Evening star., 1943-10-24
HOLLYWOOD

HOLLYWOOD
Seems only yesterday that Holly
wood was looking over its glasses
at the beautiful newcomer and ask
ing haughtily, How much theater
or radio experience have you had?"
Without either or both it was
thumbs down for the candidate.
But today Hollywood merely takes
one quick look at the sumner and
says: "Okay-When can you come
to work"
Big cities and small towns. cross
roads hamlets and open-COuntry
farms continue to turn out stream
lined eye dazzIerS, a fair percentage
Of whom find their way to the movie
capital and into frst-rate roles with
out benefit Of Broadway experience
or Little Theater training.
Rosters of all major studios never
before have been cluttered with such
an array of feminine prospects.
From Burbank to Culver City, the
lots are swarming with beautiful
newcomers, a ma jority of whom were
pounding typewriters, boning text
books, or even slamming tennis balls
only few months ago.
Mostly Into the Line.
The musical picture chorus and
showgirl lines are naturally drawing
most heavily upon the new pulchri-
tude and talent War marriages,
var Jobs and the limited professional
life span of the chlorine and show
girl play havoc with their ranks,
and requirements there are particu-
larly needed. However, there are
many other youngsters stepping di-
rectly into featured roles.
Among the latter is Jean Sullivan
brown-haired, greeneyed lovely
whom Warner Bros picked right out
OF the halls of University of Cali
fornia and shot into the leading
role opposite Enrol Flynn in I'm
certain Glory" 1t all happened so
suddenly that the 20-year Miss
Sullivan hasn't had time to get eX-
cited. The old rule would have been
to toss the newcomer into dramatic
school for six months or maybe a
year. Miss Sullivan went right in
cold with no previous camera or
studio experience. The girls work
In student plays satisfied Warmers
that she would be okay.
No Seasoning at All.
Another magic-carpet passenger
to the high spots is Paramount's
Gail Russell, few months ago a
student at University High School
In West Los Angeles. The studio
investigated Gail merely on reports
on her beauty. She had never even
appeared in school play. Only a
few months after her arrival on the
lot she was booked for leading
role in The UNLIMITED" Today she
is featured in Our Hearts Were
Young and Gay
Still another is Barbara Hale,
much-envied young beauty basking
in the caresses of Frank Sinatra S
voice in Higher and Higher" RKO
signed Miss Hale, Chicago model,
on the strength of photograph
sent to studio representative. A
screen test clinched it.
A whole flock of inexperienced
beauties turn up in dramatic bits as
Rhapsody in Blue" the George
GershWin life story, unfoldS. Brown
haired Gertrude Moran was playing
tennis on Santa Monica court
when Director Leroy Prinz saw her
in action, admired her grace and
asked her to report at Warmers
Miss Moran was national junior
doubles champion couple of years
ago and had visions of a national
senior championship some day. Now
shes changed her ideas; wants to
see her name in the movie lights.
From Every Medium.
During the past few weeks MGM
has placed under contract a galaxy
Of eye-filling youngsters from the
east whom they confidently expect
will some day fit into dramatic
roles. Among these are Martha
Stewart. lovely soloist for the all
time hit parade-blond and tiny;
Alma Constant, blond Conover
model; Alice Eyeland, fetching
magazine cover girl, and Lynn Page,
picked from the singing spot at New
York's Martinique night club
Singing before band or orchestra
offers little more than poise to the
soloist, but almost any pretty vo-
calist in the night clubs or on the
-radio has better-than-even chance
these days to land herself a rich
chance in Hollywood. Marilyn Max
well is one outstanding example at
MGM. She has appeared in six pic
tllres during her years tenure at
that studio and in only one has she
Used her singing voice. Miss Max
we'll Is being trained for both dra-
matte and dancing roles
Sub for Casualties.
Over at Twentieth Century Fox