Piper Laurie is in love. He's in love with her. In fact, they've known each other for two years- but they're afraid to get married. Afraid, because this is a romance which her fans, who see in Piper the epitome of sweet girlishness, may not find completely dreamy.
You have seen, now and then, photos of Piper dancing with Rock Hudson, bowling with Scott Brady, having dinner with boyish Vic Damone on leave0 even in the old days, dating Tony Curtis. Dreamboats, all of them, yet her heart never for one moment belonged to any one of them.
Instead, the man who is No. 2 in Piper's life has none of the classical features of these young actors. His hair is thinning, his physique is stocky , his face has a sharp, humorous intelligence, but it doesn't compare with those of the wavy-locked, handsome young actors in town who'd give anything to be Piper's best beau. He's mature- in his late forties- successful, charming and witty, but far from being a dreamboat. And Piper's afraid that her fans will feel let down if she marries anything short of the profile boys who've been her screen lovers.
For another reason, Piper believes it best to hold off the altar march with this man. Not only might her fans disapprove, but Hollywood itself may misunderstand. Leonard Goldstein is one of the top producers in the picture business and at U-I, where he met Piper, was responsible for that studio making its greatest profits in years. Among other hits, Leonard is responsible for the Francis and the Ma and Pa Kettle series, besides the highly successful costume epics co-starring Piper and Tony Curtis.
Cynical Hollywood winks knowingly when a lovely young star goes with an important producer. They think it completely natural for a young starlet to date an actor or a young playboy. Let her date a producer, however, and they draw conclusions which may be completely unfair to the girl. In Piper's case, any inference that she goes with Goldstein to further her career is sheer nonsense; But being sensitive, she wants to wait and show Hollywood that she doesn't need his influence, before she and Leonard make any serious announcement. She will have her chance to prove that her feelings for him are deep and sincere and not motivated by ambition, for he recently left U-I, where Piper is under contract, for other studio affiliations and Piper is completely on her own. In fact, her first victory over teh town's wiseacres was her selection by Ty Power, who chose her over his wife, Linda, for his leading lady in Mississippi Gambler. This happened after her boy friend had already left the studio.
Without knowing the facts of their romance, outsiders may find it difficult to understand why a beautiful young girl of 20, with the world at her feet, could fall in love, with an average-looking man twenty-seven years her senior. But if you knew how their friendship began and developed, their romance would seem very natural indeed. When Piper had been signed to a Universal contract after a talent scout had seen her in a Los Angeles High play, she made herself well-liked at the studio instantly. She was so grateful for everything that she even refused to be paid for tests or for posing for photographs until she started a picture.
But everyone at teh studio liked this humble little starlet, one of the publicity men decided to give her a break. He hit on the idea of having her eat a salad made of flowers and soon newspapers all over the country picked up the story. Piper, who couldn't stand to eat the stuff, forced herself to swallow dandelion and geranium petals for the photographers, and the stunt helped her to become famous.
One afternoon while having lunch in the studio commissary, some of the studio publicists stopped by Leonard Goldstein's table and told him what a good sport this little player was to go along with such a gag. Goldstein, in his many years in Hollywood, had had his fill of temperamental actresses. He'd seen many of Shelley Winter's hanky-panks on the set and when someone once suggested that he use her in one of his pictures, he wryly replied, "I just cured my ulcer. Why should I get another one?" You can imagine his interest then, when he heard members of the press department raving about the sweet-faced little redhead.
Their paths wre bound to cross many times. Goldstein, with his uncanny sense of movie know-how, felt that the studio would have a big money-maker in the teaming of its two new, young players. What could be more potent than a Technicolor romance with dark Tony Curtis and fragile, red-haired Piper? He was right. Son of Ali Baba, which he produced, was one of the biggest grossers the studio turned out, and it catapulted Tony and Piper to stardom. He did the same with The Prince Who Was a Thief, which further enhanced Tony's and Piper's stock.
Working so closely together, Piper and Leonard got to know each other well. He found himself first admiring, then falling in love with this unspoiled young girl. During the making of Son of Ali Baba, Piper, clad in a thin gown with trailing veils, had to go into a burning room. She did it without a word of complaint, and Leonard, watching her, came to her afterward and patted her shoulder affectionately, "You're a real trouper, honey," he said.
Leonard was on location one day during the filming of The Prince Who Was a Thief when Piper went astride a horse. The animal reared and went into a terrific gallop. For a panicky moment, Leonard thought she'd be tossed off. The trainer sped after her and brought the horse to a halt, and there she was, breathless but smiling, saying "Shall I try that again?"
And what attracted Piper to him? If you knew Piper you could understand, for Piper is a quiet, serious girl, old beyond her years. For publicity purposes she might date the swoonboys. In Leonard, however, she found a man whom she could look up to, a man who has brains, prestigge, is a fascinating conversationalist and, above all, who has a character that Piper can appreciate. She admired him for his devotion to his family. His twin brother Bob, works with him: he set another brother up in the restaurant business and he takes care of two younger sisters in excellent style. He's never been married and friends insist it's because he always felt a great responsibility toward his family.
Their dates, while seldom publicized, have become more and more frequent. Sometimes they go to a gala opening together, but it's just as likely to be Sunday brunch at her house or dinner with his sisters. Piper feels at ease with him, and the fact that he's older and worldly is to his advantage. Piper is very shy; in fact, she used to be so shy that she once said that when her mother's friends came to the house she'd lock herself in her room until they left. With such timidity, she felt a little out of place with boys and gilrs her own age who expect more forwardness in a girl. But with a mature and understanding man like Leonard, a man who is astute enough to sense her insecurity and builds her up, she relaxes.
Piper is afraid, too, that it might look like a case of "marrying the boss," and she dreads any criticism to which she might be exposed. She should take stock of what Norma Shearere once said when she married Irving Thalberg, the late producer genius who was head of MGM where Norma was a big star. "I love Irving," she had said, "I'd love him even if he were an office boy instead of the head of the studio."
Piper is more realistic. She told a friend, "It's nonsense to say I'd feel the way I do about Leonard if he were an office boy. He's a man of brains and accomplishment: He's made a name for himself because of his superior qualities. Those are the things that count more with me in my love and respect for a man than whether he has football shoulders or curly hair."
If her fans only undrstood how Piper feels, would they tell her, "Marry him, Piper. We're all for you." Or would they tell her that they would be disillusioned if their dainty Cinderella didn't marry a handsome, young Prince Charming?
It would help to know how you really feel. What do you say, fans?

The article is accompanied by a wonderful full page color photo of PL in a red satin blouse leaning on the back of a black felt chair; and a quarter page black and white photo of PL with Leonard Goldstein greeting actor Donald O'Connor- Piper and steady Leonard Goldstein greet Donald O'Connor. Piper's latest film is Mississippi Gambler; and an eighth page black and white photo of PL cooking at a stove with apron while he mother and grandmother stand by the kitchen door smiling at PL.- Piper's grandmother and mother beam as their favorite star shows how she mixes up a stew.