SKIPPY PUTS ON THE DOG

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1938, Page 4

SKIPPY PUTS ON THE DOG

FAMOUS WIRE-HAIR PLAYS IN “THE AWFUL TRUTH.” What’s in a name? Shakespeare's answer, foul- hundred years ago, ’ disposed of that question in terms of roses. But, then, roses aren’t dogs. However, Skippy is a dog. He is the most beloved dog in motion pictures. Skippy became Asta, the little brown and white wire-hair,- adopted William Powell and Myrna Loy for their “Thin Man” pictures. He became the whole world's pet, and recently his name provoked so much trouble that the Bard, if alive, might reframe his answer. To begin with, his real name is Skippy. That is what his owner calls him. But, the animal has answered to Asta so much that, when he was cast with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in Columbia’s “The Awful Truth,” he refused to respond to his new character name. First he was called Jarvis. This left the animal cold. He refused to budge when the players called him. Then Leo McCarey, the director, tried out Kinky, and still the dog declined to get very friendly. It looked like a long time and much footage might pass before the cameras, before the dog became accustomed to a new name. Then McCarey had a real inspiration. He hit upon the name Mr Smith. At first glance, that looks no better than the others. But, . when Miss Dunne tried it out, the dog joyfully, bounded into her arms, for she said. “Come, Mr Smith! Come, Smitty! Nice little Smitty!”—and that sounded enough like Skippy to fool the canine.

Karen Morley, lovely blonde star who will be seen in Paramount’s “On Such a Night,” opening next Saturday at the Cosy Theatre, has scored smashing successes recently in “Outcast,” “The Girl From Scotland Yard,” and “The Last Train From Madrid.” In “On Such a Night” she plays the role of an actress for the first time in her film career—and for the first time, she was stumped! She didn’t know what to do, to look like an actress!