The Southeast Missourian

From The Southeast Missourian, September 1, 1937:

Star Chasing.

Leslie Howard is a hard fellow to keep track of. Absentminded, maybe. He wanders off the set between takes, and half an hour later frantic searchers find him on another stage or maybe just strolling alone on the back lot.

'Tay Garnett, directing Stand-in, has had quite a time restraining the restless Mr. Howard. The other day, after a take, several burly fellows took him in custody before he had a chance to get away.

With the gentleness due a star, they tied him up and clapped leg irons on him. Garnett finally placed him on probation. He gave him a cowbell. Howard was ordered to bong the cowbell whenever he went on a stroll.

It wasn't any time at all before a scene was ready for shooting -- but no Howard. Pretty soon they heard the cowbell, though, in a distant corner of the sound stage and high up in the catwalks. Garnett and his searchers converged on the sound. They found only a bell -- a bell and a string.

They traced the string over rafters right back to the lighted set where Stand-in was supposed to be shooting.

There sat Mr. Howard, yanking at the string and being plaintively indignant about the absence of director Garnett.

The Southeast Missourian, September 1, 1937

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