Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-17
Ruggles
ToOpen at
Wilson

BY CHARLES GENTRY
\ BEING TYPED" is supposed TO
be one of the fates film actors fear
worse than having their option
dropped in Uncle's Sans scrap
heap, but Charlie Ruggles has
made Hollywood eat its typed"
words and even devour the carbon
copies.
Charlie, the popular comedian
and brother of the famous director
Wesley Ruggles Though no rela-
ton TO the Red Gap family, is
soon 10 open here in Life of the
Party" the current merry musical
at the Wilson sTheater.
He has flown In by carrier
pigeon 10 take over the humorous
role of the father in this amusing
and tuneful version of THE
Patsy" and what with the other
requirements and the rewriting of
the show. II should prove very
successful affair.
Margaret Dumont. the elegant,
lorgnetted stooge of Marx brothers
fame, and lovely Jane Lawrence,
the musical comedy soprano. have
ALREADY moved in, and by Sunday,
Charles opening date, Dorothy
Stone and Charles Collins are
going 10 find themselves sur
rounded by an imposing company
Iof players.
Ruggles will undoubtedly be one
OF the big draws in this affair,
which will leave here for Chicago
and points west of Times Square
after il is all set.
WAY DOWN EAST
This is Ruggles' first winter IN
the East in II years and he has
made a great career in the films
by following popular characterize
tons.
His first film work was in
Gentlemen of the Press" in which
he appeared as an inebriated re-
porter. For several years after
that he made hay while the sun
shone on drunken newspapermen.
from the studio standpoint.
Then some one found that he
could play henpecked husbands,
and his cinematic marital life be-
came a veritable hell from then
on, but Charlie grinned and bore
the staggering salary checks that
came his way.
SUCCESSFUL SPOTS
Every time he's been typed y
Ruggles has stood up and cheered.
AT an early age he learned the
secret to success on the stage.
He'd rather be a successful char
acter actor and carry on without
the grief that always washes up
the stardust. -
"Now, naturally I'm too old 10
he a glamour boy, but I'm GER
tainiy grateful for the fans who
have followed me through. all
kinds of minor roles and who
have liked my work, even I'm
pictures which were a little, less
than stupendous," Charlie claims.
A LOvABLE GUY
Once his brother Wesley bought
a French play in which CHARLIE
was TO have been cast as roue.
Adolph Zukor, then head Of Para
mount. shook his head and said:
look, Wesley, elderly ladies'
and youngsters love Charlie. You
can't have him playing around
with fancy ladies, even. on the
screen, unless it's for laughs"
It's probably the laughs which
make Ruggles seem as young as
he appears today
The guy actually has 10 make up
TO look like father" even TO
Shirley Temple.
Last year he whipped off tol
Las Vegas to marry his third wife.
YOUNG AS HE LOOKS
This charming new Mrs. Ruggles
watched him sign the marriage
license. and when he put down his
age he turned 10 her and eX-I
claimed, why, you didn't even
vince"
Mrs. Ruggles No. 3 smiled COM
placently and replied. "Yeu don't
have to be a comedian With me.
/ know it isn't true"
HAPPY RANCHEROs
Charlie and his wife live on A,
small ranch out in the valley. close
10 Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
They lead quiet lives among their
orange groves, their chickens and
their friends.
Charlie. who could have been al
star. now only has thanks for the
fact that he decided to become a.
featured player. is grateful that
he is a consistently popular player
and can saw "thankS a million"l