Margaret Lee Perenchio; Studio Secretary Turned Screenwriter

Margaret Lee Perenchio, 89, studio secretary who became a screenwriter and author. Born in Calumet, Mich., Miss Perenchio moved to Fresno with her family when she was a teen-ager. She began her career in Hollywood in the office at Paramount and later worked as Harry Cohn’s executive assistant at Columbia. Encouraged by Cohn, she began writing, and co-wrote the screenplay for actress Marion Davies’ final film, “Ever Since Eve” in 1937. Miss Perenchio co-authored the book “If This Be My Harvest” in 1948, and a year later she wrote the screenplay “The Bright Dame” for a film starring James Cagney. She also wrote episodes for CBS’ “You Are There.” Her hobby was competitive ballroom dancing. On June 3 in Los Angeles.