Hollywood (Jan - Oct 1934)

SLEUTH by HAL E. WOOD Mary Bides Her Time MARY PICKFORD, now hailed as the lonely little lady in the big house on the hill, is awaiting only the arrangement of final details of the property settlement before filing action for divorce from Douglas Fairbanks Sr. That, at least, is the firm belief of her friends despite Mary's frequent denials that she is contemplating court proceedings. Mary now is convinced that Doug has no intention of ever again seeking shelter beneath Pickfair's roof, I am informed. Meanwhile, the star is holding up production plans while she occupies herself with her pen. Mary has retained a literary agent in New York, and already has contracted with magazines to write several fiction stories. She refused an offer of $100,000 for her own life story, however. "My life is just beginning," she declared. Doug Jr. Goes British There Is Little likelihood that Douglas Fairbanks Jr. will return to America for another year at least. This despite the sugar-coated offers pouring into him from talkie producers back here in California. There are two reasons for Junior's ton Kelland on changes in The Cat's Paw, Harold's next . . . Ralph and Mrs. Morgan traveled all the way to Gotham to help the former's mother celebrate her eighty-third birthday. Romance Mary Brian and Don Cook are occupying a table for two these days . . . King Vidor and Betty Hill are that way again, and Miriam Hopkins doesn't seem to mind a bit . . . Jimmy Dunn and Claire Trevor make up the colony's newest duo . . . Edna Purviance is romancing with none other than the oftmarried Rex Lease . . . they say Natalie Talmadge will wed Larry Kent at the close of her period of mourning for her departed mother . . . Director W. S. Van Dyke is giving Dorothy Burgess a terrific rush . . . that Sari Maritza-Sam Katz twosome is going strong again . . . extended sojourn in L «ndon. One is the fact that the talki .• capital hasn't held much appeal for him since the crash of his marriage to Joan Crawford. The other is his belief that his father needs his companionship now more than ever before. Doug Sr. is pushing his plans to continue picture-making abroad, and young Doug will be found emoting at his side. Blossoms New Career BLOSSOM SEELEY'S sensational success in Broadway Thru a Keyhole has launched that blonde personage on her second artistic career. And no one seems more surprised over her good fortune than does Blossom herself. Cast as "Sybil" in the Winchell opus after Peggy Hopkins Joyce and Lilyan Tashman had collapsed in the role, this youthful veteran of the musical comedy and vaudeville stages is slated for stardom by Twentieth Century. Her next appearance will be with George Bancroft in Blood Money. Blossom came to Hollywood to seek a chance in the movies, but opportunity took to its heels when she put in an appearance. She had her trunks packed, her reservations made for her return to Broadway, when Darryl Zanuck put in an S. O. S. for her services. Grace Poggi and Gregg Toland are airplaning together . . . Walter Kane and Gloria Shea are on the verge of an elopement . . . Frederick Perry, tennis ace, is squiring Bette Davis about . . . Lila Lee's sudden interest in things musical is due to her romance with Nelson Eddy, the songster . . . Ricardo Cortez continues to shower his attentions on Mrs. Lee . . . Adolphe Menjou has been stepping out with Veree Teasdale . . . things are so serious between Patsy Parker and Bert Wheeler that Pat's mother and aunt now form the receiving line at Bert's parties . . . when Elbert Franklin returned from the East, he brought along a costly star sapphire for gorgeous Toby Wing . . . and not to be outdone by his rival for Toby's affections, Bill Perry dashed out and bought her a five-carat heart-shaped diamond . . . it's all off between Benita Hume and Jack Dunfee, her London sweetie. Snow may be missing in Hollywood but Lona Andre brings the proper Christmas atmosphere to her home with wreaths and, let us hope, mistletoe placed at strategic points