Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1924)

It has been a long time since D. W. Griffith sat for his photograph, but as "America" is almost completed, he found time — with this result mobiles started from the station to the Palace Hotel, headed by Pola Negri, Bill Hart and Jackie Coogan, the crowd simply went wild. On the evening of the ball, held in the Municipal Auditorium, thirty thousand people packed the place to the doors. And they cheered every star who appeared, the biggest hands of the evening going to Pola and Kathryn Williams. Miss Negri appeared in her full DuBarry costume, worn in "Passion," the picture that first made her famous in America. Hill Hart had both guns working. Pen Turpin boxed two rounds with Benny Leonard, world's champion, and Bebe Daniels sang a group of Spanish songs. Barbara La Marr was received with loud acclaim, and the appearance oi Strongheart, the wonder dog star, accompanied by his leading lady, Lillian Rich, brought down the house. Fred Niblo acted as ma ter of ceremonies with his usual tremendous success. Other stars who were present were: Priseilla Dean, Enid Bennett, Constance Talmadge, Viola Dana and Shirley Mason — who did t heir famed imitation of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Valentino May Allison, Lew Cody, Hoot Gibson, Will Rogers, and— oh — it's impossible to give the whole list. Suffice it to say that it was a wonderful turnout lor the picture industry and a wonderful reception was given them by the San Franci-co people. "DOTH New York and Hollywood film circle-; J-'have been greatly interested in the report cabled from Florence, Italy, that Lillian C.ish has been introducing Charles II. Duel! to friends there as her fiance. This report came on the heels of denials from both Miss Gish 7} and Mr. Duell that they were to be married Miss Gish is understood to have said that the wedding would be before Summer. When the former Mrs. Duell returned from Europe recently and admitted that she had divorced her husband, the rumor of a DucllGish marriage started. Miss Gish with her sister, Dorothy, has been in Italy for some time, making "Romola," and Mr. Duell recently joined them. pVKRYBODY is watching the Pola Negri J—'set these days with a great deal of ardent curiosity. Miss Negri has just started her new picture under the direction of the famous Russian, Dimitre Buchowetzki. and there have been rumors that there might be fireworks. Mr. Buchowetzki has a reputation for temperament with his actresses almost equal to that of Miss Negri with her directors. However, so far everything is peaceful and diplomatic, except the language. They talk to each other in four or five foreign tongues, which makes it difficult for a casual bystander to know exactly what it's all about. /^\NL" of the mo<t charming studio parties ^-A-ver given was the tea dance at the Famous Players Long Island City studio recently, with Gloria Swanson as hostess. The occasion was a house-warming for Miss Swanson's new bungalow dressing-room — her "Little Grey Home in the East." This bungalow, the gift of the studio, is perhaps the most elaborate ever built for a <tar. It is on wheels, so that it can be moved to any part of the studio, and is as complete as a cabin ,/<■ luxe on an ocean liner. For the tea dance, a part of the studio as large as a city lot was partitioned off and made into a walled garden, with a lattice-arched entrance and a flag walk leading up to the house. On either side of the walk was a large grass plot, on which were set small tables and chairs, and several lawn swings. At one end was a large dancing space, presided over by a colored orchestra. At the other end was a long table on which were displayed the refreshments, including sandwiches, cakes, ices and — er — tea. Mi-s Swanson was a most graceful and gracious hostess, even though she did break an engagement to dance with a famous book reviewer, thereby causing him to leave the party in a huff. Her hundred or more gue>ts included many of the leaders of the literati and motion picturii, among them being Rebecca West, the Engli>h novelist; Edward Knoblock, Frank Crowninshield, Rosa Ponselle, of the Metropolitan Opera; Gari Melchers, the famous artist; George Putnam, the publisher; William Benet, Stephen Benet, Charles Hanson Towne. Owen Johnson, Fannie Hurst and John Farrar. Lois Wilson and Richard Dix, who were working in William de Mille's "Icebound" at the studio, also attended. Mr. Di.x's afternoon costume consisting of a heavy gray sweater, khaki trousers and lumberjack's boots. "KJITA NALDI is wearing hoop skirts — oh, •*-Mhe largest hoop skirts ever seen — in her new production. "The Breaking Point." The other day she agreed to go up to the Grauman theater at noon for a luncheon with Mr. Grauman and some other celebrities. She didn't have time to change her costume, so they had to call for a truck. Naldi rode through the streets of Hollywood in state, seated on the floor of the truck, with her hoops tilling the rest of the space, and she caused quite a sensation. T OYELY Florence Yidor, in spite of her -'-'stately demeanor and her intense respectability, simply can't prevent the men from falling in love with her since her separation from her husband. King Yidor. The latest victim is a very distinguished one, none other than Jascha Heifetz, world famed violinist. Heifetz recently gave two concerts in Los Angeles, but they seemed merely incidental to his devotion to the beautiful Florence. He managed to procure invitations to every affair she attended and was always to be seen at her side. Heifetz has been a matinee idol of musicloving women for several years, but apparently Mr^. Yidor managed to reduce him to the state of a very young college boy. [ coxtixted ox p.\cr SS ] Hal Roach has just installed a gymnasium at his studio and Ena Gregory trains every dot/ so that she may battle with her director