1943 Fifty Years Ago

Following Fala

M-G-M gave President Roosevelt’s black Scottie, Fala, his own movie short, which followed the First Family’s dog through a typical White House day, from the arrival of his biscuit on the President’s breakfast tray through his visits with other White House staff. Although a look-alike Scottie had already costarred with William Powell and Myrna Loy in their popular Thin Man films, and Fala had been known sometimes to steal the show at FDR’s news conferences, this was his first movie role.

Monty’s Fashion Risk

Life magazine in its April 5 issue reported the latest fashion inspired by the war: American women were coveting the heroic beret of the British commander General Montgomery. “This war has already produced the ‘Johnny-Jeep,’” reported the magazine, “the ‘Pierre,’ modeled after the French sailor’s pompon beret, and, most notably, ‘Monty’s Beret.’” Life ’s cover story pictured the model Blanche Christian in a variety of beret poses—straight as a tank commander or with a civilian slouch.

∗ The top three songs according to Variety for April 14 were (1) “I’ve Heard That Song Before,” (2)”Old Black Magic,” and (3)“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”