Motion Picture Classic (1923, 1924, 1926)

Here Are Some Further Comments on the Busy Activities of the Stars on the Coast— By the Editorin-Chief of the Brewster Publications Impressions of HOLLYWOOD By Eugene V. Brewster WHEN Irene Bordoni was playing here recently she was much entertained, and among her hostesses was Mrs. Antonio Moreno, who is a princess among entertainers. There were fourteen at table at the six o'clock dinner — the early hour being due to the fact that the guest of honer had to leave early for her theater. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Goldwyn, Fred Niblo, Enid Bennett, Florence Vidor, Corliss Palmer and Ramon Novarro were among the guests, and I had a good chance to compare Moreno and Novarro. They are both dark, and of the same height, but Tony is the stouter and older, and, in real life, the handsomer. He also looks more virile. Ramon seems more ethereal and romantic, and certainly less rugged. Of the two, Tony is the more picturesque. Those Eating Places 'Time was when Armstrong's was the popular place for movie people, and then the scene shifted down and across the boulevard to a place called Montmartre, which is much more elaborate and showy. But now the latter has got so noisy, and busy and common that the better class of movie people are not seen there so much. It has a large and noisy orchestra with a dance floor in the center and contests are quite the vogue. When one desires a lively time with plenty of exciteMontmartre; when one wants to one goes to the a good, quiet ment, enjoy meal and to talk and be heard, one goes to Paulais's, Armstrong's, Frank's, Henry's Ship Ahoy, or one of a dozen others within walking distance. Ship Ahoy, by the way, is fitted up like the saloon of a ship with the waiters in marine uniforms. There's another called "The Jail," which looks just like one, and the waiters are dressed as convicts. Then there's the "Zulu Hut," where one sits on the floor and is waited on by fake Zulus, the "Plantation," a big "Southern style" resort, and so on and so forth. Here is the very latest photograph of Mr. Brewster at his desk in the Hollywood office of the Brewster magazines. Altho the editor is ever busy with his editorial duties, he finds time to attend the various social functions of the stars as well as pay respect to their productions and performances Rudy Has a Winner \A^hile at another dinner party I learned from Florence "" Vidor that Director Fitzmaurice was secretly showing "Son of the Sheik" at a small theater in Glendale— "trying it out on the dog," as it were. I was mildly provoked, because I wanted to help them preview it, and they left me out. I had half a mind to leave the table and run over to Glendale and hunt it up, but I didn't. Next day I was over on the Schenck lot and I reprimanded Joe for not telling me about it. He said that he knew nothing about it and that he was surprised. I then ran across Rudy himself later and I also called him down for not inviting me to the try-out. He glared at me with fire in his eye and said that he knew nothing about the showing of his picture, that he should have been informed, that he ought to have been consulted, and so on. With that he excused himself and darted off. Later, Fitz came up to me and said that I had gotten him into a lot of trouble. The fact was. that he wanted nobody to see the picture in its present state, that he wanted to cut it and fix it up the best he knew how before the boss and star and critics saw it. "Serves you right," said I, "for not letting me in on it. I know all about unfinished pictures in their raw state, and I want to help you. I have staked my reputation on Rudy's comeback, and I'm just as anxious as you are to make this picture a knockout." He promised me I should see it in a day or two, and he promised the others ditto, and so now everything is quiet along the Potomac and everybody is happy. And, by the way, it's going to be a great picture! Gilbert Hair [ack Gilbert was among the 'guests up at the Hearst "ranch" recently, and he kept me amused at all times. He is full of life, full of ideas, full of conversation, full of fun and full of hair. His hair is now eight inches long, black and wavy, and he looks strikingly picturesque. He has (Cont'd on page 86) The J' 44