Movie Classic (Sep 1932-Feb 1933)

♦ THE NEWSREEL OF THE NEWSSTANDS ♦ Mrs. Jessels Alimony Guaranteed By Norma Talmadge, Says Lawyer New York Attorney Claims George's Wife Consented To Get A Divorce And Drop Plans For Alienation-Of-Affections Suit When His Famous Co-Star Backed Up His Promise To Pay — Norma Denies His Freedom Was Worth $100,000 To Her By JOAN STANDISH NORMA TALMADGE says the marital freedom of George Jessel from Florence Courtney Jessel (who divorced George last October) is not worth ten cents to her, much less $100,000, because she is not planning to marry George and she is the wife of Joseph Schenck. "I am so bored by this story that I guaranteed the divorce settlement of #100,000 to the former Mrs. Jessel in return for silencing a million-dollar alienation-of-affections suit against me. I haven't any words to express it," said Norma, who interrupted her personal appearance tour with Jessel long enough to return to Hollywood for the holidays. " In the first place, Mr. Jessel earns ten thousand dollars weekly, which should certainly take care of any divorce settlement he cared to make, without any additional financial help from me. In the second place, I am not planning to marry Mr. Jessel because I am very much married to Joseph Schenck." The same day Norma made this statement, a New York attorney, Frank L. Ippolito, hreaking with his law partner, revealed in court that the firm had handled the transactions between the Jessels — and claimed that his partner had given Mr. Jessel a reduced fee without consulting him (Ippolito). He asserted in an affidavit: "At the time the negotiations for a settlement commenced, Mr. Jessel was not in a position to pay a sum satisfactory to his wife. Finally, an arrangement was consummated whereby Mrs. Florence Jessel agreed to accept from her husband, in full settlement of all her rights as his wife, the sum of #100,000, and upon Mrs. Jessel's releasing any claim she might have against Miss Talmadge for alienating Mr. Jessel's affections. Miss Talmadge agreed to guarantee the payments called for in the contract be tween the Jessels." Thus, one version. George Jessel also entered an affidavit, in which he stated, "Mrs. Schenck acted simply as the guarantor of the payments to be made by me." Hollywood, naturally agog over what it has believed a romance, is dizzily turning its head from one statement to the other and attempting to piece together what might possibly be the facts in the matter. But each new development merely adds to the general confusion. Con si de r the most recent story, which is to the effect that George Jessel and Joseph Schenck, who have known one another for years, recently met aboard a train and appeared to be on the most excellent of terms. Another rumor afloat is that Norma and George parted on the best of terms for the holidays, but that since the newspaper stones based on Mr. I ppoliro's affidavit appeared, Norma isn't answering George's long-distance 'phone calls. There have even been rumors printed in some ot the more sensational newspapers as news stories that Norma is already secretly divorced from Mr. Schenck and secretly married to Mr. Jessel. According to lawyer, Mrs. Jessel (above) "settled" with both George and Norma for $100,000 New York lawyer's version of Jessel divorce settlement revives romance rumors about Norma Talmadge and George Jessel (above). But Norma denies marriage plans Do you wonder that Hollywood is bewildered, trying to figure out whether or not Norma was interested in George's freedom? Norma's final word is: "It's all too silly to bother denying. I'm terribly bored with it!" When the "romance" rumors about Norma and George first '"broke." they were just starting their personal ap(j. pearances together, but newspapers accepted the rumors as cmt r u m 0 r s not a s some press-agent's bright idea. Hut it 11 all did start as a publicit v in an's idea, it would explain main things. Norma and George have been friends since childhood. Now, as business partners, what more natural tli.m that one should help out the other? Ir would .ilsn explain Norma's constant denials ol a romance, and George's continued friendship with Joseph Schenck. What's vour guess: 29