Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-13
I. Dorsey
4 Fan for
Film York
BY CHARLES GENTRY

By CHARLES GENTRY
IL USED Ia think trying 10
make a movie actor out Of an
orchestra leader was like trying
the old silk purse trick Tommy
Dorsey told US yesterday be-
tween stage shows az the Michi-
gan where he and his new band
are giving out with sweet and
swing that's sensational.
but so many of the boys
have done as well In front OF the
cameras as they have In front Of
the bandstand that 1 had 10
change my mind. My own ex-
periences have had n lot 20 do
with IL. Working with Eleanor
Powell and Red Shelton In ship
Alloy" l learned 80 much about
presence. expression and timing
that feel got an education
at M-G-M."
Tommy show il. too, that he has
new kind Of poise. He kids easily
with the audience and at the same
time has a musical dignity which
is great help in any type Of
presentation.
LIKES FILM WORK
Tommy likes working in pic
lures so we'll that he's going back
shortly 10 do "DuBarry Was a
Lady in which both Red Shelton
and Bert Lair will again be with
him. They're his favorite come
dams and the three were always
pulling gags on the set Of this last
musical which incidentally. is due
TO open here at the United Artists
very shortly
Another thing which intrigued
Dorsey about pictures was the
facility with which they smooth
out routines and he wishes he
could make records with the same
kind of tricks. He feels he's on
the right soundtrack, too.
AS FRIENDLY AS EVER
Having become a Hollywood
celebrity hasn't changed his atti-
tude toward his fans. however.
He's still as democratic as a street
car strap and he spends almost
all OF his time between shows en-
PERTAINING the kids .of the auto
graph set. buying them sandwiches
and coffee so that they'll have
stamina enough 10 sit through the
next n stage shows.
He particularly likes TO remi-
nisce about Detroit. He started
here playing with Jecn Goldkette's
band when recording and radio
were in their infancy. He played
on the Bob-Lo boats and at vari.
Gus bathrooms here and he remem.
berS all OF the street names. stores
and places where he used TO spenc
his time.
A MARVEL UNMASKED d.
He recalls the fun he used Il
have when they broadcast assthe
Masked Marvels." thouig h
Tommy could never figure out why
the boys had TO wear masks.
There wasn't any danger Of
televisIon." Tommy says. BE
sides, everyone knew that we
were playing Goldkette arrange
ments, just the same"
Tommy still has his farm IN
Jersey but doesn't have much time
TO see il. he's so busy on the road.
Among the animals on the farm is
a st. Bernard dog named Bing.
eyes. after Bing Crosby. 1t seems
the last time Tommy spent an
afternoon with Bing he admired
Bing's swimming pool and his st.
Bernard dog. He copied the plans
OF the pool for his own farm in
Bernardsville and Bing gave him
a blood brother OF the dog as a
gift.
A HEAVY EATER
II was a case of mutual love at
first sight. and the two became
fast friends, but the dog is now
eating him out Of house. and home
consuming pounds and pounds OF
meat at a time. Which makes IL
embarrassing some early morning
hours when Tommy returns for
the inevitable 3 a. m. snack and
finds that Bing has beat him 10 il.
'Tommy's Detroit background AL
most qualities him as a native. For
It was here that his experience
with dance bands Of name import
ance began in 1924. Old friends
who appeared with him in former
bands are trouping backstage to
say hello.
His present band is his largest -
81 musicians, with 10-piece
string section.
Stage TO Screen
! GORDON JONES. who began
his acting career in the movies
and recently scored on the stage
IN My Sister Eileen" has an i'm
portant role in Highways bv