Movie Classic (Sep-Dec 1931)

OVIE CLASSIC TABLOID NEWS SECTION . Is Norma Talmadge Heading For Divorce? When Star Parted From Husband, Joseph Schenck, Three Years Ago, She Denied Divorce Plans— Now Reported To Have Changed Mind Chidnoff Joseph Schenck is said to have asked Norma to be sure of happiness before seeking divorce By NANCY PRyOR TS Norma Tal JL m a d g e on the verge of seeking a Reno divorce ? Rumors in the affirmative become more and more persistent — even though Norma has long been one star that Hollywood never expected to see in divorce court. Norma Talmadge and her husband, producer Joseph Schenck, have been separated for three years. Yet both have emphatically denied they contemplated divorce action. Immediately after their break, both Norma and Mr. Schenck gave statements to the press that practically coincided on this point:" Yes, we have parted. But we are not going to be divorced." Many reasons for this "friendly separation" were advanced by Hollywood. Perhaps the most important was that Norma and the genial Joseph Schenck owned a great deal of property jointly, and their community property welded them financially in marriage, though the spirit of the union might be broken. Another suggested reason was the great feeling existing between them — on Schenck's part, a deep affection for the girl who was his wife and greatest box-office attraction for so many years; and on Norma's part, sincere fondness for the man who had done so much for her and her family. Perhaps at the time of the immediate break. Norma did want a divorce. It would have given her the freedom she so keenly desired — another life, possiblv another great love. It is said that Norma There have been persistent romance rumors about Norma and her former leading man, Gilbert Roland (with her at left). It was after a trip to San Francisco to see him that Norma was expected to fly over to Reno Alexander Cannons remarked nt the time of their parting: "I have had everything in life but great personal happiness. I think that now I am entitled to find that if I can." And the kindly, wise Schenck, who has guided every step of her brilliant career, who lavishly mounted her productions and watched her climb to a pinnacle equaled only by Mary Pickford, nodded in understanding of his young wife's argument. But because he is so deeply fond of Norma, he wanted her to be sure her real happiness lay in separation from him. It is rumored that he said to her: "Wait. Be sure you are right before you take such a definite step. If vou are right, time will only convince you. Time will be the ultimate test." For three years Norma and Schenck have waited to see what time held for them. In professional activities, both have suffered from the separation. The star of Norma's great fame began to wane following her break with her producer-husband. True, she made several pictures for him after that, but Norma as a talkie star did not register the success she knew as a silent player. Her contract with United Artists lapsed six or eight months before Schenck himself resigned from that organization, turning oyer his reins of presidency to Samuel Goldwyn. Since leaving United Artists, Schenck. has not produced pictures, and like Norma is practically in retirement from active picture work. There is a persistent report now going the rounds, however, that Norma is about to make another talkie — this time for M-G-M. As for their personal affairs, time seems to have settled in favor of Norma's stand. And now no one would be surprised to see an immediate divorce between these two good friends. The local prophets who have had Norma heading for Reno said that she would be accompanied by her mother. Norma and Mrs. Peg Talmadge would journey to San Francisco to see Gilbert Roland (Norma's former leading man) with Jane Cowl in their stage production of "Camille." From San Francisco, Norma and her mother would fly to Reno to investigate the divorce routine. At the last moment it was decided that Mrs. 1 almadge had not sufficiently recovered from a recent operation to make the trip North. Norma went up to San Francisco alone and returned to Los Angeles the next day, without a side-trip to Reno. But the fact that she went as far as San Francisco, as predicted, would seem to bear out the story that Norma is thinking of divorce. Perhaps time has giveri its answer. Perhaps she has come to envy the happy domestic states of her two sisters — Natalie, married these many years to Buster Keaton; and Constance, whose third marriage (to wealthy Townsend Netcher) is an unqualified success. At least, there is reason to believe that if Norma does seek a divorce she will marry again. There have been romance rumors about Norma and Gilbert Roland. 42