Friday. June 18. 1999 — North Shore News — 17

photo Universal-International

THE TOAST of Hollywood, Jean Simmons (seated) is newly arrived from England while Robert Aiken, fifth from right, joins Rock Hudson and others in celebration.
G {t

Stars not always what they seem to be on the silver screen

Robert Aiken
Contributing Writer

SUMMER, 1959. I
was 21, and had,
indeed, since boyhood,
preferred reel life to
real life, which is why I
found myself in
Pasadena, Calif., with
the intent of studying
acting at the famed
Pasadena Playhouse,
rather than the Actor’s
Studio in New York.
That could come Jater.
Ay father, before my
westward trek, had provided
concise but sage advice:
“Keep your nose clean, son.”

[ had been enormously
impressed, a few years before,
by George Steven’s “Giant,”
and had prayed chat J would,
someday, be a part of a big
picture like that. Rock
Hudson starred. He was the
box office champion of the
time.

I had read about
Hudson’s agent, Henry
Willson, a brilliant talent-
scout who had discovered
Roy Fitzgerald when he was a
“nobody,” and changed his
name to “Rock Hudson.” He
had also discovered and sold
to. studios, the Ekes of
“Lana” Turner, “Guy”
Madison, “Rory” Calhoun, a

lovely woman with hair like
roaring flame whom he
dubbed, “Rhonda Fleming,”
“Tab” Hunter, Robert
Wagner, John Saxon, “Troy”
Donahue and many other
beautiful people — not all of
whom opted for the name
change.

Since I had qualities not
dissimilar to Robert Wagner,
who had been under an envi-
able contract to 20th
Century Fox for years, and
John Saxon, for wham Henry
had secured a lucrative con-
tract at Universal
International, I detided to
hitchhike to Hollywood and
“get discovered™ by Henry.

Besides, ] had read under
Leo in an astrology column
thar fareful day...*Nothing
ventured...nothing gained.”

I “crashed the gate” at
Columbia Studios near
downtown Hollywood, and
asked where I might locate
“The famous agent, Henry
Willson.” They snickered and
pointed toward Beveriy Hills.

Later, as I waited, in the
lobby, to be told whether or
not Mr. Willson would see
me without an appaiatment,
Twas “cheeked out” by a
young bleached-blonde male
assistant, Pat, who kind of
“swished” by me and back
into the office. Then, the

enthusiastic call to “Come on
in.” At this point, 1 got ner-
vous. I had known that in the
theatre and motion picture
business there was a lot of
homosexuality and, somehow,
that had not bothered me. I
wasn’t homophobic.

I had been warned, haw-
ever, of those who would
exploit newcomers. [ could
handle that.

So, I put on my best
“RJ.” Wagner ear-to-car
smile, and sauntered in with
confidence and charm, and
the first thing this hyper-
energetic, perspicacious,
brown-cyed man behind the
desk barked was: “You're a

Leo aren't you?” F replied,
“And so are you!” We were
both right. A win-win at the
outset. Leos like that.‘ could
tell he liked me. So did Pat. I
felt, “Ub oh!”

Henry was nothing if not
forthright. “You live in
Pasadena? Move here, now,
to be available for inter-
views.”

“But I was thinking of
studying.”

“Don’t study. You're
fresh, wholesome. You have a
great natural quality. You
might ruin it.”

“T haven't any money. MH
need a place.”

Pat immediately chimed
in: “E need a roommate.”

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