Under Hedda's Hat - September 1963

Few people hear from Esther Williams, who threw her career out the window and pitched her tent in Rome to be near Fernando Lamas. Her two sons have lived with their father, Ben Gage, for the past three years, and are very good swimmers. Both won competitions with the YMCA in Santa Monica. Ben’s working in real estate and does an occasional TV show. His only concern is for his daughter Susan, nine, who’s with Esther.

via marylikesmovies

When Shirley MacLaine told me she’d been around the world again—alone, I expressed concern about a female traveling solo. “I’m bigger’n anybody,” she said. “Besides I’m a jujitsu expert.” A few days later she proved it by stopping by The Hollywood Reporter and belting Mike Connolly. She didn’t like what he wrote about her.

Jeanette MacDonald sold her big house in Bel Air that had such happy memories, divided up her treasures she couldn’t use, and bought two apartments on Wilshire Boulevard which she and Gene Raymond will make into one. Gene’s mother, who never approved of his marriage to Jeanette—despite its happy years of success—died without reconciling with them.

Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman continue to be the envy of a lot of stars because they’ve found the solution to that two-careers-will-wreck-a-marriage chestnut. Their solution is simple—Joanne puts Paul’s career first. Not many so-called glamour girls in these parts have the guts to do that!

20th was in an uproar over Walter Wanger’s diary about Cleopatra. They call him “Kiss and Tell,” and claim he painted everybody bad but himself.

Judy Garland’s dressing room door at CBS isn’t decorated with her name. A plaque reads “The Legend."

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From the September 1963 issue of Photoplay