The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey From Hollywood to Holy Vows (73 page)

The poster for Loyola University’s production of
Joan of Lorraine

The photograph taken by Don Bar beau that led to my interview with Hal Wallis at Paramount Pictures

This photograph was passed out to the press when I was introduced to them as Susan Hart—“the girl other girls will hate” (because I was going to kiss Elvis Presley in
Loving You
).

Our wonderful director, kind, helpful and funny Hal Kanter, shows Elvis how
.

At the end of the day, Elvis escorts a lady in true Southern-gentleman style
.

My true mentor at Paramount, Mr. Wallis’ associate producer, Paul Nathan, was responsible for getting me cast in
Wild Is the Wind,
an important career-building film, for my second movie
.

Paramount costume designer Edith Head nicknamed me Junior and loved the clothes Mom made for me so much that she designed my wardrobe for
Loving You
in similar fashion
.

I did a lot of magazine assignments, some pretty silly, for the Paramount publicity department. This is one I wouldn’t want to repeat even for ready money: I had to wait in movie house lobbies all over town and when
Loving You
was over climb the staircases and sign autographs for audience members. Then I would move on to the next movie house and do the same. (Oh, my aching feet.)

I liked the fashion layouts and even drew huge sketches for one of them as a backdrop
.

I also enjoyed “home sittings”, especially when I could get some of my buddies involved, such as Valerie Allen, Jan Shepard and Ray Boyle
.

Another “home sitting” photo (I did a lot of those): My beautiful Luke made his professional debut in a bathtub
.

Some promotion for my moonlighting career: hawking Sweetharts greeting cards at a gift show
.