Bert & Morty

Did you know it is an old leap year tradition that on February 29, a woman is “allowed” to propose marriage to a man? 1964 was a leap year and in honour of that tradition, actress Angie Dickinson listed the ten most eligible bachelors in Hollywood. Her advice on how to go about catching one: “First you must have the desire to catch him. Next you must communicate with him; let him know that he belongs. Then, present the most eligible girls list of one – you.” Here are Angie’s picks…

	Warren Beatty Very talented, plays piano, sings. Impossibly unpredictable, moody… devilish… sensuous in his entire being.
	Richard Chamberlain A female Doris Day, cleancut, sexy and handsome… I don’t know him well, but I imagine he could be great fun. Seems very polite, but not too polite I hope.
	Alain Delon The most gorgeous man I know; I describe his to people who don’t know him as a cross between James Dean, Peter O’Toole and Elizabeth Taylor. Great vitality, mature and grownup.
	Vincent Edwards Tremendously exciting and sensuous… sings great. A girl would never know what to expect from him.
	Albert Finney He looks as if he has boundless energy. A tease, but very entertaining on a date. At ease in meeting strangers and can put strangers at ease.
	Cary Grant What can I say? Everybody knows why he is on the list. In spite of his romantic flavor, he’s very down-to-earth. His charm is not inbred or calculated; it is real.
	Rock Hudson Devilish; he can drive you crazy at a dinner table. Handsome, to say the least… warm eyes, and the eyes of a man can tell a great deal, if not all.
	Elvis Presley I don’t know him, but with those dreamy eyes, he’s got to be on the list… I also like his sense of humor, as evidenced in interviews. Seems like a terrific guy.
	Frank Sinatra Extremely warm, and loyal to his friends and his causes. Generous of his personality and time, and with gifts. Interesting and unpredictable. Mad!
	Efrem Zimbalist Jr. As charming as they come. Gentlemanly, well-mannered, really class… He has depth, yet he is lighthearted without any forced gaiety.

Source: Actress Lists Hollywood’s 10 Top Bachelors, Meriden Journal, Jan 27 1964, Page 2

Spotted: Gorgeously gowned Marlene Dietrich and Frank Sinatra split a pizza at the Villa Capri in L.A. (September 1955)

Source: Gals, Guys and Gossip, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Sep 12 1955, Page 3
Photo: Fashion’s Most Wanted

Dean Martin was given a surprise party for his 44th birthday at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Unfortunately it didn’t end up being a surprise though because he showed up early! The highlights of the party were actor Peter Lawford playing waiter, Eddie Fisher singing a special song, “I Love Dino But Not Like My Liz,” and an enormous birthday cake shaped like a bottle of scotch. The guest list included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Joey Bishop, Vic Damone, Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Source: Dean Martin’s Party a Dilly, The Miami News, Jun 17 1961, Page 8
Photo: Dino’s Den

Love took a lacing in movie star circles this year (1950), with divorces outnumbering weddings almost 3 to 1.

Betty Hutton bounced into court, divorced Ted Briskin, dated a gang of local swains, and then decided she’d rather be Mrs. Briskin again. They struggled along… until she announced she’d been right the first time and got ready to file for another divorce.

Biggest surprise of the year was Barbara Stanwyck’s announcement that she was divorcing Robert Taylor after 11 years of what everybody thought was perfect bliss. Their pals said the marriage fizzled because Barbara got fed up with being a telephone wife.

Nancy Sinatra made headlines when she won a legal seperation from Frankie-boy, plus one-third of his $1,000,000 earnings. She said Frankie wouldn’t come home nights and was rude. She didn’t mention Ave Gardner, whose romance with the bow-tied crooner had been making round-the-world gossip for months. The day Nancy won her freedom, Frankie held hands with Ava in a New York night club.

Bette Davis dumped husband No. 3, William Grant Sherry, in Mexico. Actor Gary Merrill did the same thing to his wife. Then Bette and Gary said “I do” before a Mexican judge. A week later, Bette’s ex-mate ankled down the aisle with the nurse who used to take care of the Sherry’s 3-year-old daughter.

Martha Vickers announced she couldn’t get along any more with Mickey Rooney and hired a lawyer making it the third divorce in a row for Rooney. But he indicated divorce plans were being dropped so their baby’s Christmas wouldn’t be spoiled.

Evelyn Keyes divorced director John Huston.

Kirk Douglas’ wife (Diana Dill) set him free.

Jackie Coogan’s wife became his third “ex”.

Wanda Hendrix, the tiny actress who married the nation’s most decorated soldier sobbed real tears on the stand when she said she and Audie Murphey couldn’t make a go of it.

Ann Dvorak and dancer Igor Dega

The Louis Haywards

The Robert Montgomerys

Janet Blair and Lou Busch

Groucho Marx and Kay Gorcey

Joan Blondell and Mike Todd

Myrna Loy and producer Gene Elliott Roosevelt

As the end of the year rolled around, the “battling Hiltons” were headed for the divorce courts. Luscious “Liz” Taylor and Nicky Hilton Jr., after seven months of wedded misery, promised each other freedom for Christmas presents.

Other couples who split up… Jack Carson’s wife waited four years, decided he wasn’t coming back home after all, and told it to a judge… Benay Venuta and Armand Deutsch… Arline Judge – out of pictures but not out of husband material – divorced her sixth and was rumored to have her eye on No. 7.

Source: 1950 a Bad Year for Love Divorces Exceed Weddings, Spokane Daily Chronicle, Dec 19 1950, Page 82

In 1958 newspapers complied a list of the 12 most powerful actors in Hollywood. These men were not under constrictive studio contracts. They demanded the best best roles and highest salaries, and they got them! They were named, the “Golden Dozen”.

From L-R: Marlon Brando, Gary Cooper, Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, William Holden, Burt Lancaster, Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, James Stewart, John Wayne

Source: 12 Kings Rule Hollywood, The Miami News, Oct 6, 1958, Page 89