The Photo-Play Journal (Jul 1919-Feb 1921)

July, 1919 PHOTO-PLAY JOURNAL 45 9 ffl S Tom Mix had decided to become an author. Some people become authors so that they can give expression to the mighty thoughts that are keeping them awake at nights ; others hope to make money by writing, but the Fox film star is actuated by neither of these two impulses. He is going to be an author so that interviewers won't keep pestering him with requests for facts about his life. Tom is going to write his autobiography. Then when any newspaper man wants to know anything about him, Tom will merely throw his autobiography at him. Madge Kennedy, the piquant Goldwyn star, is the recipient of perhaps the strangest pet in the possession of a motion-picture favorite. "Oscar," as she calls him, is an Australian Kaola bear sent to her by a friend in the Antipodes. He resembles a cross between a oarrot and a squirrel, eats lettuce and eucalyptus leaves, jumps after the fashion of a kangaroo, clings to a tree by all four paws somewhat like an opposum and is tame and affectionate. And to prove the foregoing, Miss Kennedy has photographs of her pet, which has aroused considerable curiosity when seen in her car with her on one of her "downtown pilgrimages." Word has been received that Naomi Childers, the screen's Grecian girl, who is playing opposite Tom Moore at the Goldwyn studios, has won the popularity contest in Japan conducted by a Tokio newspaper. Pauline Frederick has reurned to the Goldwyn sudios from Berkeley, Calif., where she spent a recent week-end. On this, her first visit to the W.est, the star is meeting with all sorts of experiences. Some of them are amusing, some touching ind all are delightful. In Berkeley, for instance, a little boy brought a bag of cookies to the spot where Miss Frederick was acting. Lacking courage to present them to her, he asked Milton Sills to do the honor. When Miss Frederick was leaving, the same youngster met her at the train with a homemade layer cake. Pauline felt that it should be cherished like wedding cake, but being hungry, she couldn't resist — so she ate it. Emory Johnson, who played opposite Margarita Fisher in "Put up Your Hands" and "Charge It to Me," has two extra-precious possessions. One of them is a banjo. He took it to the studio recently and registered such a pronounced hit with his musical gifts that he's been forced to take it along daily and entertain the studio folks between scenes and at noon. The other joy of his life is a baby — a real, live baby, whose mother is Ella Hall, once one of the popular stars of the screen, but now perfectly content with the smaller audience of her own home. Recently Johnson and his wife were plaintiffs in a civil suit in Los Angeles. While the trial was at its height the actor whispered a plea in the Judge's ear. A recess was called. Johnson rushed to the nearest 'phone and called an anxious "How's baby?" to nursie at the other end of the wire. Fans will again be able to welcome their old screen favorite, Stewart Holmes, who is known to them familiarly as "the lounge lizard." He plays the part of the "heavy" in the late Norma Talmadge production, "The New Moon." He has considerable talent as a sculptor, and only last year exhibited his "Bust of President Wilson" at the Independent Exhibition in New York. He has also the distinction of having made the models for the eagles over the door of the Chicago Post Office, and has recently finished a portrait in oils of Miss Talmadge. Here's a tip for all writers who aspire to have their stories considered. Mrs. Sidney Drew the other day declared, "I guess that free-lance scenario writers have caught the spring fever, because of late the number of scripts in my mail has diminished considerably. I do want good material for two-reel comedies and I want it now. Good clean stories of human experience, touching on domestic life along the lines of our recent releases are my requirements. I want real plots, logically developed that start and end tangibly. Situations must be funny in themselves and not dependent upon any forced humor or exaggerated by-play to put them over. Nothing bordering on slap-stick goes. Stories will be judged on their merits, irrespective of whether their authors are amateurs or professionals. Ideas are what I want, no matter who writes them. Stories in synopsis form only are wanted and should be sent to V. B. K. Film Corporation, 200 West 42nd Street, New York City." fought in an adjoining room. They did! So hard that the door was knocked from its support when they were supposed to burst into the room. Mary Pickford's new home on the California beach is going to be both beautiful and comfortable, a real home. Mary's "very own." Four baths, a huge sleeping porch, lots of fireplaces and a wonderful room for Mother, figure in the general scheme of things. Mary is as interested in the new house as she was in her first doll, which she remembers very well, and wishes she had it today. Albert Ray, the Fox player, and Rosanna MacGowan were married Sunday, April 6th. On that date his first release was issued by Fox, entitled "Married in Haste." Oh well, what's in a name anyhow? Priscilla Dean, from the latest bed-side reports, is in a serious condition at a Los Angeles hospital, suffering with double pneumonia, but her recovery is assured. Enid Bennett, the Ince favorite, was the recipient last week of a novel present from one of her admirers, who has been aboard ship in Uncle Sam's Service. It is a wild tigerette, brought by the sailor from South America where the ship had been in port. Miss Bennett, who is a great lover of animals, will undertake to domesticate and tame the little wild feline. Kathleen Kirkham owns up to liking the following : Riding on top of a Fifth Avenue bus ; an occasional visit to the top gallery of a theatre, to study the galleryites ; climbing mountain peaks ; tall men ; aeroplaning ; riding in fast elevators — all of which shows that Kathleen aims high. Fritzi Brunette was nearly fatally injured recently when she was working in a scene with Big Mitchell Lewis and a massive door fell on her. She sustained a scalp wound that had to be stitched. It held up the picture half a day, and caused the director to delay finishing scenes in that set because Fritzi could not comb her hair for ten days while the wound was healing. Lewis and the "heavy" "The Gladys Brockwell Veil" is the latest bit of feminine fashion. Unlike most styles, it did not originate in either Paris or New York, but in Los Angeles, beng the design of Gladys Brockwell, the Fox film star. It is understood that a big New York manufacturer of veils has bought the design and soon is to begin quantity production. Picture fans who see Evelyn Nesbit's picture, "A Fallen Idol," also will have an opportunity to sing a song which has just been written and dedicated to Miss Nesbit. The title of the song is "Fallen Idols," and it is in course of publication by a well-known Broadway music house. Madge Evans Has Callers Four ardent admirers of Madge Evans called at the house the other day, each and everyone being almost sure that he was the favorite in her eyes. Madge entertained the entire crew in her parlor, and a wonderful time was had by all — until mother came home, and then things happened. Here is Madge with the four Romeos having the time of her life. They all brought flowers and candy and everything.