Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1929)

As We Go to Press Last Minute News from East and West MAURITZ STILLER, director and discoverer of Greta Garbo, died suddenly in Stockholm. Miss Garbo was prostrated by the news and work on her new picture has been held up. WALTER BYRON, the young English actor, and Carolyn Bishop have announced their engagement. Miss Bishop, a cousin of Frances Marion, was once reported engaged to Gene Tunney. BYRON has just been loaned to Gloria Swanson for "King Kelly." Tully Marshall plays the heavy. Erich Von Stroheim is rushing (yes, rushing) work on the film, working night and day, and Hollywood is holding its breath. Miss Swanson is living at the studio in a suite of rooms, so that she can be on hand for Von Stroheim's rapid fire shooting schedule. Will wonders never cease? FINDING no producer ready to sign him up at his figure, $3,500 a week. Rod La Rocque has gone ahead with his plans to leave the picture business. He is opening up a brokerage business in Los Angeles and is already dealing in bonds and mortgages. ESTHER RALSTON and her husband, George Webb, start a European vacation this month. RICHARD DIX gets his wish. He is back in Ne\y York, to work at the Famous Players' Astoria, Long Island, studio. It will be a talkie version of "Bulldog Druramond" and Victor Schertzinger will direct. OUR GANG is back at the Hal Roach studios after a tour of 287 of the country's theaters. NOW they're talking of doing "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" over again at the Fox plant. Remember the superb Harry Myers version of some years ago? This time it will be an all-talkie and Will Vilma Banky takes time out to become an American citizen. She recently signed her first citizenship papers in I-os Angeles. The freckled observer is Carter J. Vermillion, United States Naturalization Examiner. Miss Eanky was born at Budapest, Hungary Rogers is mentioned for hero from Bridgeport. Mark Twain's FRED THOMSON and Frances Marion celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary on October 13th as "Denial Anniversary." In other words, they deny all rumors of an impending divorce. LUCILE MENDEZ isn't going to divorce her husband. Director Ralph Ince. They're reunited again. JOAN CRAWFORD'S first starring vehicle will be Josephine Lovett's sequel to her highly successful "Our Dancing Daughters." The sequel is "The Brass Band." After this Miss Crawford will star in Adela Rogers St. Johns' "The Single Standard." SHARON LYNN'S playing in "Red Wine" won her a five-year optional contract with William Fox. JUNE COLLYER is spending Christmas with her parents in New York. Rumor persists that the Fox studio will not renew its contract with Miss CoUyer. CHESTER CONKLIN has purchased a yacht. This tops a collection which includes a swimming pool and a pipe organ. TIM McCOY is spending Christmas with his wife and children abroad. The children are in school on the other side. YOU will see Betty Compson opposite Richard Barthelmess again in "Weary River." She was with him in "Scarlet Seas." "Weary River" has patches of dialogue and song. THE temptation to change a Barrie title is over-powering. Paramount has just shifted Sir James' "Half an Hour" to "The Doctor's Secret." This is an all-talkie with Ruth Chatterton featured. ADOLPHE MENJOU and Florence Vidor will appear in a talkie version of Leo Dietrichstein's success, "The Concert." Lothar Mendez will direct. After "The Concert" the Menjous start on a vacation. BACLANOVA and Nicholas Soussanin may be married by the time you read this page. The wedding takes place this month. REGINALD DENNY and Betsy Lee were scheduled to be married on November 24th as this issue went to press. The Honolulu honeymoon will be held up until Denny finishes "His Lucky Day." By the way. Universal has just taken up its option upon Denny's long term contract for another year. THE Fox Movietone powers are planning an annual picture to be called "The Movietone FoHies." This will be modelled after the Ziegfeld FoUies.