The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-10-14
THE WATERBURY DEMOCRAT WAERBUR CONN., MONDAY OCTOBER IA le6
JIMMIE FIDLER h HoHy1Uood
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 plus large percentage of the the ater receipts, to star in @ single Hollywood made film.
 Mason unqueStionably is a fine actor-but he's still an unknown to a majority of American theater- goers. Certainly the producer in question has a perfect right to gamble as recklessly as he may see fit on Mason's potential drawing power, but he's guilty of a mis- statement if he tries to justify such a salary offer by the contention that the drawing power already ex- ists.
 I seriously doubt that there are, in all Hollywood, two dozen stars whose personal popularity is great enough to make 8 Sub-par picture pay dividends In normal times. I doubt that there are a dozen who can accomplish that miracle.
 These are not normal times. All pictures, good, bad and indifferent, are making fabulous profits-and in many cases they are making them in spite of, rather than be- cause of, their casts. Yet the pro- ducers, slavishly addicted to the star system, are giving the play CTS the lions share of the credit and the lion shre of the spells.
 Star after star is demanding, and getting, contracts calling for $100,- 900 or more per picture, plus per- centages. When times do return to normal, as they eventually will, only a handful of these players will be able to justify their wages. The others, overpaid and over-estimated, will become white elephants. The smart producers of today are the ones who are already seeking to develop replacements on sane sal ary deals.
 IDOL CHATTER: Current efforts to squelch stories about Lizabeth Scott's temperament" remind me of the classic line, 'Methinks the lady doth protest too much" .. Add habitual whistler -through-the- teeth: John Garfield Wonder why George Murphy, who really deserves them, doesn't get better breaks? Nervous itch: To drop Ida Lupino note, urging her to concentrate more attention on her career and less romances Study pictures of Joel McCrea, taken 8 dozen years ago, then look at him today, and you'll agree that he's the man Father Time forgot |. Seasonal comment: June Havoc. ... Predictions that Yvonne de Carlo will be 8 top-flight star, have, at least, two mighty good legs to stand on.
 For a role in 'The Big Haircut" :" Paramount's drama of the western wheat field, a perfect farm girl type" was needed. The casting office scanned it's files and mus tered 15 young actresses who seemed the likliest candidates and invited the director of the picture to take his pick. After much cognition he selected a young lady named Karen Marsh who will receive publicity build-up as 'The Perfect All Girl Hollywood being as it is, it's only natural that Miss Marsh is native of Hollywood who, in all her life has never been in closer contact with farm than the bottle of milk delivered by the milkman.
 Speaking of paths to potential Hollywood success, the one trod by 18-year old Jean Thompson Is at least unusual. With several of her high school pals, she went to a neighborhood theater the other evening and found, in the seat to which the usherette led her, 8 purse. In it were bills totaling about $35 and a drivers license bearing the name, Linda Darnell. Miss Thompson ascertairled Linda's home address and returned the purse, refusing to accept 8 reward. Next day, at Miss Darnell's suggestion she was summoned to 20th Century Fox for screen tests.
 Having reported, from time to time, several of the practical jokes inflicted by Red Skelton on his fellow workers at MGM, it's fitting to report the victims final rebel lion and revenge. Some weeks ago, Skelton acquired pint-sized foreign car which promptly became the focal point of his pride. Every day he parked it outside the sound stage where he worked and care fully shrouded it with a tarpaulin Leaving the stage, one evening last
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