The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-27
- In -
Hollywood

wa CerVACe correspondent
1t becomes our duty today to lay
The facts in the case Of Kay Kyser
before the jury Of American public
opinion and right an injustice which
the victim himself suffered for
many weeks in silence, like the good
trouper that he is.
Kyser was accused Of having tried
70 get himself deferred from the
draft, charge which apparently
first became public in an editorial
attack upon the band leader pub
lished by an eastern newspaper.
The fact Is, Kay Kyser never re-
quested q deferment at all. On
the contrary, he has always been
ready to answer his country's call
TO arms, If that call should come.
When finally classified in la, he
said he was ready and rarin' to
go" into the Army.
What really happened was that
Elmer Davis, head Of owl, requested
tne oeferment for him. Davis, who
was aware OF Kyser's efforts on be-
halt OF Army morale, bond drives
and other patriotic causes, thought
Shat the hep cats Clifton Fadiman
could do more for his country in his
academic zoot suit than he could in
uniform, and wrote a letter to
that effect to General Hershey of
6eiecttve Service six months ago.
When the eastern newspaper pub
Hshed its misinformed attack on
kyGer, Davis wrote the editor, cor
recttng the mistake and enclosing
letter from q wounded United States
sailor who had witnessed one of
Kyser's hospital shows. The sailor
expressed touching appreciation -
and concluded, Guys like Kyser
ARE essential to the war effort" Ell
mer Davis agreed with him.
ARE ACTORS ESSENTIAL?
In the meantime, no civilian en-
tertainer has devoted his talents to
his country more strenuously than
KySer has. He began his gruelling
series of camp shows even before
Pearl Harbor. He even tried to sign
over to the government all but a
pittance of his regular salary, to
help pay for the war, but the offer
was rejected.
The movies have finally been
declared essential to the war eff
fort. Now IT'S about time some
body decided whether performers
especially guys like Kyser," are es-
Sential to the movies.
In both England and Russia, ac-
tors are kept at their jobs before
the cameras. The lack Of any policy
on this matter in our own country
is responsible for that uncertain
look which all the best people in
Hollywood are wearing this season.
Hollywood had hoped the thing
would be ironed out once for all
when Mickey Rooneys employers
sought to have him exempted from
the draft on the ground that he was
essential to old alma Metro. But the
merits of the Ronney case will never
be tested, for it was found that be-
meath the little mugger's rough ex-
terror beat 4-F heart. The only
net result of Metros appeal so far
is the extremely bad taste it has
left in everybodyS mouth.
4-F FROM MARS
Meanwhile, producers are talking
to most of their young masculine
stars by v nail.
Orson Welles, tentatively classed
as 4-F, said the uncertainty Of 1t
all was getting him, and asked for
an Army examination to determine
his status permanently so he could
plan ahead. He was found to be in
terrible physical condition, and was
accepted for limited service. He'll
probably get desk job and replace
a WAAC for active duty.
Enrol Flynn is definitely AT. But
unless fathers are definitely ex-
empted, nearly all the other STILL
civilian boys who are eligible to be
teamed on the screen with our
glamor girls are also eligible to be
teamed at the front with our planes
and tanks.
Among those with children are
Bing Crosby, Joel McCrea, Gary
Cooper. Ray Milland, Dick Powell,
Don Ameche, Bob Hope, Fred Mac
Murray. Brian Donlevy, and George
Raft. Warner Baxter, Bill Powell
and Ronald Colman are beyond
draft age.