Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

Hollywood High Ligkts 45 Hn. Even some of their poor pictures bring good returns. Their most successful ones garner a fortune. Voices Bring Shekels. Amid all the hullabaloo, several prominent stars have been retained by their organizations at increased salaries. Two cases in point are John Gilbert and Corinne Griffith. Gilbert, it is said, was reengaged by Metro-Goldwyn at $200,000 a picture, and he is to make two a year. Corinne was engaged for three years, to make six pictures at a total of $1,200,000. Miss Griffith's engagement was a big surprise. It had been thought that Warner Brothers, on taking over First National, might eliminate some of the higher-priced stars. Corinne's voice is reputed to have played a big part in her contract renewal. Gilbert, too, is to be used very actively for talkies. It is rather definitely understood that Colleen Moore will leave First National after two more films, and may join forces with United Artists or Paramount. Clara and Lon Win. Clara Bow has been nominated the ruling delight of the small-town customers. Clara is a big-town favorite, too, but there her vogue is rather more limited. A movie, trade journal. The Exhibitors' Herald, held the poll which awarded the beauteous red-headed — by preference— star her bucolic honors. She outran Colleen Moore, who had won the* vote for two previous seasons by a good majority. Colleen was second, Billie Dove third, and the other favorites included Bebe Daniels, Dolores del Rio, Mary Pickford, Marion Davies, Laura La Plante, Norma Shearer, and Joan Crawford. [ The male victor was Lon Chaney. He edged Tom Mix out of first position. Mix ran second, and John Gilbert third, Harold Lloyd, Richard Dix, William Haines, Richard Barthelmess, Hoot Gibson, Fred Thomson, and Ken Maynard The Triple Shadow. Three deaths have again sent sorrow into the hearts of the colony, and reemphasizeel a fateful theory— or is it just a pet superstition? There is a tale told, anyway, that the passings of the famous never come unless there are three together. Actually, one might count four. in the past two or three months. Edward Connelly, Theodore Roberts, Marc McDermott, and Fred Thomson were in the latest group, though Connelly died earlier than the others. Thomson's passing was unquestionably the most shocking and tragic, and his wife, Frances Marion, scenario writer, bore it with courageous spirit. Thomson was loved as few stars ever have been by his screen followers. He represented virile manhood, bravery, and strength that appealed especially to his younger fans. He rose in a very few years to be one of the screen's most respected personalities, and also one of the most successful. That his career should have been cut short while he was still a comparatively young man, and apparently an athletic giant, was an especially pathetic circumstance. He was thirtyeight years old at the time of his death. Fred personally very delightful chap, was something so tially frank and about him. He loved his home above all things, and reveled in the Spanish hacienda which Frances and he occupied on Beverly's highest hilltop. He loved to argue. He remained always something of a missioner. His highest ideal was to teach young men clean manhood. This was his aim throughout his earlier days especially, in making his pictures. was a There essenboyish Romance and rivalry engage Philippe De Lacy, left, and Junior Coghlan in "Square Shoulders," while Anita Louise tactfully stands between her two suitors. following close behind. The Wampas Chooses. New candidates for fame are now being considered. The Wampas, a press agents' organization, has cited their choice, comprising the following : Doris Hill, Anita Page, Betty Boyd, Loretta Young, Sally Blane, Ethlyne Clair, Helen Foster, Doris Dawson, Mona Rico, Caryl Lincoln, Josephine Dunn, Flelen (Twelvetrees, and Jean Arthur. The vagaries of Wampas' choice are frequently too deep to fathom. Every other year is generally an off year in selection, and this is one of those "other" years. Still, it is good to see such girls as Anita Page, Loretta Young, Josephine Dunn, and Jean Arthur winning recognition. For the rest, we can't speak very positively. Of one elected it was remarked, "Oh, yes, she's famous ; she's posed for a photograph with every new make of automobile in Hollywood." A Horse without a Master. And what's going to happen to Silver King? The devotion between Thomson and his horse was almost human, and no incident illustrated it better than the time the animal suffered from pneumonia, and Thomson slept in the stable with him for six weeks, ministering to his needs and comforts as if he had been a sick child. Silver King also traveled in state to and from the studio in a chariot especially built for him, and embossed with his initials. What will become of the horse has already been settled by Miss Marion. She will never part with him, because of the sentiment attached to his association with his master, and she plans to perpetuate the memory of the two by producing one picture featuring Silver King, and also showing little Fred, Jr., who bears a striking resemblance to his father. Incidentally, Silver King has always been a most fractious animal. Thomson bought the Irish Hunter in New York seven years ago. He was then five years old and the most difficult horse in the large stables. No