Gene Gossip

by Hedda Hopper

It's June 1948 - Hedda Hopper is a well known gossip authority on radio and in the newspaper. Below are exerpts regarding Gene Marshall that Hedda might have written in her Los Angeles Times Column.

Hats Off to Hedda Hopper July 29th

I spoke with Gene Marshall early today - her latest production has everyone singing her praises . . . again! I asked her opinion of the play "Anna Christie" (I always found it a bit wordy even when the Great Garbo did it.) She agreed that O'Neil's latest play on Broadway does show great growth in his playwriting, but she found Anna to be a complex innocent girl who had to go "bad" in order to make it. Yet she still harbored tender feelings for the father who had sent her away. Gene tells me the rehearsals are already underway for the next one, the beautiful operetta "The Merry Widow". Gene loves dancing the lovely waltz . . . and the risque Can-Can!

Hats Off to Hedda Hopper July 10th

Thank you all for your kind attention to Susan who did such a wonderful job of filling in for me while I was away!
And where was I you ask?? On the East Coast to observe, exclaim, admire and visit the charming Miss Gene Marshall of course!
What a sensation she is causing! I take it all back (I did offer to eat one of my hats for Gene . . . she certainly did know what she was doing . . . but she graciously declined and said they were much too beautiful to eat) Gene is the toast of both coasts now, on screen and on stage.
Yes, I saw her as Hermia and she was delightful. I asked her if she had seen Olivia in the role (Olivia's first movie after being discovered while doing the same part at Mills, the small women's college in California). Not only had Gene seen the film, she had called Olivia and discussed it with her once she learned she would be Hermia too.
Sooo - someone DID know where Gene was! Can't wait to talk to Olivia about that . . . Hats Off to Hedda Hopper June 12th

I'm really wondering now - where is Gene Marshall?? Once again I couldn't find her - and this was at our annual charity polo game and everyone but everyone was there. I did run down her agent and he just mumbled "Miss Marshall's fine, just out of town for a while." "With a new film?" I asked (certain that there wasn't or I would have heard about it!). He just shook his head and backed away! I have to tell you that as sweet and talented as Gene Marshall is she has to learn that she MUST be here. I repeat:
"Two of the cruelest, most primitive punishments our town deals out to those who fall from favor are the empty mailbox and the silent telephone."
Take heed, Gene!

Hats Off to Hedda Hopper June 7th
It's June and the time of the year I give my best advice: "Get married. Don't wind up an old lady in a big house like I am."

Hats Off to Hedda Hopper June 5th

Hollywood is definitly the Party Place this summer - the Stars were certainly in fine form at the post-Premiere party last week! I still get such a thrill to see our men at home. . . I can tell that the wives and "want-to-be-wives" are pleased too.
One person I definitely missed at the Party was Gene Marshall . . . she's always a delight to see and adds such sparkle to the evening (I think you-know-who missed her too!)

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