The New Movie Magazine (Jan-Sep 1935)

huge radio capable of picking out of the air long and short-wave programs, with a phonograph inside its cabinet which can play an entire opera. Davenports and easy chairs are scattered all over the place as are all sorts of games — ping-pong, anagrams, marble games, shuttlecock and battledore. Baxter keeps a skilled projectionist on his household staff at all times. R\PIDLY gaining a reputation as a host equal to that once enjoyed by Lew Cody, Fred Keating, ex-magician and now a movie star, has a small playroom in his "Casa Escrow." perched on one of Hollywood's highest hills, which recently has been the scene of some of the gayest and most ingenious parties ever seen by the film colony. Although this playroom contains only a couch, some comfortable chairs, a piano, bar, serving counter and card tables. Keating has been able to use these "props" as the background for a series of entertainments which equaled the best that vaudeville ever had to offer in its heyday. Of course always present was "Talul," Fred's celebrated canary, the bird that has been featured literally thousands of times in Keating's famous disappearing bird and bird cage trick. "Talul" has a special perch all to himself in a corner of this playroom. Fred's parties are generally in the form of a "show." An impromptu show in which all of the guests are included in the "acts." Sometimes Fred is master-of-ceremonies. Other times it is his colored advisor — Audrey, who understands Keating's tastes in all things from breakfast menus to screen roles — who acts in that capacity. When Audrey is master-of-ceremonies he is always dressed as an East Indian, his turbaned headdress and colorful robes adding a decidedly bizarre note to the occasion. A MORE or less recent importation x^ from Europe. Anna Sten. the Goldwyn star, has been bitten by this playroom bug. Her guest amusement room is almost circular in design, in keeping with her modernistic home, built on a hill in Santa Monica and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This room is filled with hundreds of dolls. Anna's passion — German dolls. Russian dolls, Polish and American dolls, as well as many dolls made by the aboriginal children of savage African and South American tribes. Hardly a party ends at her home that some guest doesn't walk away with one of these dolls — a gift from Miss Sten. Here, with a background of backgammon tables and a baby grand piano, Anna Sten holds her very popular Russian parties. Recently, while entertaining Marlene Dietrich, Mary Pickford. Edward G. Robinson. Frank Morgan and other screen celebrities, a visiting Russian ballet company and orchestra were the main features of her entertainment. Guests were seated cross-legged, Russian style, on the floor, and accompanied by the dancers and musicians these guests sang European Gypsy songs, Cossack songs and later played native Slav games. AMONG other well-known playrooms in Hollywood are the ones owned by Wallace Beery and Charles Butterworth. Wally's is a combination play and sun room, which is decorated entirely with Mexican bric-a-brac from "Viva Villa.'.' It has a large patio on one side and a game room on the other. In the latter place are numerous animal trophies "bagged" by Mrs. Beery and Wally. On the walls are several mounted deer heads, and some large game fish, hooked in the streams of the high Sierras. In the game room is also a small fireplace, a miniature motion picture projection machine, a radio and innumerable games of all sorts. Charles Buttenvorth's fun spot is a combination game room and bar — where, believe it or not. Charles seldom serves anything but buttermilk. The newer "whoopee" rooms promise to be far more elaborate than their predecessors. In fact the plans for some accord them as much space as a major portion of the dwellings. From the appearance of things, now. playrooms promise to become, within the year, as important a part of Hollywood programs as the Mayfair club dances and the Academy awards. On-the-Set Reviews (Continued from page 35) And there's Fred's chance to sneak in on Ginger and give her the low-down on the set-up. In order better to talk things over, Ginger and Astaire hop in a gondola, propelled by Eric Blore (who is really Horton's valet, in disguise!) (We told you it was complicated!) Giving an extra push, for good luck. Blore falls into the canal, leaving Fred and the girl friend to drift out to the bay. without even a mother to guide them! Just as they are going down for the third time, a passing boat picks them up and. dripping wet, they get back to the hotel in time to hear Blore admit that he (disguised as a parson) officiated at the marriage of Ginger and Rhodes. So. what do you think? They aren't married at all! The whole thing was just in fun! Director Mark Sandrich let us sit in his chair while Ginger and Fred went through a scene. "Have you forgotten what we've been to each other?" Ginger says tenderly. liXo . . . no . . ." Fred murmurs brokenly. ''What we've . . . been . . . to each other?" "I knew, yesterday in the park, when I danced in your arms, you remembered who I was — " "Of course," Fred assures her. "Who are you"-" "Then you still don't remember?" And that's as far as we got. We knew ME\ WITHOUT Warner Broth ZVAMES ers' "G-Men" • would start an PARAMOUNT avalanche of stories about the brave boys who do and die for the preservation of law and order in the United States. Before the Cagney picture was halfway to first base, a lad by the name of James Remington McCarthy sharpened up a handful of pencils and in no time at all turned out this story, all about a young federal dick whose pursuit of a stick-up gang leads him to a small town, and romance. Fred MacMurray plays the role of the intrepid G-man. He is standing in the lower hall of a small town rooming house when the landlady comes in. (Please turn to page 60) RMING Sunny Golden Hair! Compliments from my friends TRY ASK YOUR Lustrous golden hair softens and flatters your head and face — gives that fresh, bright clean, look so admired by friends. BLONDES — is your hair darR> ened, faded or streaked? Marchand's Golden Hair Wash used as a rinse will restore its former lightness and natural sunny golden hues. BRUNETTES -let Marchandrs Golden Hair Wash give your hair glorious new life. Rinse your dull hair and gain a sparkling sheen of tiny highlights. Or lighten it to any natural blonde shade desired. 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