Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-05-01

sometime be-
fore foot MIR. PICKERING
lights were invented.
Miss Pitts contention was
that she was getting much big
ger type than Kathryn Givney
(who last PLAYED opposite Jane
Cowl in AUD Acquaintance
here. and. in The Bat" is taxi
ing the place of Jane Darwell.
stricken suddenly by Influenza
When the play opens Sunday
at the Wilson, IL will be Miss
Pitts second venture on the
legitimate stage. not counting
benefit shows and personal ap-
pearances.
Her first play was an I'M
distinguished connection called
"Her First Murder" and people
went 10 see II apparently for the
sole purpose Of seeing Miss
Pitts, forgiving the rest Of II.
This time. she has a play that
already has won its spurs. And.
after this one, she hopes tn do n
comedy without any murders or
I mysteries In 1t.
twenty-five years and 500
pictures In Hollywood. said
Miss Pitts, "but I'm just a be-
ginner at this"
Her film experience. naturally
gives her the stage presence and
acting skill that she needs, but
she admits:
AT first was afraid
wouldn't be able to memeFize n
whole part, but when tried II,
l could"
She learned and rehearsed her
role in The Bat IN three weeks,
which is par for the course IN
anybody's theater.
What brings her 10 the legiti-
mate stage IL the same thing
that has moved other film
notables 10 do it--partly the
yearning To act for real people
instead OF n camera, and partly
TO prove that she can do II.
Those were the reasons that
persuaded VIII Rogers To play
In "Ah. Wilderness" He did 30
for the same producer. Duffy.
who recollects that Rogers ac-
repted that play although II
meant cancelling n chance To
pick up n guaranteed S250,00O In
other appearances. To him, max
ing good in the play meant more
than the money.
The same goes for Miss Pitts.
She IS a long way from starving.
owning one OF the handsomeSt
houses in Brentwood. thanked on
either side by the homes Of
Shirley Temple and Claudette
Colbert.
Meeting Miss Pitts face to
face. YOU find her looking just
the way YOU expect her 10 look
/ and, 10 certain extent, she
Bsounds the same, but with one
thing missing.
She doesn't have that helpless
quaver in her voice and she
doesn't make those pathetic
gestures with her fingers.
She twiddles her fingers
some. hut no more than does
any average person who IL oh
vlously rather shy. And Miss
Pitts is---worId famous on the
screen, she still il shy about
meeting people, and she apollo
giZed:
They say I'm not very good
for interviews"
But even though she is shy
and-well, nice Is about the only
word for it-She always comes
right TO the point, and never
beefS.
IF we asked her TO rehearSe
at 5 In the morning. she would
do II, with m complaints and no
questions asked" said Duffy.
In short, the lady is trouper.
NOTES AROUND TOWN:
Scene for somebody's scrap book
"A Highlander In kits swinging
down the street with his lady
friend In Stacks.
Glen Forcier, the Crosse
Polnte Farms Lad, aged !, who
was one of the gallant $4,000"
In the bond drive. finished his
campaign with $1,000 worth of
bonds sold.
Most Of II was I'm small bonds.
although he hit the jackpot
when he wandered into a small
tool shop on Heidelberg near
Gratiot, and the employees, to-
eether, took $1,000 worth. The
biggest sale was To one Of them,
William j. Webber. n lathe hand,
who took a $1,000 bond. ny
Add pastimes: Watching for
INFLUENTIAL people who are con-
Htent to get along with A cards
for their cars. Walter thinner
IL one. And Al Clancy, the
banker and son Of Gen g.. goes
to work In a share-the-ride pool.
Tip TO the picture editor: To
take the place Of the first robin
pictures, how about n picture of
the first Victory gardener who
finds one OF his plants COM
ing up?
John r. FrazerA the builder.
has worn a white carnation in