Evening star., 1943-02-13
'Blondie' Tells
Her Life
At Quantico, Va.
Penny Singleton Says
She Enjoyed Routine
At u. s. Marines Base
BY SHEILAH GRAHAM.

Nofth American Newspaper Alliance,
HOLLYWOOD.-Penny Singleton
is the first Hollywo od film star to
live on the post" to occupy Govern
ment quarters - Marine quarters.
She has just returned to Hollywood
from the Marine base at Quantico,
Va, after six months there with her
husband, Capt. Robert Sparks, U.
S. M. c. And she sums up the ex-
perience as "a normal sort of life"
Penny, famed for her move role as
"Blondie"-she now is working in
the 18th of the series-showed up at
the Marine station with a copy of
Navy Wife" under her arm and
determination to be accepted, not as
film star, but as "a normal sort of
person" And to judge by her &C
count, I think she succeeded.
They were expecting a glamour
star" she tells me. Instead they
got quite plump little blonde"
Penny arrived there last August, ex-
pecting child (born in October.
THE Marine Corps" continues
Penny, lis wonderful about family
life. They have a fine hospital at
the Quantico base (where Robin
Susan was born and lots of houses
for the families of marines. The
generals and colonels live in stucco
houses. My husband and I lived in
a frame house, 429 Lejeune-named
after Gen. Lejeune of the Marine
Corps -.
Penny's routine at the post started
early, which is not too different to
what happens in Hollywood, or in
her Blonde" series. She got up at
7 and breakfasted whit her husband.
whose day with the Marine Corps
began at 8.
Got Generals Cook.
Il was lucky to get the generals
cook" Penny tells me. When he
was transferred she said she wanted
to work for Blonde! She sang
hymns when dinner was ready. Top
price for help was 81 week (which
Is quite drop from the prices paid
in Hollywood.
"Colonels' wives and up are al
lowed to telephone their food orders
to the post commissary. and have
1t delivered" Penny said. but be-
cause I was expecting a baby, this
privilege was extended to me.
Otherwise, like all captains wives
l would have done my shopping in
person, All the food is charged and
paid for at the end of the month"
Lunch at the post is at IL noon.
and husbands come home for half
an hour. They are home for the day
at 5 o'clock. And that" says
Penny, lis when you make your
calls. You always go out together
A woman Is not allowed to call on
an officer without her husband. All
calls have to be returned within 48
hours"
Dinner at the post Is at $50
There is movie theater for those
who like movies. Penny went onlv
three times in her six months. pre-
ferring to spend the evening quiet
ly at home with her husband. She
did not notice the absence of gay
night clubs and restaurants Il
never was one to run around in the
evening" she says.
Misses Marine Base.
"In one way" she adds, "Quantico
was like Hollywood. You don't real
ize how much you like it until you
leave it. But unlike Hollywood at
Quantico you are close to tangible
of In
post had husbands at Guadalcanal
When tragic news comes there are
no tears, no breakdowns. The wife
usually calls her closest friend for
comfort, that's all, They are very
proud of being the wives of ma
rineS."
So is Penny. She married Robert
Sparks four years ago. He was then
the producer of her Blonde" pic
lures. After Pearl Hsrbor he began
TO squirm around" Penny says she
asked him what was on his mind
and he told her.
All right Penny says she told
him, but just let me know when
1t happens"
It's happened he replied.
Stand up straight now, you're a ma
rineS wife,"
There was talk here that Penny
had given up her acting career for
the duration. But" she says, Il
decided to return when my husband
was transferred to San Diego. And
l shall make pictures just as long
as he is nearby"