The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-10

view audience. Below an explana- tory paragraph, in, which they
 meticulously analysed the differ ence between melodrama, comedy drama, comedy, etc, was printed the query: Which do YOU prefer?" A blank space for the fans an- swer and incidental comment was provided.
 Some 250 cards were filled out by the theater-goers and mailed to Messrs Fenton and MacMurray. Of that total number, 226 carried the simple answer: q like GOOD pie tures!"
 Why is it, I wonder, that Holly wood producers-even those with as much common-sense as this pair have been demonstra ting insist on confusing the issue? Why do they invariably jump to the conclusion that if, for instance, a GOOD mu- sical wins public acclaim. movie fans therefore demand musical pie lures and will patronize them whether they're good, bad or indif- ferent? For every, fan who asks what kind of a picture is playing?" there are a hundred who intelli- gently inquire, "How good is it?"
 MEMORIES THAT BLESS AND BURN: When Jeanette Macdonald held up work on an MGM colossal while she rushed a neighbours 1n- jured dog to an animal hospital .. :. When the mothers of five Mexican kids who had been given roles in a FOX picture because of their rag ged, unkempt appearance, spent the moppets' first pay checks for neat haircuts and new clothes, thereby holding up production until the youngsters could be fitted with wigs. When Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., seeing Ginger Rogers slip of her shoes as she lunched with some of the industry's most important exec utives. managed to snitch the foot gear-and a very red-faced star was forced to walk out of the cafe with bare feet.
 Twenty years ago, gourmets used to contend that only three cities Tn America-San Francisco. New YorK and New Orleans-catered to cos
 mopolitan appetites. Today a fourth city, Hollywood, should be added to the list, for it is now possible to get in Filmville almost any kind of food obtainable anywhere on earth. We have Spanish and Mexi- can cafes specializing in dishes not enough to scorch a f1re-eater's palate, Chinese cafes, Italian cafes, French cafes, and hungarian cafes. Several Swedish retaurants spec ialize in smorgasbord, two Turkish cafes offer highly seasoned deilca- cies from the near-East, and there are a dozen Hawaiian resorts that feature South Sea cuisine. Russian cooking, Jewish cooking and Eng fish cooking are to be had. Some friends of mine, having lost their cook. made a bet that by searching out the proper restaurants, they could eat a different type of food every night for a month. They won the wager with ridiculous ease. Short Short True Story: One of Hollywood's wealthiest singing stars and his wife went to celebrated, nearby gambling resort last week. end. The star had phenomenal run of luck at the roulette and dice tables and soon was the win ner to the tune of several thou sands. He was standing at dice table, clutching a roll of big denom- ination bills fat enough to choke the proverbial OK, when his wife approached. Maybe I'll do 8 little playing" she said, twill you let me have some money?" The singer carefully searched his pockets with his free hand and gave her 8 $l bill!
 The Johnny Mack Browns spring offs gave a party for their teen- aged pals the other evening, and papa and mama stole the lime-light with an exhibition of jitterbuggin that put the youngsters to shame. After hearing reports from several of the guests, I ventured to kid Johnny when met him the next day on the golf course. My wife and took lessons in jitterbugging,' he told me seriously. You see. we happen to believe that if we keep in step with the interests of our children, we will understand them and be understood by them. We think juvenile delinquency begins when there's lack of understand ing in the home. The more I con- slider that statement, the more I think it's sound.
 Micheline Cheirel, the French beauty who's making her screen debut opposite, Dick Powell in "Cornered," received a cablegram the other day from her mama, Lyonel. Madame Lyonel, famous on the French stage. announced that she would come to Hollywood forth with to coach her daughter in the proper delivery of dialogue. There's only one catch. Mama speaks not one word of English!