Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

Hollywood High Lights 69 Romantic Even in Death. It couldn't be otherwise, of course, that the career of Barbara La Marr should end in a blare of publicity, during which the details of all her romances were recounted, a series of her torrid love poems were published, and readers of the daily papers avidly devoured details of how women rioted at the undertaking parlors where she lay in state for the better part of a week. Pitiable and pathetic to the last degree was Barbara's passing, but thoroughly and characteristically sensational. We wonder what she herself would have thought about it, had she during her last lingering days, foreseen all this splurge and vain display. She may or may not have liked it, but in the sentiment which lurked behind much of the sensationalism, she would undoubtedly have rejoiced. In spite of her much-advertised habit of demolishing the conventions of life, Barbara was deeply loved by the friends who really knew her, and also by a large group outside of this intimate circle. The men to whom she had at one time or another been attracted, had perhaps, in some cases, been the least loyal, although it is difficult to determine this. It is a 1| certainty, however, that one among them, at least, was absolutely faithful until the end, and that was Paul Bern, the scenario writer and director. The relation between them was one of platonic friendship, and one of the reasons that Miss La Marr's body was kept lying in state for so long a time after her death was due to the hope that he might be able to come West from New York for the funeral. During the days when she was first ill, he devotedly went every 1 morning to the little Altadena home where she was seques ■ tered, nearly twenty miles from Hollywood. Much of this time f| he was working, and more than -...,.„, once he had to rise at four or live o'clock in the morning in order to make the trip and be back at the studio in time for the day's work. Just before her death, he was called to New York to direct a picture, and at that time, she seemed to be getting better. Paul has often been referred to as the "beau of Hollywood," but he is its good Samaritan as well, for it was he who also was instrumental, to a large degree, in securing funds to make Lucille Ricksen's last days easier. Stork Flutterings. A stork party is the newest type of novelty among social diversions in Hollywood, and who but Mrs. Tom Mix should attract attention by. being the hostess at one recently ! The affair was given in honor of Mrs. Monte Blue, and she was showered with enough baby clothes to provide for twins, or even triplets. By this time, though, it is hoped that the Blues are celebrating the arrival of a "one and only," rather than a duet or a trio — although Zasu Pitts proudly presents her nineteen-year-old cousin, Dorothy [McGowan, who, on a recent casual visit to Hollywood, was retained by Christy Cabanne to play a part in "Monte Carlo. " that would be very interesting, too. Twins or triplets would be something of an innovation in Hollywood, where the arrival of such extra offspring has thus far been a rarity, owing probably to some form of mental control typical of the colony. Mary Akin, now Mrs. Edwin Carewe, was also a guest of honor at Mrs. Mix's party, and received a baby blanket, to which was attached a note reading "From one Indian to another." Both Monte Blue and Mr. Carewe are part Indian, which gave rise to this bright remark. Neither Agnes Ayres nor Lita Grey Chaplin was present to make the party complete, but doubtless the guests' good wishes went out to them just the same. The arrival of the new Chaplin heir, by the way, is expected to occur in the early part of May. A Strangely Tragic Sequence. Lightning may never strike in the same place twice, but certainly there is a peculiar ill-f atedness about the deaths that occur in the Flugrath family. The Flugraths, you know, comprise Viola Dana, Shirley Mason, and their sister Edna. The most recent to suffer from a tragedy is the last named. Her husband, Harold Shaw, a director, who with Edna came to Hollywood a few years ago from England, was killed instantly in an automobile crash on one of the principal thoroughfares between Los Angeles and the film center. The event of his death had a peculiar fatefulness, since both Viola and Shirley have lost their respective husbands within the past few years. Viola is now married to "Lefty" Flynn. But she lost her former fiance, Ormer Locklear, only a year or two ago, through an accident that occurred while he was doing stunt flying. Samuel Pepys in Hollywood. Monday — Lay long abed, it being a glorious, sunshiny morning. Up and with my wife to Marshall Neilan's studio for a luncheon party, where were gathered his pretty and smart wife, Blanche Sweet, her grandmother, and another scribe. There is always much of interest to be heard from Mickey, who is gifted with a most phenomenal memory for retaining the amusing incidents and accidents which occurred to famous film folk in the days of "I knew them when." He did tell us that he was making ready to direct Marion Davies in her forthcoming picture based on the old comic opera, "The Red Mill." Thence to the office where I did dispatch abundance of work, Tuesday — This day good news of Sid Franklin's recovery from his old affliction, hernia. He being the director of many of Constance Talmadge's comedy films and latterly the maker of "Kiki" for Norma. Did have early dinner with my wife, who made me eat fast,