Evening star., 1943-10-24
A Skeltonized
Interrogation
Of Starlet
By H0uard Hern.


Esther Williams, erstWhile Olvm-
pic swimming star 9nd glam-mer-
maid Of the 1939-4O Worlds Fair
AQuacade. has a new role-straight
woman for Red SkeltOn.
You wouldn't know that unless
YOU tried to interview Miss Williams
with Skelton around That gabbv
gagger-but it happened this way:
II was Miss Williams first day of
shooting as Reds leading lady in a
new picture, and We thought 1t would
be nice to see how she liked the
switch from the aqueous TO the cellu-
loid medium of expression. (Youu
have to ask her yourself, Mr.. Rose:
We never did find OUT
The stately Miss Williams, unduly
attractive in a white jersey evening
gown striped from shoulder to hem
with narrow rows Of red and green
sequins-ike a stick of Christmas
candv-Was deCorauvely ensconced
at a table in one corner Of the night
club set UnllapDily, as it turned
out, SkeItOn was there, too
"Thcv said It would take five years
to make a swimmer of ne" Miss
Williams volunteered graclouslT to
start things of. But I told them 7
had to do it in three, So"
Gaggery Begins.
"Fiddlesticks," This from Red.
why. even Clem-Clem Kediddle-
hofer-learned ii one lesson. He
just lies on his back and flaps his
ears"
We began again, after all appro-
pirate interval Miss Williams man
aged to relate that sheswas born in
Inglewood, Calf, and that she had
no idea she'd ever become national
women's champion or member Of an
Olvmric team
when the Russians bombed Hell
sinki that put a very effective end
to the Olympics, for the time being.
at least" she was saying. After all,
I couldn't eat medals
why note" demanded you-know-
who L hear they're making steaks
out Of plastic now"
Miss Williams. oddly but fortu-
nately, was not in the least put out.
She even seemed to enjoy it. You
can't get mad at Red
Somebody impreSsiyely asked her
a technical question about the back
stroke but it was a waste of time.
Ha Ha, Ho Ho, Hee Hee.
"T prefer the politician stroke
myself" pops the zany. You know
-underhand."
We got along better for 3 few
minutes after that Red was doing
his idiot -and-thefea act. We
even progressed as far as Miss Will
liams' heart interest
Your husband is a doctor, isn't
he. Miss Wiluams?"
Wed better tell you now that he
is. although Miss Williams didn't
get chance to say so. ScreWhall
Skclton Immediately began a sur
eical operation upon towel laid
out beneath the tableCloth He
aneSthetized the patient with the
brilliantine atomizer, applied hair
pins as skin clips and worked deftly
with q fngernail file as scalpel.
Suddenly he Strengthened trium-
phantly, bit of lint clinging to the
nail file.
Back to the Madhouse.
The makeup man hastily rescued
his kit. and started all over again.
On diving.
"Didia ever see me do the jack
knife, Esther?" pipes Red. tits so
sharp the fish come up and play
mumbledy-pe with me-
That wound up the diving inter-
lude We tried Miss Williams on
suntan, but her opinion remains a
deep-dyed secret, through no fault
of her own.
"Suntan?' echoed Skelton. Say,
do you know how the screens great
lovers set their suntan? When they
90 swimming the first big wave
knocks EN- down, and they spend
the rest of the day on the beach,
hunting for their toupees."
This, it became apparent, was GO
ing to continue all afternoon. We
asked Red if he didn't ever run down.
Run down? OF course, I'm run
down. I'm sick. I need a doctor.
Esther, where's your husbands Of
fice?"
Hes not psychiatrist" snap
2fd Esther =