OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD
- Making the rounds in newspapers across the country – a new town is announced in California – Gunga Din. Van Nest Polglase, the RKO art director, and his assistant Perry Ferguson planned its construction for the George Stevens film ‘Gunga Din.’ One third of the town was set up as a bungalow residential area, and the other two thirds given over to two sets – Hindu villages that they dubbed Bohara and Muri. Because a post office was set up there – the town needed an official title – they settled on Gunga Din.
- One report about Ethel Merman – who tells her interviewer that she plans on moving to California from New York. The frequent commuting was getting to her, and now that she has spent a good deal of time in Hollywood, she has come to like the climate, and thought it would be great not to traveling so much. (20th Century Fox had her in back to back films – Happy Landing – Alexander’s Ragtime Band – Straight, Place and Show). [It must not have come to pass, for her next film was not until 1943. Perhaps, since ’Straight, Place and Show’ was a flop, she stayed in New York where she appeared in a string of stage musicals instead].
NEWS AROUND HOLLYWOOD
- Hedda Hopper reports items about Carole Lombard – she lives simply in a rented house, and drives her own car (two years old). Last year she earned $465,000. Her federal, state taxes, and agent fees totalled 85 1/2% of her earnings. But she does not grumble and feels she’s the luckiest girl in the world.
- Robert Montgomery was injured in a head on automobile crash in West Los Angeles. Montgomery suffered only bruises. 53 year old Edward H Heims was the other driver was treated for minor injuries. Although shaken Montgomery was able to drive home. [Montgomery had just completed his latest at MGM – ’Three Loves Has Nancy.’ He wasn’t back at work at MGM until December].
BORN ON THIS DATE
British actor C Aubrey Smith was born on this date. The famous Hollywood “Englishman in Residence” turned 75. [At liberty since March of this year having completed work on 20th Century Fox’s ‘Four Men and a Prayer.’ He had plenty of time on his hands before his next film at Universal in Jan of 1939 -‘East Side of Heaven,’ time for cricket and his hobby of collecting pipes – from around the world. He was the happy owner of a Great Dane, which he boarded with Charlie Ruggles’ kennels, when away on trips. I wonder if he got a new pipe for his birthday].