Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

62 Hollywood's Fourtk Dimension piano, and a young man with a tenor that reminds me of honey and velvet and cream is singing. So it seems more congenial to group on cushions strewn along the floor. The tenor is Jimmy Burroughs, well known throughout the West, especially in California, and maybe throughout the East, too. Anyhow, he can sing in French, Italian, Spanish, and German as if he were a native of each country whence the language comes, and as if he'd been trained by the best maestros to sing in each one of those countries in grand opera. Song after song he gives us. Apparently there's nothing he can't sing, or Bruz Fletcher play, with the delicate and charming touch which belongs to a born composer. Bruz would have that touch, of course, because the business as well as the joy of his life is composing music. All the Hollywood stars know his genius, and come to him for acts. "Vaudeville Material" is the rather too modest announcement at the top of his official stationery ; but there is much other material behind that high, boyish forehead of his. He will do a song for Leatrice Joy one day. one on the next for Mildred Harris, or another artist hurrv for an act. You know how the stars are rushing into vaudeville, or drama, to develop their voices for the talkies, if they aren't already developed ! On a third day he will have an inspiration for a dramatic song, like his already celebrated "Cocaine" ; or he will set to music a lyric in the really wonderful Chinese opera which Casey Roberts is arranging, and for which Casey himself is designing magnificent sets. Casey has hopes of a production for this opera at the Hollywood Bowl this year, and from what I heard of it, and the gorgeous sketches I saw, it should make a sensation not only in California but far and wide. They are talking about opera to-night at 2585 Glen Green, these clever young people who know all about each other's business and rejoice in each other's successes. Eva Olivotti, the enchanting young soprano who sang the lead in "Wild Flower," through the West, is pulled up from her seat on the floor and made to sing the Moon Song in the Chinese opera yet to be born — so far as the outside public know. Clever Viola Brothers Shore, with her wonderful, dark eyes and witty tongue and pen, stops talking to listen. Her husband, Harry Braxton — oh, don't be surprised at the difference in name, for few of the fourth dimension bright lights use their husbands' names for everyday wear — applauds cordially and then remembers to answer a question about his new shop in the English Village, where he sells etchings. These etchings are all by well-known artists, and some of the most charming are by Casey Roberts though Casey himself has opened an antique shop next door and christened it "The Crow's Nest." In fact, Casey practically started the English Village as a center for very special, small shops, all kept by interesting people. At the moment of which I write, Casey's piece de resistance in the shop is a beautiful, old desk which once belonged to the great Noah Webster and which, when he found it, had in one of its drawers a little glazed visiting card, engraved "Mrs. Noah Webster." Perhaps the desk may be sold by the time this appears in print, however, for the stars were hearing about it and coming to see it, including the fascinating Jetta Goudal who sponsers The Crow's Nest and occasionally adorns, also, the musical evenings at 2585 Glen Green. She and Casey are friends, and he has helped her design some of her most marvelous costumes. I wonder if his dash of Indian blood gives Casey Roberts his glorious eye for color ? Anyhow he has unerring taste, as he has shown in his decorating work for the United Artists studio and others, and will surely show when he arrives in New York this year to devote himself entirely to stage work. The dreamiest face in the softly lit group on the divans and cushions is that of Earl Luick, a fellow artist and decorator — not a rival ; none are rivals in this coterie — of Casey Roberts. Out of that pale, rather tired young face look eyes as brilliant Continued on page 94 "Bruz" Fletcher composes songs for the movie stars who essay vaudeville. Casey Roberts' Indian blood is responsible for his extraordinary sense of color.