Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-03

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Henry MeLemOre. niShed the major
surprise in the filming Of the life Of
Lou Gehrig, and that Dickey had
had offers to remain In Hollywood
and become an actor.
Bill Dickey is pure Arkansas, and
almost as big. OF all the men I
have ever met, he is as far removed
from the make-believe Of grease
paint, Percy Westmore makeup, Max
Factor daubings, the cries Of "CutI
Print" and the Congo line at Ciros
as it is possible to be.
Bill Dickey an actor2 Impossible.
The big Yankee catcher could never,
never be at home before a camera.
He belongs behind the plate, with
the count two and three and the
winning run on third; he belongs at
the plate. with a hickory club in his
hands, when hit means the ball
game; he belongs in the field Of
Arkansas, with a gun Graded to his
shoulder and dog on point.
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Bill Dickey gone Hollywood, you
might just as we'll tell those who
know him that Flagstad is doing
torch numbers at the Stork Club,
that Nicholas Murray Butler is do
ing Broadway gossip column, or
that Gypsy Rose Lee is designing
raccoon coats for a furrier.
So tracked down the report that
Dickey was an actor and had been
asked to give up the mask and shin
guard for the mask and wig.
tracked it right down to Dickey.
He gave straight, fortnight
answer.
II am the worlds worst actor" ne
said. Also, I would like to get my
hands on the man who wrote that
I was a fine actor. and had been
asked to stay in Hollywood. The
boys on the ball club have made 1t
very tough for me since they read
that"
1t seems that the Yankees now
poster Dickey to do all sorts Of act
ing for them. During my interview
with HMM the dugout before q
spring game with the Brooklyn
Bums-Joe Gordon requested him to
do a bit of Hamlet" and Red
Rufhng asked Bill for a touch of
the balcony scene from Romeo and
Juliet"
Bill doesn't care about the World
Series this year." Red Rolfe whis-
pered in a whisper that carried out
to second base. He is dreaming of
the Academy Award and an Oscar"
To prove his point that he was
the worlds worst actor, Dickey,
who was Gehrigs roommate during
all Of LOUIS golden years, told me
Of how he acted his best scene.
I'm this scene Gary Cooper, who
is playing Lou, is supposed to walk
by me and not speak. AS I am a
dear friend Of Louis, this Is sup
posed to shock me and Director Sam
Wood told me to register surprise.
did my best to register surprise,
but it took about half an hour and
I guess a country mile of film be-
fore Director Wood was satisfied
with my look Of surprise. A bunch
of Chicago Cubs, who we're train
ing on Catalina Island, had come
over that day to watch us make
the picture. After I had finished
showing surprise I walked over to
see them. They didn't know what
the scene was about. Jimmy Wilson.
the Chicago manager. said:
That was hell of a dirty look
you gave Cooper a minute ago, are
you supposed to be mad at him2'
THAT was surprise, not mad
ness said.
YOU'D better tell the director
to shoot it over, then" Wilson said.
You looked as If you were getting
ready to swing on Cooper or Lou"
Dickey told me that Cooper, who
never played game of professional
baseball in his life, did a remark
able job of playing first base in
the picture.
He hasn't much Of an arm" Bill
said, "but you know he could be
a pretty good hitter. A right smart
hitter. He takes a whale of cut
at the ball, and I believe he might
hit $50 or so against major league
pitching.
I asked Dickey If he planned to
quit 'trodding the board Of the
dugout for the boards of the stage.
Man, no." he said. That's worse
than hitting against Teller One
minute they tell you to look worried
and you don't know how hard it is
to look worried when you can't
think of anything to be worried
about. They tell you to look scared
and there isn't anything around to
make you scared. I'm staying with
baseball"