GOOD NEWS! January 1945

YOUR GOOD NEWS GOSSIPER RIFFLES THE PAGES OF SOME OLD COLUMNS TO TELL OF CHRISTMASES LONG PAST.

via laurapetrie

I love to go over my scrapbooks around Christmas time. The memories they revive are as warm as though I were living through them again. Some of them bring a sentimental tear to my eyes. Others make me smile. I think you might be amused to look back with me over some Christmases I recorded that read like something out of Arabian Nights. It was back in the days when Hollywood was gay, extravagant and brilliant. Come along and share a chuckle with me over this Christmas day column I wrote (very nonchalantly, too):

• Joan Crawford's Christmas was made cheerful by Franchot Tones gift: a new star sapphire necklace and bracelet.
• Carole Lombard's gift from her new beau, Bob Riskin, was huge diamond and ruby clips and a silver fox cape. (Just simple little remembrances!
• Pat O'Brien handed Eloise a gorgeous new emerald ring.
• Clark Gable treated himself to a Duesenberg car.

Turning to a 1936 book, I found: “Jean Harlow is celebrating the 1936 New Year by discarding her platinum locks in favor of her own light brown tresses. This decision was made simultaneously with the signing of a new seven-year contract with M-G-M.” Poor little Jean— she didn't live to complete that long contract.

The New Year hasn't caused Katie Hepburn to turn over a new page. She's up to her same old elusive tricks. Out of the blue she disappeared—and when she cropped up in Kansas City, a reporter dubbed her ‘A cross between Sarah Bernhardt and Huckleberry Finn!'  (still goes.)

The brand new babies and two and three year old debutantes are the center of interest this year in Hollywood. Lana Turner's Christmas present to year-and-a-half Cheryl Christine will be a combination dollhouse-playhouse. It is being built in the back yard and is big enough for Cheryl to play in until she is a big girl.

“Of course she's too young now to really appreciate it,” Lana said, “But It will have three tiny little rooms and we'll furnish it with little miniature furnishings which will be presented to her on her birthdays and Christmas. We already have a tiny little Coo-Coo clock and a set of dishes with all kinds of birds for decoration.” If you ask me, Lana is more excited than Cheryl.

THINGS-I-CAN'T-GET-USED-TO:

• Turhan Bey smoking a pipe when he dances.
• Greer Garson's new short hair cut for Valley of Decision.
• Judy Garland in the matronly hats she wears.
• Lupe Velez with any other beau but Arturo de Cordo.
• The beaux who crash Lana Turner's table and ask her for dances when she is out with another guy—and she accepts.
• The violent pink color of Lucille Ball's hair.
• The moody, unhappy expression on Helmut Dantine's face even at the most gala social events.
• The fact that Wally Beery is one of the best dressed and groomed men in Hollywood—off the screen.
• Gloria de Haven eating three husky meals a day and still never putting on a pound.
• Paulette Goddard's "little girl" voice combined with her truly sophisticated personality.

Is Robert Walker's face red! The other day he went over to Jennifer Jones' house to see his two kids, Bobby and Michael.

"Daddy," said Michael, "are you an actor? "Yes," said Bob.

"Are you a good actor?" persisted the boy. "Why—er—" Bob stalled. "I guess you aren't very good," said Michael, "or you would have one of these things"—and with that he brought out the Oscar Jennifer won for The Song of Bernadette.

The argument was permanently closed.

From the Modern Screen archives.