Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1920 - Feb 1921)

62 Right Off the Grill After dinner and a fast round of dancing, the floor was cleared, and the jazzchestra, under the Sousan conduct of Sir Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle, played slow music. Two chairs and a table with a pack of cards aboard were placed in the ring. Comrades Vi Dana and Al Lake advanced and took opposing places at the baize. Alice dealt, after careful stacking. A horrible hush fell as Viola raised a dainty ankle o'er a dainty knee. The jazzchestra crashed. And from a dainty foot a dainty hand removed a dainty slipper and dropped it on the floor. Apparently these two had begun a game of a certain brand of poker, not unpopular among college boys, in which one article of clothing has to be removed for each hand lost. A migh'ty gasp went up from the crowd of tourists in the doorway. Two Iowans fainted, and a gentleman from Missouri put on his glasses. But at that moment two cops broke through the Crowd. They seized the poker nymphs by the bobhair and carried them off the floor. The cops were Buster Keaton and Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle. Later in the evening impresario Arbuckle announced the sensation of Paris, Mile. Spindelimby, in her Salome dance. Then, as Roscoe in the role of slave gently fanned the air with a broom, ma'm'selle made her entrance. She wore anklets of jangling forks and spoons, on her head an inverted chopping bowl. Unveiled she proved up as Buster Keaton modestly wearing pancake griddles as breastplates. Slave Roscoe placed a tin boiler in the center of the floor. Around this impromptu cistern danced Salome, finally seizing from its depths a reptilian length of sausage. She twined and untwined in the embrace of this boa. Then the slave bore in a head of lettuce on a tin salver. After a passionate bite of this, Salome rose to full height, raised a griddle and applied the head of the sausage to her breast. With a reverberant crash she fell stiffly on the back of her head. The slave seized her by the collar and dragged her away to the kitchen. Whereupon Frank Farnum, an Orpheum tanker, bounced on to the floor and shimmied a requiem. The dancing contest for the prize cup ensued. Subsequent balloting resulted in a pedal victory for Eileen Percy and Director Emmet Flynn. Among the oftfilmed folk we observed in the merry jamboree were Larry Semon, encircled by Lucille Carlisle, Philo McCullough gallanting with Lottie Pickford, Walter McGrail trying to keep step with the fast-moving Teddy Sampson, Tom Mix doing the chain step with the wife, Victoria Ford Mix, Blanche Sweet and Mickey Neilan. Ford Sterling, Tony Moreno, Tommy Meighan, Alice Lake, Buster Keaton, Viola Dana, Jimmie Morrison, Betty Compson, Henry King, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mulhall, Grace Kingsley, Leatrice Joy, Betty Blythe, Bill Russell, Edmund Lowe, Rosemary Theby, Colleen Moore, Tom Moore, and Ruth Roland dancing with her ex-husband, who became her manager only when he ceased to be her husband one year ago. Film Observations By Vara Macbeth Jones "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, Has your climb to fame led far?" But she gayly shook her head — "I'm from the Follies, sir !" she said. THEY SAY: That the author proposes, but the director disposes. That man's inhumanity to man makes countless movie plots. That distance lends enchantment to some "close-ups !" That some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some go on the screen. That uneasy lies the head that launches a new star. That worth makes the man, but not always the leading man. From Greenland's icy mountain, From India's coral strand — Whatever for a set is needed, The props are right at hand. Render, Ye blind guides, bag of THE GREAT— AND THE NEAR GREAT The parent who draws the child star's salary. The owner of the company's trick dog. The fruit-stand owner who sold the star apples. The landlady of one of the extras. The leading man's tailor. The star's maid. The officer who arrested the ingenue for speeding. The assistant director. Believe me, if all those endearing young charms That I gaze on so fondly to-day Were to change by to-morrow, you'd find to your sorrow Scant chance in the movies to play ! Familiar proverbs are here galore That fit in aptly as movie lore. Hero Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright. Star For many are called, but few are chosen. Vamp For I am fearfully and wonderfully made ! Villain His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. Critic therefore, to all their dues. Board of Censors that strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Director He shall rule them with a rod of iron. Play There 'is no new thing under the sun. Screen Scribe Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of flesh. Camera Man Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eye to behold the sun. Some Screen Folks Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall ! Ingenue We do all fade as a leaf. The Fallen Stars Thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting. Movies It is good for us to be here !