Hollywood (Jan - Oct 1934)

Pointed comment on cinema affairs and people by W. H. FAWCETT Publisher of HOLLYWOOD Magazine PUBLISHER'S PAGE Shirley Tern pie Shirley's Stand-In Perhaps The Most pleasant sensation of the year was the discovery of Shirley Temple's talents and her elevation from kid comedies to featured roles. Winfield Sheehan, Fox executive, has jealously guarded Shirley to keep her the unspoiled child beloved of all fans — to prevent her becoming the all too familiar, insufferable spoiled movie prodigy. Recently Shirley became aware of the fact that Gary Cooper had a stand-in and immediately demanded and received one for herself. We hope this is not a sign of budding temperament that will undo Sheehan's conscientious efforts. Such talent, sweetness and wholesomeness should be preserved at all costs. Mary Brian made the mistake of boasting she has so many luncheon engagements that she has carried a five dollar bill in her purse a year without spending it. So the other day Ned Sparks and Phillips Holmes took her out to lunch and then calmly walked out, leaving her itnth the check! Justice zvill be dove! Fields Forgot WC. Fields is in a quandary. It is well • known in Hollywood that the comedian has an extremely unreliable memory. Things he should do slip his mind too easily. Recently he forgot to attend a large function at which many stars were present, although it was his duty to be there. The next day he wondered if he had been missed and just what the result of his failure to attend would be. Imagine his surprise and perplexity when he received a sweet note from Marion Davies thanking him for attending and doing his part to make the affair a success! Which, Mr. Fields is convinced, is the height of something or other. A number of Hollywood actors are inventors, too. Gary Cooper has invented a calibrating device and an adjustable stirrup. Charlie Ruggles has patented an automatic egg ejector (no foolin'). But Bill Fields is the most prolific. His prise is a combination desk, lounge, bar, phonograph, ice shaver, radio, cocktail mixer and aspirin tablet. Death Wins Death Has Completed his cycle of three in Hollywood — Lilyan Tashman, Lew Cody and Dorothy Dell. Despite its love for Lilyan and Lew, the death of Dorothy in a tragic automobile accident stunned Hollywood most of all. Facing stardom after only eight months in pictures, Dorothy had everything to live for. Death, however, had stalked her since childhood— since the age of three, when a dog viciously attacked her, down through the years of narrow escapes and freak accidents. Taken at the age of twenty-four, when life was sweet and full of promise for her, Dorothy might well have been spared and a less worthy person taken. 1? Dogsy, Wot? W. C. Fields Dorothy Dell Donald Cook T| ;, /"* oing To The dogs in Hollywood should not vJ be such an ordeal now that Donald Cook has opened his tony eatery for canines. The film capital has had hospitals, beauty shops and cemeteries for its pets, but not until now has there been a restaurant exclusively for them. Cook has a fleet of delivery cars which will bring the tasty food right to the tables of filmdom's aristocratic pooches. If His Highness is overweight or for other reasons needs to diet, the proper foods will be supplied. Patrons may leave their hounds at the cafe, where they will have private booths and may gorge themselves on the choicest of canine victuals. Truly every dog has his day — at least in Hollywood! Jimmy Starr records Wynne Gibson's latest smart come-back thus: Eddie Welch bounced up and greeted her like a long lost brother. "Say,'' he said. "I haven't seen you since we started in shozv business together on Broadivay. You've certainly passed me!" "Yeah," flipped Wynne, "and I'm at a stand-still." Best-Dressed? Genevieve Tobin Has been nominated by Irene Castle McLaughlin as the bestdressed woman in Hollywood. The former dancer called her the logical successor to the late Lilyan Tashman as fashion dictator. Discretion is the better part of valor, so we refrain from comment. We are perfectly willing to let the laurels rest on Genevieve's fair head, but deep in the heart of every woman in Hollywood lies the ambition to win this title, and we doubt that Irene's nomination will pass Who do you think should be named? Send your vote to Hollywood Magazine and we'll publish the returns. They're telling this one on Director Frank Tuttle, whose Russian wife had a fellow countrywoman visiting her. Tuttle thought it would be sporting if only Russian were spoken at the table during her stay, and everything went fine until one meal he thought he asked for a spoon. The guest grinned, left the table and returned some minutes later leading a horse! Play Or Player? We've Been Impressed lately with a marked increase in the number of letters from readers which stress the importance of story as against star names in motion picture pro^r?r ductions. For years the novelty of speaking pictures and the fabulous glamour of screen personalities held the public interest despite poor stories and weak dialogue, but novelty and glamour have had their day and the industry is being shaK<;n down to the one great fundamental expressed in Shakespeare's famous axiom, "The play's the thing." The public will not pay to see just Clark Gable or just Greta Garbo any more. The stars are rapidly finding out that they cannot be greater than the stories in which they are presented. HOLLYWOOD Genevieve Tobin unchallenged. Clark Gable