Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

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Continued from page 13 tiful one of Thelma Todd, autographed, "To Elinor Garrison, with my very best wishes for happiness. Sincerely, Thelma Todd" ; one of Jack Mulhall, autographed, "To Elinor, with my very 'best wishes, Jack Mulhall, '28." Doris Kenyon sent me one of my loveliest photos, a large, full-length pose, autographed with a lovely message, also three from Milton Sills, autographed personally, and a perfectly beautiful one of Doris with little Kenyon, autographed, "Best wishes to Elino. Garrison from Kenyon and his mother" ; a beautiful, huge one of Leatrice Joy, also a large one of Ken Maynard, a beautiful, personally autographed one of Lois Moran, and a lovely one of Sue Carol. I now have four hundred and sixteen photos — all are wonderful — and I have many, many lovely stills. And I know the fans will be interested to hear about the real movie-star snapshots I have. I have five of Richard Dix, one which he autographed for me, one of Paddy O'Flynn, Betty Balfour, the English actress ; one of Maria Corda with Alice White, an enlarged snap of Mary Pickford, autographed ; one of Mary Philbin, some of Reginald Denny, Cullen Landis, one of Louise Fazenda with Charlie Murray, a splendid one of Milton Sills, one of 'him with his son, one of Doris Kenyon, three of little Kenyon taken at the Sills home, one of Thelma Todd alone, and one of her with Eddie Cline, the director. Also one of Arthur Edmund Carew, a perfectly beautiful one of Billie Dove, also of Lloyd Hughes, Mary Astor, four of Ben Bard, one of Anna Q. Nilsson, Lew Cody and Blanche Sweet, Lewis Stone, Ricardo Cortez, George Fawcett, Laura La Plante, Mary Philbin, Monte Blue, Syd Chaplin, Bebe Daniels, Tom Meighan, Lawrence Gray, William Desmond, a snap of Molly O'Day, Alice Day, and Ann Christy posed together; three of Charlie . Delaney, a lovely one of Loretta Young, and one of Charlie Delaney posed with Olive Borden. I also have several personal letters — three lovely ones from Olive Borden and another snap of her, autographed to me. Elinor Garrison. 1105 Olympia Avenue, Olympia, Washington. Peace for Valentino! First, I must thank Picture Play for the friendships I have made through its pages, and I am more than grateful. There is a reader of Picture Play of London, S. W. 1, who wrote me an anonymous letter. Through these columns, I wish to thank him, and I would be pleased if he would communicate with me. Picture Play has rid me of my prejudice against Americans, and I find I like them very much, and should like to know them better. Now, fans, why do you criticize the stars so? Are you perfect, that you should find fault in others? Like you, the stars cannot always give of their best. They also have days when they are "off color." I cannot say that I like these young stars that the producers are pushing onto us. Most of them do not know how to act. I prefer the older ones who know their jobs. Give me Pola Negri, Gloria Swanson, Ramon Novarro, a most unjustly criticized young man, and several other of the older stars. I am another who does not want talkies. If we want spoken drama we can go to the theater. I prefer the movies silent. What unprejudiced fans like British movies? I should think in time Picture What the Fans Think Play could devote some space to the British film industry, when our actors and actresses are known a little better. The industry has grown enormously over here. Studios and any number of cinema theaters are being built. The companies are not developing the star system as they have in America. Here the story takes first place, and the actors are cast accordingly. I cannot say which I prefer. "Ben-Hur" is still going well, and is being reissued in the new year. "The King of Kings" is being shown all over the country, but has been banned in a few places. "The Trail of '98" has broken box-office records at The Tivoli, in London. I was never so surprised in my life as when I read that Rudolph Valentino lies in a borrowed tomb. Though I am an admirer of Valentino, I fail to see why the public should pay for his grave. And, again, why should a monument be erected? Since the man had very little peace in life, I say let him have some now that he is gone. What is the matter with Valentino's brother? Surely he could afford to give him a decent grave. Better to be in a quiet grave, than in a mausoleum through which people are continually passing out of curiosity. It is shameful that such a state of affairs exists. Valentino, my idol, and the idol of millions, is sleeping. Let him rest in peace. J. Ernest Browne, Jr. Cairo, East Molesey, Surrey, England. "Ramona" Sickening? I wonder if other readers were as disappointed over "Ramona" as I ? The film appeared to me to be such sickly, overacted "sob stuff." The part of the making of the little wooden coffin, especially, was beyond endurance to any one possessed of even half the normal intelligence. . I got exasperated with the perpetual close-ups of Dolores del Rio in her exaggerated torture, and left the theater hoping never to see her in any similar film ever again — and / was by no means the only one ! It seems to me that once stars have created one good role, that is the climax of their careers. They then get spoiled by all the boasting and praises, and think they can play any role and be equally successful and popular. I have noticed this with most stars, but they will, I hope, discover this will not do ! Jean E. Millar. Alpenruke, Kendall Avenue South, Sanderstead, Surrey, England. Another Word for Ramon. It's fine to know what fans from the four corners of the earth think. But I do not agree with Joan Perula; and I do agree with the letters sticking up for Ramon Novarro. I suppose Miss Perula will conclude that I'm an ardent fan of his. Well, I am not. That's the reason I'm writing this — just to show Miss Perula. I'll begin at the beginning. I was among the Rudy fans when Ramon popped up. My pen pals went nigh cuckoo over Ramon, and my personal pal began to go likewise. So, thought I, "No fear, I'm not going dippy over that lad." I liked Rudy more in every film, even the worst, and then one afternoon a chum asked me to go and see "The Red Lily." She was a Novarro fan, but I came out of the theater convinced that I'd wasted my money and so did she ! Along came "The Midshipman." A 101 pen pal had begged me to see it, so I went. That time I came out of the theater a thorough Novarro fan. Then "The Arab" came. I liked Ramon more, if possible, but not with Alice Terry. Ramon never lessened my liking for Rudolph, because each of them held a place quite different in my affections. I have seen "Ben-Hur" and am still great for Novarro. He is not a big favorite of mine — not at all. He is among what I term my "steadies," and he is more likely to be among my steadies in the years to come than to become my favorite. I have never read any articles on Ramon's goodness and what not, to which Miss Perula attributes his popularity, nor do I think that that would affect any star with fans that are fans, and can think for themselves. That's all tosh — an actor or actress is liked for what he or she can do, not for what they are at home. I wish to hear from the farthest corners of the earth — I know Picture Play goes that far — so please, fans, will you write to me? Edna S. Boothway. 91 Pear Tree Road, Derby, England. Costello Voice is Thrilling. In a recent issue of Picture Play "Holly of Hollywood" said, "When it comes to talkies, Dolores Costello should take a back seat." Granting that this writer has heard Dolores through the medium of the Vitaphone, may I ask a question of Holly? Have you ever compared the merits of Miss Costello's voice with any other feminine star? If so, you can but arrive at one conclusion — her voice is infinitely superior to the majority of stars'. It has beauty, depth, and luster — characteristics of her lovely self. Even the imperfections of the talkies fail to mar the resonance of her voice. She speaks softly, fluently. The affected drawl and artificiality which many censure is merely the natural expression of a cultured, poised woman. Miss Costello should feel satisfaction in the fact that, while the greater number of stars must spend countless hours practicing voice culture, she may repose on her laurels, while her voice, as well as her beauty, continue to thrill thousands. Dorothy Leslie. Jersey City, New Jersey. Evelyn is Not Amateurish. I am indignant after reading Edward H. Vagel's letter. He states that Betty Compson and Priscilla Dean portray crook roles better than Evelyn Brent. Having seen many films in which Miss Brent played crook roles, I consider her portrayals quite equal, and somewhat better than, either of these two artists. Certainly some of the films were so poor they would have been utter failures had it not been for Miss Brent's perfect acting. No, Edward H. Vogel, Evelyn Brent is not amateurish in any role she takes. I am delighted to see my favorite star rising so quickly to the top, and playing in worth-while pictures, opposite such stars as Emil Jannings, Clive Brook, Adolphe Menjou, et cetera. Possibly Miss Brent does not want to continue playing crook roles when she is worthy of so much better parts, such as she has played to perfection in "Beau Sabreur" and "The Last Command." Whether she does or not, she will always be a capable, talented, and lovely artist in whatever role she portrays. So that's that, Edward H. Vogel ! Agnes Pearson. 34 Josephine Avenue, Brixton Hill, London, England.