Modern Screen (Feb - Oct 1933 (assorted issues))

...That Marian Nixon breakup... Peggy Hopkins Joyce's escorts surprise film city . . . A real fight over Lili Damita ...And other news and chatter Ah, there, Marlene! Robert Woolsey and Bert Wheeler decide to go to the other extreme— and amaze Hollywood by appearing in skirts. With them are Wallace Beery, Tom Mix and Carol Ann Beery. J. B. Scott FAN SHOULD KNOW THAT MARIAN NIXON BREAK-UP WHEN Marian Nixon suddenly surprised everyone (even including her husband, Eddie Hillman) with suit for divorce, things began to happen. Eddie learned of his wife's intentions after the suit had been filed — and then from a newspaper friend ! He is quoted as having said : "I don't believe it ! You must be wrong. It just can't be true !" Mutual friends of the couple were equally surprised because Eddie and Marian had been out in public together just the evening before the complaint was made public ! Many smaller tragedies have already resulted directly from the one large tragedy. A baby was to have been adopted by the couple. And now since the wife's status has changed it is rumored that the adoption will be impossible. A great number of persons whom Marian had reason to believe would see her side of the argument have sided completely with Eddie. Two of Marian's best friends, Sally Eilers and her husband Hoot Gibson, now have as their house guest none other than Eddie Hillman. The story has it that Eddie has offered Marian the home, several other pieces of property (mostly personal) and a settlement — all of which, according to the story, Marian has refused to accept. More reason for Hollywood siding with Eddie ! Every part of the sad break-up seems to point to the fact that Eddie still loves his wife and that he. had very little to do with her action for divorce ! Incidentally. Marian Nixon isn't asking her wealthy hubby (ex by now) Eddie Hillman, for a penny's worth of alimony! She says her income is $1,000 a month (Eddie's is $5,000) . . . and that she couldn't possibly spend more than that ! There actually are gals like that. . . . ® Remember, at a recent party, we told you that Elsa Maxwell (London's famous party thrower) arrived dressed as Professor Einstein ? She was the only woman present ! The other day, just after the famous scientist arrived in California for a series of lectures, Elsa received a note from him : "The next time you decide to impersonate me, I shall be happy to lend you my own clothes. . . . I'm sure you will find them much more deceiving !" • One of Hollywood's favorite "operators" opened again after months of being closed. The first night we found Peggy Hopkins Joyce there with three men : Jack Oakie, Johnny Weissmuller and "the gentleman in the dinner jacket." Peggy wore slacks and a beret and gained quite some attention for herself. George Raft was there with a bunch of the boys. • At last ! Hollywood has come out from cover and as much as admitted that being declassee has nothing whatever to do with morals! It all came to a head, when RKO was about to star Ann Harding in that old-timer "Declassee," in which the woman is so tagged because she happens to be a divorcee ! It was decided that being divorced in this day and age would no longer produce the result, so they made the woman a thief ! Then, after going to all that trouble, they decided not to make the film after all. That's Hollywood ! FIGHTING FOR LILI I ILI DAMITA had all Havana aflutter when her escort, Earl Smith, entered into a few bloody rounds with a dusky Cuban who insisted upon an introduction to the voluptuous Lili. Smith's refusal infuriated the Cuban, and he made a swing at the. two-hundred pounder. The fight was just waxing merry when the cops made their gallant entry and stopped all the fun. Earl Smith is. a brother of Sydney Smith, Lili's fiance. So y'see it was purely a "brotherly" act ! • Mary Pickford is always doing something "nice" ! On her way to New York recently, she heard of a family of five traveling cross country via day coach. She took one look at the tired little mother and her brood of children, then rushed over to the Travelers' Aid Desk and slipped the matron a roll of bills with the instruction that the young mother and her family was to be made comfortable. "And," added Mary, "don't mention my name." ® Everyone wondered whom Peggy Hopkins Joyce (connoisseur of men) would choose as her escort from Hollywood's brilliant list of males. So far she's picked two — Grant Withers and Jack Oakie ! Surprised? ® Constance Cummings can do all the freelancing her little heart pleases from now on. She and Columbia Studio have been wrangling for weeks over her contract. Columbia claimed she was still under contract to them, and Connie said she wasn't ! So they took their grievances to court and Connie emerged the victor ! © Lilian Harvey has evidently ensnared a couple of Hollywood's "eligibles." Gary Cooper had her to lunch t'other day and he looked ver-r-ry much interested ! Maurice Chevalier's flower bill has been rising to dizzy heights ever since the lil English gal 15