Evening star., 1942-10-25


out that the members of the motion
picture industry consist of hetero-
geneous group of Wastrels, selfish,
temperamental idlers bent on pull
ing the remainder of the world down
to their own uncouth level. -.
These observations have no trou-
BILE hitting the presses. Better still,
the follow-up of how to correct our
innumerable sins gains even big
ger space.
Our critics, however. still gen.
erously refer to us as humans. AS
such, we have our faults. Our
gravest and most outstanding is
never hitting back.
Challenges Attackers.
For years, having lived in this
community and watched 1t work. !
have been amazed to find no indi-
vidual or group attempt to correct
the false accusations attributed to it
Why do we permit these attackers
to 60 unchallenged? Isn't it essen
TALLY a weakness on our part. The
answer is no. Few pedsons outside
our city limits know anything of the
qualities which 60 to make up the
members of the theatrical world
First, they are creative people;
being creative, they are sensitive
and irrespective of the theory that
each enjoys an inflated ego, they are
sensitive enough not to dwell upon
or brag about their individual char
acters or backgrounds.
I don't mean to infer that each
actor, director or producer, ETC., is
a Harvard graduate festooned with
Phi Beta Kappa keys or that his
name is listed in Burke's Peerage
but I do say that we have more
than an average share of we'll
educated, well-born, solid Ameri-
can citizens.
Though I have spent eight years
ir Hollywood, I have Travelled at
least four months year. It has
never ceased to amaze me that the
average layman's point of view in
regard to Hollywood sounds like
grandmother acquired version OF
the Black Hole of Calcutta. Time
and time again well-educated, if not
well-enlightened, mer and women
have asked me with distended eyes
of wonder If there is any one in
Hollywood who can actually COM
plete sentence without splitting an
infinitive.
Disappoints Expectants.
Invariably I am asked to describe
in full, lurid detail a Hollywood
party. After recounting the last
dinner party I attended my audi
ence proceeds to look hopelessly
disappointed that the guests failed
to fall in the ermine- Lined swim
ming pool as the result of cham:
payne sprayed from marble foun.
tains. If you think I am kidding
give me your hand and I will leae
you to these avid sensationalists.
Don't for minute think I an
making light of this really pathetic
and stupid state of affairs. 1t ha:
been my Joy and my privilege tt
live in and be part of Hollywood
know it to be one of the fines
communities in the world. I have
met and known more warm-hearted
generous-spirited, intelligent people
here than in the many colleges
was in and out of.
Hollywood is the most cosmopoE.
tan city on the face of the earth
filled with excellent writers, musi
clans, artists and ingenious tech
nicians in every branch of creative
effort. I should like the address O.
any town harboring more.
1t is a strange thing to me, with
the opinion that exists, that ou
Government, the most far-reachini
influence in civilization today, call
upon every individual in Hollywood
to contribute to the war effort Will
everything he and she possesses