Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

Don't cable bail to poor George Bancroft! These German Green Police aren't hiking him off to the hoosegow. They just happened to be marching by as George was strolling down a Berlin avenue on his recent tour of the older world More youth and beauty for the films, and so for us. Fans, step up and make your party bows to Polly Walker, discovery of George M. Cohan for musical comedy. She will appear in new Radio pictures and A. seller list in New York all Fall. Now the studio has an idea it would like the clever, beautiful Claudette Colbert, of "The Lady Lies" fame, for the part, and is said to be dickering for her services. '"PHE most convincing argument that ■*■ has been advanced against the eighteen-day diet! When Joe Cobb, former fatty of the "Our Gang" comedies, went into vaudeville, he drew down a mere insult of $2,500 a week. Aw, who likes grapefruit, anyway? Other people have conquered this same thing, and returned to fame. Hollywood knows more than one such case. The dusky Alma plans resuming a film career. First, however, she will take a long ocean voyage before she resumes her career in films. Glowing reports of Alma have come from the staff at the hospital. She has strengthened herself by helping other patients to cure themselves of the habit. She feels for the first time since she became an addict, five years ago, that she has beaten the addiction. She also says she has developed for the first time the real will power that will bring her back and keep her from touching drugs again. Let's help her come back. What do you say? TX7E have told you that Billy Haines is a collector of antiques, so you won't be surprised that he has decided to convert his Spanish bungalow into a Colonial. He has hied himself to an apartment and the carpenters are now doing their dirty work. NOW they say that Greta Garbo isn't going to film the autobiographical novel, " ExWife," after all. Metro-Goldwyn is reported to have given up $20,000 for the rights to this story by Ursula Parrott, which was on the best ANOTHER of those engagements has turned up that are inclined to make cynics out of grammar school boys. Again I say that I don't mean to throw carpet tacks in the path of true love. But there is something about the reported betrothal of Lita Grey Chaplin, singing ex-wife of the comedian, and Phil Baker, accordion-playing comic of revues, that makes me poke about for a Zulu in the woodshed. Roy D'Arcy, formerly known as the lady's fiance, was on hand to bestow a blessing (I have a picture of all three at a party) and it all looks just a little too nice and happy. It's so easy to get engaged and publicity at the same time. Ever hear of Clara Bow and Harry Richman? Old Cal wishes them a happy marriage and long life together. If he wants to snicker quietly up bis cuff you just needn't notice it. TI 'HE old stagers are bowing, at this moment, to a newer JL comic sensation. That's Mr. Jack Oakie, the rubber-faced vaudeville graduate who leaps from film to film like a bounding gazelle. A rapid fire succession of good comic parts have built Mr. Oakie to his present eminence. His work in "Fast Company" was elegant, and other such fast-cracking roles have added to his rep. So that when Oakie made his first appearance in the Nancy Carroll picture, "Sweetie," at the Paramount in New York, he was greeted by tremendous applause, and his singing of "Alma Mammy " could have taken ten encores if the film had been run over and over to satisfy the mob of Oakieites. His vaudeville training made Jack perfect talkie-meat. He'll be famous if he gets good parts — as he will. The Old Oakie Bucket! May it ever be full! SOME years ago Eddie Cantor made a silent version of his famous Ziegfeld stage success, "Kid Boots," for Paramount. Now it's to be redone properly, [ please turn to page 86 ] 45