Evening star., 1945-10-24
BY HAROLD HEFFERNAN.

l
Personal but not private:
Spurred by the success of their
road" series, featuring the trio of
Crosby, Hope and Lamour, Para
mount is going in for an extension
of MY Favorite Blonde" which will
be recalled as one Of Bob Hopes big
hits of five years ago.
The blonde" of the picture was
Madeleine Carroll, since retired and
doing hospital work in France. But
following Monsieur Beaucaire," !"
Hope will be sent into a follow-up-
my Favorite Brunette"
Possibilities are unlimited as the
coiffures change in shade. There
could be my favorite redhead, mug
get-brown, platinum and possibly,
for burlesque, my favorite baldhead.
In scouting the town for a top
beauty to take over the brunette
role for Hope, Paramount executives
agreed on one actress and they
want no other. Yes, you guessed it,
too-Hedy Lamar.
Hedy has given up plans for head
ing her own producing company, Is
washed up with MGM, and is now
ready to talk business with any lot
on a 150,000-a-picture basis.
xx
Joan Crawford, who goes for
great secrecy in her appearances
outside Hollywood, was rushing
through the Dearborn Station in
Chicago to catch her New York
bound train.
She was doing all right. She wore
those very dark glasses, a big hat
covered her head, which was lower
ed into the folds of her coat collar.
Suddenly the station loudspeaker
doomed.
Telephone call for Miss Joan
Crawford! Immediately the star
was spotted as she rushed for the
telephone and fans trapped her in
the booth.
The cause of it all? Little Chris
tina, Joan's 5-year-old daughter
back in Hollywood. A next-door kid,
who knew Christina was lonesome
and who was smart enough to follow
the time schedule of the Chief, said
he would get Joan on the telephone
He did-and it just about ruined
Joan's three-hour layover in Chi
cago.
Close-ups: Boys who peddle films
| for Goth Century-Fox should be
happier than a swarm of larks. The
company is offering free trips to
London and Paris as prizes in a cur
rent sales drive . Burgess Mere
dith is on his way to New York,
along with wife Paulette Goddard.
He expects to line up Broadway
show and stay out Of Filmtown at
least year >. Can't keep track of
these kids: Same week Shirley
Temple returned from her honey
moon, Freddie Bartholomew started
a stage engagement of George
Bernard SRaw's very grown-up play
"Candide" and Roddy MacDowall
got romantically kissed for a movie
scene.
! Folks were amazed the last few
days before Sonia Henie left for
New York to find her dating with
Van johnson. Mr.. johnson has a
new gal on his shoulder almost
every night, much against the
wishes of MGM, who think he
should stay home now and then
Samuel Goldwyn is getting ready to
spread his richest red carpet for the
arrival of David Niven, English
actor, who returns to Sans wing
November l. He'll co-star right away
with Teresa Wright in "Th e
Bishops Wife" OF all the stars
Goldwyn has ever had under con-
tract, Niven is his personal favorite
Ethel Barrymore is quitting town
earlier than expected for New York
following the hurried completion of
her role in RKO's "Some Must
Watch" Reason for the rush is
that her son, Jack Colt, has ar
rived in this country for a 30-day
furlough after two and one-halt
years in Europe. Miss Barrymore
wants to spend at least a week OF
two with him before reporting to
the Theater Guild for rehearsals on
her new Broadway play.
incidentally, her latest Holly
wood experience hasn't increased