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Show 'Way Back When o By JEANNE BETTE DAVIS WAS AN USHERETTE LIFE has a strange way, sometimes, some-times, of repeating a circumstance circum-stance from our previous struggles, as if to remind us that what may have once seemed a difficult trial was actually preparation for a later triumph. I am thinking, particularly, particular-ly, of Bette Davis and the marvelous marvel-ous performance she gave as the waitress, Mildred, In "Of Human Bondage." Bette Davis was born in Lowell, Mass., in 1908. Her mother had only a small alimony with which to support Bette and her sister, so she became a professional photographer. photogra-pher. After attending the Mary Ar-den Ar-den school of Peterboro, N. H., Bette went to Cushing academy of Boston. There, she waited on tables ta-bles to earn her tuition. To the sixteen-year-old little girl, whose dramatic dra-matic ambitions made her supersensitive super-sensitive to her role in life, her occupation oc-cupation as waitress was humiliat- ing in contrast to the advantages enjoyed by her fellow students. Miserable Mis-erable though her school days were, that occupation was to be the role of one of her greatest triumphs. Would Bette Div's have played such a convincing "Mildred" if circumstances circum-stances had never forced her to be a waitress at school? Recognition came to Bette Davis soon after school. She had always wanted to be an actress and her mother encouraged her, although her father thought she should take a business course in New York and prepare to be a stenog-apher. She attended a dramatic school in New York instead, and then obtained a job as an usherette in the Cape Playhouse of Cape Cod, Mass. Finally Fi-nally she was given a small part, and rose rapidly in the theater, going go-ing on to Hollywood where she rose to stellar heights in "Of Human Bondage." For her performance in "Dangerous" she rece.ved the Motion Mo-tion Picture award in 1935. RADIO STAR RAN A CONCESSION FORTUNE'S favorites do not al-" al-" ways bear marks to distinguish them from her failures. Bob Burns, who with his "bazooka" has become be-come nationally known for his radio broadcasts and motion picture work, for many years locked like a failure. He was born in Van Buren, Ark., in 1896, and was always fond of music. His first "bazooka" was a horn made from a piece of pipe welded to a funnel, because he had nothing else to play. After two years in college, he joined some friends in Oklahoma raising peanuts. pea-nuts. Bob gave that up to go back to Van Buren where he joined a minstrel troupe at three dollars a JrJi -A week. lie tried to get a theatrical Job In New Orleans, next ho tried New York, with no luck, and went to Little Rock, Ark. There, ho failed at trying to sell advertising on commission. com-mission. During the World war, Bob Burns was In the marines, was a crack rille shot, nnd entertained tho soldiers sol-diers with his "bazooka." After the war, he started a concession on the boardwalk nt Atlantic City, running a game of chance. Ho married a girl who worked In another concession conces-sion nnd, together, they started a dance hall; but It failed. Failure after failure. And In the midst of his troubles, his son was born. Hut then Hob Hums got a job In vaudeville, nnd In a few short years he was nt the top of the entertainment entertain-ment world, with contracts for stage, motion pictures, nnd radio. His "bazooka" In which he had such f.iilh, but which seemed such hepi-less comedy to many people. Is wilh him today nnd known nil over tho country. CO WNU S,iv |