Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1941)

Hollywood's Maddest Moments (Continued from page 41) another band, and had streamers all the way across Vine Street which read "Welcome home, Gloria." Dozens of little flower girls with garbage pails (because they were larger and held more than buckets!) filled with cut flowers were there and as Gloria came through the studio gates, the childish voices chanted "Welcome home, Gloria" — and pelted her with rosebuds. It was soon after that the catfight ed. You see, Pola Negri was then at the studio. She was growing in favor also one thought it would be a smart idea to whip up a feud between the ;' ila hated cats, Gloria loved them. So. in the morning, Gloria would have her maid, chauffeur and secretary place huge pans of milk all around the studio. When Pola arrived, she would order all 3 removed from the lot — which was done. At night Gloria's friends were out in all the back alleys, bagging more ts. And when Pola arrived in the morning, the place would be alive with them. Well, that was too much even for a growing concern like Famous Play ers-Lasky and it was decided ihat one of gals must make her future pictures in New York City. Gloria chose to go. It was soon after that that she turned down a contract which would have paid her SI", 500 a week in order to make her own productions, which was the turning point in her life. One little incident I almost forgot. There was a big ball given for Gloria, which Wally Beery, her ex-husband, crashed. As she passed, he whispered to her, "It's quite different from the old davs when you used to burn the biscuits, baby — and I had to eat "em!" IEAN HARLOW created a sensation J when, as maid of honor, she stole the spotlight from the bride, Carmelita Geraghty, when she married writer Carey Wilson. It was a garden wedding, held in the home of agent Phil Berg, against the background of a huge fan made entirely of flowers. It was a lovely setting and the ceremony went off according to Hoyle. But when it was finished, the photographers moved in. It was then that Jean Harlow shouted, "Get a load of pictures of me, boys! You're going to need them — because I'm announcing my divorce in the morning." And she did — from cameraman Hal Rosson. Then there was that bright Sunday in 1934 which brought one of the most tragic developments our town has ever known. Its repercussions aren't ended yet. The good-looking Russ Columbo said good-by to his family and stepped out of the door of their home in Hollywood Hills. He was en route to Sunday mass. Later he intended to visit his sightless and ailing mother, who was in a Santa Monica hospital. A few hours later, the Columbo telephone told off the message of his death to the members of his family. Russ, en route to the hospital, had passed the office of a man who collected pistols and old muskets and had stopped to chat with him. They were sitting across a glass-topped desk and exchanging views on a particular weapon, when a loud explosion barked a deafening crescendo of catastrophe. Unknown to either Columbo or his friend, Lansing Brown, the pistol had contained a bullet. He died the same evening. The following day he was to have signed a long-term contract to star in musicals for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. But the sequel is this. His mother, who waited hopefully for him that day, is still waiting for him in a Hollywood bungalow. For the family, fearing fatal results if she knew the truth, have kept the news from her and she believes that Russ still lives and is winning international success and fame in foreign lands. All of Columbo's friends keep this secret buried when they're visiting her. Scotch trick played Irish fashion: Pat O'Brien and Frank McHugh quibble over a coin at the Brown Derby, stage a toss-up with O'Brien coming out on the winning — and grinning — end 72 They read mythical letters to her, while she beams in her own sightless world and proudly tells of the things she's heard from him. The family writes letters regularly each week. They have done that ever since September 2, 1934. WHEN Ben Hecht and Charlie MacArthur first came to work at Metro, they hired their secretaries to wear evening clothes while they were at work, because they thought they looked prettier that way. On one of MacArthur's trips east, he took a company typewriter with him. Unfortunately, he left it behind him on the train. When the company brought the matter up, MacArthur said, "Well, it said 'Return to M-G-M." and I knew you'd get it back!" Then there was the first visit here of Moss Hart, whose successful play "Once in a Lifetime" was about to open. It was produced by Sid Grauman, whom everybody loves. So, even though Hollywood wasn't crazy about the play, every important producer and star was there opening night, laughing and applauding with gusto, not because they wanted to (There hasn't been a play written about Hollywood since that has touched the satire of that one!) but because they didn't want to let Sid Grauman down. But to get back to Moss's arrival — Grauman, who's a showman of the P. T. Barnum type, thought up a swell stunt which would help sell tickets for the play. Moss was met at the train with an armored truck, such as they use to carry gold from one bank to another. (I beg your pardon! — such as they used, before our gold was buried in Fort Knox. Kentucky.) Sid told Moss Hollywood was so incensed at him that for his own protection he had brought the truck, because somebody might take a pot shot at him on his way to the hotel". But Moss, having written gags all his life, recognized one when he saw it. He refused to get inside the blooming thing, wouldn't even be photographed with it — which spoiled all the fun. Ruth Roland's wedding to Ben Bard was a honey. Ruth was one of our richest women, but Ben wasn't blessed with too much of this world's goods. She had been married once or twice before, but never had had a full regalia. She donned one for this wedding, including a veil She wanted the orchestra to play something lively and perhaps they did from a sense of humor or fright — because after the ceremony they played "I Can't Give You Anything But Love. Bal>\ " That was the first party I ever crashed. Six of us went together and spent hall a day borrowing invitations (which no one asked to see). And on my arrival there, I drew Buddy Rogers as an usher, who said to me, "Tell me what to do Hedd i ii see, thi> is my first olT< For refreshments. Ruth served a pie sponge cake and a dunk i mice. UTSe, there are hundreds of Goldwymsms, but I think one of the fun is about the time Sam went to see the newborn baby of a friend of his. and asked what he was going to name him His arlie." "< roared Sam. "Why. every Tom. Dick, and Harry is called Charlie!" Well. I could go on into the night alio the insults, mistaken identities, stranger than-fiction coincii ags but I tig ure you've had enough for one sitting and tear if I went on you might say. likej Charlie McCarthy, "One more, ami I'll, mow you down'" photoplay combined with MOvn mirror