Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

Hollywood-bound, and full of smiles, Mr. and Mrs. Adolphe Menjou stand on the deck of the Majestic and give the photographers both barrels! While in Paris, 'Dolphe made a talkie in French and English, and lost his appendix, too CHARLES ''Big Boy" Bickford has been proving a handful around Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer. The trouble with Bickford is that while other actors were spending their film earnings for Rolls-Royces, he was investing his money in paying properties, like gas stations, fishing boats and markets. The big red-head is so well-heeled that he can really afford to kick over the traces. He doesn't like to hit the deck at eight in the morning, and if he doesn't care to work nights, he won't. Metro delicately pointed out that his contract allowed for night work — whereupon Charlie offered to buy back the paper for §100,000. What's to be done with an actor like that? It puts the company on the spot, because he's been such a hit in pictures they don't want to let him get away to another outfit that will promise him bankers' hours. It's all Bickford's fault for saving his money, and let it be a lesson to all actors! TV/TONTHLY optimism note: It is reported that Mistinguette, French music hall star famous for her beautiful legs, expects to startle Hollywood. Listen, Misty! You might as well bring a half-dozen oranges out there, in a brown paper bag! THE Rudy Vallee hysteria, as this is written, continues to rage. He still has New York women in a frenzy. ■ His book, " Vagabond Dreams Come True," kicked up dust. Men kidded it some, but it has had a grand sale. Rudy and his band helped it along by playing concerts in big department stores, after which Vallee autographed copies. His mother and dad attended one of these at Wanamaker's, and tears rolled down Pop Vallee's cheeks as the boy paid his respects to his parents in well-chosen words. Mother stayed dry-eyed. Oddly — or is it? — Rudy receives more fan mail from mothers and middle-aged or young women than from the flaps. They want to mother him, probably. It's all very nice. Acme Just about the prettiest picture of a pretty girl we could find among several thousand samples submitted by the glib press agents. This is little Helen Twelvetrees as she looks in Pathe's musical circus picture, "Swing High" MY mushy old heart was taken way back, not long ago. Lou Tellegen got married, for the fourth time. And Geraldine Farrar, once the darling of the opera, gave out a statement to the press. The Tellegen-Farrar romance, born in the Lasky studio in Hollywood fourteen years ago, was a sensation. They played together in big pictures. She then ruled the Metropolitan opera. But it didn't last. Tellegen, for the last few years, has been fussing around in unsuccessful stage shows. Age is creeping up on him. And the beloved Gerry? She's forty-eight now, and singing in concert — still beautiful, with her grey hair. This is her only comment on the new Tellegen wedding: "Tellegen and I have gone our separate ways. I have no interest in his marriage whatsoever!" And that's all that is left of a mighty love affair of not so terribly long ago! What a futile, silly sort of world it is! NOW and then something happens in Hollywood that is just too much for Cal's calloused noodle. The latest is Janet Gaynor's reported walkout on the leading feminine role in "Liliom." Why she did it, if she did, Heaven only knows. The part, in this great Molnar play, is a plum [please turn to page 94 ] 53