Chapter 8

Summary

• Evelyn Hugo, having freshly adopted her blonde-star persona, was cast in many movies by Sunset Studios, rapidly rising in popularity and fame.
• She was given the lead role in "Father and Daughter", a movie shot in 1956, where her character fell in love with her widowed father's apprentice.
• To maintain her public image, Evelyn was coerced into going on dates with popular male actors, much to her displeasure. One of these actors was Brick Thomas, a self-absorbed former child star who Evelyn particularly detested.
• In an orchestrated event, Evelyn and Brick were sent on a staged date, attracting significant media attention. Despite appearing cordial publicly, Evelyn privately expressed her disdain for Brick's personality and presumptions.
• Harry, who was facilitating the staged appearances, suggested to Evelyn that romantically linking herself to a popular actor would be beneficial for her career, a suggestion she reluctantly accepted.
• Evelyn was then set up on a date with Don Adler, whom she found genuinely charming and likeable, unlike the other actors she had been set up with.
• Don Adler treated Evelyn with respect, and appreciated her for who she was, rather than treating her as a possession to acquire. This endeared him to Evelyn, seemingly starting a real romantic relationship between them.
• During their date, the duo visited Mocambo, a trendy Hollywood club, rubbing shoulders with celebrities and partying late into the night.
• Don's endearing behavior continued when he dropped Evelyn at her apartment, asking to see her again personally rather than through their managers or the studio.
• Even when he revealed that he was scheduled to go on a public date with another actress the following week, Don offered to cancel it to spend time with Evelyn.
• After a thoughtful conversation, Don and Evelyn agree to see each other again, marking the beginning of what seemed like a sincere romantic relationship between them.
• The media documented the ongoing romantic relationship between Don Adler and Evelyn Hugo, as their public appearances grew more frequent.