Gubby Under Pressure

night I went to the pre-view of “A Star is Born”. The scenes outside and inside the cinema were unbelievable and I thought I should never be able to control my laughter. I went with Ray Johnson and Frederick March. Clark Gable (awful) Simone Simon (terrible) sat near us. Also Janet Gaynor who has staged another courageous comeback. The gossip and talk is terribly funny but I shall have to keep it. Got wonderful photos taken with Marlene and Eleanor Powell. Was terribly sorry to say goodbye to the team. They were so very kind to me and nice. Best love to Dad and Pat. Best love Obbie Letter Thirty-Two Palm Springs California April 28 1937 Darling Dad, I am still in Hollywood or rather in the vicinity and am enjoying myself so much that I shall hate to depart. I came up here early this morning with Raymond Massey and the Bruces to stay in Eddie Fielding’s perfectly lovely house. Palm Springs is a little village in the desert about 135 miles from Hollywood which is much frequented by the movie world because of the big amount of sun and the quiet. Eddie Fielding who is an English film director spent $28,000 on this house and it is the show place of these parts. I have been having great fun with the Bruces and have been to hundreds of parties. My best friends in the town besides the Bruces and Aubrey Smith are Raymond Massey, Virginia Bruce (John Gilbert’s wife), Ronald Colman, Bob Montgomery and Eleanor Powell. I have met nearly every one of the big noises such as Marlene Dietrich, Constance Bennett, Frederick March, Gary Cooper, who is charming, Dolores Del Rio, and I wish to say they have all been very nice. Ronnie Colman has a perfectly lovely house and is completely unspoilt. I have seen a lot of David Niven who, as I told Mum, is doing pretty well. He is coming over to England about the first week in June for 2 month’s holiday. I don’t think I shall now be leaving here until Monday May 3rd. It is much later than I intended to have but Maurice Bridgeman is not in New York and I won’t want quite so much time there. I have applied for a single berth in the Empress of Britain, arriving Southampton on May 22nd and as I expect I am sure to get it you can take it almost for granted that I shall sail in her. I have no idea what time she will dock but I expect pretty early in the morning as she is not calling at Cherbourg or Plymouth. The North and South match is on that day so I probably go straight up to Lord’s. By the way, Sims took home my heavy luggage which I hope you collected from the club for me. I forgot to write and tell you about it. It is a gloriously hot afternoon and I am now going to bathe and lie in the sun. My very best love to you and Mum Obbie Letter Thirty Three 701 North Alpine Drive Beverly Hills California May 4 1937 Darling Mum, I have at last left Hollywood after 2 glorious weeks and am now on my way across America in a very hot crowded train. However, I have only one night of it as I am going to drop off at the Grand Canyon tomorrow morning and spend the day sight-seeing. From there I pick up the aeroplane and fly to Washington where I hope to arrive on Friday morning. I intend to stay with the Mallets until the following Monday (May 10th) and then go on to New York for the rest of that week. I have definitely booked in the Empress of Britain which arrives at Southampton some time on May 22nd. I feel 100% better than I did when I landed in America and have almost got back to normal again. I simply loved staying with the Bruces, who are both charming, and we have had a lot of fun. I’ve fairly been going round the town and have met nearly all the swells especially the males. I have seen quite a lot of Ronald Colman, Robert Montgomery, Basil Rathbone, Raymond Massey, Benita Hume, The letters 98