Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

8 What the Fans Think J Stars Need Friends, Not Fans. I DON'T approve of fans and fanism! According to their letters in the press, fans are able to enjoy only the films of whatever stars are their particular favorites. I am sure one gets more enjoyment out of picture-going by not being a fan. Because I enjoy the acting of Ramon Novarro, must I shun the pictures made by Rudolph Valentino? On the contrary, I am always delighted to see the work of that capable star. Because I see every John Gilbert film, I suppose his fans would require me to conceive a violent dislike for Ronald Colman, whereas I never miss a Colman picture. No, I don't approve of fans. Fans only create a temporary breeze, and then the cooling process begins. The stars don't want fans, they want friends. Whoever had more fans acclaiming him than Valentino, after "The Four Horsemen" and "The Sheik?" Yet when he had the misfortune to make one or two pictures less good, instead of standing by him with "Better luck next time," they nearly all rushed off to find some one new to worship. But Valentino's friends are pleased to welcome him in each offering, merely hoping that some day he will be fortunate enough to secure another role to fit his personality as well as did that of Julio Desnoycrs. In America, there seems to be so much hysteria over players. You set him — or her — upon a pedestal, and after a few months of wild adulation, seem to delight in knocking the artist off said pedestal, and heaping upon him all the abuse available. This is the line that is beginning to be taken with Gloria Swanson, yet she is as good to-day as she was a year or two ago. The Latin races have for centuries called the people of my country "cold." Are they? Well, they are anyway sincere, and good stickers. We may add, year by year, to the galaxy of stars whom we love or admire, but we don't need to push one down to make room for another. Valentino is as popular here to-day as in the days when Julio Desnoyers was le dernier cri. ■He has friends here, not fans. No, the stars don't want fans — they need friends — stickers — stanch ones. Fans are only fair-weather things : they are no good when the cold days come. But friends are ! 30 Lvnette Avenue, Christine Murray. London, S. W. 4. This Fan Has Had Many Crushes. My latest crush is Ronald Colman. I think of him night and day. I go to see every picture he plays in, over and over. I have had several violent crushes before this. Ramon Novarro was the last one, and before him Valentino. Now, I can't see either one of them for dust. And before that I was mad about Eugene O'Brien, and before that about House Peters. But never have I had such a wild crush as I have for Ronald Colman. May he reign supreme, my hero. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Maisie Attelboro. Till the Bitter End. I want to boost Rudolph Valentino. He reigns supreme in my constellation of stars. It is a shame that he is given such poor parts when he is capable of the very best. It makes me angry when people say that he has lost out. They should have seen the local showing of "The Eagle," and the immense throngs that packed the theater. Despite anything that may be said, I know of one loyal group of fans who will stand by him till the bitter end. San Francisco, California. Mary McKi'nley. How Our Movies Affect the Natives of India. Cinema stories often produce strange effects on the natives of India. They seem to think that what is being enacted before them is actual fact. One day, a traveling showman was invited to exhibit in the house of a zamindar. Among the films screened by him was one entitled "Watermelon Competition." It was a one-reel comedy, in which two negroes had taken part. Roars of laughter followed each scene. A young son of the zamindar, however, believed that he was witnessing an actual scene. He felt inclined to eat a watermelon, and told his guardian, who was sitting by, what he wanted. The guardian told him, in jest, that at that hour of the night no watermelon was available, but that if he wished, he could snatch away one of the watermelons which the negroes had in their possession. So impressed had he been, that he rushed to the screen and grabbed at a melon which he thought was there ! He found none and came back very much annoyed. Everybody laughed at him and his silly mistake, but he was not convinced and started to make a scene. Then his father — but that is another story. In another case, a young lady had seen a picture in which the cruelties practiced on birds had been shown vividly. Next day, she was going along a bazaar when she saw a basketful of birds exposed for sale. She sought out the owner and rebuked him for his inhuman cruelties. Seeing that he was inclined to laugh at her, she .raised her umbrella to strike him, when he begged her to excuse him, promising to be careful in future. Continued on page 10