Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

32 Over the Teacups Photo by M. I. Boris Ethel Shannon, of "Maytime" fame, has emerged from obscurity and is making "Charlie's Niece" in New York. and part of it is to be made down there. She is sure to have a glorious time. It is the height of the racing season, and lots of people she knows will be there. Dorothy Mackaill has gone down there for a short vacation, and May McAvoy and Ben Lyon are making exterior scenes there for 'The Savage.' Bebe Daniels, Diana's very best friend, will be near by in Palm Beach, making a picture. "Diana is delighted to get into comedy. She has played so many vamp parts, she was afraid that she would never get anything else. It doesn't matter what type a girl plays, she always longs to play something else. I dare say that Mary Carr yearns to shed the lace cap of patient, noble womanhood and play something on the order of Lucresia Borgia. And speaking of sudden changes in type, listen to this letter from Carmelita Geraghty. She says : "I suppose you will need support when I tell you that at last I have a job. Well, lean on something strong then, for the rest of it is the greatest shock of all. I'm working for Mack Sennett ! What's more, among other things, I have to unbend and wear a bathing suit. Gone is the Geraghty dignity. In fact, I might say I am vamp-bunctious. I have a new personality. "Such joy is the aftermath of two discouraged months. I've had the flu. Colleen Moore was my nurse, with Virginia Valli and Julanne Johnston as assistants. They brought me royal food, and no princess ever had more flowers or attention. Naturally, I loved it. After that was all over, along came a contract to do a fat part as a heavy, dreadful vamp, in a two-reel Sennett picture, opposite Raymond McKee. I wear a costume that rivals anything ever worn by Naldi and Pringle, Inc. "I won't read all of it to you," Fanny went on disdainfully. "After all, letters are meant to be more or less private. But I must tell you what she says about a gorgeous costume ball Marion Davies gave, which she says was a glorious affair. Here's what she says about it: "Florence Vidor was the loveliest-looking person there by far. And there were second honors for Bebe Daniels — all in silver cloth, as Jeanne d'Arc — for Virginia Valli as a Russian countess, and for Hedda Hopper, in gray chiffon, as a wicked medieval nun with very red lips. About seven men came as 'Red' Grange, including Jack the Gilbert and King the Vidor. Elinor Glyn and I were Spanish senoritas — only she had the most jewels. Douglas and Mary Fairbanks came with Prince Bibesco, the exambassador from Roumania, and Lillian Gish came shrouded in a most fascinating manner in a hood and cape from 'La Boheme.' "There was a tremendous ovation last week at the first preview of 'La Boheme,' in Pasadena. Two thousand people waited hours to see it, and applauded fifteen solid minutes after the showing. It's just marvelous, and every one loves it, sad ending and all. Of course, Jack Gilbert is just walking on air. Isn't he lucky to have three big successes in a row? "His new house — Spanish — is the most amazing place. It's just like Jack, inside — all brilliant golds and reds and blues, and some rooms as grave as a church, and others absolutely angry and fighting. "And that," Fanny announced, in decisive manner, "is the best sketch of Jack Gilbert's personality I've ever heard. "Of course, you know he is here now. He came East with King Vidor and Irving Thalberg for the opening of 'La Boheme.' Eleanor Boardman is here, too. I sat next to her at a luncheon Norma Shearer gave for Irving Thalberg's sister. She is an unusual girl — a sort of primary-colored temperament in a pasteltinted shell. She hasn't that warm, pervading charm that many actresses have, but she gives an impression of absolute sincerity, and I imagine she grows on you, the longer you know her. I've found her that way in pictures. At first, I thought she was limp and negative, but after a while, I liked Lya de Putti, leading German film actress, who is going to make some pictures in this country, arrived late in February.