"Sandra Dee's Party Line"




Sandra wrote a column for Movie Mirror magazine. This is the one that appeared in the March, 1960 issue.


Gosh, the mail has been coming in like wow! And the questions! You all make me feel as though I were a brain, which I'm not. So all I can do is answer the best way I know and hope it fits your situation.

Since I can't answer every question here, because of space problems, I've taken those which I think are typical.

And note carefully. Any answers which do not meet with your parents' approval, for goodness sakes, stick by your mom and dad. My suggestions are based on friendship. Their advice is based on love.

Anyhoo, here are some of the questions and the answers.

Question: Do you have much of a problem with your hair?

Answer: And how! It's a problem 365 days a year and twice on date days. I'm never satisfied with the way it looks. One of the real "hair-aches" I have, as an actress, is that during the day I may have to wear it one way for a movie scene, but want it back to natural by evening for a date.

And talk about complications! Recently a scene called for me to appear drenched from a heavy rain, with my hair soaked and plastered to my skin. Wouldn't you know I had a date that night? A non-lacquer spray saved the evening, but it was still two hour's work. And then I discovered they had decided not to use the scenes. Grrr!

When I'm working, my hair is fixed by professional hair-dressers. When I'm off I usually do it myself.

Question: Do you keep your dates waiting when you have a date, or are you prompt and ready to go when they arrive?

Answer: I'm prompt, but not exactly prompt. And I think I have a good reason. Most boys are just a little stiff when they first come into your home, even though they may have been there before. They're in strange surroundings and if your parents are present the boy may feel he is being examined. After he's in a while and has had a chance to exchange a few words with Mom, he's more comfortable, more at ease. He's got his thoughts collected. That's when I think he's ready and we can start the evening off pleasantly. And I never, never mention it, if he's late.

Question: If you weren't an actress, what would you rather be?

Answer: A wife to the man I loved and a good mother to our children. I think a girl is fortunate to have a career. And as long as it lasts I think she should enjoy it to the fullest, learn as much as she can from it, but never forget that her reason for living, and her natural goal in life is to fall in love, marry and have babies. I didn't mean that to be an evasive answer, I'm sure you meant if I weren't an actress would I rather be a concert pianist or a nurse or follow some other career.

But after a lot of thought I'm convinced that marriage, children and the welfare of a family is, in the end, the most rewarding and happiest career of all. I have every intention of someday having such a career.

Question: Does your mother ever tell you not to go out with a certain boy and do you abide by her wishes?

Answer: My mother does not tell me who I can and I cannot date. But if she did I would abide by her wishes.

I'll tell you why. One of the easiest mistakes for a teen-age girl to make is to be terribly, terribly aware of her mother as a mother. We so often forget that she is a woman, too. I've heard girls call their mothers "square," and add that they just don't "dig the scene." Let's be honest. Most of the time it's because Mom does dig the scene that she objects, if she does. She's been through the teenage years and although she perhaps did not experience exactly the things you are experiencing, you can be sure that basically they were the same. The fresh boy, the bashful boy, the objectionable boy, the hot-rodder type.

Most mothers know a great deal more than their daughters. And you can prove this to yourself! Don't you know more in 10th grade than you did in third? Darn right you do! Well, in the school life, your mom's in 10th grade and You are in third!

Once in a while your mother may be wrong about a certain boy. We all make mistakes. If mom okays five of your boyfriends and objects to one, that's a pretty good average for your mother and you. A parent is entitled to make a mistake now and then.

Question: Have you ever had any fights with your co-star?

Answer: Never. Fighting is silly. My co-stars are either older or younger than I am. If they're older, they're wiser and I must respect their seniority. If they're younger I'm wiser, (I hope) and if I'm that smart I don't quarrel.

Question: What do you think is the best way for a young girl to prepare to be an actress?

Answer: First of all determine in your own mind why you want to be an actress. Have a few sensible reasons in your mind and your heart. If you still want a career in dramatics you can begin preparing right now, this minute. Start by learning how to speak audibly and distinctly. Study and practice the graceful ways of walking, sitting, standing. Read the recommended books on drama. Librarians, schools or acting publications are wonderful helps on this. Read plays and imagine yourself in the parts that seem to fit you. Investigate school and little theater groups. Take a public speaking course and make up your mind to be the best in the class. THE BEST! Study fashions. Director Ross Hunter once gave me a rule on dress that not only applies to being an actress but to other things in life as well.

"Sandra" he said, "when you wear a dress it's supposed to make you look better, but you are supposed to make it look better, also. We are making this picture not to make you look better, but because we think you can make this a better picture."

I know all this is very easy to say. I also know all this is not easy to do. But a girl becomes an actress by making it happen. Just wishing will never make it so.

And just wishing for more room for the column won't make it so, either. So stay happy till next month. See you then.


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