Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

22 The Sketchbook Photo by Hartsook Priscilla Dean learned a great deal while making personal-appearance tours blades around that lot who would run a mile before they would touch such a role with prongs. But Jack is crazy to get started on it. You'll pardon him, please, if he doesn't always play the neat and nifty for you? The other day. I heard him accused, by a very pretty young lady, of being superficial. Well, maybe so. He says nice things nicely, primarily because he has said them nicely so many times before. But if he is a little gallantly insincere with the world, what difference does it make, so long as he is honest with himself ? And he is. He is as familiar and aboveboard with his vices as most people are with what they fondly believe to be their virtues. No one can tell more depreciative things about John Gilbert than John Gilbert himself. By turns he prides himself, humbles himself, and snickers at himself. \\ ould you like to know what I really think of him — lady out in Utah? Well, I think he is the most delightful, irrepressible, irresponsible, brilliant young rascal who was ever a motion-picture idol. And that is as near the truth as I can tell it. A Brilliant Evening. The caption on this squib is really a bad pun, because it refers to Mrs. Tom Mix's diamonds and not to conversational or social brilliance as you may have sup posed. But the other night I met Mrs. Mix at Kathleen Clifford's house. And believe it or not, she let me wear her jewelry. Have you heard about that watch, the face of which is a perfect diamond ? Have you heard about that sapphire that is as big as a quarter and completely surrounded by diamonds ? And that diamond bracelet that is two and a half inches wide? And that perfect, bluediamond solitaire? I had them all on at the same time. Mrs. Mix is a charming woman. Even if she hadn't let me wear her jewelry I'd think she was charming, because when one of the girls said covetously, "I wish I could have wonderful things like those," she replied, "I didn't know I would have them, when I was a girl. You may yet." Sweeter words of encouragement were never uttered. Blanche Sweet, "The Green Hat," and Arlen. Whenever I feel lazy about work and don't want to exert myself too much, I make an appointment to see Blanche Sweet, because : She has the gift of conversation. I believe it was Helen Klumph who said she hated people who used conversation as a means of imparting information. Helen should adore Blanche. For, never was there a lady who could with such charm toss topics back and forth in small chatter. For instance, suppose it is a rainy day and you slush over to the studio to see Blanche. Blanche says, "Have you had lunch?" Always a delightful topic, that. You say "No," of course. And the only thing Blanche can do, after that is to invite you to lunch with her in her dressing room. Once there, steaming things are set before you. Delicious things. Things that never saw the trays of a studio cafeteria. On inquiry, you learn that Blanche's grandmother prepares her lunch every day and sends it oyer. You enthuse that never in your life have you eaten such food. And believe me, you haven't. "Michael Arlen," says Blanche, beginning with one of Hollywood's most popular subjects, "is charming. A delightful man. Mickey and I met him in England before his fame had spread over here. Mickey read the 'Hat' and was crazy about it. He wanted the Goldwyn people to buy the rights, but at that time, they couldn't see it. "The other night, we met him again at dinner. "I sat next to him. Of course we talked of 'The Green Hat.' I think he is really awfully fed up on the subject, but he bears it. We all have our crosses. Mine is my name. I am so sick of people making puns on my name. 'How sweet is Blanche Sweet?' and that sort of thing. "Arlen and I got on the subject of the title of the book. He said that hat couldn't possibly have been any color but green. Had you thought of that? I argued at first. I said it might have been a red hat. Arlen said no — that gave the wrong mental picture. Red immedi