Evening star., 1941-07-20


1t must be the right thing.
I know what most stars would
pattern attitude in Hollywood to-
ward fan interference in private
affairs is: It's none of their busl-
ness"
StanWyck always has been nice to
the wrong people. In Hollywood
the right people are those who
can do something for you. She
was nice to the fans who criticized
her. She wrote them letters, per-
sonal letters because she does not
have a secretary, denying the rumor;
denvine. to those who suggested 1t,
that her marriage was publicity
inspired: thanking those who SYM
pathized.
Stanwyck has had a lot of argu-
nents, but no one can accuse her
of being even a little bit tempera-
mental. Most actresses express
their distaste for a story or scene
or a gown by some dodge. That Is
because they are inarticulate. They
feign illness or WEAKNESS or thro"
q fit. Stanwyck, being artlculatee
and not afraid to express herseH,
candidly states her objections II
any. ,,
And so, she is either swell or
"difficult." The unimportant peo-
nIe. the hairdreSsers, the electrlclans
and the script clerks, worship her
because she is punctual, co-opera-
tive and even-tempered.
Hollywood "Politeness.'
stanvvck soured on Hollywood
during her first few months here.
She had been i'll, she was pale.
nuiet and sensitive. She didn't get
a very warm welcome. Her lame,
through her work in "BurleSque,
and The Moose" had not preceded
her. Most people looked blank
when she was introduced.
Not all her rebuffs were indirect.
When she was introduced TO
famous producer, her hostess sug-
eested Barbara ought to be OF IN
terest to the man. He looked at
her indiferently. No ne SAID
shortly, "she wouldn't DO.
A woman so sensitive could never
forget nor entirely forgive such
thouehtless cruelty. For her first
two wears. she was under contract
70 both Warmers and Columbia,
situation that led to much blcKer-
ing between her and her employers.
She was suspended by Columbia Tor
refusing a certain story. Later
twentieth Century suspended her
for eight months for the same
reason. AS a result, she regards all
nroducers. executives and influential
people in Hollywood somewhat
skeptically.
Passed the Test.
She always has been independent.
She SAYS what she believes is the
correct thing to say. II she belleVes
q profane expletive will help her
make a point. she'll use the pro-
fanitv. And, must say, articulate
as she is, Barbara uses quite flow
of cuss words.
To test her reputation for non
esty-iust plain. old-fashloned non
estv and not the professional KIND.
T asked her what reports she q
had on Meet John Doe Bear IN
mind that Frank Capra, who direct
ed it. is one of her favorite per-
sons not only because Barbara re-
snects his ability but because he
gave her her movie start. She
answered. The public isn't buying
it." Another star would have been
evasive.
Nothing in her Hollywood life so
revealed her spirit of independence
To what the public and Hollywood
might think as her willingness TO
plav straight as a foil for Frank
Fay's fippancies. Fay, to whom
she was married for seven years,
staged a show in his effort to get
foothold in HOLLYWOOD. Barbara had
lust made two hit pictures, and 1t
did not fit her new station to play
second fiddle in a vaudeville act.
But she did.
Simplicity in the Home.
Ten years here have not changed
stanwyck. 1t is interesting to see shy,
self lf-conscious, sometimes beWildered
people develop into confident, poised,
self -sa tisfied personalities, and, IN
many cases, arrogant. StanWyck has
confidence now, but otherwise no
changes are apparent. She always
has had refreshing simplicity that
Is evidenced first in her person. She
wears no makeup no Camouf1aglng
glamour gowns, no tricky hair-dos.
One glamour girl said of her, with
out derision, "I wonder how 1t
would seem to look that scrubbed.
Her home has the same quality
of simplicity. The furnishings are
comfortable but not pretentlous.
The only remarkable piece in the
house is an extremely large coffee
table. For the cups and feet" she
explains.
The bureau and wall shelves of
her bedroom are reserved for the
people she loves-Taylor, her adopt
ed son, Dion Fay; Marian Marx
CZeppos wife), Mary and Jack
Benny, the Ray MillandS. She has
q fetish for changing the photo
graphs as often as she mas new
pose she likes better.
Tries to Be Pal.
She says she runs the Taylor
home, hires the servants, plans the
menus, manages the bookkeeping.
Taylor enjoys eating, but his wife
doesn't. When they go out to din
ner Bob always orders her the
largest steak. She likes it almost
raw. His standing order to the
waiter is, "Just let it bow to the
broiler."
She has tried valiantly to learn
golf, because it is Bob's favorite
sport. She believes wives should
make generous adjustments toward
being proper pals and companions
to their husbands. For two years
she's been trying to find the fas-
cination in golf-and has discovered
none whatsoever-but she continues
to work at it because it's good eX-
ercise and good wifely cooperation"
She encourages Bob in his en-