Talking Screen (Sep-Oct 1930)

In spite of all the rumors about professional jealousy and the general inhumanity of Hollywood, there are many real and beautiful bonds of friendship among the stars — ^as loyal and true as any anywhere thought that was nice of her and heard myself saying, 'Oh, never mind, it doesn't matter.' But she moved to the next place, and I sat down. "Then the girl looked at me as I began putting on my make-up. I pretended I knew all about it, but I really didn't. I saw she was trying to copy me. Then I had to give in. I laughed, 'Say,' I said, 'I don't know much more about it than you do!' She laughed, too, and we began to help each other. The girl said her name was Sally Eilers, and I told her mine was Jeanette Loff." That was the beginning of a very close friendship which exists today between Sally and Jeanette. "We loaned each other money and dresses, and we tried to get into the same pictures," explained Jeanette. "Sally, I found, was a lovely, thoughtful, kind girl, even though she <iid seem harum-scarum. I was inclined to be too serious, and she was good for me, and I guess I was and am a balance for her. "One day she was to be in a picmre for which -I had not been called. But she said to me, 'Just you walk right in with me, and nobody will know the difference.' "What about a costume?' I asked. "Oh, I'll see to that!' exclaimed Sally. Sure enough, she came back to the dressing room witli a costume just like hers. . It was a dancing number. 'I took it when one of the girls wasn't looking,' grinned Sally. Ruth Chatterton dropped her cigarette case and Lois Wilson picked it up for her. That got them started talking, and from that one little incident a great and fine friendship developed which has stood well the test of time. Nick Stuart and Sue Carol (Mr. and Mrs. Stuart) are great friends of David Rollins. They all met each other on the Fox lot. 'They're looking for it now, but they've got plenty of extra ones. They'll find one for her!' "And so I earned seven fifty that day, too! "One day on location we were short a lunch. There was no place to buy anything. There was a cow in a pasture, and one of the girls said she knew how to milk. Evidently the animal hadn't been milked that morning, and as we found a bi,^ pan, we had fresh milk, wirh two or three of the girls At left we have Billi^ DoVe and Lillian Aker^. Lillian is not in the movie game and this makes one of the few instances where a star's closest friend is a person outside of the profession. donating part of their lunches, so that Sally had plenty to eat after all. Somehow it had been Sally that was left out. "I remember once I had been working more than Sally had. I was called for an evening scene. I slipped Sally into my place. Nobody was the wiser." Both girls got breaks at about the same time, and their friendship was always maintained. They ride horseback and go swimming and play tennis together. They advise each other about their love affairs, and even that strain on friendship hasn't broken their relations. "I advised Sally," said Jefnette, "not to marry a certain man, and she didn't. She's glad now she didn't. I approve her marriage to Hoot Gibson. He is a fine man. Sally and I have been to his mountain ranch sometimes over week-ends, chaperoned by some one we know well. "I'm inclined to be a stay-at-home, and Sally makes me go out and meet people and see shows. "I got my break first in pictures when I signed with DeMille, and we celebrated with a 'big dinner. It was a few weeks afterward that Sally was signed for the lead in The Good-Bye Kiss." REX BELL AND GEORGE O'BRIEN PAL TOGETHER 'E'RE together all summer," remarked George O'Brien, "although we aren't just summer pals. But we seem to have more time in summer, to be together." George was talking about his friendship with Rex Bell. 19