Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

Behind the Silver Screen 45 The one tangible similarity between all the great stars the screen has produced is an intangible quality — that is, personality. It is that indescribable thing which is responsible for the continued popularity of Mary Pickford, Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Norma and Constance Talmadge, Alice Joyce, Pauline Frederick, and others. bought a strategic lot on Beverly Boulevard in Hollywood with his profits ! We can remember no time in the history of pictures when we have had so many young and beautiful screen actresses as we have right now. Those who come to mind at the moment include Marceline Day, Helene and Dolores Costello, Betty Jewel,' Betty Bronson, ManBrian, Greta Nissen, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Virginia Lee Corbin, Greta Garbo, Elinor Fair, Sally O'Neil, Vilma Banky, Jane Winton, and Lois Moran. Not only have these girls much beauty and charm, but that priceless asset — youth. And all have either proven or promised their worth as actresses of note. Speaking of Jane Winton reminds us of the splendid contract she recently signed with Warner Brothers. For a time we feared that Jane was to be handicapped by her enchanting beauty, for directors had a tendency to emphasize her looks, and let it go at that. Then some one decided she could act — and she has gone right along. Beautiful women are not rare in Hollywood, and it's a brave man that decides which are the six — or six-andtwenty — most beautiful. Personally, I would include Corinne Griffith, Alice Joyce, May McAvoy, Vilma Banky, Norma Talmadge, Marion Davies, and Jane Winton— and then I'd throw up my hands and tear out my hair deciding who should come next. Lilyan Tashman is one of the most brilliant and radiant actresses out here. She has been steadily and consistently climbing the ladder of fame. We saw her dining at the Hollywood Athletic Club with her husband, Edmund Lowe, and were impressed again with her scintillating loveliness. More recently popular, but terrific drawing cards, are Gloria Swanson, Marion Davies, and Norma Shearer. At present, I have four or five of the younger actresses in mind, who I think have that same indescribable quality which will lead them straight and surely to the heights of popularity. There are any number of excuses for a vacation rampant in Hollywood at this time of the year, but George W a 1 s h pulled the best one. We saw him dashing out of the studio the other day with a grip in his hand, a bright smile on his face, and the back of his head looking like the Capitol steps at Washington. "Where ya goin' ?" we screamed. "Up to the mountains for two weeks," beamed George. "I gotta live down this hair cut." Vilma Banky, the beautiful Hungarian actress whom Sam Goldwyn discovered about a year ago, has created more good laughs since she has been in Hollywood than any other newcomer. Some one asked her where she lived the other day, and she replied sweetly, "I have a leetle home — eets name ees bunkghell-o." The gorgeous diamond Vilma wore constantly for months was recently stolen from her dressing room. When the loss was discovered, she immediately let forth a series of Hungarian sobs which amused one of the members of the cast tremendously, and he roared unsympathetically. Vilma turned to him angrily and sobbed, "It's not a laugh — it's a great beeg weep !" and then she fled for consolation when his mirth redoubled. Vilma, by the way, is going to have the much-coveted title role in "The Winning of Barbara Worth," with Ronald Colman opposite her, for Sam Goldwyn recently bought the film rights from Sol Lessor.