Show Business: Just a Dame from New England

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When not working or touring with her one-woman show, Davis reads or sees her friends, only a few of whom, like Paul Henreid, have been in show business. Strangely enough, for a woman who has made nearly 100 movies, she rarely sees a new one. There are a few younger actresses she admires, such as Jill Clayburgh, Marsha Mason and Jane Fonda. There are also a few actors, such as Burt Reynolds, Dustin Hoffman and Alan Bates. But with some exceptions, she does not like the movies she sees today. "In the old days writers knew whom they were writing for," she says. "If they knew which actress was going to play a part, they were inspired. They don't write for anybody today. They just cast things.

"There's no question that there's talent today. But I miss Cooper, I miss Tracy, I miss Gable, I miss . . . a lot of people. That gang is gone, and there's a whole new breed of cat. There was a party a few years ago when Warners was sold. Mr. Warner­I never called him Jack­sat on a couch beside me and held my hand. 'We're the last ones left,' he said." Today Bette would be sitting on that couch alone, and she may be there for some time yet. "I don't want to miss anything by dying," she says. "I don't want to miss seeing my grandchildren grow up. I would be furious."