Evening star., 1941-11-30

Bergen, you don't know whether to
talk about Charlie as though he's a
ventriloquist's dummy. or a real
little boy.
"Oh, he gets them at the same
tailor I use" said Bergen with a
flicker of mischief. His cost more
S7S to 500 a suit"
Then silence again. Bergen head
ed the car up hill.
What size do you buy for-that
Is, what size does Charlie take?"
"A four"
Silence. and the car swung around
a sharp turn in the hills.
That's John Barrymore'S house. -
volunteered Bergen. He pointed to
a big. white villa. Above is Miriam
Hopkins. On the next hill live the
Charles Bowers
We Don't Talk About That.
"Yes-How many outfits does
Charlie have?"
About 35 He likes changes. "
Bergen's eyes flickered mischiev-
ouslv.
"He-er-was made by a Chicago
wood carver II years ago?"
This was definitely delicate
ground. Bergen's jaw set He
looked unhappy. Then he gave me
the first direct look-it asked un-
derstanding-and he added:
81 don't like TO talk about such
things. When I do hundreds of
people write 10 protest. They say
Charlie is so real they don't like
70 be reminded he's a-dummy.
They send him gifts-some We USE
he gets more Christmas cards than
I do. He's quite a person"
Silence. and then Bergen added
ITS been a long association"
The cars headlights lit up Ber-
gems home-and Charles It's a
white, rambling place. perched high
on a crag. looking down-very far
down-on Los Angeles, a great floor
Of lights.
We stepped in through a patio
where garden furniture looked like
Sunday breakfasts in the sun. Then
into living room of serene, modern
furniture. A huge window showed
us Los Angeles again. far below.
Left into a ibrary-a mans room,
wood paneled. with leather chairs.
Its Unpleasant.
Frank" Bergen called. A tall,
blond butler appeared Quite Sved-
ish. Bergen said, Wed like to see
Charlie" Bergen explained that
Charlie is kept in safe place
"Kidnaping?"
sOnce. in New York. Just a gag.
But its unpleasant I've tried for
months to find a man who can give
me an exact stand-in for Charlie
Just in case. Charlie only cost me
s35 when I was in high school in
Chicago. But this year I've spent
$4,000 on the experiments of six
different carvers. None of them
came off"
Frank led us into a guest room.
He opened Charles clothes closet.
Neat, with hat shelves, shoe bags,
tiny suits hanging in a row. Then
Charlie came out. and Frank put
him in a chintz chair. Little, leer-
ing Charlie.
He's queer when he's not chatter
ing In minute Bergen had him
on his lap. and the two were talk
ing. The light fell silkily on Char
ley's red hair.
Who Doesn't?
fooa c,iIdeto1y- olive
amused, kindly. affectionate as he
looked at Charlie. He asked. How
would you like scene from our last
picture, Look Who's Laughing'?'
We would.
It's scene in an operating room
Or. Bergen and Charlie, a small boy
who's swallowed something. Bergen
pretended to press a call button
Charlie looked around brightly and
asked. whats that for?"
Il want nurse"
80 do l." Charleys back stiff
ened. Ring again"
Back of me-so I thought
heard the nurses voice. I started
and looked. Nothing there. Just
Bergen. The nurses voice said
Did you want me, Doctor?"
Charles white shirt heaved. He
said, IF you don't, Doc, III take
her" The Mccarthy leer. So Ber-
gen pretended TO put Charlie behind
a Horoscope and began looking for
the pin he'd swallowed Dr. Bergen
murmured, Very interesting. Never
seen anything like it."
Charlie replied. with his eve
about calf high on pretty nurse
Neither have I. Doc. But I never
get tired looking