TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 170, 7 June 1940, Page 2

TALKIES

IJOAN BLONDELL'S FOND MEMORIES OF EARLY TROUPING DAYS IN AUSTRALIA Gentlemen prefer Blondell. So db most women. One of the best-liked persons who ever set foot on a stage, Joan Blondell's sunny, sparkling charm has endeared her not only to millions of motion picture and stage fr.ms the world over hut to everybody in Hollywood from grimy "grip" 1 to excitable executive. I Miss Blondell is a New Yorker., the daughter of a vaudeville-fam-ous Eddie and Katharine Blondell. Joan made her stage debut at the age of 16 months. From that moment on the elder Blondells could, and did, append an "and Company" to their billing. Joan showed a marked talent for mimicry. Later she learned to sing and dance, and, as she matured, became exceptionally pretty, never a handicap in show business. After 22 years of trouping over the entire world, playing engagen ments which ranged from Broad- | way to one-night shows in the 1 sheep-herding backwoods of AustraI lia, Joan well qualified for her B legitimate stage debut. 9 The play was "Maggie the MagniS licent," followed by "Penny Ar--1 cade." Another comparative un- | known in the latter was James Cagne3 r . When Hollywood decided to make a film version of "Penny Arcade," to be known as ' Sinners' Holiday," Joan was brought west I to repeat her original role. Joan's Hollywood successes number more than a score. "Blonde Crazy," "Foot light Parade," various "Gold Diggers" musicals, "Colleen," "Three Men on a Horse" and her recent Columbia hits highlight of the list. She is happily married to Dick Pow ell, the screen's singing star, the couple have two children, and Joan loives her west coast home, to which her parents later moved with the fierce devotion of a weary, travelsated trouper. MEXICANS SERVE UNDER BRITISH FLAG X, ————— Two hundred and twenty New Mexico National Guardsmen to~da3' were veterans of three weeks" service under the British flag. Don't leap, however,"to the conclusion that New Mexico has entered into an alliance with England —it's just Hollywood again. Under special orders from Governor John E. Miles, the troops turn- ' ed part-time actors to portray Brit- • ish soldiers in Paramount's "The i Light That Failed,'" based on Rud3 r ard Kipling's novel. Major Harry M. Peck, of Albuquerque, commanded the detachment, which pitched camp at Buckman. N.W., 30 miles northwest of Sante Fe, close to the location site selected by Producer-Director William A. Wellman. Included in the contingent, which was formed into a special provisional squadron, were 142 troopers of the 11th Cavalry from Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos and Ciovis, and 78 men of the 120 th Engineers, drawn from Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Las'Cruces. The cavalrymen supplied 102 of their own horses. Troop K, consisting of 27 troopers led by Lieutenant Cecil Clemmens, made a two-day march from Taos to the Buckman location, riding 55 miles and camping overnight During daylight hours, the National Guardsmen donned the uniforms worn in 1880 by British cavalry, infantry and artillery to work : in spectacular action scenes with Ronald Colman, Walter Huston, and other Hollywood players* The arrangement with Paramount was given full approval by the War Department in Washington, and the militiamen will receive credit for additional training as a result. 000000000000000000000000000000000000000