Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

Hollywood High Lights 91 Continued from page 73 Further Adventures of Samuel Pepys. The Sabbatli. — The weather being very rainy, was with my books all the day, and would have grown exceeding low in spirit did not a message come by telephone from Mabel Ballin bidding my wife and me to sup with her and her worthy husband, Hugo. Setting out betimes and arriving at their house near the hour of seven, did find already come there Ernest Torrfence and his wife and son, and also that skilled writer of scenarios, Dorothy Farnum, and so did all sup most merrily and to satiety of cold turkey, salad, and some excellent ale, but though I did inquire of our host where he had got the latter, he would not say. After much urging, we did induce him to show us his latest portrait of Mabel, which shows real talent and resolved me at the next opportunity to go to view one of his canvases that is hung at the. Pan-American Exposition of Painting in a local museum. It growing late, my wife and I were in mind to leave, but did get into a game called "Consequences" which I had never played before but which did fascinate us to such an extent that the night was well on before we turned homeward, this amusing game consisting of each guest writing a word on a separate piece of paper which later are all read together as an answer to a question, and so startling and embarrassing did the answers turn out to be, that we were surprised to find how wicked were our minds which we had heretofore thought to be quite irreproachable. Monday. — To United studios and there did see Norma Talmadge in fantastical short skirts and a hat with a high feather in it, these being for her role in "Kiki," which is the story of a piquant little French gamin. Norma is indeed a splendid, lovely woman, possessed of good sound judgment, which she did reveal in abundance when she talked to me of the ease with which a young actress can play old women convincingly by the aid of wigs, make-up, shawls, canes, and other props, but of the difficulty that same actress meets when she puts on gay and giddy clothes and frolics about like a kitten, trying to create the illusion of extreme youth. The approach of thirty is a most dangerous age for an actress, but I did marvel at the ease and vivacity with which Norma entered into her portrayal of the youthful Kiki, the first comedy role she has had in many a day. Tuesday. — Come news of a baby son born to Mae Marsh. It's a pretty thing to consider how greatly things can change in so short a while, Mae being only yesterday a shining star in the film universe, but to-day as far removed from the bright lights as Venus is from Jupiter. Wednesday. — Up and immediately heard that Pola Negri had signed again with Paramount, there being much discourse of a ten-thousand-dollar contract, but suspect that these rumors are bullish, though Pola is a canny woman and has 110 doubt secured a goodly sum for herself. Am told that that fine villain, William Powell, is to play for Paramount regularly, which pleases me very much, as I greatly admired his romantic manner in "The Bright Shawl" and also thought him a splendid actor in "Romola," and do hope to see him strangled by many a hero in man} a future film, though occasionally, perhaps, to play more agreeable roles, being of the opinion that he might also make a good comedian. Thursday. — There is great disappointment over the scenario which Erich von Stroheim did write for Constance Talmadge, the rumor at the studios being that he wrote the outstanding role for himself, which put the producers in a tosse, but I doubt the truth of some of this, believing that there must be some deeper reason for the disagreement, perhaps in regard to the probable cost of the production, which some say would have been as much as six hundred and fifty thousand dollars— this explanation sounding more like the truth. But, in any case, Mr. von Stroheim will now make his own productions, being thus at liberty to spend all the money he pleases, which is as it should be, provided he has it. Friday. — Did meet Colleen Moore by chance, she beinga comedienne who has always delighted me, but havim Norma Shearer has one of the smallest dogs in the world. His name is Pedro, and he is shown here with Bosco, prize bulldog owned by Lew Cody. a great desire to play a tragic role, she did inform me that she had selected for her next picture Thomas Burke's "Twinkletoes," a Limehouse story which is indeed full of tears, but I did later read an official announcement from the studios saying that her new role will be delightful, and that the play "Twinkletoes" will give her a marvelous chance to appear as a Pollyanna, which only proves again that press agents never go beneath the title of a film. Saturday. — To the theater to see the premiere of the stage play, "Silence," in which my old friend Bert Lytell has the leading role, and did find such throngs there that I was almost crushed, and did see many ticket speculators making large profits, so great was the demand for seats, and then, being come to my place in the theater and the curtain being up, did watch with great content how Bert was cheered and applauded for his fine performance, for though he too often has the grievous fault before the camera of being self-conscious, he is on the stage an actor of great poise and distinction and shows real depth of feeling. And so home well satisfied with the praise for him that I heard on all sides. The Sabbath. — To church and did offer a fervent prayer that Gloria Swanson might make no more comedies like "Stage Struck," in which I could see nothing funny, it being nevertheless a box-office hit. And do wonder when Rudolph Valentino will return to Hollywood and settle down to work, instead of traveling about the world, fascinating girls and women with personal appearances, which is his method of getting publicity, realizing perhaps what an uncertain foothold he has in the films just now. To bed after the customary contention with my wife over the relative charms of Ronald Colman and Jack Gilbert. The World's Greatest Picture ! Picture fans in a few towns neighboring Los Angeles Continued on page 114