The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-11-28
by ACTOR GLENN FORD
(Tvday's Guest WRITER

There is no reason why one fam
lily shouldn't be big enough to house
two careers. That is. OF course. II
both the husband and wife are
sensible. Frankly, I'm being pers-
onal. and speaking specifically OF
the case OF Mr.. and Mrs. Glenn
Ford The Mrs" OF the combina.
ton happens 70 be Eleanor Powell,
dane r and actress Of consider.
able note,
Eleanor has been dancing since
she was a kid. Greasepaint is part
OF her life. wouldn't any more
expect Ellie 70 give up her career
than I'd want her TO ask me to
stop acting.
While was in the Marines,
and since I'm back in civ
yies, Eleanor hasn't been before
the cameras She has been too
busy taking care OF the young Ford
scion. Peter Newton. He is a
handful. believe me. And with the
help problem as acute in Hollywood
as anywhere else, it's been difficult
to find nurse who could give him
the proper care. Since the end OF
the war and the probable easing Of
the help situation, and with my be-
ing out OF the service. the picture
has changed. Eleanor is again
thinking OF donning her dancing
shoes professionally. And I'm hap
by ebout that, because my wife
loves dancing. AS a matter OF
fact Eleanor has never really re-
tired. She spends several morn
ings a week with a pianist in our
living room vigorously practicing
dance steps, This has kept her
in training, and she is as agile as
ever in making with the tap rou-
tines.
Some folks like to talk about
their Jobs. and shop is the gen.
eral con 'ersation trend at dinner
in the Ford home. Later in the
evening, when ! study my lines,
Ellie throws me cues" and we dis
cuss Characterization. infection
and other technical acting prob
lens. Believe me, my wife is a
swell coach. One OF these days
she l. going to forget about dane
ing and do a straight acting role.
A lot of people will be surprised At
her talent, but not her husband.
I've known about II all along.
When | discovered that I'd have
to do 4 tango in "Gilda" with Rita
Hayworth. Ellie offered to show
me how. Where could | get
better dance instructor? Yes, It's
great to have talent right In your
own family.
I'd never danced professionally
before IT'S n stunt, you can bet.
was scared. And I'm certain |
would have been shy with any 9TH
er instructor than my wife.
To CIV me assurance. she sug
gested that we get print OF the
famous tango which Valentino did
in 9TH Four Horsemen OF the
Apocalypse made back in the
1905 Not TO copy Il. mind you,
Just to give me the feel OF the
routine, and show me how to pro-
jeCt steps.
Eleanor has had several offers
recently TO appear in New York
shows. Neither she nor | think
favorably OF such a deal. The
reason is that I'm tied up in Holly
wood and there isn't much salts
faction in family life when men,
bers 81. one family are 5000 miles
apart. So Ellie has turned down
all such offers. although several
have been tempting.
But pictures are something else
again. Right now Ellie Is read
ing several scripts. She's certain
to DE- one OF them. And that will
please me nightly.
When Eleanor comes home from
the studio at the end OF the day,
I'll be as interested in her profess
slonal problems as she Is in mine.
When = girl has as much talent AS
Ellie, whv should she spend her
time with pots and pans? Any
way. what husband who is an ac-
tor wouldn't rather hear about act
inp than about pots and pans!
We hav' talked. OF course. OF
the possibility OF doing a picture
together sometime. To date. the
right story hasn't appeared. But II
we do appear in a movie together.
there'll b. no quarrels about close
ups and scene stealing. I respect