Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1923 - Feb 1924)

46 Photo by William Ballinton Like many another "Follies" girl Mary Eaton was to make "just one motion picture to see what it was like," and so she played in "His Children's Children." And now like many another "Follies" girl she may decide to stay in the movies. I'VE a fine idea for a parody," Fanny announced confidently. "The tune is old and the meter isn't right but I maintain it is a good idea anyway. 'How you gonna keep grandpa down on the farm after he sees "Hollywood?"' With just a little practice you can juggle the words so that they will fit !" "You might pick some place beside the quietest corner of the Plaza to sing it," I suggested, not without rancor; "in front of the Rivoli Theater, for instance. It might make a good ballyhoo, though, goodness knows, 'Hollywood' doesn't need one." But Fanny was not to be diverted. Alternately, she hummed the song and offered foolish suggestions. "Wouldn't it be great if James Cruze would direct a sequel to 'Hollywood?' He could show a whole army of old men and women confidently setting out for Hollywood expecting to go into the movies. If they Over the From a tea-table in the Plaza, Fanny Fifth Avenue and make-believe and offers By The started soon enough the doddering graybeards could get into the Biblical sequence of 'The Ten Commandments' but there wouldn't be anything for the old ladies to do but stay home and knit socks for the old men out on location. That would put women back into the home, the place where they belong, according to the old-fashioned scenario writers. "And speaking of songs — did you know that 'Yes, We Have No Bananas' is in the movies at last? C. F. Zittel, a veteran theatrical writer who is always discovering and helping talented people, produced the picture and Gilda Gray plays the leading role. It ought to be great. And speaking of Gilda Gray reminds me of Mary Eaton." "Why?" I murmured idly, looking out at the throngs on Fifth Avenue. "Oh just because the day that Gilda Gray did her South Sea Island dance in 'Lawful Larceny' Mary Eaton was there and I met her. And when I asked her why she didn't go into the movies she said maybe she would act in just one some day for the experience. Lots of 'Follies' girls feel that way about it when they start, but the fascination of it — to say nothing of the money — gets them and most of them that are any good stick to the movies. Every one says that Mary Eaton is darling in her first picture, 'His Children's Children' so I've an idea that instead of going into a musical comedy this fall she will go right on making pictures. "Before she started making the picture she had' made arrangements to go abroad so the director arranged to shoot all of the scenes that she was in first. That made it nice for Bebe Daniels and Dorothy Mackaill ; they had a week's vacation. Dorothv went down to Asbury Park for a rest. Her idea of a rest is to go swimming twice a day and play baseball with the youngsters on the beach in between times. The last day she was down there she skinned her knees sliding to first base, so you can imagine her horror when she reported to the studio and found that she had to make scenes in a one-piece bathing suit. "I read in a newspaper that Dorothy kept her lovely complexion by never eating anything in warm weather but fruit. Immediately I decided to make the great sacrifice. I avoided all my friends who have good cooks and subsisted entirely on melons and berries and lemonade. And then Dorothy phoned me to meet her for luncheon one hot day and what do you think she ate? Melon and chicken a la king and peach ice cream and hot rolls and goodness only knows what all. Providence and not a fruit diet is responsible for that beautiful skin of hers." While Fanny was talking I glanced idly across Fifth Avenue watching the crowds and thinking of the day Sam Wood filmed scenes for "His Children's Children"