Ladies of Fashion

Eleanor Roosevelt, having gained a few pounds over the holidays and noting that her Term IV inaugural dresses were a larger size (36-38) than her 1932 costumes (34-36), went on a not-too-strict diet: no more mayonnaise, butter, potatoes, hollandaise sauce, meringue glacee.

Mrs. Stanley Mortimer Jr., dark, beauteous, 27-year-old daughter of the late, great brain surgeon, Dr. Harvey Gushing, was the No. 1 blossom on the New York Dress Institute's* list of the world's ten best-dressed women. For the first time in years Mrs. Harrison Williams failed to make the list; the Duchess of Windsor was No. 10 by "the skin of her teeth."

Katherine Dunham, rhythmic Negro choreographer (Tropical Revue), stepped high into Manhattan's swank East Seventies, bought a $200,000, 30-room mansion which she will turn into a dancing school. Neighbors in the same block: the Frick museum and a Vanderbilt town house.

Faye Emerson, the new Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt, whose cinemactress roles have been small (in The Very Thought of You, Mask of Dimitrios) was given a starring part in a new Warner Bros. film, Danger Signal.

Undaunted Travelers

Bob Hope, far-darting favorite of U.S. servicemen, dropped in on Philadelphia's Poor Richard Club to receive its 1945 Gold Medal of Achievement for his "notable deeds at the war fronts and in the training camps." Gagged Hope: "As a matter of fact ... I thought Poor Richard was a guy who bet on Dewey."

Maury Maverick, head of WPB's Smaller War Plants Corp., returned from a tour of the Western Front with a string of adjectives for National Association of Manufacturers' Board Chairman Frederick C. Crawford's rosy picture of conditions in France (TIME, Jan. 15): "Infamous, superficial, cruel, obnoxious. . . ."

Leopold Stokowski, who does things in the grandiose manner, signed a three-year contract to direct the Hollywood Bowl's musical activities and conduct its summer concerts. Said starry-eyed Stokowski: "The poetic setting of the Bowl under the stars . . . the poetry of the night and the stars go together. I love to conduct . . . where so many people can enjoy music in the open air beneath the stars."

Lieut. General Sir William George Shedden ("Old Dob Dob") Dobbie, 66, pious, pink-cheeked, former Governor and Commander of the bomb-torn Island of Malta (until he retired in 1942), arrived in the U.S. to begin a series of lectures sponsored by the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. Crusading Puritan Dobbie hopes to cement U.S.-British relations.

Palpitant Youth

Shirley Temple, sweet 16, was soundly and lengthily kissed (in scenes for Kiss and Tell), appeared cool & collected throughout 99 solid bussings by 22 actors. Asked if she had done any private practicing, Shirley said, "Of course not. Oh, perhaps a kiss or two at a New Year's party or something like that." Said her mother, who had been watching Shirley at work: "My goodness, I wouldn't know. This is a new experience for me too."

Rebecca Welles, six-week-old daughter of Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles (see PRESS), showed signs of having inherited her parents' camera appeal, did some photogenic cooing at her mother (see cut).

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, 36-year-old Assistant Secretary of State, was named 1944's "outstanding young man"* by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Men of Action

General Dwight D. ("Ike") Eisenhower, responding to an appeal for blood donations, stood in line with other volunteers, gave his pint. As he was leaving, a soldier recognized him, cracked: "Hey, that would be the blood to get." Said Ike: "If you do, I hope you don't inherit my bad disposition."

Beniamino Gigli, moonfaced, huffy-puffy Italian tenor, whose onetime Nazi friends have given him some uneasy moments since Rome's liberation (TIME, June 19), forked over 50,000 lire ($500) on a threat of kidnapping. He gave the money to one Giuseppe Albano, "Rome's public enemy No. 1," who then sent three men out to kidnap him anyway. The police, tipped off, captured the three henchmen and killed Albano.

Frank Joseph Hague Jr., lanky, 40-year-old son of Jersey City's arrogant boss, quit his $9,000 judgeship in New Jersey's highest court (Errors and Appeals), landed a new job. Appointed judge in 1939 by Hagueman Governor A. Harry Moore (who remarked at the time, "I know this will make his dad happy"), young Frank had no chance at reappointment by G.O.P. Governor Walter Edge, snapped at an offer to do legal work in New Dealer Leo Crowley's Foreign Economic Administration. New salary bracket: $3,600 to $4,200 yearly.

* The list picked by Fashion Art Design Inc. (TIME, Jan 1) covered only professional women.

* The Junior Chamber of Commerce defined a "young man" as one between 21 and 35, elastically extended the limit to include Rockefeller, who turned 36 last July.

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