The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-10-05

FRANK SInatra tacteu Brady Tor
a screen test. He
scripted the test himself and was
signed to long-term M.G.M. acting
contract
The Younger Set
Jane Powell is another sensation
direct from the ether. The 15-year-
old Portland singer appeared for
one performance on Hollywood
Showcase" then sat back and took
her pick of studio contracts. She was
hit in her first screen role and is
being starred in her second
filmusical, High Among the Stars"
From announcer to dramatic act
or sums up the quick film success
of likable Bill Goodwin. Bills voice
is recognizable to thousands of lis
teners. Soon they'll hear Bills
voice and be able to see him in
scenes with Ingrid Bergman in "The
House of DR.. Edwardes."
John Kodiak is still another new
Hollywood star whose voice was
heard long before his face was seen
in "Lifeboat."
In contrast, air headliners have a
more difficult time than unlnowns
in establishing themselves as movie
stars. You unconsciously build up
your own mental picture of the face
behind the voice. If the actors per-
sonality doesn't project from the
screen in accord with the mental
picture created by the air waves
it's a quick curtain on the Holly
wood career.
Rudy Vallee was a Hollywood
casualty. The Connecticut crooner
experienced an early version of the
Sinatra landslide. He was forced into
films by his fans. After a series of
unfortunate pictures, which l must
admit were pretty terrible, he re-
turned to the air lanes. However,
just before his induction into the
United States coast guard he fin
ished two highly successful screen
roles as a comedian, mainly be-
cause bright young writer and di-
rector named Preston SturgeS de-
cided to make an asset of Vallee's
liabilities
The Voice Came Through
Remembering the Vallee fasco,
film producers were cautious when
the bobby sock brigade flooded
Hollywood studios with letters de-
manding that they see "the Voice"
on the screen. For Sinatra's debut
RKO gave the crooner hit tunes, a
not too dramatic role, good cast,
then released the picture and held
their breath. The fans swooned and
asked for frankie again and again.
Two other famous voices to sue
cessfully travel the same route were
Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCar-
thy. Through the puppeteering mas
terry of Bergen and careful photog-
raphy the one-man show became a
starring screen team.
Amos and Andy donned burnt cork
and stepped before the movie
lenses, with but slight success. But
Abbott and Costello acted out their
routines in front of a Universal
camera and the gold rush was on
and still is.
Tuo Heads Better Than One
Olsen and Johnson now make one
picture a year. Lum and Abner
signed a long-term RKO contract
and expect to balance their career
between air and screen. Following
the trend, Fibber and Molly MCGEE
were finally roped into the Holly
wood corral.
The list goes on unendingly.
What television will do after il
makes its debut at wars end no one
can as yet foresee. But I predict
the results will be as startling and
far-Eeaching as when sound came to
the movies.
On the Bandwagon
When Abbott and Costello were
introduced at dinner given recent.
~ the POSTMASTER went overheard
with, .sI now give you the most sue
cessful team of modern time-Ab.
bolt and Costello" Bud stood ur
and said, Whatever happened tc
that team-Eisenhowe and Mont
gomery?" -. Gr0ucho Marx, look
ing at his daughter Marian's new