Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

120 Photoplay Magazine for May, 1930 TEST VCUR ABILITV FREE HERE is your opportunity to find out how much talent you have. Our simple, scientific Questionnaire tests your natural sense of design, proportion, color, perspective, etc. It may show you the way to a bigger future — a real career. Federal Students Are Successful Many Federal School students and graduates are making $2,000, $4,000, $5,000 and $6,000 yearly. The Federal School is recognized everywhere by employers of artists and by buyers of art work. Big prices are paid for drawings. Learn Commercial Art at Home If you like to draw, an almost sure indication of talent, the Federal Course will quickly develop your ability to earn money. Some students earn more than the cost of the course while studying. Many nationally known artists have contributed exclusive, illustrated lessons to the Federal Course. No previous training is needed. You will receive personal, individual criticism on your work. Send TODAY for Questionnaire ! Just fill out and mail the coupon, stating \our age and occupation. There is no cost or obligation to you. Schoot (^ofGjmiittrcial Designing I 313 Federal Schools Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn. I Send me your analysis questionnaire without J cost or obligation. I Name Present m 1 Age Occupation l Address News! Views! Gossip! of Stars and Studios! [ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 90 ] UNLESS all the signs fail, and such things have been known to happen in Hollywood, Reginald Denny is in line for an amazing comeback to his former great popularity. He has been signed for the leading male role in De Milk's new operetta, "Madame Satan," and a De Mille assignment is not to be sneezed at. Not even in hay fever season. Denny is also rumored for the role of Danilo in the phonoplay revival of "The Merry Widow" at the same studio. It was the same role that provided John Gilbert with one of his greatest characterizations in the silent days. Denny, rather to the surprise of everybody, possesses a beautiful singing voice, and has had training in light opera during his stage days. He also appeared in "The Merry Widow " on the stage. CORINNE GRIFFITH, one of the most exclusive of the Hollywood hostesses, gave a small dinner party not so long ago. \Ym. Powell was invited, but a previous engagement made his acceptance for dinner impossible. He came later, bringing along Ronald Colman. In no time at all the Griffith doorbell began to ring. Guests, dozens of guests, came pouring in. Most of them Corinne didn't know at all. She bore up as well as she could under the circumstances, asked them their names, and introduced them to Gloria Swanson and the rest of her important invited guests. Later, after the excitement died down, she saw Powell and Colman sort of snickering in a corner. When pinned down to it they admitted that they had attended a party earlier in the evening. Since it was just a little dull they invited everybody to drop in on Corinne. Such is social life in Hollywood, and such is a practical joke according to Powell and Colman. CLARA BERANGER, the writer, passed a plate of gorgeous looking little cakes to some friends. "The woman who makes these cakes," she said, "supports three children by her efforts. I've only been able to support one writing scenarios." THAT smart guy in Baltimore who offered to post 810,000 for a one-round bout between Jack Gilbert and Jim Tully is probably sobbing as if his little heart would break. There are going to be no more return engagements, for Jack and Jim have kissed and made up. It happened at the home of Herman Mankiewicz. Jack arrived at the party. Jim was there. Jack walked over, shook hands with Jim and Jim said he was sorry. Apparently that's that. The newspapers said that Hollywood was agog over the whole affair. But Hollywood is always being agog about something. THE nerve-shattering memory of the air crash that killed ten men over the Pacific last winter recently stopped work for a day on a First National picture! Its director was Howard Hawks. His brother, Kenneth, was one of those killed in the tragedy. The First National script called for a ship to be bombed by a plane. The bomb was to be exploded by electricity as the plane dove. But the bomb went off too soon. The swooping plane was caught in a hailstorm of debris. Only by rare skill did the stunt flyer — Lieut. E. H. Robinson — bring down his plane safely. Howard Hawks saw it all. Still shaken by the horrible death of his brother, Kenneth, he was completely unnerved. Work was off for the day. 'X if AE MURRAY'S screen career is ending in •" ■■•a storm of temperament, court actions and general frustration. She has filed suit against Tiffany for $1,750,000 damages, charging breach of contract and injury to her professional reputation. Bee-stung Mae contends that in making "Peacock Alley," her first talkie of a projected series of eight, Tiffany failed to use "any degree of skill." As a result, her "unique and extraordinary" talents were not properly exploited, and she was subjected to "ridicule and humiliation." Phil Goldstone, general manager of the Tiffany film studio, tells a different tale. "I don't know why Miss Murray is suing us," he says. "We gave her every break. We hired a special director from Paramount, gave her the leading man she wanted and allowed her to di:tate the story treatment. "The cameraman exhausted every possibility in trying to make a forty-year-old woman look like sweet sixteen. We had her for two more pictures. I had a nice story in which she would be a sophisticated woman of the world, but she yelled because the role called for a woman of middle age. "Finally we bought up the contract, apparently to her satisfaction. I wouldn't hire Mae Murray again if she were the only actress in Hollywood. There's no room for temperament in the movies now, with so many talented boys and girls willing to work for reasonable money. ' ' So that's that. Poor Mae! Trying to be 1919 in 1930! YOU remember Fay Lanphier, California beauty acclaimed "Miss America" at the national pulchritude pageant at Altantic City, 1925, and chosen for the title role in the Paramount picture "The American Venus." Probably the most -publicized beauty that ever emerged winner from a contest her fame was almost as brief as a butterfly's moment in the SUB. Now Miss Lanphier has suddenly reappeared in Hollywood, found working as a stenographer in the studio where once she seemed destined for an outstanding picture career. A few weeks ago she came down from her home in San Francisco, following the closing of a beauty shop in which she was interested. Unable to find a part, though casting directors were kindly attentive, she turned to typing at Paramount to be on hand when opportunity should call. The first script given her to copy on her new job was that of "True to the Navy," starring Clara Bow, and directed by Frank Tuttle. It is an odd trick of fate that Tuttle was one of the judges to select Fay for her part in "The American Venus," nearly five years ago. Also, he directed her in the picture, in which appeared Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Ernest Torrence, and Esther Ralston. Well, Fay is no quitter. She likes her present work, has no hard luck story, and all she asks is that she be given a break. A spirit like that deserves success. Let's hope that this time a picture career won't elude her. IT isn't very nice to mention it but the high point of the entertainment of the Mayfair Club dance was provided quite unintentionally by one of the Sisters G. The two sisters, imported from Germany by Universal for a specialty in "The King of Jazz Revue," were guest dancers at the Mayfair [please turn to page 122 ] Every advertisement in PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE is guaranteed.