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HOLLYWOOD HOUHO
S,° Mer reporter ossl„nedto"<overHoUyv/o
MAR1AN RHEA
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I
HAVE been put out of some of the best homes in Hollywood.
I am not a book agent nor do I sell mining stock. I am a reporter on a Los Angeles newspaper. I "cover" Hollywood — sometimes in a way that Hollywood doesn't want to be "covered." I am not assigned to get nice, pleasant interviews about the ideas and ideals of the film stars. My job is to get what we call spot news, about them — news about marriages that are supposed to be secret, divorces ditto, heart balms, breach of promise and alienation of affections suits; also news about the more serious things that come up in Hollywood from time to time, such as fights, murders and suicides.
Often— usually, in fact — this news involves difficulties which the celebrities would much prefer kept out of the public print. It is up to me to get it anyway, or try to. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. In any event, I am seldom welcomed in Hollywood with open arms.
However, "covering" Hollywood isn't all grief. Interesting and even enjoyable experiences have developed from the most inauspicious beginnings in this newsgathering career of mine. I realize this as I thumb through the pages of the diary I've kept.
Here is page one. It is an "I knew her when" entry, made a long time ago, telling about a little extra girl who afterward made good in a big way, and the first time her picture ever appeared in a Los Angeles newspaper
"September 27, 1928. The city editor had a brilliant idea today. Said for me to arrange a layout of pictures for page three featuring fashions worn in Hollywood these days. Said to use Hollywood extra girls as models and to have them photographed in our office. I called up Central Casting Bureau and asked them to send me out a dozen of their prettiest. Three blondes, two red-heads and a brunette showed up with some swell-looking clothes. One particularly goodlooking and striking. All curves and blue eyes and gorgeous complexion, pink and white. A grande dame air. Hair white as cotton. Name of Jean Harlow . . ."
Jean's first picture, taken in a white satin dress, was a lot easier to get than those which Frank Bentley, one of our photographers, and I went after on that memorable spring morning after John Gilbert and Ina Claire eloped to Las Vegas, as you will see
"May 10, 1929. City editor telephoned at 5:30 a.m. Said Ina Claire and John Gilbert got married last night. Wanted pictures of them eating first breakfast and so on for the first edition. Said Frank Bentley would pick me up in half an hour.
"Arrived Gilbert's home, Beverly Hills, high up on a mountain, before seven. Rang door bell. Filipino boy opened door two inches. Said no one could see either John or Ina. Told me: 'Boss no see (Please turn to page 55)
The reporter and cameraman worked hard to get this picture of John Gilbert and Ina Claire at their wedding breakfast.
Large photo above: Mary Pickford, pale and shaken, steps down from the witness stand as the Judge grants her divorce. Above, right: Jean Harlow was only a girl who posed for a fashion photo, but she stood out. Left: Kathryn Carver.
The New Movie Magazine, June, 1935