TO BE, OR NOT TO BE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 202, 19 April 1932, Page 3

TO BE, OR NOT TO BE

SCREEN STARS DISCUSS THE QTJESTION OF CHAPERONES. GIRLS' INDEPENDENCE. To be — or not to be — chaperoned — is one of Hollywood's most debated subjects among the younger set of the film colony. Both sides of the question being presented by young actresses who have made a success of their own lives — the topic beeomes more one of personal opinion than of what is right or wrong in youthful behaviour. Joan Crawford is one who strongly favours equal rights for young men and women. She believes that a girl, properly guided, beeomes as capable of standing on her own feet, when in her teens, as a young man. Having proved this herself, since the days when she advanced from the back row to the front of a Broadway chorus — and from this point of vantage to a motion-picture apprenticeship, and from there to stardom — her views are the result of her varied youthful experience. It's mid-Victorian to expect a girl to go about with a chaperon nowadays," says Joan. "If a girl can't take care of herself after Teaching young womanhood, she will never be capable of successfully making her own way in life. "Sucess to-day depends on the individual — and if the modern girl isn't trained to make her own decisons, she can't expect to cope with others who do." Another, Supporter. Another supporter of feminine freedom is Leila Hyams. This popular blonde, homely type of player, who has also met with success in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures, cites her own upbringing in favour of unrestricted girlhood. "I was a typical mother's girl," laughed Leila, recalling her early days of being without the influence of a family. "However, after a family conference, it was decided that I had outgrown the home nest — so I was pushed out to try my own wings. "It was the best thing that could have happened to rne," continued this champion of modern womanhood. "At first I was timid, but it didn't take me long to learn how to get what I wanted — and now I thank my parents for sending me out of home and hearth which they literally did." Leila gained her experience on the theatrical stage. With no help from her theatrical parents, she won her place by sheer merit and ability — making her own way in a profession that allows only the survival of the fittest. On the other side we have Anita Page. Known as the most chaperoned girl of Hollywood — Anita believes this the proper procedure for a successful start in life. Miss Page's father is of the old school — and in bringing up his only daughter he has held to the rules of his class. Not until Anita's twenty-first birthday was she permitted to attend a party without parental escort. However, in place of rebelling at this guardianship — Anita was in harmony with her father's wishes. "A girl in public life can't be too careful of her aetions," defends Anita. "I'm sure no one objected to my being chaperoned," continued this oldfashioned modern girl; "at least I haven't lacked invitations. Perhaps if my parents hadn't been full of fun, I might have objected — but we really had such good times together I see no reason why they shouldn't have gone along." One might assume that sweetly demure Dorothy Jordan would be in favour of the chaperon. Mother Knew Where I Was. But this is not the case. Dorothy is a girl who has successfully made her way to independence — travelling to Hollywood via the Broadway stage. She was barely seventeen when she left her family and enrolled in a well known theatrical school — leaving for the first time her family and home in Tennessee. Her next step was the Broadway stage — and from there she came to Hollywood. Now she is living at home — but, according to her mother, she is just as free as ever to do as she wishes.

"I believe a girl should be allowed her freedom," said Dorothy, voicing her opinion. "However, she shouldn't become so independent that she isn't within reach of the family all the time. I mean, she should always be within call in case of emergencies. "My mother," ' Dorothy continued, "always knew just where I was and, knowing this, she was content in the knowledge that I wouldn't go astray. And it's really the best way for a girl to prove her own mettle — for parents often have a way about them of being too fearful of venturesome adventures." And so — down the list — we have representatives for and against chaperonage — each side advocating their belief by citing their own experiences.