Gossip! Gossip! Gossip! Cal York: November 1961

 

via giphy

Bette Davis must’ve blown her top when she read that ex-husband Gary Merrill and his Bermuda shorts were at the Cocoanut Grove with Rita Hayworth. Gary’s stepdaughter Barbara and Rita’s daughter Yasmin were there, too. Bette consulted her attorney and filed court action in Portland, Maine, demanding Gary stay away from Barbara and their two adopted sons.

What’s with Joan Fontaine? She’s been dating consul generals, diplomats, and her latest admirer is Boris Carmeli, the Italian opera star.

Is Dean Martin burning at his ex-partner? Jerry Lewis bought a night club down the street from Dino’s on the Sunset Strip, and it’s called Jerry’s. One former associate of the two cracked: “Jerry will probably sell drinks at half-price just to spite Dean.”

Warren Beatty and his big sister Shirley MacLaine have kissed and made up. They even want to do a film together. A year ago, Shirl would fly into a rage if you mentioned his name.

Lili Kardell no longer loves Troy Donahue—and neither do his neighbours. Shortly after he and Lili ended their romance in that wild battle, others in Troy’s apartment house circulated a petition demanding the actor find another place to hold his brawls. It wasn’t the first time his neighbours were awakened by his off-stage antics, but they want it to be the last.

All chances for a Natalie Wood-Bob Wagner reconciliation went out the window when Warren Beatty swept Natalie off her feet. In retaliation, R.J. had his attorney prepare a property settlement—and Natalie signed it. The contents were kept secret, but I heard Natalie got the dream house that is now up for sale. The asking price, $175,000, is a bit ridiculous seeing as how several rooms aren’t even finished.

The week before Audrey Meadows and Bob Six (Ethel Merman’s ex) flew to Honolulu to be married, he visited her daily on the Touch of Mink set and denied marriage plans. Oh well, that’s par for the Hollywood course.

Wonder what Debbie Reynolds thought when Eddie Fisher legally adopted Liza Todd, the four-year-old daughter of Liz Taylor and the late Mike Todd? “I love her like my own,” Eddie said in court as he hugged little Liza. Debbie brands as ‘ridiculous’ the stories that she plans to ask Eddie to let Harry Karl adopt Carrie and Todd Fisher—but the rumours persist.

 

From the Photoplay archives.