Paje TWIG Dumb-belling Her Way to Fame

The layingl of Suzanne, merry, ing.nuoUi and abounding in whimlical error, have become the talk of the Itudio, Experts in movie behaviorism and worldly willdom haven't been able to de- termine whether her malapropisms are genuine or feigned. She has "a lin.:' but whether it is native clevemell or congenital "dumbne.s" is an unsolved problem.

,...... •••...... She couldn't make any sense out of (l dictionary because it wasn't written in complete sentences. way's mental capacity. For ex- Movie Veteran at 19 Years of Age ample, she was handed a dte- tionary and asked if she knew how to use it. She said: By GEORGE SHAFFER Bovard family, founders of th University of Southern Calif 01 "The book I've got at home Hollywood, Cal. nia here. makes sense, but this one isn't ALTHOUGH but 19, .Mary The actress's mother, Mr: even written in complete sen- Belch, former Blooming- I"l.. Hulda Belch, and her brothel tences." ton, Ill., girl, is already a Albert, 18, now make their hom She informed Director Prinz HoI Lyw 0 0 d "trouper." Her with Mary in Hollywood. He that she wanted to be an act- screen career began on a daring father resides in Chicago. Th ress instead of a dancer "be- chance When, three years ago, mother and brother moved rror cause actresses get to sit down the high school sophomore long their Bloomington home whe oftener." distanced Bob Palmer, RKO· Mary came west to take up he Radio studios' casting director, • • • movie career. Albert, who lei asking him for a film role. Bloomington High school in h: Suzanne lives with her mother It was the report that the stu- freshman year, finished up h. and two brothers at 7965 West dio was about to make II Anne preparatory work at Lawlor Fourth street. Los Angeles. "It's of Green Gables" that prompt- Professional school and is no' Miss Ridgway's figure was her passport into the movies. She got a job a studio duplex," she explained ed her to call Palmer, for the a sophomore at Cumnock Junle when a dance director saw her in a bathing suit. to an Interviewer. ••Do you book was one of Mary's fay-or- college in Los Angeles. know what a duplex is? It has ·ites and she had a youngster's Mary finished her educatlo {Chlca"e> Tribune Pre •• Service.} files, Miss Ridgeway jot ted an upstairs and a downstairs desire to play the part of Alice at the studio school. A siste Hollywood, Cal. down this explanation of her and you live in both of them, Wainright, the saucy little heavy ~E stage character named nationality: "French and Irish but there is a next-door." of Lucy Maud Montgomery's .1 ~Ulcy, whose charm was on mother and father's side, and She was graduated from San- immortal book. She got the the unconscious humor of Eng Ii s h on my stepfather's ta Monica High school in 1934 role, acting in the picture with her stupidity and ignorance, In- side." and is 19 years old. As a minor, Anne Shirley and Tom Brown. vented by Franklin P. Adams, She gave her birthplace as she has to go before a Superior New York columnist, and acted Paris, France, and when ques- court justice in Los Angeles for • • • by Lynn Fontanne in 1921, had tioned on this point she said: the legalization of her contract come to life in the Paramount "I was born there when my with Paramount. In three years she has ap- studios and is the latest laugh parents went over for their hon- "I think it is silly," said Su- peared in about twenty pictures, of the Hollywood merry- go . eymoon." zanne, II that a girl has to go to Including " Grand Old Girl," round. Her name is Suzanne At the first rehersal, Miss court when she really hasn't "Show Boat,"" Fighting Youth," Ridgway; she is a neophyte Ridgway was frequently out of done anything." and "Old Laddie." Although dancing girl, little better than step. She said blithely to the The publicity that has been Beich is a well known name In an "extra"; and the motion director: given to her faculty for making downstate Illinois, and Mary picture producers and press ••We start this number on the people laugh pleases but puz- Beich is a granddaughter of the agents are talking about her as left foot, and every now and zles her. "It is fun getting founder of the Paul F. Beich if she were a star. She has then I forget which is my left things written about me," she Candy company at Blooming- dumb- belled her way into a foot." says, "although I can't see ton, the actress found her name seven year contract with an op- He suggested ironically that where the writers get such an being mangled by those unfa- tion clause providing for exten- she might tie a handkerchIef impression of me. miliar with its pronunciation. sion or cancellation every six around her left wrist as a re- "But I don't puzzle myself It should be pronounced like job months, on a salary of $50, or minder, and she asked with an trying to figure things out. I "bike," but it was a hard to educate movie folk; so Mary maybe $65, a week. ingenuous smile: just smile and try to be agree- She has been rehersing in the II Will a white handkerchief able, and it's less trouble saying Miss Bo~ard (born Beich) began her movie career when she was 18. Beich a short time ago became dancing choruses of productions do? " what I really think than it is While a sophomore in high seheel she called up Hollywood on the tele- Mary Bovard, using the maiden to be called "Artists and Mod- This incident started a series for me to try to be clever like phone to ask for a part in "Anne of Green Gablel" and her audacity name of her mother, who was a els" and "This Way, Please," of experiments on Miss Ridg- some of the girls at the studio." won her a role. She has been in many pictures since. member of one branch of the under the handicap of not being able to remember which is her left foot. Her artless prattle, Letters published in this department should be written on one side of the paper. in the meantime, has achieved celebrity. l'.i£e .1tl.e ~.,.,ieFaD If you wish a personal reply please inclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Visitors are taken to see and Dear Mae: This may not reach the [2]. Bonita Granville, Chicago girl Dear Miss Tlnee : Why don't they ever .•Danny" gave him the much awaited converse with Suzanne. She is Graphic, but I hope it does, for I want the makes good as brat and adorable--- have any picture of Gene Autry outside opportunity to show his many admirers a character at whom tourists whole T rib u n e [3]. Jane Withers-why not? of those on the that he could be as convincing a mur- reading public to derer as he Is a playboy. marvel. She never fails to send And as for the men: screen? them away in stitches. Experts know how swell One day while A generous bouquet for Rosalind Rus- I think you and [1]. Bill Powell-the envy of all, the at the movies I sell-the kind of girl everyone would like in movie behaviorism and world· perfect gentleman. ly wisdom have studied her in your col u m n s saw a picture of to know. And last but not least, Dame [2]. Lionel Barrymore - always the an effort to discover whether are! You are the Gene in a yard May Whitty for her priceless hysterics; same and always perfect. she's a natural. her malapropisms are genuine best critic In the chasing a turkey. bus i nell sand [3]. Charles Wlnnlnger-the real thing The ann ouncer All In all, .•Night Must Fall" was a or feigned, and have been un- have yet to grow In comedy. said he was get- grand surprise. able to diagnose the case. Stl stale or go [41. Tyrone Power-any lover is better tlng as much fan Thanks. Mae. zanne has'" a line" without wrong. Each re- than Taylor. mall as C I ark GEORGE J. WISSING. Mary is blonde, blue-eyed, 5 j doubt, but whether it is native view Is amusing, Gable. As I fig- So few stars act for the sake of acting Editor's Note: Here's printing all your 2 inches in height, and weighs cleverness or congenital" dumb- unbiased and in- ure It out Clark and are willing to forget themselves while nice "bouquets" for the stars of "Night pounds. teresting and Is Gable is second ness" is an unsolved problem. on the set, that those who do, or who are Must Fall." 1 hope they see them. Thanks. very revealing in box office at- Miss Ridgway is a black as clever off the set as on, should be Elizabeth Belch, Is married when it comes to traction. If he Is haired, happy- go -Iucky young lauded to the skies-I hope you agree. Dear Miss Tinee: wm you please an- Dr. Raymond White, a Chica the flaws or vir- second he surely person, exceedingly shapely. Her swer this in your ••Voice of the Movie tues of the plays, The only thing I wonder Is how La must get a lot of physician. figure was her passport into the . Fan" column? Who played the part of ...u. ':i' and say w ha t Temple can always be so sickeningly fan mall. The Bloomington girl rece Paramount organization; she ap- MYRNA LOY GENE AUTRY Maria In ..The Last Train from Madrid"? you will, no other sweet and never, never is off the beaten If Gene Autry ly signed a new contract w: plied for a job, a dance director Lauded by fan for her A smlllnq photo'ilraph to L. L. •well actlnq. .columnist is so. path. Most kids at her age are In hot pl.a.e admirer • is getting as RKO. She gets $75 per we told her to put on a bathing Please also, let water once In a while and are trying to much as Mr. Editor's Note: Olympe Bmdna played to start, with option brack suit. and she was immediately me hand an orchid or two to my favorite duck papa's slipper, but not her. She Gable why aren't there more pictures the r6le of Maria Ronda in the fUm. ranging up to $750 a week. should change places with Bonita Gran- engaged as a recruit for a bal- stars. printed of him? new contract received court I ville and do a rOle such as Mary Tilford let. This, of course, was rou- [1]. Miriam Hopkins-for the grand star Please do not think I'm rude, I'm just Dear Miss Tinee: How many pictures proval the other day. It mig in ••These Three." The change would be tine stuff; many thousands 0.£ and captivating actress she Is! another did Anna Sten act in? Was Fredric seem peculiar that an expe most refreshing-what say? March in any with her? Who was her girls have been through the [2]. Bette Davts-i-who Is unafraid to FAN FOR GENE AUTRY. enced film actress would ha This is my first attempt at gaining the male lead in "Nana"? sam e experience. Presently, divorce Bette Davis from the rOle at hand. Editor's Note: Here's a nice smiling to obtain court approval of 1: however, the dance director, Le- Tribune columns and hope I may come Thank you. HARRY SLUTHIN. [3]. Myrna Loy for her swell acting, again. photogmph of M,'. Autry. I hope you contract, but she's still a mir roy Prinz, began to wonder if comedy and delightful sophistication. like it. Editor's Note: Before going to Holly- in the eyes of the law. Sh Best wishes and loads of luck. wood Anna Bten made three pictures in Suzanne Ridgway was just an [4]. Loretta Young-just because. Kay blonde, blue-eyed, 5 feet 2 Incr other girl who pretended that Your 17 year old fan, Moscow and four in Berlin. In the United Francis. Barbara Read and Rochelle Hud- Dear Miss Tlnee: Innumerable bravos States she has appeared in "Nona," " We in height, and weighs she could dance, or Gracie Allen JACK MILLER. son-favorable mention, and the juvenile for Robert Montgomery's ••Danny" In Live Again," and" The Wedding Night." pounds. She is currently playl doing an endless skit of radio stars. Editor's Note: Thank you-say we all! ••Night Must Fall." My surprise was sur- Fredric March appeared opposite Miss a noisy blonde in •.Stage 000 program nonsense. [1.] A dozen orchids to Deanna Durbin Here's p1'inting your pleasant praise as passed by real, thorough enjoyment of Sten in "We Live Again," and her lead- with Ginger Rogers and Ka When she filled out the usual three times. a day. The only singer who foil for some of our "knocks!' Do come what I thought the most unusual rOle ing man in "Nana" was Philip Holmes. arine Hepburn and says sh biography card for the studio's can really act. again. of Montgomery's career. The rOle of You're welcome! crazy about the role.