"Love Made Me A Woman"

This article appeared in the August 1960 issue of TV and Picture Life Magazine

Ever since the world began, there have been stories of star-crossed lovers in both fact and fiction: from Romeo and Juliet to Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend, people have always been interested in the trials and tribulations of people in love who are separated by fate or fortune.
In a way, this seems to be the story of two of the dreamiest young stars in Hollywood today: Sandra Dee and Ricky Nelson! Not that they have ever dated-but they have met-they would like to meet again-but a crazy kind of fate just seems to keep these two sweet kids apart!
Knowing both Ricky and Sandra, I felt that the two of them would make a perfect match. Ricky is tall, dark and excitingly handsome in a quiet way. Sandra is a petite blonde, who is bubbling, vivacious and irresistably adorable.
Since Ricky is on the shy side and Sandra is, for all of her bounce and impetuosity, not a man-chaser, it looked to me as if someone had to be a matchmaker.
So the first time I met Sandra two years ago and she was sighing a little that she hadn't fallen in love yet-I said, "What about Ricky Nelson?"
Sandra's big, baby brown eyes widened with interest. "Oh, I'd like to meet Ricky," she said. "I have all of his records and I watch him on TV ...." she was all for the idea.
"That's all I wanted to know," I said. And I got Sandra's private home telephone number with her permission to give it to Ricky-just in case it worked out.
Of course I was not to do anything as direct as calling Ricky and putting him on the spot, warned Sandra. If I chanced to see him-I might mention her and see what his reaction would be.
But Ricky went away on tour, and before I had a chance to catch up with him, he left for more locations and so time swept by. Sandra would look at me wonderingly from time to time when I saw her, and I would smile reassuringly.
And then, one day she announced, "I'm going to see Ricky tomorrow night!"
What had happened? A new matchmaker?
"No one," Sandra said. "We're appearing on a television panel show together. I haven't met him yet-but I'm really excited." And Sandra's eyes were dancing.
Now it doesn't matter that Sandra dates the town's most eligible dream boats. Edd, Troy, Sal--you name them--they all beat a path to Sandra's door. But with most of them Sandra says it isn't romance, just fun.
"Some of them treat me more like a baby sister," Sandra sighed.
And Ricky was a challenge-in fact he's a challenge to any girl!
After that a few weeks went by in busy busy Hollywood before I caught up with Sandra and asked, "Are you secretly dating Ricky?"
Sandra's smile crumpled in her tea rose face and she said, "He's fabulous, but he had hardly a word to say to me. I think he liked me-but I don't really think it ever occurred to him to ask for a date."
Oh, well, I thought. But movie studios have a way of getting people who don't know each other together for publicity. And suddenly it was arranged that Sandra and Ricky were to do a picture layout together. This time I was sure it couldn't miss!
One of Sandra's most lovable qualifies is that she is so honest. She doesn't pretend.
"I don't think Ricky is aware of me as a girl-only as an actress," she said.
I decided I had better see Ricky in person and finally get this romance on the road. I came directly to the point, too. "What about Sandra Dee?"
"What about her?" Ricky replied evenly.
"Well, what do you think of her?" "She's real pretty," he observed readily. "I haven't actually given her much thought. I met her the first time on the 'Peter Potter Show' when we were both on the panel. I didn't talk to her much. But she's really pretty," he said. "And an excellent actress."
And for Ricky who has so little to say about girls-that was a lot!
"Sandra likes you," I replied, feeling like a matchmaker.
"She does?" Ricky was plainly surprised. Very surprised.
"Yes, we often talk about you," I said. "Sandra thinks you are wonderful, Ricky."
"She's very nice," he repeated in a real pleased way.
"Sandra told me how excited she was when she was going to meet you on the TV show," I persisted. "But she hardly got to know you. She tried a little-but you didn't seem to have anything to say to her. The other day she said you had had a studio publicity date, and that you taught her how to dance to rock and roll music."
"That's right," Ricky said a little cautiously. "It was a studio set-up. An entourage from her studio, with her mother and a lot of girls for make-up, and hair, and everything, came with her. I didn't get a chance to get to talk to her. "Actually," Ricky said, "I felt a little sorry for her, she was so surrounded. I wondered if she ever had any time of her own."
"Why didn't you ask her for a date?"
Ricky doesn't warm up suddenly to any suggestion, and he was thoughtful for a moment before replying. Then he smiled that nice warm smile, and said, "I would like to know her, that is if it can be done without publicity. Like if I could call her up and ask her for a date, maybe to a movie and for a hamburger."
He was silent for a moment. "But she usually goes to night clubs according to the columns. And I don't like night clubs." Then, hesitantly, "If you thought she'd just like to go to a movie or go over to David's and listen to records and talk--well....."
"I'll get her telephone number for you," I said.
"That'd be great," Ricky replied, his eyes lighting with interest. "I'd really like to know Sandra. Funny, I never thought about it before."
So I called Sandra.
"Oh, I was just listening to Ricky's record," she said. "Do you think Ricky'd be like his singing? Listen."
And over the wire came Ricky's voice singing the words, "It's one minute to one, and I didn't get to kiss you--but I reckon I'll kiss you twice tomorrow night!"
"Ohhhhhh," Sandra sighed. "He sounds wonderful, just wonderful."
And, believe it or not, at that exact second "long distance" broke in with an emergeney call from New York City! When I tried to call Sandra back her line was busy-busy-busy. The operator reported finally that her telephone had been left off the receiver. A fine state of affairs!
And the next day when I called Sandra all over again to tell her the big wonderful news her number had been changed! And no one, absolutely no one, will give you a star's private number.
The following day I had to fly to Paris-and in the rush I was forced to leave the romance of Ricky and Sandra on its own.
Now you can see what I mean when I say that fate has somehow kept two people apart who should probably be together. These are the facts, and maybe now that they know them, Sandra and Ricky will finally get together.
And, who knows? Maybe if Ricky does call Sandra the song that I heard over the telephone will come true for both of them!


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