TONY CURTIS

The studio had many contractees when Tony Curtis was signed. Rock Hudson, Clint Eastwood, Jack Kelly, Piper Laurie, Peggy Dow, Alex Nicol, Hugh O’Brian, Peggie Castle, Audie Murphy, Jessie White, Jeff Chandler and Scott Brady were just a few of them.

But none was more eager, friendly, ambitious, and likable than Curtis. He made a point of visiting the publicity department every week, dropping in to chat with the secretaries of writers and producers and if permitted casting directors. How else could he find out what pictures were being planned and if any had a role for him?

He was also the most gullible.

One day Ted Richmond, a producer, called in Curtis and informed him he had been secretly preparing a film based on the life of Adrian, the noted designer married to Janet Gaynor. The script was almost finished and the production department had been at work on the shooting schedule which showed the scene to be done each day. Curtis was shown the board which was headlined "The Adrian Story starring Tony Curtis." He was flabbergasted. He hadn’t even tested for the role; matter of fact, he had yet to appear before the cameras for even one scene. Now his first role was to be a starring one.

Before the day ended, almost everyone on the lot knew of his good fortune as Curtis moved from department to department, office to office. Then he started pestering the publicity department. When was the announcement going to be made? Was Louella Parsons or Hedda Hopper to be given it as an exclusive? How about new publicity stills. He asked Richmond if he could meet Adrian to learn his mannerisms. When was the wardrobe department going to bring him in for fittings?

A few days later, Curtis found out Adrian was either bisexual or a homosexual. In those days such sexual preferences were frowned upon and never portrayed on the screen. He mentioned to a few people he was fearful he might be typed cast, other producers might not want to use him in manly roles. How could he build a fan following doing a role like that? Curtis disappeared from view for a while, embarrassed, unhappy, and disappointed. When he finally showed up he was told to see Richmond. He was given the bad news. The picture was being canceled. It was too expensive. Richmond was apologetic. Curtis was delighted. Al Horowits, the publicity director and I were happy. The prank we had dreamed up had run its course with great success.