The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-20
HOLLYWOOD NEwsREEL

Oooiifornia nights and sunsa-
donal days making the weather the
biggest star In Filmville . Wolves
crouched behind night spot tables
mentally quoting the lines of
Bhapely figures :. Bicycles who are
little islands Of conceit, completely
surrounded by satellites The
worrying epidemic that afflicts the
town. II the next option doesn't
cause nail-gnawing, then the last
picture does Stiletto COMPETE
ton that causes unhappy lives in an
industry dedicated to entertaining
others Ex-stars playing bit parts,
warning to the new human spark
1ers that q handbook is better than
scrapbook. Few, however, learn
that lesson Geniuses dreaming
up epics-while hypnotic torsos
break box-office records . Flops
eating their hearts out, putting up
in front by nibbling on side dish
Of vanity . The jubilee of beauty
sprayed around the town - the
cheapest tool of the business
Actresses trying to make beauty
their home - when old age al
ready has their address.
Movieburg, which has been more
unselfish than any other industry
in its contributions to the war eff
fort - getting waves of criticism
from political flapjaws Make
believers performing in cinemas
where lovers always wind up starry
eyed. (But their personal romances
are usually as temporary as kiss
.. HollyWoodites surrounded by
healthy climate-watching years be-
ing melted off their lives by nerve
wracking jobs The only sub
ject that hasn't been swamped by
the ocean OF film shop-talk, the war
-. The hush that stands guard over
the town at midnight. There are
few stay-up-lates - because cam
eras start grinding in the black
coffee hours OF morning =. Winter
stares being given to former big
shots-who once were bowed to-
when they could do favors.
The perfumed social war that
continually goes on, with nobodies
battling to get an introduction to
the right people . Serious mind
ed artists Wiping out CinemalandS
reputation for being one big wild
party. Hollywood has treated vital
current problems with more talent
and success than the intellectual
Broadway stage -. Wreckless mo-
florists who daredevil their way
through traffic as if they had a
down payment on an accident .
The little known technical wizards
whose magic is responsible for many
a producer and director being put
In the genius class CelebS who
constantly try to make blazing i'm
pressions. Ostentation is the bread
of their life Catty actresses
frisking each other with stares, try
ing to find a weak spot . Choir
ines who suddenly become stars
and dish out interviews about seri-
Gus subjects - making themselves
look silly HollyWood'S publ
city - vanished with glamour
which fools nobody but Hollywood
ties.
The businesslike atmosphere OF
the studios. They are simply fac
tories that manufacture entertain
ment by the assembly line method.
Each film is the result of the talent
and sweat OF few hundred people.
=. CelebS who ooze charm on the
screen-but throw out an anchor OF
boredom when they park themselves
In cafes Men in uniform dazzled
by the sight of stars in the street.
Yet natives seldom bother to take
a second look at Well-knoWn face
Thespians carrying on an
eternal romance with the spotlight.
For a good reason: Publicity is the
Ife-blood of film careers . The
plots used so often they have be-
come heirlooms. Few producers tam
per with new ideas. They prefer to
stay in their gold-lined ruts.
Grauman's Chinese Theater where
footprints of stars are etched in
cement. Some who put their foot
prints there can no longer afford
to pay their way into the theater.
Newcomers arriving in town with
the banners of ambition unfurled.
But the large majority wind up with
their hopes picked in vinegar :.
The sign in a producers office: "A
bigger name isn't as important as
being a better person" Extras
who shaved fro years to make liv-
ing, now turning their backs on
movie jobs. They're making good as
workers in war plants il. One OF
the wars little victories it put an
end to elaborate movie premieres.
With the accent on the bore
Swimming pools changed from
luxury to necessity. Many are
now AFRAID shelters 1t was
always hard to find good steak in
Hollywood, anyhow The dom
este help problem that has hit Film
land harder than any other spot.
Since many servants were Japs who
have been evacuated.
Producers yapping about the draft
taking away their talent. But lack
of talent didn't seem to bother them
in normal times -. Pretty faces in
joynts nudging movie execs with
smiles trying to win contracts
with vile power :. The burg's oc-
cupationA disease: People suffer-
ing from decisions of glamour
The hick town atmosphere of Bev-
erly Hills: Where Mr.. Handsome
and Miss Beautiful spend much nj
their time chatting about their VIC
tory gardens Stars who have