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PLAYROOMS °*tf*SMRS
A new Hollywood fad which may sweep over the country. Turn your friends loose in a sound-proof room with unbreakable dishes. • By HENRY M. FINE
It is in Mary Pickford's playroom, one of
the first in Hollywood, that most of her
famous costume parties are held.
George Brent's playroom, beautifully fur nished, is a place for a quiet, friendly talk (Below) That of Mr. and Mrs. Pat O'Brien
WHOOPEE rooms! Play places of the stars! Where the Norma Shearers, Clark Gables and Marlene Dietrichs relax and get away from grease-paint, cameras and lights.
Where screenland's elite turn to ping-pong, puzzles and games for an evening's fun.
They were first really made popular by the late Lew Cody, whose amusing parties, thrown in what he called his "whoopee parlor," situated in the renovated cellar of his home, earned him the reputation of Hollywood's "King of Hosts." Stars and their satellites, directors, producers and other film executives, flocked to these "shindigs" in droves. And with his close friend, frozen-faced Buster Keaton, who here would smile once in a while, Cody showed moviedom how to make merry. His formula was a few cocktails, cleverly concocted at a miniature bar, and a multitude of crazy games.
THE idea quickly caught on, and today playrooms have become a definite part of Hollywood entertainment. To such an extent that screen notables without them are rapidly adding them to their homes.
One of the newest is in the home of Director Wesley Ruggles and his wife, Arline Judge. It is built on the order of an English tap-room. The ceilings are beamed, and the walls, of burnt wood and plaster panelling, add to the effect. On one side of the room is a massive fireplace. At the other end, a large bar. In a small alcove is a buffet service, with the east end of the place providing a
beautiful view of the swimming pool and bath house.
The room seats 60 people comfortably. Here on a Sunday you'll find Helen Twelvetrees and husband, Frank Woody, bragging about their family presidential candidate, infant Jackie, favorite playmate of Wesley Ruggles, Jr., except when youthful squabbles separate them. Over in a corner June Collier and Stuart Erwin will probably be playing a rubber of bridge with Marian Nixon and William Seiter, whereas in another corner Esther Ralston will undoubtedly be trying out the new combination radio-phonograph which plays 12 records without stopping.
When the crowd gets tired of playing games, Wes will turn off the lights, and with the assistance of a small, sound equipped motion picture projection machine, flash on a baby-sized screen his latest film. When this is over everyone adjourns to the Rathskeller downstairs, which boasts everything up to and including a billiard table.
AMONG the oldest "whoopee" rooms in Holly. wood is the "Trophy Room" at Pickfair. So named because it contains paintings and relics of Early California. Here {Please turn to page 58)
Wilier
38
The studious James Cagney's playroom looks more like an arsenal, what with all the guns, but there are lots of books, too, which can't be seen in this shot.
The New Movie Magazine, August, 1935