Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

8 What the Fans Think Admiration Versus Crush. WE read many fan letters that run about like this: "When I read So-and-so's letter I tore my hair with rage ! How dare he say that Richard is more handsome than John, et cetera, et cetera." I am sure that the writers of this type of letter mean well, hut they are merely the victims of crushes — it is not n a! admiration. I plead guilty to movie crushes myself, but I always have and always will try hard not to confuse a crush with my liking and admiration for an actor. I have always found that my admiration stayed long after the crush had taken flight. 1 agree with "Two High-school Flappers" that Ben Lyon is the berries. I saw him in person when the Frank Lloyd company filmed some scenes from "Winds of Chance'' here. He is handsome and boyish, though not quite so boyish as he appears on the screen. 1155 Burnaby Street, Una B. Cowan. Vancouver, B. C, Canada/ On Choosing Our Favorite Stars. The letter signed by "A Fan," wherein it was stated tMit personality is the thing, was a sound and truthful one. The proof of that is that we like a star whose name has always been kept free from scandal. Just as we would select a girl or boy friend, so we select a star friend, and my best girl-star friend is our adorable Helen Ferguson, who recently said "Yes" to William Russell. And after reading Bill's story of his wife's faults and her version of his faults, it is plain to see' that they are worth while. I would wager my best dress that Helen will never enter the divorce court. Boston, Massachusetts. Claire J. D. Mason. Too Bad, Indeed. I suppose it is none of my business but, as John Gilbert is my favorite actor, I can't help but wish that he and Leatrice Joy might become reconciled. I think she is lovely — all that a man could wish for. I wonder if anybody else feels as I do? It is too bad things happened as they did, because quite a few people are holding hard feelings against Jack. I know I get my answers sometimes when I am praising Jack to my friends. 1258 Reading Road. Mary Hinean. Cincinnati. Ohio. In Praise of John Gilbert. To John Gilbert — splendid actor, human, frank, honest, with an individual personality — I honestlv believe the greatest amount of commendation is due. 'W ith rare courage and hard work, combined with ex ceptional ability, he has steadily climbed from the bottom rung of the ladder of fame to the top. Once, playing the part of a villain, he hadn't the sympathy of his audience at all, yet he played the part well and won praise. He consented to tell his life story, if allowed to tell it truthfully, claiming that the truth hurts no one, even if it does not make pleasant reading. These two incidents reacted marvelously in his favor, and we have had more honest life stories since. He wins the hearts of women because they admire just these qualities and because they see in him something of the ideal which most women have. There was no background of home life to aid him. Without the sympathies of parents, he plodded on alone, facing disappointments and discouragements, and later, even marital troubles. Still he worked courageously on and on. We watch with keenest interest such a personality, and when success finallv comes — we applaud. We believe that leading roles are allotted to those who reveal the greatest ability and have the physical requirements, besides being earnest, sincere, and convincing actors. Why was John Gilbert given the leads in "The Merry Widow," "The Big Parade." and "La Boheme?" The answer seems simple enough ! Because he possesses all these characteristics I have named and because he has honestlv earned those leads. Rochester, New York. Emma-Lou. A Trip to Hollywood. What fan has not longed for a trip to Hollywood? Hollywood — the Mecca of all movie fans ! What glamorous scenes the mere name suggests. And / was going to Hollywood ! I shall not forget the thrill I received as the train pulled into the big Los Angeles depot. There to meet me was Ben Lyon ! I had never met Ben. Though I admired his screen work exceedingly, and had even been so bold as to request one of his photos. I did not know him personally. Imagine my surprise when he came toward me with one of his boyish grins. "How do you do?" he said. "Aren't you Jack McElveny ?" Of course I was. Ben did not explain how he happened to know I was coming and I didn't ask. However, he drove me to the Hotel Hollywood and departed. I decided, as it was still early, that I'd see Hollywood. The first thing I did was to call up Myrtle Gebhart of Picture-Play's staff. "Oh, Jack," she said, "I've an interview to do with Mary Pickford at one o'clock. Would you like to come along?" Would I ! [Continued on page 10]