Bebe Daniels

Speaker 10:00

Hello, I'm Kirsty Young, and you are listening to Desert Island Discs.

Speaker 10:05

The programme was originally broadcast in nineteen fifty six.

Presenter0:22

Desert Island Tests.

Speaker 10:25

This is a recording as it was being broadcast, rather than the studio recording.

Speaker 10:29

And for that reason you may hear some interference and some degradation in the sound quality.

Presenter0:50

Every Monday at this time, a well-known person is asked the question, if you were to be cast away alone on a desert island, which eight gramophone records would you choose to have with you? Assuming, of course, that you also had a gramophone.

Presenter1:03

As usual, the week's castaway is introduced by Roy Plumley.

Presenter1:08

How do you do, ladies and gentlemen?

Presenter1:09

Our castaway this week really needs no introduction, the coin a phrase, but nevertheless she's going to get one. She's the star of many films in the United States and in Britain, a star of variety in television and radio. It's BB Daniels.

Presenter1:21

Well Bebe, did you find this a difficult job choosing just eight records for your desert island?

Bebe Daniels1:25

Oh, it was very difficult, Roy.

Presenter1:27

Yeah.

Bebe Daniels1:27

Because when it comes to spending, uh, how long did you say I was going to be on this island?

Presenter1:32

I didn't say we don't know.

Bebe Daniels1:33

Well, that's what I mean.

Bebe Daniels1:35

I may might be on that island till I'm thirty two.

Presenter1:37

Oh hope not as long as that. Do you have a big collection of records at home?

Bebe Daniels1:37

Hope not as long as that.

Bebe Daniels1:41

And no, because when I finally get around to buying the latest ones, I've heard them on the air and on television so many times that I I'm usually tired of them.

Presenter1:48

You get up early and listen to housewives' choice, that must be it.

Bebe Daniels1:50

That's right.

Presenter1:51

Uh

Bebe Daniels1:51

Yeah.

Presenter1:51

We know you as a singer, Beebe. Have you any other musical skills? Do you play any instruments?

Bebe Daniels1:55

Um no, I uh I used to play the ukulele a bit.

Presenter1:59

Can

Bebe Daniels1:59

And the piano.

Bebe Daniels2:01

I can play uh humaresque and dardanella on the piano very, very badly.

Presenter2:04

It's a nice wide repertoire.

Bebe Daniels2:05

Yeah, and usually in in a different key.

Bebe Daniels2:08

And uh when I was a small girl, I think that was one of the reasons we had to move so often.

Presenter2:13

Uh what are your tastes in music generally and Dardanello?

Bebe Daniels2:16

The glamour

Bebe Daniels2:17

My taste varies from popular tunes to opera. I should say light opera. I love all the music of Bizet and Puccini.

Bebe Daniels2:25

Wagner, I can only take in small doses, it's too heavy for me.

Bebe Daniels2:29

I like some of the modern jazz, but I can't stand noise.

Bebe Daniels2:32

And I don't like orchestrations that bury the tune. I'm sure the composers don't either.

Presenter2:37

I'm sure about that too. Well, so much for general principles. Let's get down to Casey. What's the the first one there on the pile?

Bebe Daniels2:37

Uh

Bebe Daniels2:42

Well, uh in about nineteen forty five, Ben and I saw a film called State Fair.

Bebe Daniels2:47

And there was a lovely number in that that we both fell in love with.

Bebe Daniels2:51

I'd like to take it with me. It's melodious and it's gay.

Bebe Daniels2:55

and it always comes up fresh as a spring morning.

Bebe Daniels2:57

It also reminds me of my old man.

Presenter2:59

Hmm. Who's gonna play it and what's it called?

Bebe Daniels3:02

Oh, Paul Fennelly and the Skyrocket.

Bebe Daniels3:04

And uh, strangely enough, you see, Paul has been with us on this radio series for a long time. Yes, of course. The tune is, It May As Well Be Spring.

Speaker 13:12

I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm I'm as jumpy as the puppet on a string

Presenter3:21

Bring me I'd say that I had spring fever.

Presenter3:27

But I know

Bebe Daniels3:29

Oh, it isn't spring I am starry-eyed indeed.

Presenter3:34

discontented Like a nightingale without a song to sing Oh why should I have spring fever?

Presenter3:47

When it is for

Presenter3:52

Davy, how are you going to make out on this island? Are you going to be a good castaway, able to look after yourself?

Bebe Daniels3:56

I don't think I'll do too badly.

Bebe Daniels3:58

You know, I'm quite a good gardener. I grew all my own vegetables during the war.

Presenter4:02

Yes, that's a help. Could you make a hut, a shelter of some sort?

Bebe Daniels4:05

I think I could. When I was a little girl in my grandmother's ranch I used to make things.

Presenter4:09

Huh?

Bebe Daniels4:09

I'd make the walls probably of rocks and mud.

Bebe Daniels4:13

I'd claim it if I could get it.

Bebe Daniels4:14

And uh bamboo sticks. I put them closely together and maybe filled them in with a little dried seaweed, uh you know, to keep the rain out.

Presenter4:21

You know

Presenter4:22

Could you start a fire?

Bebe Daniels4:24

Oh, yes. I think I could start a fire all right with my

Bebe Daniels4:27

Well I could use my engagement ring.

Presenter4:29

Um yes, I does it does a diamond deal there?

Bebe Daniels4:32

Who said it was a diamond?

Presenter4:33

Well

Bebe Daniels4:34

This is the class one. You see, Ben gave it to me.

Presenter4:36

Oh, I hate to see you. C can you cook?

Bebe Daniels4:37

Uh

Bebe Daniels4:40

Oh yes, I'm not a bad cook at all.

Presenter4:41

Hm? Why would you cook, and how?

Bebe Daniels4:43

Well, I could uh I could get some wild grain. Do you have wild grain on your island?

Presenter4:48

I hope so.

Bebe Daniels4:49

And I could pound it on a stone and mix it with a little water and a little salt.

Presenter4:53

Where you gonna get the salt from?

Bebe Daniels4:55

Well, I can uh get some salt water.

Bebe Daniels4:57

Take some salt water out of the sea and uh let the water evaporate. Get myself that way.

Presenter5:01

Get myself.

Bebe Daniels5:03

Uh, I wouldn't have any meat because I can't kill animals.

Presenter5:06

Fish?

Bebe Daniels5:07

Oh yes, I love to fish, but I hate to uh put the bait on.

Presenter5:11

The room

Bebe Daniels5:11

The worm's whale.

Presenter5:12

I think you've got things pretty well taped then.

Bebe Daniels5:14

Maybe I can get a peak of monkey to do it, huh?

Presenter5:17

Could be, yes, good idea. I think you've got things pretty well taken. I don't think we need worry too much about you as a castaway. Let's get on with the next record.

Bebe Daniels5:23

Good. This time I've chosen Indian Summer.

Presenter5:26

Uh

Bebe Daniels5:27

Because it opens horizons, it has great distance, mountain ranges.

Bebe Daniels5:32

Flora is wearing every colored autumn leaf.

Bebe Daniels5:34

And it has the cool warm

Bebe Daniels5:36

At the sunset in the campic dreams.

Presenter6:13

On this island, Beebe, would you try to keep up appearances? Would you try to keep smartly turned out?

Bebe Daniels6:19

Yes, I think that's the only way a person can really live with themselves, don't you?

Presenter6:22

Mm-hmm.

Bebe Daniels6:23

When my clothes wear out, which they will eventually, I think I'll make myself some uh two-piece outfits out of coconut fiber.

Speaker 36:31

Uh

Presenter6:31

Bend it.

Bebe Daniels6:32

Oh, another thing uh that I can make, I think, is a comb out of a a fish skeleton.

Presenter6:37

Well, I didn't award you your Castaways badge before, Beebe, so here it is, and the highest possible grade.

Bebe Daniels6:43

Well, thank you very much, Roy.

Presenter6:43

Very much Roy. Thanks very much.

Bebe Daniels6:45

All right, the next record. Uh well, I always put this one on when I'm feeling exceptionally lazy, and by the time it's finished, I'm ready to lift mountains.

Bebe Daniels6:54

It's exciting and it's stimulating.

Bebe Daniels6:56

And oh, by the way, about nine years ago, Ben and I had the great fortune of having Jose Turbi play it just for us.

Presenter7:02

Yeah.

Bebe Daniels7:03

What is it?

Presenter7:03

Yeah.

Bebe Daniels8:06

It is next record, Aroy.

Bebe Daniels8:08

I've chosen for several reasons. The Spanish influence reminds me of my little Spanish grandmother.

Bebe Daniels8:14

And uh because Bing Crosby is my favorite vocalist.

Presenter8:18

Mm-hmm.

Bebe Daniels8:19

Thing always seems to be relaxed and in the mood.

Bebe Daniels8:22

And his voice reminds me of another instrument.

Bebe Daniels8:25

It sorta blends with any and every instrumentation.

Bebe Daniels8:29

It never offends the ear and it makes he always makes me believe.

Bebe Daniels8:33

What he whatever he's singing about?

Bebe Daniels8:35

And that's why I want to hear Granada.

Bebe Daniels8:38

I really feel that I'm there.

Speaker 38:40

Grenade, the sky greets today with a sign for an adaptive

Bebe Daniels8:45

Yeah.

Presenter8:45

Elsevier enigmata is toddler.

Speaker 38:49

For she can remember the splendour that once was Granada.

Presenter8:54

Oh, I think he said. I don't know what

Speaker 18:55

I don't know about

Speaker 38:57

It still can be found in the hills all around, As I wander along.

Speaker 39:06

Entranced by the beauty before me, Entranced by a land full of sunshine.

Presenter9:12

Have you ever worked with Bing Classy Bibi?

Bebe Daniels9:14

Yes, I've known Bing since 1931, when he played a very small part in a film called Reaching for the Moon.

Presenter9:21

I

Bebe Daniels9:21

I played in that with Douglas Herbank Senior.

Presenter9:23

Well, let's begin at the beginning. What brought you into the theatre in the first place? Were your parents on the stage?

Bebe Daniels9:27

No, not originally. My father was born in Edinburgh, and had studied to be a surgeon.

Bebe Daniels9:33

And uh my mother came from a family of diplomats and barristers, but my father and mother both loved the theatre so much.

Bebe Daniels9:39

that uh my father started a touring company.

Presenter9:42

Hmm.

Bebe Daniels9:43

And that's how my career began.

Bebe Daniels9:46

I was carried on the stage by my father when I was ten weeks old.

Presenter9:49

Practically born in a truck.

Bebe Daniels9:50

That's right.

Presenter9:51

What was their next appearance after the age of ten weeks?

Bebe Daniels9:53

Well, at four I played the Duke of York in Richard the Third.

Presenter9:56

Have

Bebe Daniels9:57

And when I was five I went to Los Angeles and worked at the Blasco Theatre.

Presenter10:01

When did you make your first appearance in movies?

Bebe Daniels10:03

One hour seven.

Bebe Daniels10:04

I made my first film, uh The Common Enemy.

Bebe Daniels10:07

And I went into Westerns.

Presenter10:08

Well, Westerns, that's an experience I envy. I think every child's idea of heaven must be to play in Westerns. It was.

Bebe Daniels10:13

Domain

Presenter10:14

You learn to ride as if

Bebe Daniels10:15

Oh yes, I I was riding from the time I was about four years old. Western saddles, of course.

Bebe Daniels10:20

And in the films I was always the little girl who was being stolen from the Indians and being rescued by the cowboy. And the cowboy was always Hoot Gibson.

Presenter10:27

Where are westerns or where were westerns in those days made in California?

Bebe Daniels10:30

Well, we made most of ours uh in a place called Ver Valley in California.

Bebe Daniels10:35

It was a wild, rugged country, beautiful and unspoiled at that time, streaked with Indian trails and

Bebe Daniels10:41

Well, it's part of the reason why I've chosen this next uh selection.

Bebe Daniels10:46

It's a

Bebe Daniels10:48

A part of the Grand Canyon Suite.

Presenter10:49

Or third agrow here.

Bebe Daniels10:50

That's right, by Toscanini.

Bebe Daniels10:52

and there's a section in it called On the Trail.

Bebe Daniels10:55

Which has all the feeling of the West.

Presenter11:38

What happened after the Westerns, Vivi? I know you made a lot of comedies with Harold Harold Lloyd.

Bebe Daniels11:42

You've got a good memory.

Bebe Daniels11:44

I was thirteen years old when I went to work with Harold in the Halroach Comedies, and we made 52 pictures a year.

Presenter11:49

Then when you graduated to drama, of course you'll play it opposite all the great romantic stars of the American screen.

Bebe Daniels11:55

That's quite right. Many of them. Valentino, for instance.

Presenter11:58

And what sort of man was the the fabulous Rudolph Valentino to work with?

Bebe Daniels12:02

Well, I've never known an actor who was less of a ham or easier to get along with.

Bebe Daniels12:07

He was a man of great charm, and he had a wonderful sense of humor.

Bebe Daniels12:10

He was intelligent, a great sportsman,

Presenter12:12

A great artist altogether.

Bebe Daniels12:13

He certainly was. And it's a pity we had to he had to be taken away so soon.

Presenter12:17

Who else do you look back on with affection from those days?

Bebe Daniels12:19

Well, I played opposite John Barrymore and Wallace Reed, Bill Powell, oh, many others.

Presenter12:24

And then came the talkies and musicals.

Bebe Daniels12:26

That's right.

Presenter12:27

Rio Rita?

Bebe Daniels12:28

Yes, Rio Rita, in Forty Second Street, Consulate Law.

Presenter12:32

What brought you to London first, Phoebe?

Bebe Daniels12:34

Well, we came over here in nineteen thirty six to play at the Palladium.

Bebe Daniels12:38

And uh we came over for three weeks.

Bebe Daniels12:41

But we like the country so much.

Bebe Daniels12:43

And the people that we stayed for twenty years.

Presenter12:46

And you took the rough times with the smooth. We owe you a debt, I think, for high gang during the war.

Bebe Daniels12:50

Now look Roy, I think the boot is on the other foot, because I love doing high gang more than anything else in my life.

Presenter12:57

Yeah.

Bebe Daniels12:57

And that's why I simply must take a record.

Bebe Daniels13:01

from those days with me.

Bebe Daniels13:03

So I've chosen the Nightingale Sang in Barclay Square.

Bebe Daniels13:07

The orchestra is it's Geraldo Winnie's orchestra and the singer is Dorothy Carlos.

Presenter13:16

Angels dining at the red

Presenter13:20

And the nightingale sang in lovely swords.

Presenter13:28

I'm

Speaker 113:29

I may be right, I may be wrong, but I'm perfect

Presenter13:35

Uh

Speaker 113:35

Uh

Presenter13:35

But when you turned and smiled at me

Presenter13:41

The nightingale sang in ball

Presenter13:44

Uh Please

Bebe Daniels13:45

Uh

Presenter13:46

BB, when and where did you first meet Ben?

Bebe Daniels13:48

Well, I first met him in New York City.

Bebe Daniels13:50

And as a matter of fact, I didn't like him the first time I met him.

Presenter13:52

Yeah.

Bebe Daniels13:53

He seemed to be to me to be very conceited, but

Bebe Daniels13:56

It was his first drop in pictures and it was just enthusiasm.

Presenter13:59

Mm. And then when did you meet him the next time?

Bebe Daniels14:01

about four years later in Hollywood.

Bebe Daniels14:04

Uh Johnny Weismell, I brought him down to the beach. I had a dinner date with Johnny.

Presenter14:08

Um

Bebe Daniels14:08

And we all went swimming first and uh then Johnny went back to his house to change and Ben asked me if I wouldn't have dinner with him.

Bebe Daniels14:16

And I said no, then I had a date.

Bebe Daniels14:19

So then he said, uh would I do him a favor and ride a short distance in his car and show him the right road back to Hollywood. He was sort of a stranger in town, so I just slipped my beach road on over my bathing suit and I got into his car and we went off and he he went right by the road, kept going.

Bebe Daniels14:35

and uh didn't stop until we got into the middle of Hollywood Boulevard, which is uh sort of like Piccadilly Circus, you know, it's traffic going. And he opened the door and said if I

Speaker 114:41

Traffic

Bebe Daniels14:44

didn't go to dinner with him, and didn't break my other day that he'd let me out in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard in my bathing suit.

Presenter14:50

Yeah.

Bebe Daniels14:51

Yeah.

Presenter14:51

So did you have that over there?

Bebe Daniels14:52

Oh, yes, I had dinner with him all right because I knew he meant business.

Presenter14:55

And what threat did he use to get you to marry him?

Bebe Daniels14:56

And what

Bebe Daniels14:58

Well, I didn't argue after that, because I I always knew that he'd win out in the end.

Presenter15:02

Phoebe, how fair a picture of Life with Ben is is the radio programme Life with the Lions?

Bebe Daniels15:06

Well, all the characters are are based on on us.

Bebe Daniels15:11

Uh as far as our real life is concerned, it's very much like the radio show, only it's a lot uh it's not as quiet, I should say.

Presenter15:19

It seems a shame to lift you out of that nice, happy, noisy family and dump you alone on this island.

Bebe Daniels15:25

Yes, I'll miss them all. My old man.

Bebe Daniels15:28

And Richard?

Bebe Daniels15:29

Rich is a great pal of mine, you know.

Bebe Daniels15:32

But I'll be able to take one of the family along with me because I'm uh I've chosen uh one of Barbara's record, the very first record she ever made, called Stowaway.

Presenter15:42

Oh my dream plays a scene better than the

Speaker 315:48

They really are.

Speaker 315:51

Way down deep in my heart I keep them as people will

Presenter15:59

Often do who I stayed on.

Presenter16:04

Don't waste too

Presenter16:13

Yes, that record should be company for you.

Presenter16:15

Now what's the the last one you've chosen to combat your loneliness? Do you think the loneliness will get you down, by the way?

Bebe Daniels16:22

Well, I don't know.

Bebe Daniels16:23

But whenever I start really feeling sorry for myself, which I expect I will,

Presenter16:27

Uh

Bebe Daniels16:27

I can always take an imaginary trip with uh Sydney George.

Bebe Daniels16:30

And go anywhere I like.

Bebe Daniels16:32

That's why I've uh chosen this next exciting record.

Presenter16:36

What is it?

Bebe Daniels16:37

It's called the Coronation Scot.

Presenter17:40

Yes, you'll be able to start off on lots of imaginary journeys with that record.

Presenter17:43

Well, those are your eight discs, Phoebe. You've got one more choice to make. That's your luxury object. What one luxury would you like to take with you on the island?

Bebe Daniels17:48

What one

Bebe Daniels17:51

Well, Roy, I don't have to think twice about that. I'll take my typewriter and all the typing paper that I can carry.

Presenter17:57

Yes. Do you think you'll be able to service the typewriter? I don't see how you can help getting sand in it.

Bebe Daniels18:01

Oh, I'll be able to service it all right. And that typewriter is a very old girl, you know. She came to Britain with us on our first trip, and she went all over the war zones with me.

Presenter18:08

What are you gonna do?

Bebe Daniels18:08

Really rough it, you know.

Presenter18:10

Yeah. What are you going to write, uh, a supply of scripts when you get back?

Bebe Daniels18:13

No, no, I'll stay right away from Comby.

Bebe Daniels18:15

I'll write first, I think, about the island and the animals.

Bebe Daniels18:19

And then I'd like to write a mystery. I've always wanted to write a mystery.

Presenter18:23

Well that book about the island sounds as if it might be a very useful textbook and required reading for all prospective castaways. You better put me down for several copies.

Bebe Daniels18:30

All right. Well, you cast me away and I'll write it.

Presenter18:32

Well many thanks B.B. Daniels for letting us hear your choice of Desert Islanders.

Bebe Daniels18:36

Well, thank you too, Roy. And goodbye, everybody.

Presenter18:38

Goodbye everyone.

Presenter18:50

The guest in today's recorded programme was Beebe Daniels, the interviewer Roy Plumley and the producer Monica Chappelle.

Presenter18:58

Next week's castaway will be Stan Kent.

Speaker 119:04

You've been listening to a download from the Desert Island Discs archive. For more downloads, please visit the Radio 4 website.