Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 September 1952 — Page 17

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Inside Indianapolis’ By Ed Sovola

POLITICAL candidates and public figures can't avoid the “banquet circuit.” Some use the term “knife and fork circuit.” No matter what you call dinner-table hopping “prominent figures” indulge in, eating on the run is a problem, A man must be clever and on his peas and cucumbers to survive. State Auditor Frank T. Millis has to watch the two vegetables. Cucumbers knock him for a loop for days. Peas stick in his mouth. Mr. Millis hesitated to divulge some of his secrets of survival. He thought it would behoove his cause more (he's running for re-election) if the public didn't know cucumbers were ‘‘poison” to him. - “I'll get around them somehow,” Mr. Millis said. “I do most of the time.” Get around, indeed, Mr. Millis. Don’t play politics with your stomach, sir. Let the folks on the circuit know that they should go light on mashed potatoes and gravy when you show up. Tell them you've lost 10 pounds and want to stay at 185. Let 'em all know fried chicken is your favorite dish along with cole slaw. What difference does it make that you were caught one evening with two dinners staMpg you in the face? It's no crime to be seen hiding the second dinner although it would have been better to come right out and say you've eaten. There's no, reason for you to keep the fact that on a banquet night you eat a large breakfast and pass up lunch a secret, Ne matter what folks say about political figures, Mr. Millis, they're necessary, Couldn't get along without them, No need of a politician making his life a bed of cucumbers, mashed potatoes ‘and gravy and peas if he can't take the stuff. Tell em. - Or, as the ol’ master chicken-eater Gov, Henry F. Schricker says, “Never indulge in excesses.” The Governor should know, He's been on the circuit. for a long, long time. Never pushed or hid a plate yet.

It Happened Last Night

By Earl Wilson

NEW YORK, Sept. 13—I know two famous Hollywood stars who had cancer—and licked it. One, a glamorpuss whose face is known on the scrgens of the world, is now in early middle age, doing her best acting. he other, a leading man, who doubtless dyes his hair a little now, is still popular—and healthy. I thought of them the other day, standing up in the -balcony of the Fifth Ave. Presbyterian Church, dat thé Gertrude Lawrence funeral. Looking down at the beautiful flowers and the famous names, 1 recalled some of those who'd been taken by the ruthless killer, cancer, before Miss Lawrence went. Babe Ruth, of course, Eddy Duchin, Fiorello La Guardia, King George, Harry Hopkins, Frank Buck, Eva Peron, Albert D. Lasker, Jane Cowl, Gertrude Stein, Grover Cleveland Alexander. Senators Vandenberg and McMahon, Lou Clayton, Adrienne Ames, General Stillwell, Elissa Landi ... . and Damon Runyon.

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MAYBE I'M a heartless soulless Broadway

~ =cHlumnist, but although Miss Lawrence's bravery

before the pain of cancer touched me—still it was more cheering to think of the two Hollywood stars who’d whipped the dread disease. “Gertie the Goddess,” suffered. We have learned now that she frequently was doubled up backstage at “The King and I” — but this her family never knew, In a way she was a bit of a war heroine, While entertaining troops in Normandy about '44, she went to a hospital with yellow jaundice, and was advised to go under observation for hepatitis. “How long will it take?” she asked. “Four months,” said an Army doctor, whereupon Miss Lawrence proceeded immediately with ner trip. She did 10 or 12 shows a day, then went to the Pacific where she did more.

AN ARMY DOCTOR has just told this to

Fanny E. Holtzman, Miss Lawrence's lawyer— and Miss Lawrence's diaries confirm it. Extraordinary, of course. But then as Oscar Hammerstein eloquently said in his eulogy, about “the glow” that comes from “a star.” “It is a kind of glow that emits from only one ind transmits itself to all. - Gertrude had that light. . . . It had something to. do with a great warm love for the world.” The point to this piece, though, is those two Hollywood stars who licked it. They found out soon enough. You owe it to yourself and family to learn

Americana By Robert C. Ruark

NEW YORK, Sept. 13—1I like Billy. I also like Eleanor. For that reason I avoided the thorns of the Roses when they were wmeither smelling so very sweet, by any other name, on the front pages of the papers. They have settled their marital mess, now, all but the money, and I would like to read 'em a little lecture. . They both made considerable mistakes, of course, and it looked to be the nastiest divorce on record until Billy saw he was outnumbered and quit in court the other day. I can

tell him where he made his most serious mistake as a showman.

The big mistake he made - was called several months ago by a wise woman I know. This was when Billy challeng>d the validity of his marriage to Eleanor, dozen years of marriage. “This,” the wise woman said, “is where Billy loses my business, and where he will lose the sympathy of the country and the courts. No matter what Eleanor has done, if any.” o> ow ow IT TURNS OUT that a man who has made a big thing of wedded bliss for a lot of years cannot suddenly switch and say he was never married to’ the dame at all, but was living in sin all the time. Billy had a chapter in his book which he called “Holm, Sweet Holm,” and Eleanor’s maiden name: is Holm. The book was published just a few years back, I disremember how many, but no more than four. Billy bought a big property out around Mt. Kisco and named it Roseholm. I have been a guest there within the past two years. There are matchbooks around with “Roseholm” on the covers, Billy wrote a column for a while. The column was forever full of references to the sweetness of Little Nell, ‘his lawful-wedded wife. He made a big public pitch about Eleanor, for a long, long time, even during the time when he later said he was not living with his gal on hushand-wife terms. oe BILLY HEAVED a lot of reeking charges Eleanor's way, and Nellie chucked some smokers right back at him. You can call it all bad taste, even if true, but none of the taste was so bad. as Will's attempt to assassinate his long-term marriage by trying to prove that it had never been legal. That was pretfy dreadful, chum, . x That “was knocking down the dignity of a relationship Rose had sanctified and exploited publicly. That was killing off the good years as a pettish slap-back at the bad. That was destroy «ing all the good without resolving the bad. That ‘made a sham and a lie out of the whole thing,

after a

Putting on Pounds Along With Voies

HALF AND HALF: Results of a survey corn ducted at the Indiana Theater revegl movie-goers are split on the subject of double features and one feature and short subjects. Doesn't seem possible to’ someone who voted big against two for the price of one. ‘A1 Hendricks, manager, checked the 1000-plus votes and to his surprise there isn't a majority for either type of program. Many who voted commented that they appreciated the variation and hoped it would be repeated from time to time. The survey was taken last week during the showing of “Big Jim McClain” and a “Shorts Carnival.” Should have stuffed the ballot box for the single-feature program. > > & SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Memory lingers on . +. A cab driver yelled to Optometrist Milton Jaffe . .. “What do you know, Doc?” 1. . “This is the hand that shook the hand of Eisenhower,” answered Milt, waving his right hand . . . looked clean, too . . . Realtor H. O. Wright is planning to leave this Florida weather we're having and fly to Florida . . . May be 3000 feet up in his Navion right now. Col. Roscoe Turner (as long as we're in the air) dipped his famous mustache as he turned a downtown corner . .. any faster and the Colonel would have smashed the sonic barrier . . . A tavern on E. Washington St. is featuring “Brains, 15¢” . .. Double order, please . . . Dave Friedman, Paramount publicity ... beg your pardon... Paramount public relations representative, returned to town from Chicago with an unsmiling face . . . fays the Sherman Hotel refused to go along with his “Please Do Not Disturb!” signs which plug (in red letters) the new release ‘“Somebody Loves Me!” starring Betty Hutton... “Only hotel to turn me down,” moaned Dave ., . Dat's too bad. Heard it with our own big ears . . . Charles Hedley, voice teacher and big gun with the “Starlight Musicals” which died last year, met Carroll Reynolds, a little pistol under the stars, in front of Strauss and told him how sprry he was he didn’t have a chance to chat while they worked together last summer ., , « What's 12 months hetween friends?

Cancer Takes Many. But Some Beat It

those symptoms and danger signals. The American Cancer Society will tell you. Something like three-fourths of those who get it can be saved. Those two stars are just a microscopic part of the great throng who have beaten it. I can’t tell you their names but personally, I love them both for having won their fight and proved to those who get cancer that all is not hopeless. ; > > THE MIDNIGHT EARL . . . Bing Crosby'll enter Philip and Dennis, the twins, in Washington State, to study animal hus- 4 bandry yet . . . Mickey Jelke was at Bird-in-Hand with 3 gals . . . Charlie Chaplin tripped and almost fell coming out of a meeting about “Limelight.” He said: “I'm still acting like a comedian” . . . Paula Maguire’s planoing at Bob Olin’s. . ; An article on “call boys'.— naming a song writer—will published by “Confidential” magazine. . . Six membérs of a name band were grabbed for dope . . . Marilyn Monroe’s favorite calendar picture ; is the stretched-out one, she tells me. Miss Maguire Milton Berle switches his TV show to the Center Theater (capacity 3000) due to ticket demands , . . Lois Andrews has again become a red (head) . . . Lisa Kirk's about with composer Harold Arlen . . . Rosemary Clooney's in town, recording, and maybe waiting for Jose Ferrer. La Vie En Rose reopened big and tuneful with Frenchman Jacques Peals, Amalia the Portugese Fado singer, American Damito Jo and Russianborn Dave Appellon. It’s a regular United Nations. Take your, Berlitz book, and enjoy. > THE DIZZY DIGEST , . . The railroad wanted to sell Taffy Tuttle a drawing room but she said she didn’t plan to do any drawing. ob bh TODAY'S WORST PUN ... “Great Scott,” the Miami disc jockey, has a program titled. “Torture in the Wigwam, or His Suffering Was Intense.”

EARL’S PEARLS . . . Irwin Corey doesn’t bother inventing a story when he comes home late. “If my wife's asleep I won't need it,” he says. “And if she's awake, I won't get a chance to tell it.” . . . The Republicans say we need a change. I know I need some ,., That's Earl, brother.

Here’s Where Billy Made His Mistake

and it beat you, Billy. Because not all of it could have been bad. I will never quarrel with the right of a man fo become disenchanted with a maid, or the >ther way around, but there is a thin film of chivalry still left in the land. You can holler and throw bricks and scream down the house when it goes sour or when one catches ’tother on the cheat or whatever. But you just plumb *an’t coldly discredit an established fact that you once applauded out loud. oo oo oo THERE WAS a countersuit going in the RoseHolm ruckus, with both participants naming names and hurling dornicks. It died suddenly «nn court the other day, with Billy backing down and accepting a separation, with the financial ferms to be worked out later. Through all the viciousness of charge and countercharge, I was still not as shocked as by the fact that Billy Rose had attempted legally to deny a marriage that nad been ostensibly happy for a dozen years. My female counsel is a pretty good shotcaller on these things. The day the papers came ut with the story that the little dynamo was trying to prove that he had never been married to the dame whose initials are on the bath towels, mama said quietly; “She’s got him. This licks him.” And she was right. It's just a shame it had to be so messy on the road to resolution.

Dishing the Dirt By Marguerite Smith

Q—Our front lawn has been seeded twice with shade-growing grass but with no results. The lawn is almost entirely in the shade due to a 35-year-old silver maple. Is it possible to grow a lawn under conditions such as this? James Nielsen, 80 N. Ewing. A—Yes, you can have grass under trees. And one thing is sure in shade—you won't have to fight crabgrass. But you do have to tend to fertilizing and watering grass under trees with much greater care. Trees are just too successful when their big roots compete with grass roots for whatever plant food and moisture is available, So you have to see that there is plenty of both to give the grass a share. A few pointers that may help—trim the tree so that lower branches or too thick top cannot cut off so much light, Reseed this fall. Be sure to keep reseeded spots moist until germination takes place and until grass plants really get established. To be really scien-

tific about fertilizing and liming get your lawn’

soil tested as the county agent's office. They will do it free, then tell you what is needed. Have you considéred using a ground cover such as myrtle around the tree? :

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The Indianapolis Times

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By EMMA RIVERS MILNER

THE obvious happiness of an Indianapolis coyple married 70 years makes

many younger ones look to their laurels. Great-great grandfather Martin Miler and great-great grandmother Ella Peffley Miller, will celebrate thir 70th wedding anniversary this afternoon. Mr. Miller is 94 and lovely, slender Mrs. Miller, 86. Theirs truly is the love story of our community. Drop in on them at 5642 Kingsley Dr. and see for yourself if you need to be convinced. » » » OF COURSE they are a bit frailer than they were some years ago. But they boff get about the house, find diversion in radio and television, welcome friends and talk endlessly with each other. Mrs. Miller is very articulate, told me how she helped clear the land for their farm as a young woman. She assisted in cutting down the trees, piling the brush, making the place ready for a crop. “I put my baby on a stump to sleep so no snake or anything could get at her while I worked,” she recalled. Mr. Miller eyed this reporter with a friendly twinkle in his eyes but.seemed content to let his wife give out information. Even eager questions for quite a while brought no comment from him.

"TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH'—Here stand the Martin Millers in 1952.

ONLY LITTLE DISAGREEMENTS—

Years

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“YOU ARE so pretty now, Mrs. Miller, I know you must have been a beautiful young girl,” I said. ” “You bet she was,” Mr. Miller's voice rang out clear and strong, at this, “if she hadn't been, I wouldn't have married her.” Then he turned to his wife: “You had a chance at a lot of boys but I beat them all.”

The Millers have three grandchildren, - nine great grandchildren and two greatgreat grandchildren. Until three years ago, the couple lived in Ladoga where they moved from the farm. Mrs. ‘Miller did the cooking and housework and Mr. Miller fired the furnace. Both were active members of the Ladoga Methodist Church. When he gave up farming,

Mr. Miller worked for 16 years

as engineer in the Ladoga canning factory. = = »

IN 1949, they decided they must have lighter responsibility and so, gave up their Ladoga home and moved to Indianapolis. They brought with them a few family treasures and settled down to enjoy city life with their son and daughter-in-law, Mr, and Mrs. Earle Miller on Kingsley Dr. The sale of their household belongings was one of the few sad episodes of the 70 years for the senior Millers. Another was the loss of thelr daughter, Mrs, Daisy Goff who taught a Sunday school class in the Ladoga church for many. years. In view of the rising divorce

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rate today, Mrs. Miller's suggestions for a happy marriage seem very worthwhile. “We don’t always agree,” was her honest comment, “but we've had very few tiffs. In a happy marriage, there must be give and take. You must be willing to do your part in all ways. You must work and save instead of running out to shows and gambling dens. My husband doesn't smoke, chew, swear or gamble—never did.” » » =

SHE SPOKE of- what the church always has meant to them both and how they regret that they cannot get out every Sunday for worship. “Several ministers have been to see us, given us Communion and prayed with us,” she added brightly, © : : Members of the Ladoga Methodist Church, who often call on the Millers, and bring along fresh eggs and vegetables from the country, will attend the “open house” today from 3 to 5 p. m. Mrs, Fannie Tharp, 647 Congress St, the only living person who was a guest at the Millers’ wedding, also is coming. as are various Indianapolis friends and relatives. » ” Ld

NO DOUBT all of them will

be feeling how well these great- *

great grandparents are living up to the age-old vows they took. long ago: “...to have and to hold... for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part ,. .”

HOLLYWOOD CAN KEEP ITS GLAMOUR—

And

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1952

Still

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PAGE 17

Happy

'TO HAVE AND TO HOLD'—Martin Miller posed with. his: bride in 1882. ;

FAMILY OF FOUR — The Millers are proud of their children— Daisy and Earle.

They'll Raise Their Kids As Hoosiers

By HENRY BUTLER JOE LEDLIE is a rare bird among press agents. He's a young fellow who

came from a successful career in Hollywood to seek his future in Indianapolis. Now a partner in Bob Long Associates, local publicity outfit, Mr. Ledlie says, “Everybody thinks I'm nuts.” At 32, he looks over a 12vear- Hollywood sojourn that started with cub reporting for the Hollywood Citizen and ended with press-agenting for Sam Goldwyn's forthcoming “Hans Christian Andersen.” “The sky might have been the limit,” Joe says, “but the higher you elimb, the farther you can fall in a place like Hollywood.” ” ” ~ PRESS AGENT though he is, Joe doesn’t crave personal publicity. He doesn't stress the fact that he is a Hoosier, born in Hammond and raised in Muncie, He frankly admits it wasn't any nostalgia that brought him back. “lI forget lots of things. Where I am is important, not where I was. But out there I got feeling I had to find a better place for the kids to grow up in. I couldn’t think of any place more normal than Indianapolis.” Mildred, his wife, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Royal W. Nugent, who have a dairy farm in Fritchton, outside of Vincennes, says she really was homesick. “I missed the trees. Out there you get tired of palms all the time,” she says. ” ~ ~ THE LEDLIES met when they both were attending Ball State Teachers College in Muncie. “It was at ‘the freshman dance in 1938. Big college romance,” Joe recalled. Marriage came two years later. After graduation, Joe, with a great yen to become a newspaperman, got a job driving a new car from. Indianapolis to Los . Angeles. Out there, he talked himself on to the Hollywood Citizen staff, progressing to the L. A. Daily Times and, after three Navy years, to the L. A. Daily Mirror.

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Times photo by Dean Timmerman,

RETREAT FROM HOLLYWOOD—Mr. and Mrs, Joe Ledlie with son, Joe Jr., and daughter, Pamela.

He became a police reporter, with gangsters as his specialty and Micky Cohen, now doing time, as his particular source of underworld information. An easy, natural, friendly

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manner and what seems rare courage for a guy of medium build, helped him get hot material in some big, scandalous stories. R And an active conscience and

faith in her innocence made him work tirelessly to get screen-player Madge Meredith released from prison. He was convinced she had been rail-

roaded on trumped-up kidnap-

ping and felonious assault charges. " » »

THE MEREDITH case brought him to Hedda Hopper's attention. Working for her helped land the Goldwyn publicity job, where he continued building a long rosfer of bigshot friends in the movie industry. A day might include lunch with Eleanor Parker and dinner with Clark Gable. Nobody screamed about an expense account that might hit $300 a week. These were powerful inducements to stay. But where Joe and Mildred lived in North Hollywood, actually the San Fernando Valley, was a long drive through heavy traffic from Joe's office. Hollywood hectic life began to irk them both, “It's vicious, it's all political and cut-throat,” Joe commented feelingly. Besides, the children needed a better chance-—better schools, fewer traffic hazards, less ultimate ‘exposure to big-city evils, such as widespread mari-huana-peddling. “Out there you can buy all you want with little or no trouble,” Joe asserted.

“I JUST suddenly realized I'd had a bellyful, of Hollywood," he added. A minor beef, but still important was Joe's hunger for Hoosier-style basketball. “Until a year or so ago, the way they played it out there would make you sick.” A former cager and track man himself, he used to phone his mother in Muncie every year at Finals time to learn who won. * Now that they're here in their newly-bought home at 5720 Rosslyn Ave. they'ra purring with comfort, “I've never felt so relaxed,” says Joe. ‘People here are friendlier, kinder, more considerate,” says Mildred. n » »

JOE JR., 51%, and Pamela, 215 (she's a precocious flirt, another reason for the parents’ anxiety about a Hollywood future, Joe said) are adjusting very well, Summing up a lot of keen and vivid talk, part of it off the record, Joe concluded, “I'm sure glad to be away from that crazy place. They're all a bunch of frightened people walking on eggshells”

ie LAREN CERES IY