Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1926)

STUDIO NEWS 6? GOSSIP Hold everything ! Girls, may we present Mr. Raymond Keane of Universal City? Raymond was discovered by the director, Buchowetski, and plays his first big part in "The Midnight Sun." He's got the looks all right, and Universal thinks he's star material Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ray are bravely facing the music since Ray's creditors forced him into bankruptcy. They were conspicuous among the stellar audience that attended in numbers the Los Angeles opening of 'The Merry Widow" WELL, it looks as if Gloria meant it when she declared a year ago that it was her intention to have a large family. The stork may be making a call at the expensive apartment of the Marquise de la Falaise in a few months. It was Henry who gave the secret away. His old friend, the Baron d'Aiguy, landed in New York last month and the Marquis came up from Pinehurst to meet the boat. The Baron had been one of the witnesses at the marriage of Gloria and Falaise, and natural!}' was much interested to hear how things were going. And then Henry hinted that an heir to the house of Falaise was anticipated. Gloria already has two children, little Gloria, and Joseph Swanson, the boy Gloria adopted and named after her father. TACK 1'ICKFORD and Marilyn Miller conJtinue to deny that there is any truth in the rumor of their estrangement. Jack says he is in California because he has to make his pictures there. And Marilyn is in New York for the good reason that she is starring in "Sunny." one of Broadway's biggest musical comedy hits. Hut the rumor persists, Miss Miller's mother told Chicago newspapers that Marilyn and Jack Pickford bad come to the parting of the ways. Marilyn was highly indignant when the story was shown her and declared her mother had no authority to speak for her. The news does not come as a surprise to Broadway, however, for Jack and bis charming wife have not lived together since the dramatic scene in the Hiltmore Hotel last summer. Marilyn and Jack had been abroad. It was $8 said that Jack had not behaved to suit Marilyn while in Europe. Back in New York Marilyn started rehearsing her new show. Jack began stepping about Broadway. Marilyn pleaded. Then she wired for Jack's mother. Mrs. Pickford came to New York and, mother-like, thought the trouble might be her daughter-in-law's. She is said to have hired detectives to trail Marilyn and report her routine from morning to night. At any rate, detectives did trail Marilyn, and after ten days made a report. It was taken to the hotel and left for "Mrs. Pickford." Now it so happened that not only Jack's mother, but Marilyn, was registered at the Biltmore as "Mrs. Pickford." Anyway. Marilyn got the detective's report. She read it from start to finish. Then she went for Jack and his mother and told them what she thought of them. Next day Jack and bis mother left lor California. ANYWAY, she was honest. The casting director asked the pretty newcomer if she had ever had any experience. "Two years on Broadway," she replied. "In what?" "In the window of Child's making pancakes." P.S.— She got the job. '"Till'', lost has been found. At least Nita J Naldi has been located geographically. Nita sailed for Europe three months ago, promising Marion Fairfax to return to Holly wood in lime to play a leading role in "The Desert Healer." which Miss Fairfax is producing for First National. When "The Desert Healer" was ready to go into production. Nita was unable to be found. Cable after cable failed to reach the film vamp, and no word had been received from her. Miss Fairfax began to worn-, not so much about the delay in starting her production as about what had happened to Nita. for it was feared she may have suffered a physical breakdown as an aftermath of her recent feat of reducing twenty pounds by dieting and fasting. The State Department at Washington was asked to aid in the search for the missing vampire. And Nita was found, though she had not been lost. Mi>s Naldi is in Munich, Germany, having a delightful time flitting on pleasure bent between Berlin. Paris and other capitals of European gaiety. For three months she has been abroad, during which time no direct word was received by the producer, her business representatives or friends. So naughty Nita will not be in the cast of "The Desert Healer." Katherine MacDonald has been chosen to take her place. ■p\EFINITION of a lady: -*— "A woman who, when she speaks to a man, makes him feel like a gentleman." The author of this received a prize of five guineas from a theater manager in Manchester, England, who offered prizes for the best definition of a lady in connection with his showing of Norma TalmadgeVTheLady."