European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                New generation of actors Lou Smith gathers ideas from a group of fifth Grade students during a drama workshop in Schwet Zingen Germany last month. A there were no bathrooms backstage. We had to bring in pots. It was freezing cold Many times. There were no dressing rooms. There was  that did t daunt Smith who had turned Down two theater teaching positions one at the University of Hawaii to help entertain soldiers through Damp and Chilly Winters of France. Quot i never got disgusted enough to  it was a special Mission he admitted. Quot i got so involved in it because in my opinion it was More worthwhile then than it is now Quot said the Wii Navy Veteran who participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Quot then there was no to and few other entertainment outlets. We just thought we were really boosting morale by being Able to do  soldiers sometimes thought there were better ways to keep spirits High than sit in a makeshift theater feebly heated by pot bellied stoves. Quot sometimes they came and sometimes they did t. When they did to the commander would drive them in Here and make them sit and see the show after we d gone through All that work. It was a Little embarrassing but once they got in there and knew they had to stay they laughed and enjoyed  shows were presented in Paris Verdun Metz Nancy and other French towns and cities. There was much go Talent available for productions because the draft brought a broader Cross Section of the . Population to Europe. Service members of All ranks shared the stage. Quot i had magicians pianists actors vocalists opera singers and wives. They flocked to my program. It was something they could do that was cultural imaginative and that could release them to create. Everyone came out for  plays Smith directed included pal Joey Clarence and the boy Friend. He also directed Cirl on the Road a film shot on the Paris estate of novelist Alexander Dumas. Some service members were even cast for parts in that production. Smith always kept an ear to the ground to find out which american entertainers were in town. When he did his own version of the late 50s quiz show what s my line he asked John Wayne to come. Wayne who was in Paris shooting the longest Day quickly agreed. So did Sal Mineo Jean Seberg Olivia de Havilland Yves Montand Laurence Harvey and James Coburn. I had magicians pianist actors vocalists opera singers and wives. They flocked to my program. It was something they could do that was cultural imaginative and that could release them to create. Everyone came out for  Smith Usa eur entertainment chief Smith left France in 1964 to become director of the Mickey Rooney workshop in Hollywood. Rooney operated a theater where promising actors acted out scenes before agents and other Talent scouts. But two years later he returned to Europe As army entertainment director in Frankfurt. A number of similar German and stateside positions were to follow. By then the army s entertainment program had begun to develop. Now there Are formal stages storehouses of props and paid staffs from music directors to ticket Sellers. While Smith s acting training in London and his work have brought him into Contact with such acting luminaries As sir Laurence Olivier the Redgrave family and Sybil Thorndike he met Many More through his wife Barbara a former actress and coordinator for celebrities who appeared on v.i.p., a show produced by the German television station Adf. On leaves Smith went along As an Quot Advance Man Quot on Many of her assignments including interviews with Johnny Cash and Kim Novak. One Day he taught Vanessa Redgrave How to play Tennis. Smith cherishes certain moments. Like the time he danced with actress Maureen o Hara in 1938 the Day he met president Eisenhower and vice president Richard Nixon in 1952 his visit to the Home of acting instructor Konstantin Stanislavsky in Moscow in 1958 his 1959 meeting with mme. Django Reinhardt wife of the famous Gypsy jazz guitarist in Paris and later introducing her to Singer Ella Fitzgerald touring with actors James # a amps Randy Pruitt Smith looks Over some of the posters photos playbills and newspaper clippings he gathered during his years with Usa eur entertainment. Macarthur Dean Jones Gary Merrill and actresses Agnes Moorehead and Mercedes Mccambridge. When Smith retires he will come full Circle and go Back to the country of his army entertainment career highlights a France. He owns a Home in Chartres. But he won t be Idle. Quot i Don t want to sit and vegetate in Chartres Quot he said. Someone has offered him a chant e to help cast a Hollywood movie. _ a Quot that s something i think i m going to be looking Forward to Quot he said. July 11, 1991 stripes Magazine 7