Modern Screen (Dec 1931 - Nov 1932 (assorted issues))

MODERN SCREEN'S GOSSIP A FEW months ago, when Sally Eilers and Hoot Gibson were married, wise old Hollywood shook her head and said : "I wonder how long she will be able to hold him ?" This question arose because of Hooter's reputation for being a story-book bachelor — money, Rolls Royce and a night air complex. Soon, however, it became apparent that Hoot wasn't doing at all well with his latest business ventures . . . the Rolls was sold and other of the money-indications disappeared. This time, Hollywood changed her old tune to read : "How long do you supose he can hold her?" This bit of gossip was helped by the fact that Sally was making a very big hit with her Fox contract. Now comes a last-minute development on the EilersGibson relationships. It seems that Hooter failed to show up at a dinner party once last week. Sally was forced to wait about two hours for an escort home. She is reported to have been very mad indeed! Some of the citizens at the party even thought it was the end. But they had it all patched up by the next day. Now, last night there was another big dinner party . . . and. again Hooter forgot his obligations until two hours after they were said to be necessary. It is reported that Sally laid down the law to him as follows : "If this happens once more this month it will be the last time you will have the chance to embarrass me!" We sure hope that Hooter takes that hint very, very seriously ... if the report is true . . . and begins showing up on time. There really isn't a nicer couple in the whole colony. You'd be surprised if you knew the number of leading sheiks of the talkies who spend a few hours every week in a certain beauty parlor taking care of their hair! Bald sheiks would be funny! WHEN a Bennett does anything — she does it thoroughly. And when Connie didn't want any representatives of the press, either reporters or cameramen, at her wedding — she had nary a one. But at sister Joan's recent marriage to Gene Markey there was a special reception room for the newspaper boys and girls and the fellows with the cameras were treated like one of the human species. Joan and her bridegroom posed patiently for the photographers, and Joan threw her bridal bouquet into the crowd of fans who waited in front of the Town House, where the ceremony was performed. However, she did put her foot down once in not allowing pictures to be taken of her wedding reception guests. "That would look as if I were capitalizing on the names of those I had invited," Joan said. Guess^ who is going to be M-G-M's "Red-Headed W oman"? No other than that famous platinum blonde, Jean Harlow. They will either have to get a new title for the picture, or a very large bottle of very extra red henna for Jean's crowning glory. TIME was when Dorothy Jordan stepped out with Howard Hughes — and Donald Dilloway with Barbara Weeks. But it looks like Dorothy and Donald are back together again . . . and for keeps. Don admits he's been trying to get Dot to marry him. They were at the opening of "The Is the happiness of Sally Eilers W et Parade" together. Recently they were together at the Agua Caliente races. In fact, we never see the one without the other. Maybe Dot will tire of Don's proposals soon — and set the date. Checking over a script with a writer, a studio boss objected to one of the player's lines which read: "I ain't going no place." "With Will Hays and one thing and another," opined the boss, "we've got to be mighty careful of these mistakes in grammar. Better change it to 'I am not going no pl/dC 0 . I A BLOND actress, plus an automobile, plus another automobile, equals an unoptioned contract. Judith Wood is the actress, and it all happened when the car she was driving crashed into another auto. Judith suffered a broken nose as a result. After it had been set and healed, she took several tests out at Paramount who held her contract with option time coming around. Don't know exactly what they found to be wrong with the new Wood nose — but the option wasn't taken up. HOLLYWOOD'S latest indoor sport is to show party guests the reels of film taken when the celebrities "blow up" on the set. Although a retake is necessary for the finished picture, the cameras keep right on grinding after a scene has been ruined. And what they grind out is a riot ! Grand dames of the screen, when they slip up on their lines, aren't such grand dames, it seems. And they have a special vocabulary to be used on such occasions. Studio executives so far are the only ones who have chosen this type of entertainment for their guests. And when one of the guests happens to be in the "blow up" reel, well — STOP worrying about that double chin and don't waste your money having the old face lifted — for the oldish boys and girls are coming into their own in the movies. M-G-M paved the way with those two box-office hits, Wally Beery and Marie Dressier. Now Paramount is going to co-star Alison Skipworth and Richard Bennett. Both have a goodly number of years stacked away in their biographies. The Mae Murray type of perennial youth is decidedly on the decline. Actors and actresses can now afford to look as old as they feel. Provided they are actors and actresses, of course. WE'VE been wondering what caused all the rush to Palm Springs . . . and now it comes out that there is a new Gambling Casino about seven miles from the place. The reports are that it rivals Monte Carlo. The other day, Jack Oakie had an appointment with the publicity department at the studio. He gave as an excuse that he wasn't feeling up to par and that he wanted to run down to Palm Springs for the mud baths! Now everyone knows that they really have mud baths at the springs . . . but no one has ever been known to run very fast from Hollywood to make use of them. Ten days later Jack arrived home. He called up the publicity department and was immediately asked : "Well, how were the mud baths?" "Mud baths?" questioned the comic, "Oh, yah . . . gosh, I forgot all about 'em !" and Hoot Gibson imperilled? 15