HOLLYWOOD STARS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1940, Page 3

HOLLYWOOD STARS

HOW THEY WOULD ENTERTAIN.

• When one of Hollywood’s stars is called upon, at a party, to help entertain the guests, rarely does the star ao anything that is seen on the screen. They all have their little private talents for entertaining friends. Myrna Loy, for instance, on such an occasion, would entertain by drawing quick caricatures of people at- the party. This is a talent that grew-out of her early study of sculpture. Nelson Eddy, too, has the same talent. He wouldn’t sing, but would amuse with caricatures. Incidentally, Enrico Caruso used to caricature his friends for social amusement.

If Greta Garbo were called on, she’d' tell stories, as she is a gifted raconteuse.

Harpo Marx is famous on the screen tor his harp playing, but he probably wouldn't have his harp in his pocket at a party. So he’d call for a pack of cards and amuse with sleight-of-hand tricks, at which- he is particularly adept. Chester Morris, Bert Kalmar, Harold Lloyd, and Buster Keaton are jther Hollywood magicians who display their skill at parties when called upon. ........ Mickey Rooney would probably’ give impersonations of Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore, or instead might play some “swing” music on the piano. Blonde Ann Sothern would sing. She has an excellent voice; in fact, was a concert singer before she started her film career. Joan Crawford also would sing. . . Norma Shearer would amuse by impersonations. Clark Gable would probably juggle. He can keep three balls in the air with all the skill of a professional. Frank Morgan and W. C. Fields are other expert jugglers. Fields once did it professionally. Judy Garland, instead of singing as she does in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures, wculd do a tap dance a la Eleanor Powell, who probably wouldn’t dance at a party but entertain instead by singing. Hedy Lamarr would ask the birthdays of guests and cast their horoscopes, being a deep student of astrology. Robert Montgomery would pull a trick wallet out of his pocket and make dollars disappear in it, and perform other bits of legerdemain—in which he was coached by his friend Chester Morris. Jeanette MacDonald would probably entertain with imitations of various famous singers. William Powell can imitate every great orchestra conductor from Stravinsky to Stokowski. James Stewart entertains by playing his accordion, at which he is talented. He used to be a star in the Columbia University Glee Club. Margaret Sullavan would sing. Lewis Stone is an expert trapdrummer, Helen Gilbert would play her ’cello, Henry Hull has a comedy routine, imitating an old-time actor declaiming Shakespearean lines. Fay Holden tells stories in Cockney dialect. Ilona Massey entertains friends by making shadowgraphs on the wall; another singer. Miliza Korjus, does amazing things with a piece of string, forming it into dozens of complicated patterns. . And Johnny Weismuller. Tarzan of the screen, plays the ukulele.