Evening star., 1942-05-08
PidgeonGets
Suntan for
Cargo Role
Joe Breen Huddles
On Settlement
With R.K.O
BY HAROLD HEFFERNAN.
HOLLYWOOD

News in nibbles:
Walter Pidgeon has been down to
Palm Springs getting a thick coat
of sun tan for his beachcomber role
in White Cargo" He came back
looking even darker than Cary
Grant, the most persistent sun
bather in town.
George Murphy turns magician in
me and My GAL" executing a COM
plicated card magic routine as part
of musical number. Three expert
card manipulators are working on
George.
After less than six months on the
Job Joseph I. Breen is now hud-
ding with R-K-O executives on a
settlement of his contract as gen.
eral manager of that tumultuous lot.
The boss Office there is a swinging
door, swirling all the time.
Paramount is trying to find a
comedy movie for Cass Daley, who
sang songs with such hilarious con-
tortions in "The Fleets In" Early
reports on that picture indicate she
is the customers choice of the en-
tire cast She will be teamed with
Jerry Colonna.
Dick Arlen, who sold his ranch
and took over the Beverly Wiltshire
penthouse, has planted victory gar
dens in the plot on the two sides
OF his apartment. Coming out
OF a preview the other night, Bob
Hope remarked about an actor in
the picture: THAT guys so Holly
wood struck he simonizes his car
with Max Factor No. f."
Charlie Ruggles, at one time Hol-
lywood's leading terrier breeder, is
now in the cattle-raising business.
He's just returned from a flying
trip to New Mexico, where he in
vested In extensive acreage.
Linda Darnell and goth Century
Fox aren't on the best of terms at
this moment. The Texas beauty
was withdrawn from the lead in
Orchestra Wife," a role she pro-
tested before the first scene was
shot. At least one sister act
that Is getting along well in Holly
wood Is that of Betty and Marion
Hutton. Betty is big hit at Para
mount because Of "The Fleets In"
Marion is debuting in a picture at
20th-Fox. Betty helps Marion with
her lines and sees the rushes each
morning so she can make sugges-
tions. Maybe if these sisters were
ever nominated for an Academy
award IN the same classification
there'd be different story to tell.
Current example: Olivia De Havil-
land and Joan Fontaine.
Tyrone Power and Annabella have
turned over their handsome Brent
wood home to a real estate agent
Tor leasing. While Ty Is in the
Navy Annabella will continue her
stage career on Broadway this fall.
.. M-G-M executives liked sneak
preview reactions to THE Man
From Martinique" so well they're
planning to divorce Myrna 10y
from William Powell and substitute
Hedy Lamar as his permanent
teammate. Universal. has hired
an expert roller skating instructor
to teach Diana Barrymore how not
to roller skate for a comedy Sc
quence in Love and Kisses, Caro-
line" Diana will do series of wild
twists and falls. ~t3
Mrs. Reginald Denny went down.
town shopping. Four-year old Deb
orah Denny was sent to her room
to nap. Actor Reginald Denny was
in the back yard building q dog
house for Deborah's new pup. The
phone rang. Deborah answered.
1t was Goth Century-Fox asking
that Reginald report within an hour
for an important scene in Thunder
Birds" Replied Deborah: Hes
busy and can't 60" "It's terribly
important" pleaded the studio.
please 60 and tell your papa"
"Can't do it," insisted Deborah.
Hes building q house for Spike"
The studio man begged, cajoled,
threatened. mo" replied Deborah
firmly, II couldn't think of doing
tt-because I'm supposed to be in
bed taking my nap"
The studio finally sent out a
messenger. The auditor added a
couple of thousand dollars to the
budget because Of the delay.
Ann Sothern Is taking an ad-
vanced first-aid course. All pupils
are asked to bring along a broom,
which can be used for splints when
regulation splints aren't available.
The lovely Maisie gathered up
her broom and started out for the
first session. AS she entered the
classroom, with some 4o-odd women
sitting at desks, Ann tripped on the
broom and sprawled nat on her
face.
She twisted her ankle and lost
most of her dignity. The first-aid
teacher decided at once that Ann
would make an excellent subject to
work on. So she spent the entire
evening being splinted up with
broomsticks.
M-G-M has come up with hand
some new giant from Kansas City
and is keeping its fingers crossed
in hopes the draft won't snag him
too soon. His name is Marlen Davis,
born in nearby Dearborn, Mo.
He will be known henceforth as
John Davis, and his first appear
ance will be in Red Light" with
Clark Gable.
A prop man at the studio gets
credit for Davis discovery. The
prop was working out at the Y. M
C. A. gymnasium when he noticed
the stalwart, good-looking Davis
playing volley ball. The newcomer
was selling oil at the time Holly
wood waved its magic wand.