The Omaha guide., 1944-12-30

DEANNA DURBIN
many other hits, and the lyrics are
by E. Y. Harburg. who turned out
the verses for the songs in Bloom
er Girl" New York's newest mu-
steal hit.
During the first eight weeks Of
ITO Have and Have Not" at a New
York theater. $50. 900 persons paid
to see the Humphrey Bogart-Lauren
Bacall opus. The Bogart admirers
swarmed in by thousands. many
others came to see the new starlet.
\
Johnny Coy and Miriam Franklin
rehearsed for three and a half
months for the dance they do in
'sDuffy's Tavern''-two weeks long
er than 1t took Fred Astaire and
Marjorie Reynolds to prepare their
routines for Holiday Inn" Incl
dentalIy Johnny, recently signed by
Paramount, is being hailed as q
combination Of Astaire and Gene
Kelly, because of his performance
in "Out Of This World"
*
John Cromwell has a reputation
as a director who brings out hidden
talent and develops stars; he's the
man who made Bette Davis a star
in "Of Human Bondage" In Since
You Went Away" several newcom-
ers give outstanding performances.
Now along comes The Enchanted
Cottage"-see it and keep an eye on
Eden Nicholas, Martha Holiday.
Virginia Belmont, Nancy NARROW,
Robert Clarke. Bill Williams and
Carl Kent. Maybe you'll be in on
the development Of d new star.
~
WaIy Cassell, playing a light
hearted G.I. whom the girls 60 for
in "G.I. Joe." the Ernie Pyle pic
ture, owes his screen career to
Mickey Rooney. Rooney saw him
in a Los Angeles cafe, got him a
screen test and a contract with
Metro.
If yen attend a broadcast of mr..
District Attorney" you see Ethel
Browning toting a box about three
inches high; she stands on 1t when
ever it's time for her to say her
lines. The voice of a tough gun
mol m from a tiny gal who
can't reach the mike!
-
Brother AL" Heller, former Mu-
tual B~roadcasting System sports an
and h%onorably discharged
lieutenant commander Of the navy.
has the latest Cinderella story to
tell. While strolling through the cor
ridor of New York's 10th Century
Fox office to addition as a common
tator, he was spotted by a talent
scout. Result, a technicolor screen
test and a long-term contract for
the handsome, six-foot five AL. But
don't look for him on the screen
under that name-it'n probably be
changed before he faces the
cameras.
Larry Stevens, the 21-year-old lad
who replaced Dennis Day as singer
on the Jack Benny program. is ex-
ira pleased about that contract be-
cause now he a marry his high
school sweetheart, Barbara Will
liams. Universal contract player.
You'd think Dick Haynes would
be content, what with his Every
thing for the Boys" air show over
NBC and his starring role opposite
Betty Cradle in 10th Century-Fox's
Diamond Horseshoe" But now
he's studying short-story writingi
ODDS AND ENDS-Danny Kaye is
nog starring on his osUn air shop on
CHS. -. We're told that Cornelia Otis
Skinner and Roland Young may come
back in a radio series like their vii
liam and Mary. -. Archduke Felix OF
Austria told Jean F~0n;aine thar the best
morie he'd seen was Going Ny Fay"
-. Judy CoH0va is noto appearing on a
nes0 series ouer NBC. 49,. There's still
popular demand for another Phil Baker
shosD with Beetle and Bottle; Beetle is
Rard Stage Door CanteenJ wilson. and
Bottle is Harry III Pays to Be Ignorant
McNaughton. No need 10 identify
Phil Take IL or Leave IT, Baker.
After lifting eight-year-old, 49,
pound Sharyn Moffeet out Of a wheel
chair and carrying her out of a stu
dio set Is times before the scene
passed muster. Russell Wade fig
ured that altogether he'd lifted and
toted 1,225 pounds.
-
Just before air time Frank Nor
gan was giving a lot Of good advice
to Carlos Ramirez, telling him to
study English and dramatics, never
to miss an opportunity-then Frank
was dragged on stage. He'd missed |
two cues!