The Wilmington morning star., 1946-08-25
Along broadway
BY JACK LAIT

Charlie the Chisel was a "four-time loser"
meaning he had served that number of felony
sentences. He was a burglar. He would dress
in Workman's clothes, overalls and jacket to
match. He had a long secret pocket sewn
into the jeans, in which he carried a lengthy
jimmy-a lightweight crowbar-With which he
forced windows.
He often worked in daylight. Passersby, if
they saw him, took him for a r%epairman and
seldom bothered to question his activities.
His specially was second-story work, mean
ing that he would get into and go through
the sleeping-rooms above while the family was
! downstairs having dinner. If he made a haul
worth $40, it was a good day, FOR his wants
were modest, his habits temperate. He was
a bachelor.
He lived with his sister, who had two boys
frankie, aged nine, and Dickie, aged six.
Charlie was very fond of them.
About a week before Christmas, he jimmied
into a place far from his customary type Of
operations-a little t~oy-store ON a side street.
I met him walking briskly with a number
of bundles high in his arms. He beckoned
me into an alley, under the Ell, and delight
| edlv showed me a woody dog with glass-bead
eyes, a mechanical tin soldier that walked
, and saluted, a furry rabbit, a tWo-wheeled
little red agon and a childish cowboy outfit.
"For Dickie!" he said, his eyes shining.
sBut-how about Frankie?" I asked.
FRANKIE? Say-he's nine. He's old enough
now to steal his own toys!"
A former screen star, who made a fortune,
lists her youthful husband, on her income tax
que stionnaire as a dependent. . The only
Rolls-Royce in Saratoga belongs to Mrs. Leo
Best, of our Hotel Plaza. . My item, that
the Warner-Joan Crawford contract is I'M
signed, was verified to me-. The reason: Joan
demands a clause that her every picture be
released within six months. "Humoresque' is
being held back because the studio wants 1t
in competition for next years Oscar awards.
The goth anniversary of the death of
Rudolph Valentino, today, recalls Harry
Klemfuss, who staged the cross-country funer-
al spectacle, the most brazen, ghoullsh and
triumphant piece of press-agenting in our life
time. We find, on checking, that KLEIN is in
CIudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic, where
he was engaged to ballyhoo its 450th ami
versary. tThe day of the pageant, an earth
quake and tidal wave hit the country; so,
you see, Harry hasn't lost his terrific touch.)
Herbie Fields, the bandleader. had to work
fast or lose his lovel young chirper, Mary
Ann Dunno. Art Franklin had passed out some
pinup cheesecake pictures Of Mary Ann. And
when her father, who is a minister in Akron,
O., saw one in print, he wired his child to
quit and come home at once. Herbie COM
posed a long letter of explanation, exposition,
expostulation and excuse, with a thesis on
the way Of publicity men and the pragmatic
theories of theatrical exploitation. So far, it
seems to have worked.
Reported Romancing- Craig Rice's daugh-
ter, Nancy, and Joseph Atwill to wed any
hour in Santa Monica. Peter LaWford,
screen R o m e o. frantically phoning Folie
Miller, Miami dancer. . June Clark, heiress
to Empire track holdings, and Air Corps Capt.
Dick Burckill on the verge. . .Orrin Lehman
war hero, Cub-Rooming with Adele %Jergens.
.Sportscaster Mel Allen with swimstar Lor-
raine Fischer. at Ciro's. Gail Patrick and
Corny Jackson. Audrey Trotter and Merrill
Pye. Bill Cagney alternating betwist Diane
Stewart and Jean Phillips. Ella Gardner,
model, with Bill Morton, actor, at Olin's.
Social George Mays with Penny Anne Wat
son, who owns a lot Of tobacco. And Gloria
Swanson, with a mysterious new escort, whom
she laughingly introduces at Ell Morocco as
"Mr. Blodger."
Here's a honey from Radie Harris column
in Daily Variety: EVE Wynn's 16-year-old
sister, Maxine, arrived from Florida for her
first closeup of Hollywood. keenan, Wynn in
vited Clark Gable and Gary Cooper to the
house TO see his new midget racing car. EVE,
when she came home, asked what happened
when Maxine met the guests. "Oh, nothing"
said keenan,. Il introduced them. They each
shook her hand. Then l picked her up"
From Peris-A lot of tricky new taxis here.
Latest and typically French feature is dis
cretion glass; between the passengers and
the driver. Riders can see out: chauffeur can
not see in!
Jane Russell drawing all eyes at Sherm
Billingsley's club-spelled Krots, backward
dancing with George Ross, Jr., insurance
gent. But only to pass the time. She LEFT
next day for Chicag 60, to join her football-star
husband. Bob Waterfield, and see him play
in the All-Star match. Jerry Cooper con-
fides (out loud that as soon as he and Mar
tina Goldthwaite are unlocked, he has a we'd
ding date with Darlene Tito, the exotic
danseuse. Ed Bragnow may not know it,
but I do-Molly Netcher has him in the base
ment. with other leftover joblots. Comic
Joev Adams and Junior Stsndish Cancelled
their betrothal plans. (And he has a very
intriguing explanation for being barred at
Leon & Eddie's-one he broadcast, but l
wouldn't publish without veriflcation.)
lila Murphy requests a mention OF the fact
that James Kirkwood, Jr., is making his first
postwar appearance in "What a Life at
Summer theatres. And who is Lila Murphy?
She is the adorable Lila (Cuddles) Lee, the
mother of Young KirkWood. Lila has starred
in every branch OF the stage and screen since,
as Gussie Appel, she was found as a baby
by Gus Edwards and started on a vaudevlhe