Picture Play Magazine (Jul - Dec 1929)

43 Tour Darts Strike Home Whether a fan's letter praises or condemns a star, Leila Hyams, speaking for the players, assures the contributors to "What the Fans Think" that every criticism hits its mark. By Ann Silvester AS you take youi pen in hand to bombard your opinions through "What the Fans Think." docs the suspicion ever hit you that perhaps your letter will never be read by a star? Do you have that empty. all-gone feeling that perhaps Richard Barthelmess will never know how sore you felt over his voice doubling in "Weary River"? Or that Alice White is ignorant of the war that is being waged as to whether or not sixis dumb? Well, you can rest and write in peace, or any other favorite mood. Dick knows all about it. So does Alice. So does Leila Hyams, who was recently accused by a pair of initials of being "just another marceled blonde." We were lunching together at the M.-G.-M. restaurant the day she happened to speak of it. Joan Crawford and her ardent, new husband sat at an adjoining table. Scattered hither and thither were William Haines, Lon Chaney, Bessie Love, John Mack Brown, Eddie Nugent, Conrad Nagel, and half a dozen gilt-edged directors. It needed only a small bomb to send a million dollars' worth of talent sky-high. But that's silly, isn't it? Certainly the thought of bombing had not disturbed the luscious serenity of Mrs. Hyams' child. And "luscious" is the word. There is a' peachbloom finish over a set of very regular features as photographic as they are harmonious. There is a wide space between the eyes that suggests mental calmness. There is a casualness and justbetween-you-and-me tone in her conversation that discourages any attempt at formal discussion. So we just sat and commented on the people around us. And some who weren't there. For the benefit of those sticklers for detail, she was wearing a blue sport? dress and eating watermelon. She had, she said, just completed a hectic and exciting sea picture for Columbia, and it seemed nice to be back on the home lot after a long locationtrip on a boat. The picture might, or might not, be good. Tt wouldn't do her a great deal of good with the critics, but the fans probably would like it. "And that's more important," she added. "Do you really think so?" T asked. "Sure," replied Leila. "Why not'' The critics get in on passes, but the fans pay money. "I'm always glad to get a good review, because that flatters my vanity. "Just another marceled blonde" was the comment that hurt Leila Hyams. Here Miss Hyams is with her husband, Phil Berg. But I'd much rather be mentioned in the column of fan letters, where they say just what they think. Sometimes it hurt.-, but at least those letters are bonest. "About a month ago I gleefully spotted my name in one and read on -only to gel an awful slap in th< Following my honorable mention was this line of description, 'just another marceled blonde.' "At first I was as indignant as a wet hen. 1 thought seriously of addressing a personal reply to the initials, and telling the fan writer I was not marceled. I may be just a blonde, but my hair isn't marceled. Evidently it hadn't occurred to the writer that my hair might be naturally curly. I can't keep it from curling. To run a wet comb through it only makes it the wavier. On this sea picture, with that criticism in mind, I tried every way under the sun to stick or paste my hair down. Can you imagine what that young man will think when he sees me just as curly and 'marceled' as ever, in the midst of the ocean? T can almost see his next letter saying that I must have taken my marcel iron along." "Do you think the players really take those fan criticisms to heart?" I pried on. "' )f course they do," Leila assured me. "particularly when the writers choose to call attention to some weak point that cannot possibly be helped. I know one very charming star who was awfully upset when a fan wrote about her bowed Now that is something she cannot possibly remedy, but it has no effect at all on her splendid acting and, incidentally, she is one of the best actresses on the screen. "Another player spoke to me about a comment that referred to his old age, ami advised the producers to relegate him to character parts. instead of leading roles. 'If these kids could only understand that the dramatic things of life are not entirely confined to young people, perhaps they would understand why I might possibly fit my roles/he explained his feelings to me. "-till another player became angry at a dart directed at her ht'ur feet, that she asked the studio to employ a double for the offending members. Von can see how this lim comment can hurt terribly, without 1 14