Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1936)

Ask Tke A nswei M an HOLLYWOOD'S latest child of fortune is June Travis. Without a single bit of dramatic experience, this lovely twenty year old girl was signed by Warners after she had made a screen test "just for fun." Given a bit part in "Stranded," officials were so impressed with her acting ability and charm that she was next featured with James Cagney and Pat O'Brien in "Ceiling Zero," an almost unprecedented turn of events. June first came to Hollywood in 1934 with her father, Harry Grabiner, vice-president of the Chicago White Sox, when the team came West for spring training. Returning to Chicago, she registered at the University without ever ascertaining the results of her screen test. When she came back to the Coast six months later, she mentioned to a Warner executive that she had made a test. He sent for it, liked it, and thus she was started on her road to stardom. A beautiful brunette, with unusual green eyes, June is considered one of the best feminine hockey players in the country, is an expert swimmer, and having been taught aviation by Amelia Earhart for " Ceiling Zero," she has now taken up flying in a big way. Her hobbies are music and painting. Blanche Ross, Sussex, N. J. — Gloria Stuart was born in Santa Monica, California, on July 4, 1910. She weighs 125 pounds, is five feet six inches tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. After studying at the University of California, and playing in amateur theatricals, she entered pictures in 1932. She is married to Charles Sheekman, a writer, and has a little girl, born last year. Her next appearance is in "The Poor Little Rich Girl." John W. Theobald, Houston, Texas. — Jeanne Eagles played in "The Letter" in 1928 and in "Jealousy" in 1929, both full length pictures. Lila Hicks, Grand Rapids, Mich. — The man who took the part of the movie star with Ginger Rogers in "In Person" was Alan Mowbray. Charles Sellon, veteran actor, is over sixty years old. He was born in Boston, graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, played in stock companies and on Broadway for years and entered movies in 1924. He weighs 141 pounds, is five feet ten, has blue eyes and grey hair. Dorothy B., De Pere, Wis. — Kay Francis is five feet six inches tall, weighs 112 pounds; Jean Muir is five feet seven inches tall, weighs 122 pounds, and Anna Sten is the tallest, being five feet eight inches tall and weighing 120 pounds. Lorayne Paasch, Milwaukee, Wis. — Little Sybil Jason was born Nov. 23, 1929, in Capetown, South Africa, which accounts for her British accent. Percy Marmont has been living in England for years and playing in English pictures; one of the latest shown in this country was "Ariane" with Elizabeth Bergner. Bernard E. Leigh, East Liverpool, Ohio. — The Western star, Charles "Buck" Jones, is The ANSWER MAN is a librarian of facts concerning screen plays and personalities. Your questions are not limited, but brevity is desirable. Also, The Answer Man must reserve the right not to answer questions regarding contests in other publications. Ii you wish an answer direct, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Address your queries to The Answer Man, Photoplay Magazine, 1926 Broadway, New York City. True child of a sports magnate, June Travis is an outdoor girl under contract to Universal. His life reads like a dime novel and is as exciting as his pictures. Born in Vincennes, Indiana, in 1889, he became a real cowboy at fifteen, riding for the famous 101 ranch in Oklahoma. He then worked at the Indianapolis race track as a test driver, after which he joined the army to fight Indians, went to Manila during the Spanish American War with the 6th Cavalry and finally landed in a Wild West show in York. During the World War he taught cavalry officers to ride and then joined the air service. While he was touring Europe in 1919, William Fox was so impressed with his amazing horsemanship that he was given a contract and has appeared in pictures ever since. His new one is "Branded." T. R. Davis, Detroit, Michigan. — Jackie Coogan is not under contract to any studio at present. He was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 26, 1914. Betty Grable, who has announced her engagement to Jackie, is under contract to RKO and will have a part in "The Big Game." She started out as a dancer and has blonde hair and blue eyes. Patty Parker, Cincinnati, Ohio. — Lily Pons' name is her own. The tiny star was born in Cannes, France, on April 13, 1905, weighs 104 pounds, is five feet three with dark hair and brown eyes. Evelyn Venable was born Oct. 18, 1913, in your home town, attended the University there, and entered pictures in 1933. She is married to Hal Mohr, and they have one little girl. She is under contract to Republic Pictures. Earl Godwin, Philadelphia, Pa. — Conrad Yeidt was born in Berlin, Germany, on Jan. 22, 1893. He was a pupil of Max Reinhardt's and has been extremely successful in character parts both on the German stage and in pictures, which he entered in 1917. He weighs 165 pounds, is six feet two with brown hair and grey eyes. He is divorced and has one daughter. M. C, Los Angeles, Calif. — Claudette Colbert was born Sept. 13, 1907; Carole Lombard was also born in 1907 on Oct. 6th. Clark Gable was born Feb. 1,' 1901; Dick Powell was born Nov. 14, 1904, and Edmund Lowe was born March 3, 1892. He recently married Mrs. Rita Kaufman. Emily La Belle, Vancouver, Canada. — Jeanette MacDonald was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on June 18, 1907. She weighs 125 pounds, is five feet five with red gold hair and green eyes. She is not married, and appears opposite Clark Gable in "San Francisco." Nelson Eddy, co-starred with Miss MacDonald in "Rose Marie," was born in Providence, R. I., on June 29, 1901. He is six feet tall, weighs 1 70 pounds, has blonde hair and blue eyes. His fine baritone is heard over the radio Monday night in the Firestone Hour, lb expects to return to Hollvwood in the fall to make "The Firefly" for M-G-M. Betty Lee Thompson, Flossmore, III. — Merle Oberon's real name is Estelle Merle O'Brien. She was born on Feb. 19, 1911. on the Island of Tasmania. She weighs 108 pounds, is five feet two and a half inches tall. with black hair and hazel eves. Her screen career began in England; her latest picture is "These Three." George Malone, Chicago, III. — Maureen O'Sullivan, who played in "The Voice of Bugle Ann," was born in Ireland on May 17th, 1911. She weighs 114 pounds, is live feet four inches tall, with brown hair and blue eves Her hobby is poultry. She is not married. 77