Modern Screen (Dec 1935 - Nov 1936)

MODERN SCREEN If you like to draw, test your sense of design, color, proportion, etc., with our simple Art Ability Test. An opportunity to get a frank opinion, free, as to whether your talent is worth developing. Magazines, newspapers, publishers and advertisers spend millions yearly for illustrations. Design and color influence the sale of most things we buy. Artists have become important to industry. Machines can not displace them. If you have talent, train it. Drawing may be your surest road to success. The Federal Schools, affiliated with a large art, engraving and printing institution, has trained many young men and women now serving industry as designers or illustrators, capable of earning from $1,000 to $5,000 yearly. Its Home Study courses in Commercial Art, Illustrating and Cartooning, contain exclusive illustrated lessons by many famous artists. Practical instruction by experienced men is the reason for its many years' outstanding success. Courses sold on easy payments. Send today for Art Test and Free Book explaining present opportunities in art. Just fill out and mail coupon below. FEDERALTCHOOlsriNC. 9996 Federal Schools Bldg. Minneapolis, Minn. Send me, without obligatioa, your Art Test and Free Book. Name Address Age Occupation. WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT START $1260 TO S2100 YEAR Common education sufficient. ^ franklin institute / Dept. IV1270. Rochester, N. Y. MEN «^ Sirs: Rush without charge. 32-pag:e book _\v-th list of WOMEN Mail coupon O today. / Name. SU RE. / Address. 66 U. S. Government Jobs now obtainable. (2) Tell me how to get one of these Jobs. Be up-to-date on the stars' lives with facts for your mental files Information Desk NOTE: The following biographies are printed by popular demand. They are the ones most frequently requested during the last month by readers wjio have sent in the coupon at the end of the article. Each coupon has been tabulated, so if you have requested any of these* kindly consider yours automatically responsible. GEORGE RAFT: Now that he's back on the screen again in "\'ours for the Asking" after a temporary absence, his faithful fans are flocking to the fold. So — here are the "vital statistics" you requested. In spite of the fact that Mr, R. is of French, German and Italian descent. George Raft is really his name. Born in Hell's Kitchen in New York City, George attended Public School 169 and later St. Catherine s. During his vacations and after school hours he worked as an electrician's helper for $4.00 a week. That not being lucrative enough, he decided at the age of 15 to become a bantam weight prize fighter. During the next 2 years he fought 25 times, was knocked out 7 and quit the game after his last beating. Following this was the baseball era. in which George signed with the Springfield Club. However, he was dropped after 2 seasons because of his poor batting, though as a fielder he did well by himself. Next, he became a professional gigolo at Churchill's in New York, where Rudolph Valentino worked in a similar capacity. After Rudy departed for Hollywood and the movies, he sent for Raft to be his double, but died before the latter could get there. Nothing daunted, George took up dancing in vaudeville, then in legitimate shows and night clubs. He introduced the Charleston to New York and later to London, becoming an international sensation and appearing in all the capitals of Europe. Back to New York, vaudeville and night clubs again, he finally ended up in Hollywood for his first picture, "Quick Millions." in 1931. Mr. Raft is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 155 pounds and has shiny black hair and light brown eyes. Baseball still remains his favorite sport and lie likes to watch prize fights and horse races. He and his wife have been separated for several years, and Virginia Pine still seems to be the "first lady" of his heart. Under contract to Paramount Studios, 5451 Marathon St., Los Angeles, Calif., be will probably appear next in "Playboy." JULIE HUNTER, Chicago, 111.— The reason why you haven't seen Charles Laughton on the screen lately is a very simple one. He hasn't made any pictures since "'Mutiny on the Bounty." Seriously though, he's been appearing on the English stage and is now marking time until the script is ready for him and his wife, Elsa Lanchester, to begin work on "Rembrandt," which will be a biographical film of that famous master's life. Methinks it will be well worth waiting for! ALAN BAXTER: Maybe you don't recognize the name, but when you know that this is the young man who played gangster Babe Wilson in "Mary Burns, Fugitive" you'll catch wise. He's 25 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall and has light brown hair and brown eyes. Born in East Cleveland, Ohio, he is the only son of the president of a leading bank in that city. Educated in Cleveland Fleights, he attended Williams University from which he graduated in 1930. and took a post graduate course at Yale's Baker's Workshop, where he specialized in Polish and other dialect roles. Next Alan served as apprentice in the Group Theatre and then the Theatre Guild. While appearing in "The Black Pit" Katharine Hepburn saw him and was so impressed that she persuaded Walter Wanger to sign him for a picture, sight unseen. This was "Mary Burns, Fugitive." in which he made his screen debut. While at Williams, Baxter was on the track and wrestling teams. He is a good swimmer and golfs in the low SO's. His hobbies are drawing, clay modeling and playwrighting. He has written many musical comedy sketches, two of them in the New York hit, "Life Begins at 8:40," two in "Calling All Stars," and three in "Tliumbs Up." On April 26 he was married to Barbara William. ■ His other pictures have been "Trail of the Lonesome Pine." "13 Hours by Air," "Big Brown Eyes," "The Case Against Mrs. Ames" and "Parole." His next is not scheduled at the moment. '\\'^rite him at Walter Wanger Productions, 1040 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood. Calif. MADELEINE LUTHERMAN, Philadelphia, Pa.— Here are the answers to some of your questions, though not all. Joseph Calleia has appeared in "Public Flero Number One," "Riffraff," "Tough Guy" and "Exclusive Story." Yes, Tullio Carminati has sung in several of his pictures, "Paris in Spring" being the last. Frank Lawton is married to Evelyn Laye. Douglass Montgomery is 5 feet 11^ inches tall, weighs 178 pounds, is, 27 years old and not married. Monroe Owsley is not married, either. FRANCES LANGFORD: Born in Lakeland, Fla., about 23 years ago, this young contralto has gone a long way in a comparatively short time. Miss Langford's mother, Annie Newbern, was a concert pianist so Frances comes naturally by her love of music. As a young girl she gained local popularity by singing at school and church entertainments. If you would like to see a brief synopsis of your favorite's life in this deportnnent, fill in and send us the coupon on page 67. General questions, of course, will also be answered here. Those asked most frequently and the most interesting ones receive first preference. And not too many at a time, please. Address: The Information Desk, Modern Screen, 149 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. She attended Southern College where she sang soprano in the glee club. Then came Itie tonsil o[)eration from which Miss Lang ford emerged, amazingly enough, a contralto. While in college she appeared on a commercial radio program in Tampa, and it was there that Rudy Vallee discovered her during one of her programs. Greatly impressed, he arranged for her to be guest star on liis next radio hour. In June. 1931, Frances trekked to New York where she sang on several commercial programs and took a try at the stage in a show wliich failed. Next cante vaudeville, which was highly successful and resulted in her obtaining a big radio contract. This she supplemented with work in New York cabarets and vaudeville until she was summoned to Hollywood to appear in "Every Night at Eight." She stands 5 feet 0V2 inches, weighs only 100 pounds and lias a dark complexion with raven black hair. Her favorite foods are fried chicken and Mexican chili and beans. She likes horseback riding, golf, sad music and amateur photography. Miss Langford is not married. She is under contract to Walter Wanger Productions, 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Calif., for whom she recently completed "Palm Springs. ' DOROTHY WASKOW, Ashland, Pa.— Claire Trevor was born in New York City on March 8. Mae West's birthday is August 17 and her birthplace, Brooklyn, N. Y. Cesar Romero was also born in New York, his birthday being February 15. Rosalind Russell hails from Waterbury, Conn., and her date of birth is June 4. Kitty Carlisle was born in New Orleans. La., but does not give her birthdate. BUCK JONES: This gentleman-cowl)oy 's life story is almost as exciting and full of adventure as his pictures. Born Cliarles Jones in X'incennes, Ind., on December 4. 1889, of American parents, he was educated in the public schools of Indianapolis. For a while he worked as a mechanic, but later went to Montana and took up the life of a cowbov. .Vext he joined the U. S. Cavalry for service in the Philippines. On his return Buck was engaged as an expert rider with Miller Brothers "101" Ranch Wild West Show. During the World War he again answered the call to battle and went to France with the First Air Squadron, remaining in Europe after the Armisiice. He often performed his remarkable feats of bo semanship before the various crowned heads of Europe It was one of these exhibitions that brought him to the attention of William Fox, who signed him for pictures, and Buck has been making W esterns these many (over 15) years ever since. He is married to Odille Osborne, and Maxine is their daughter's name. Mr. Jones' hobby is mechanics, his height 6 feet and his weight 173 pounds. He has gray eyes and brown hair. Under contract to Universal Studios. Lniversal City, Calif., his next two pictures will be "Ride 'Em Cowboy" and "Boss Rider of Gun Creek." MARIANNE EDDY, no address— Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald will start work shortly on "Maytime." According to all reports. Nelson Eddy is all the name he has. James Dunn was born on November 2, J905, which makes him just 30. He's American of Irish descent. Ricliard Barthelmess was born on May 9, 1897. Alison Skipworth was born on July 25, JEAN HARLOW: She was born Harlean Carpentier on March 3. 1911, in Kansas City. Mo. Her father was Dr. Frank Carpentier. a dentist. Until Jean was ten she attended the Barstow School for Girls \n K.C., then moved west where the Hollywood School for Girls continued her education. The next stop was Kansas City again, and the Bigelow School, lollowed by a spell at Ferry Hall in Lake Forest, 111 Beginning her marital troubles early, Jean married Charles F. McGrew II when she was only 16. and moved to Hollywood to live. Divorce came two years later. On a dare she registered at the Central Casting Bureau and shortly thereafter was assigned to an extra role in "Moran of tlie Marines" with Richard Dix. Hal Roach was her next sponsor, under whom she played in a Laurel and Hardy comedy released in 1929. Forced to ask for a release from her Roach contract because of family pressure, Jean spent the next 8 months doing nothing. Trying her luck again, she obtained a part in Clara Bow's "Saturday Night Kid." Through an acquaintanceship with Ben Lyon and James Hall, who were appearing in "Hell's Angels," she was awarded the lead in that picture. And that, dear readers, was the beginning of the platinum blonde race and lean's success. Jean is 5 feet 3V2 inches tall, weighs 109 pounds, has gray -blue eyes and "brownette" hair. She loves to entertain and is an excellent cook. Her hobby is collecting phonograph records and she is the proud owner of one dachshund, two Pomeranians and one cat. Jean cannot play any musical instrument, but enjoys golf, tennis, swipiming and riding. Her second husband wa'; Paul Bern, her thirdHal Rosson. William Powell and Jean seem to be very fond of each other, but deny all rumors of marriage, past or future. "Suzy" is her last picture and "Love on the Run, ' ' with Robert Montgomery, will probably he her next. You may write Miss Harlow at the MetroGo 1 d w y n Mayer Studios, Culver City, Calif., wliere she is under contract.