The New Movie Magazine (Dec 1929-May 1930)

How Hollywood Entertains [Continued from page 93) Sue Carol's bridge game with Sally Eilers and Hoot Gibson apparently pitting their skill against the whole crowd. ing. Poppy rolls and butter completed this course. THE fruit salad also came to us on a huge serving platter. This time the rich yellow mayonnaise lay in charming waves in the center with fresh pears, fresh raspberries and strawberries, jumbo black grapes, bananas, etc., forming a colorful ring about it. Royal puff wafers accompanied it. The dessert, served on small glass plates, topping glass serving plates I also in gold and yellow), were individual turkeys in ice cream and ices for the ladies and pumpkins for the gentlemen. Tiny French cakes were on the plates when they were served. EITHER demi-tasse or large cups of coffee followed. This was an informal concession of the hostess because she knew that two of her guests, Hoot Gibson and Nick Stuart, prefer large cups. Large cups are often substituted for demi-tasse in Hollywood since the hostesses place enjoyment higher than fashion. The after-dinner entertainment was a matter of preference. Jobyna Ralston and Dick Arlen played bridge opposite Sally Eilers and Hoot Gibson. The only thing that interrupted theix pleasure was the announcement over the radio that the vogue of Western pictures had ended. No one showed any interest in them! Such actors as Hoot Gibson were expected to be forced to new manners of finding a living. Hoot's cards poised in mid-air as he listened. He frowned. What was this? Why, his last three had been among his largest box-office returns, he stuttered. A moment more and the same radio gave a review of Gary Cooper's and .Mary Brian's latest picture, "The Virginian." The picture was terrible, said the announcer. Gary Cooper was good, he continued. But Mary Brian ! She didn't cry but one could see it was merely courtesy which restrained her. Why, the reviews had been the best of her career! How could they? THE gathering might have thought it a gag, if it hadn't been that the orchestras and solos interspersed the announcements. However, Sue could let them suffer too long. It was a gag — always the Hollywood pet way of entertaining. Nick led me to the garage where a phonograph was whirling off the orchestral numbers and the butler was announcing before a microphone which was connected with the real radio in the living-room. A clever stunt that has caused many of Sue's guests moments of real anxiety. THEN the piano and songs! Sally Eilers left the bridge game to play accompaniments. And they thought Sally could really play — so well did she follow the player grand piano. But the vocal harmony was close, believe it or not. So close that we shut our ears with our hands. However we have heard others practice for talking pictures! Games on the floor completed the evening. Fake card games and "Classification," created by Charlie Chaplin at one of Mary Pickford's parties. Ten qualifications for each person. Ten points the limit for each qualification. Personality; beauty; brains; etc. You rate each of your fellow guests, as well yourself. Then compare what you gave yourself with what your friends give you. One guest awarded himself 10 per cent, in brains while the others only averaged two for the same person. No, it would be too mean to reveal who this was. There were a number of guests from Chicago. We'll let it go for one of them. Midnight saw a general exodus. Practically every professional guest was either working or taking a test the next morning. Hollywood parties always end early. 107