Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

Hollywood Higk Lights 47 told us this somewhat sadly, when we saw him at the Chaplin studio. The passing of this institution, which comprised a strange assortment of relics, including virtually everything symbolical of the movies' earliest days, from Chaplin's derby and cane, to some of Lon Chaney's false teeth, cannot but be regarded with a feeling of regret. Public interest is probably too slight in past eras of motion pictures even for the paying of twenty-five cents to take a look at them. The next big museum will likely be sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will no doubt be a free affair. Meanwhile the museum spirit is being perpetuated by Hobart Bosworth, who donated various trophies of early film days to the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, devoted to the lore of the West. The Bosworth collection includes, among other things, one of the first cameras ever used in Los Angeles, and the first revolver used to "kill" a movie Indian on location in Griffith Park. Improving Vocabulary. Add to the words descriptive of talking pictures, which are ever increasing and multiplying, "Shriekie." This is used to denote a murder-mystery thriller, with sound. Louise Fazenda is solely responsible for its coinage, and she and Chester Conklin are playing in one called, gayly enough, "The House of Horrors." By the way, Miss Fazenda's husband, Hal Walks, is enjoying new honors and prestige. He has been given the position of studio manager of First National, and it isn't a mere donation, either. He has earned it. The Village Poet Speaketh. The movie stars are wailing, "Oh, heavens, must we talkie? And if we do, praise be, we hope we don't look gawky." Some foreigners are sad ; they're headed for the heimat — "Hollywood you are a joke — but ach, vot a climate!" The censors on the subject of di'logue grow rambunctious; Will Hays will iron that out in manner truly unctuous. With Max Reinhardt present, studios wax aesthetic ; He's O. K.'d sound films in words that are prophetic; He's going to make an opus with th' airy, fairy Lillian ; We hope she's not pursued by the heavy-visaged vilyun. A baignoire you'll discover — the word's not from the Roosian — In DeMille's latest epic; it symbols the ablution. Gloria and valiant Erich are battling along together ; We use the phrase advisedly — let's talk about the weather. The L. A. winter sunshine brings out a host of tourists; Their pleas to visit studios would melt the hearts of jurists. Some girls are taking lessons — object, to improve their voices. They want to say "I love you" neat, while heavies shout "coises." Colleen Moore, as youth, will once more go a-flaming, Playing little flapperish maids who ofttimes need a-taming. Alary Pickford is essaying a heroine quite snappy — Wonder if she won't be "nice," but, let's hope, not sappy. There's nothing like a contract to set the actor dancing, A slower tempo is his wont, when he goes free lancing. The silent screen can ne'er be sad ; it has its Cinderella. Will some one please choke the wench, and also kill her fella? Filmdom's in a terrible mess — full of storms and earthquakes ; Bet a hundred years from now they'll still be making "mirthquakes." Now, indeed, stars' thrones do shake— and some are e'en upsettingStill, we like the old ones best — and some new ones we're getting. Nick Stuart, that up and coming young fellow, is headed straight for greater popularity with the fans. If you don't believe it, just wait and he'll run you down. Will Manifest Devotion. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Joan Crawford are together at last in a picture, with their romance turned to good account in the bargain. At least, it is prophesied that they will have many love scenes together. As somebody remarked, they have been practicing so zealously already in public, that portraying" devotion for the fans will be just like a holiday. The film is "Our Modern Maidens," a sequel to the much applauded "Our Dancing Daughters." In other leading roles are Rod La Rocque, and the fascinating Anita Page, not to speak of the amusing Eddie Nugent. Joan Crawford, it may be remarked, still wears that gleaming wedding ring on the fourth finger of her left hand. She still asserts it doesn't mean anything, but that it may some day soon — possibly even before this is printed. Parrot's Talk Anomalous. A singing parrot was recently engaged to put some pep into a two-reel sound comedy. The bird belonged to a man who lived in an institution of the sectarian sort, where religious exercises were part of the daily program. And thereby hangs a tale. For while the bird was performing, his perch by some strange mischance fell down, and what was the surprise of everybody when Polly, after shaking his ruffled feathers, cocking his eye to take in the dazzling situation, exclaimed, "Ain't that a hell of a note !" A Spreading Family Tree. Related — by marriage ! This will soon become a pet phrase, if interweaving marital unions continue to develop. Here, for instance, is Jason Robards wedded to Agnes Lynch, which makes him a brother-in-law of Helen Lynch, the actress, and of Carroll Nye, her husband. Robards was wed to Miss Lynch upon securing his final decree of divorce from his previous spouse. He has been spending part of his time on the stage. He gave a good speakie performance as the defense attorney in "On Trial." Scenarists Saved Again. No need for the studios to worry about story material. For all the old plots can, and will, probably be made over again for the talkies. Witness George Arliss and "Disraeli." The famous actor played in this several years ago on the silent screen, and now Warner Brothers are likely to Vitaphone it, along with "The Hottentot" and other familiars. All of which would make it appear that the scenario writer will not have to dig up any new ideas again for another four or five years. Dita Enjoys Trip, Anyway. The strange attitude of the American producer toward the foreign star is again reflected in the departure of Dita Parlo. A much bewildered girl during her stay in Hollywood, she left probably in even greater verwirrung , to use what might be called a German synonym, without so much as playing in a single picture. [Continued on page 92]