What they really need in the cement in front of Grauman's Chinese is Henie's smile. Have you been in New York's Garden when old Twinklepuss makes her grand entrance? No? Well, take it from me. Packed house. But not a sound. Then Miss Gorgeous smiles. You hear the ice crack - and the audience melt. What makes her smile? Well, what makes her smile would make you and me go into a vulgar belly laugh. One million bucks a year for the tour, with a couple of movies tossed in to pay luxury taxes. At night - every night - eight hours' sleep. Ask any millionaire. They all need those eight hours. The pace is terrific! Come to think of it, being the world's greatest skater takes a lot of doing. Sonja never smokes, scarcely drinks. In Indianapolis she owns a full size rink. Early October, yearly, her $40 skates start chewing up the ice every day from 9 to 6, with massages and steam baths in between to keep her muscles from going Joe Louis. When she gets off the rink, she's fit to eat her toy poodle, Skatey, and probably would if he were a bigger bite. Nine to six or no nine to six, she still gets the jitters before a show. The size of the house determines the size of the jitters. She never wears stockings. But night before a show, on go the stockings. Though she will skate bare, the muscles must stay warm to the last second. When she's ready for action, she smears on leg make-up, then spreads protective sheets over every stick of furniture in her dressing room. Talks a blue streak between acts with her mom, who's a permanent fixture backstage. Ever wonder how her hair stays just so during a million fancy whirls? Bobby pins exclusively, packets and packets of 'em! When not skating, Sonja occupies herself variously with movies and a reasonable facsimile of love. Captain Dan Topping is the guy. Erstwhile owner of the Dodgers. Now a Marine. Nice about everything but the sweaters she offered to knit for him. Turned her down flat! They get together every morning on the telephone. Sonja calls the guy D-e-n. Sonja has a clause in her movie contract reading: "No diction teachers!" 20th Century-Fox wants her to keep that fascinatin' bit of Norway in her speech. The accent is all she has left of Norway anyway. Her folks have become Americans. RAF bombs demolished her home in the old country. And, besides, she likes California better. Where else can a gal skate on artificial ice in a bathing suit?

Screen Album, Fall 1943]