Inside Stuff — Cal York's Gossip of Hollywood (Part 4)

Inside Stuff

Cal York’s Gossip of Hollywood

The Things We Hear and See: It happened at Mocambo. Across the way we were eyeing the luscious

Lana Turner and her escort Peter Lawford. Suddenly, in the midst of their steaks a waiter brought word Miss Turner was wanted on the telephone and oddly enough old Cal, nebby as usual, had a feeling he should pass and repass that phone.

But all we could hear was, “Yes, John. All Right, John.:

Back at her table Lana and Peter brushed the food aside (know how much food costs at this place?) and rushed out with Cal (how can we be so nosy?) right behind. But instead of climbing into a taxi or car, the pair strode off down Sunset Strip with Sherlock Rathbone York right behind and on to the Trocadero. Once inside this club Lana glanced anxiously about and then made straight for a table occupied by her agent (whose name is not John), his girl friend and Hodiak whose name most certainly is John. And there she, with faithful Lawford, spent the remainder of the evening. Now guess which man is closest to Lana’s heart.

Best Wishes Dept.: It was Friday night at the Hollywood Canteen and Susan Hayward was there to dance with the boys and serve behind the snack bar. Jess Barker, Columbia’s new actor, was master of ceremonies and so it was inevitable that during one of the lulls someone should say “Susan, this is Jess Barker.”

That was in November and the beginning of an exciting series of Hayward-Barker flare-ups. They liked each other right off, but Susie’s red hair and Jess’s definite ideas had the pair in a constant state of “good-by forevers.” Then Jess would rush off to date a dozen girls at once, which eventually earned him the title of the datingest guy in town.

Besides, Susie’s mother disapproved and so the romance limped along until one day Susie and Jess decided they loved each other way beyond all differences.

They were married just one week after this momentous decision by the Reverend Howard in the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Susie looked lovely in a pale blue turquoise dress and hat.

After a short honeymoon at Rancho Santa Fe near San Diego the couple returned to take up residence in Susie’s own apartment since none other was available.

This was a first marriage for both. Their friends, including old Cal, wish them all happiness.

This Month: Mrs. Ward Bond divorced her actor husband . . . Mary Astor has a new boy friend but no one seems to know who he is . . . ‘Tis said Charlie McCarthy is about to acquire a stepmother in Frances Westerman, but when Cal put it to Edgar Bergen he would neither deny or affirm it . . . Joan Blondell is being beaued everywhere by produced Mike Todd. Her son Normie has now been promoted to chief errand boy for Scwab’s Drugstore . . . Deanna Durbin just looks and looks and looks at produced Felix Jackson while the two are lunching or dining in Hollywood . . .

An Experience for Jeanette: It was almost eleven o’clock when Jeanette MacDonald entered her bungalow of the El Encanto Hotel at Santa Barbara to retire for the night. It was still and quiet outside and the silence oppressing. Methodically, Jeanette closed the clothes-closet door, undressed and went to bed. Always a light sleeper, she was awakened fifteen minutes later by a sound somewhere in the room. Switching on the light, she looked about. The clothes-closet door had come open. She arose, closed it and went back to bed. It was the feeling of a presence in the room rather than sound that had her sitting bolt upright a few minutes later. her hand went to the night lamp and her eyes swept the room. The closet door was open. She knew the truth then. Someone was in there, waiting.

Fearfully she got out of bed and took a step or two toward that door. In a flash someone leaped at her with a blanket outspread as if to smother her. She fought and kicked. Heavy blows rained on her face, hitting her repeatedly in the eye. The assailant finally fled with Jeanette screaming behind him.

The attacker was a boy fourteen years old who was even then on probation from reform school. Because of a California law that prohibits using the name of any minor in such a offense, his name was not given out to the public. Bruised and horribly beaten about the face, Jeanette returned to her Hollywood home and next day from Santa Barbara where she had gone to study operatic roles under the direction of Lottie Lehman. Upon learning the boy’s mother was blind and earned her living by operating a tobacco concession in Santa Barbara, Jeanette refused to press charges.

Jeanette’s husband, Capt. Gene Raymond, stationed in Yuma, Arizona was on the phone the minute the word was flashed to him.