The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-02
IN Hollywood
By ERSKINE JOHNSON NEA Staff CorresnOndent

If you've seen Cover Girl and some recent 20th Century Fox iilmusicals you know that Phil Silvers has arrived as one of the funniest comedians. in Hollywood. But what a struggle, those four years of trying to convince movie makers that he could make people laugh.
 It's a typical Hollywood story. After all, only Hollywood could im- port e successful comedian from the Boardway stage and then give him @ screen test for the role of priest.
 That's what happened to Phil, once a Minsky burlesque comic, less than g. week after he landed in Hollywood in 1889. Louis B. Mayer, the boss at M-G-M, saw Phil on the Broadway stage in "Yokel Boy" He gave him contract right after the show that night.
 Phil arrived in Hollywood few weeks later. Nobody seemed to know what to do with him. "So they dressed me up in priests robes and tested me for Pride and Pre- judice.' It was a race" Phil chuckl- ed, between myself, c. Aubrey Smith and Edmund Gwynn. Finally someone decided I wasn't the type"
 For six months Phil did nothing except cash his M-G-M pay checks every Saturday and play studio benefits. One night he was working as master of ceremonies at studio club party and a photoghether snapped his picture. Phil stopped right in the middle of a joke, turn ed to the audience and said, That's more film than get at the studio" HE'S NOT HIS TYPE
 About this time Republic pur- chased "Yokel Boy" Phil imme- diately rushed to the front office to Dee if they could lend him to Republic for the role he had created on the stage. Somebody said they would look into 1t.
 A couple of days later Phil checked back. "How about that loan-out to Republic for 'Yokel Boy2" he asked.
 Sorry" was the reply, "Repub- lie is looking for a Phil Silvers type, but they don't want you"
 T could have put gun to my head" Phil said. First they try to cast me as priest and then they said I'm not even my type. So Albert Dekker who plays gangsters, gets my comedy role in the film version of 'Yokel Boy"
 Phil remained under contract to M-G-M for a year but worked in only one film, Lady Be Good" The scene was cut out before the film was released. Then he was re- leased, went to RKO for one movie, From, Dick and Harry" to War ners for You're in the Army Now"
 Then he couldn't get a job in any of the studios so he went to work in Hollywood night clubs.
 One night Phil was performing at Ciro's with Ella Logan as his partner. Daryl zanuck was sitting at ringside table.
 T wanted to impress him." Phil said. ESQ started working over to- wards his table" In the middle of the act, Ella blocked Phils vision of the movie baron. Phil stopped the act. Pardon me dear" he said. giving Ella a shove. but you're blocking Daryl Zanuck's view of me"
 Zanuck laughed. Two weeks later he gave Silvers long term 20th Century-Fox contract.
 MADE DEBUT AT IA .. .. ....
 Phil Silvers was born in Brooklyn made his theatrical debut in vaude- vile at IA singing with a Gus Ed- wards revue. A high lyric voice left the folks wet-eyed. When vaudeville died. he wound up working in bur- besque.
 Then George Abbott gave him a break on Broadway in See My ksayyer" and "Yokel Boy"
 When he first came to Hollywood Ae Ias asked to list the towns he