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===1935=== In January 1935, Fonda's name is attached to a group calling itself the "Stage Associates", and claiming to be the current incarnation of the old University Players. The article in the New York Times also mentions that they "came to New York as the Theatre Unit" and were associated with Arthur Beckhard in the production of ''Carry Nation''. "Offices have been opened in the St James Theatre" ([http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=44&did=93664484&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218768438&clientId=54310 ''New York Times'', 8 Jan 1935, pg 27]). In this article, we finally see Fonda and Stewart linked. It is however unclear whether the "Stage Associates" actually produced anything. [[Lucille Ball]]'s biographer Warren G. Harris in his book ''Lucy & Desi'' relates a story of how Lucy dated Henry Fonda for one date, double-dating with Ginger Rogers and Jimmy Stewart. He states that Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart were then sharing a house in Brentwood and that the double-date was in-part to dispel any potential gossip that they might be gay lovers. Rumours had already been swirling around Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. However Warren seems to place this reported double-date in 1937/8 which is not possible. It can only have taken place in 1935 or the early part of 1936, as my detailed chronology makes clear. Henry Fonda himself mentions this episode at ''Dean Martin's Roast of Lucille Ball'', which you can watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uxSQdd08Q8&feature=related here on YouTube] (scroll to time 6:25). At this time, the film version of ''The Farmer Takes A Wife'' was being shown across the country, and it was apparently for this that Henry Fonda won Screen Actor's Guild award in August 1935 for "the best film performance that month" (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=14966753&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=29 here]). Mentioning this movie, which was playing across the country from at least July through November, a newspaper article dated 2 Nov 1935 describes Fonda in this fashion: "Over six feet in height with wavy black hair and commanding blue eyes, Fonda embodies all the charming contradictions of which a man is capable. He is shy, yet magnetic and compelling; he is tender with a feeling of sternness underneath; he can be, at one and the same time, a woman's ideal of a lover and a man's ideal of a friend "([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=2581100&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=12 see here]). In Jul 1935, the ''New York Times'' is reporting that Henry Fonda is under contact with "Walter Wanger, Paramount producer" and working at the Fox studios in a new version of ''Way Down East''. This film had been done as a 1920 silent, starring Lillian Gish. That August, "Two hours late on the ''Way Down East'' set, Henry Fonda amazed everybody by confessing he had airplaned it to Omaha to visit his father who is critically ill" ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=103042491&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=3 see here]) ''Way Down East'' appears to have opened in Oct 1935 starring Henry Fonda opposite Rochelle Hudson (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=6815107&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=4 here]). Among others, this film included, in a supporting role, the character actress [[Margaret Hamilton]], best known today as the Wicked Witch of the West in the ''[[Wizard of Oz]]''. Fonda was by then already working on his next film portraying "Dave Tolliver" in ''The Trail of the Lonesome Pine'' starring Sylvia Sidney and Fred MacMurray, but the film didn't open until Feb 1936. <table><tr><td>Ron Oliver at the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028401/ IMDb entry for this movie] gives the synopsis: "In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia...a young woman discovers love, but no respite from the violent feud which has torn apart two families. "Full of good performances & boasting excellent production values courtesy of Paramount Studios, this fine drama brings to its viewers a not-so-subtle message of peace & tolerance. The vividly depicted consequences of mindless, violent behavior give the film a real punch. "The film's romantic triangle consists of barefoot mountain lass Sylvia Sidney, her decent, uncomplicated cousin Henry Fonda, and mining executive Fred MacMurray, who, as a newcomer to the backwoods, rebels against the traditions of violence & revenge he finds there. All three deliver compelling performances, with a slight advantage going to the gentlemen, as their roles do not require as much shrill, fickle behavior as does Miss Sidney's."</td><td>http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KE3FTXE0L._SL500_AA280_.jpg<br>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/0783215088?tag=countyh-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0783215088&adid=0Y6SKGJJ2GQE9GW43KCE& Buy it at Amazon]</td></tr></table> In Oct 1935 it was announced that Henry Fonda had been engaged for two months to 21-year-old singer and star of ''Anything Goes'' Shirley Ross and "wedding plans are being made" ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=48805611&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=8 Middlesboro Daily News (Middlesboro, Kentucky), 31 Oct 1931, page 4])
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