Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1925 - Feb 1926)

Hollywood High Lights 71 Her husband is so devoted to her that lie seldom leaves her side while she is working, and accompanies her both to and from the studio, which is by way of making all the married stars envious. Anent the Charleston Hollywood will have nervous prostration if the Charleston championship is not settled soon. The fever has spread to the very exclusive and fashionable Saturday-night Sixty Club dances, and a goodly portion of the program at these affairs is devoted to a Charleston competition. At the dance we recently attended, the principal contestants were Ann Pennington, Ruth Roland, Lena Basquette, formerly in pictures and more recently of the "Follies," Priscilla Dean and Viola Dana. And we mustn't overlook mentioning Jimmie Young, the director, who added all sorts of fun to the occasion by giving his version of the dance. Mr. Young is not really a champion as yet, but as some one at our table commented, "Jimmie is all right. He has one step and he means to stick to it." Ruth and Priscilla did a Charleston duet that was a sensation, particularly to those who knew that the girls, like virtually all the others in the colony, have been practicing it feverishly night after night at "cat parties" held at each other's homes. Ruth has been at it longer than Priscilla, consequently she stepped and kicked faster and more intricately. But Priscilla received a big hand, none the less, for her obvious good sportsmanship. Bessie Love, one of the leading exponents of the "hay foot, straw foot," was absent, or the battle for honors might have been even more exciting. One great drawback to the pastime has been discovered, however, and may soon result in its passing as a fad. The Charleston is dangerous to the figure, according to Lena Basquette. The hips of the dancer become muscle-bound, and we feel that when the stars who value a svelte appearance on the screen, and work so hard to retain it, find this out, they likely will give up their ambitions for first honors in the dance. And quite frankly, we shall not grieve deeply, because there is little in it that is genuinely attractive. This is nothing for Irene Rich 's boyish young daughter, Frances, who would as soon be on her head as on her feet. There are persistent rumors that she is to follow her ' mother 's career. Bert Lytell Progresses Bert Lytell and Claire Windsor entertained at one of the most elaborate dinner parties at the same Sixty Club affair, and among their guests were several very romantic couples. These included Edwin Carewe, the director, and Mary Akin, the actress, who were wed in Mexico at the same time as Bert and Claire, but who kept their marriage a secret until just recently; Kathleen Clifford, who at this writing is engaged to M. P. Illitch, a prominent banker of Los Angeles ; and Lena Basquette, who has lately become the wife of Sam Warner, one of the numerous Warner brothers. Bert and Claire are the most delightful hosts imaginable and proved this by the wav in which they made everybody as happy and congenial as possible, even though their guests included stars, directors and studio executives not ordinarily grouped together in the social catalogue of Hollywood. Bert Lytell, it seems, is on the verge of a new success, since he has been playing in "Lady Windermere's Fan," under Ernst Lubitsch. The noted German director is of the belief that his performance is going to be a revelation. And since Lubitsch has often demonstrated his ability to discover new lights and shades in the acting talents of many of our popular players, we feel Mr. Lytell's performance will be worth watching. Bert himself is naturally elated, since he has not enjoyed such an opportunity for some time. Stars Pay and Pay Douglas Fairbanks is still the reigning king of incometax payers. He has given the government $182,190 during 1925 to cover his earnings during the previous year. The amount that he paid in 1924 was $225,769 and the difference is no doubt partly due to the change in rates of taxation. Other prominent players, directors, and so forth, who paid very large income taxes include Gloria Swanson, $57,075; James Cruze, the director, $40,353; Betty Compson (Mrs. Cruze), $6,192; Lillian Gish, $36,967; Mary Pickford, $34,388; Mrs. Charlotte Pickford Smith, $34,268; Harold Lloyd and wife, Mildred Davis, $28,151; Dick Barthelmess, $24,803; Ernest Torrence, $22,209; Pola Negri, $15,109; Bill Hart, $15,785, and Mary C. Hart (Bill's sister), $15,910; A. E. Christie, $13,974; and Charles Christie, $13,784; Lewis Stone, $12,853; Ernst Lubitsch, $11,464; Corinne Griffith and husband, Walter Morosco, $10,965 ; Eugene O'Brien, $10,901; Jack Holt. $10,792; Tom Mix, $7,515, and Mrs. Tom Mix, $7,560. . The following are additional interesting figures : Charles Chaplin, $346 ; Percy Marmont, $8,153 ; Adolphe MenjouT $1,402; Mrs. Adolphe Menjou, $1,452; Wallace Beery, $2,671 ; D. W. Griffith, p. 777; Jack Gilbert, $5,264; Eddie Burns, $3,885; Lon Chaney, $999; Bebe Daniels, $75; William Farnum, $12; Leatrice Joy, $18; Constance Talmadge, $5,809; Milton Sills, $3,694; Mrs. Milton Sills, 3,743; Florence Vidor, $2,739; Alia Nazimova, $3,953; Will Rogers, $2,700; Blanche Sweet, $3,220; Conway Tearle, $1,551; Ben Turpin, $6,105; Rudolph Valentino, $1,995; Mrs. Rudolph Valentino, $2,350; Francis X. Bushman, $28; James Kirkwood, $3,609, and Lila Lee (Mrs. Kirkwood), $3,843; Bessie Love. $3,006; Monte Blue, $3,996; Jackie Coogan, $268; Jack Coogan, Sr., $2,197; Viola Dana, $5,470; Charles Ray, $1,359; Colleen Moore, $1,890. A Terrible Error There's no separating the professional from the personal in the movies, as witness the social faux pas recently committed by a prominent critic of pictures. He was the guest at the home of a noted star who is engaged to an equally noted director. The three were together at dinner. The newspaper critic, it seems, had viewed a picture made by the star's exhusband, and had liked it immensely. He raved about it in no unmistakable terms, but without any wish to offend — simply with a glowing appreciation of art where he found it. The wife naturally listened with interest, but her intended husband evidenced all signs of a deepening depression during about fifteen minutes of tributes and superlatives. Finally, when the critic had Continued on page 96