sitting at
the next table said he heard her
say:
'AlI I want is "a hours with you,
John. cannot go on without you. I
do not want you back for keeps. All
I want is "a hours of bliss. Look at
me, John"
She wore low-cut, gold lame
evening dress. She spoke low and
ardently.
'"This is not the gown I first wore
this evening"" she continued. IT had
on white one, John. I looked like
an angel. I wanted SO much to have
you see me in it. But at dinner one
of my friends dropped gravy on it,
so I went all the way home to
change to this one"
Barrymore looked her over.
ut is gorgeous, my DEAR" he said.
"Are you like a breath of spring."
Whereupon he kissed her.
Later they left together, with
Barrymore confiding that it was a
'reconciliati ton" It was reported
they had gone to hotel.
Events of the evening began in
Barrymore's dressing room immed-
lately after the show. Miss Barrie,
who had had part in the play
the role Of one of Barrymore's
stage daughters-until he spanked
her harder than the script called
for in st. Louis and she walked out
on both him and the play, had been
a spectator at the Broadway OPEN
ing. With the final curtain, she
hied to his dressing room.
There she encountered the great
profile's II year old daughter who,
according to the press agents
schedule, was to have celebrated the
evening with him at the Monte
Carlo.
Miss Barrie ignored her STEP
child and began railing Barrymore:
after all the months I put into
this play and then to see somebody
else in my place, you :. 80"
Miss Barrymore made retort to
Miss Barrie. They shouted at each
other few minutes, then Miss Bar
rymore Stormed from the room and
told stagehands: eff it comes to
blows it will come to blows and I'm
ready to fight her :. I'm not going
to let him go out with that woman
if it takes all night"
Then she rushed back into the
fray. She evidently won the first
round because Miss Barrie left first.
Soon father and daughter emerged
and went to the night club, as
scheduled. In the party were Her
bert Bayard Swope and George
Jean Nathan.
Scarcely had they settled around
their table when the door was flung
open to admit Miss Barrie and par
ty. They got table nearby and the
crowd, knowing what to expect,
edged as near as possible. Among
the spectators were Tyrone Power
and his dife, Annabella.
In the entire room, only Barry
more seemed oblivious. He conceil-
trated on glasses of Scotch and
soda and by the time Miss Barrie
got her chance to move in he was
phlegmatic. Miss Barrymore had
left the table to dance, the Others
had wandered away, and the great
lover sat alone. He looked around
and his estranged fourth wife was
at his side. She sat there, rooted,
seemingly, the rest Of the evening.
Miss Barrymore came back. and
gave her a fierce look. Barrymore,
at that point, was saying to report
ers: whats there to talk about?
After all, Elaine and I are good
friends !. I. III +. h + II
For two hours Miss Barrymore
and Miss Barrie faced each other
across the table, neither budging. 1t
was the daughter who gave way.
She left with her friend. Elizabeth
Englis, with the parting remark:
I'm not responsible for anything
that happens now"