Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

Advertising Sfxtion 115 so much in regard to this garden party and of the lovely signed photographs of the film stars to be had there, that last year I decided to go all the way to London for it. The real reason was to try and get some photos of Pola Negri, my one and only favorite. When I arrived, you can guess my disappointment to find that they did not have a picture of the divine Negri in the place — every star but Pola ! The Paramount film compan}^ had a sort of big cabin called "Peter Pan Land," and you paid sixpence — about twelve cents in American money — and were told to choose an envelope from a large chest. If you were lucky, the card in the envelope told what kind of a prize you had won. And the prizes! The most beautiful framed photos of Paramount stars, autographed mostly "to my English friend," et cetera, all of them with quite a lot of writing ! Valentino, Thomas Meighan, Bebe Daniels, Gloria Swanson, and every one but Pola. Of course these were very special prizes. Smaller ones were "Peter Pan" songs, books, and things like that. But there were extra-special prizes in the "Peter Pan" cabin, .and can you guess what one of them was? A little blue-and-gold ostrich-feather vanity bag of Mis-; Negri's that she had once used and sent especially for the garden party ! It contained her autographed card and a few cents which had been left in when she had finished using it. I had the thrill of my life in just being able to look at it. Well, I spent all afternoon — and also a small fortune — in trying to win that bag, but I had no luck and "nearly died" when another girl got it. I know that she couldn't possibly have wanted it as much as I did, and I begged her to let me buy the bag and offered her anything for it, but she couldn't be persuaded to part with it at all. The other two special prizes in "Peter Pan Land" were an autographed fan from Betty Compson, and a little pair of satin slippers autographed across the toes, which had been worn by Gloria Swanson. At other divisions in the garden were the pearls worn by Mary Pickford as Dorothy Vernon, the earrings worn by Douglas Fairbanks in "The Thief of Bagdad," something from Tom Mix, Betty Balfour, Jane Novak, and a few others. But, of course, nothing interested me after I had lost the chance of winning Pola Negri's bag, and I got disgusted with the wholeaffair and left without even a photo of La Negri to console me. But, oh, that bag of Pola's ! Negri fans, you should have seen it! Noelle Chaelick. 4B. York Road, Birkdale, Southport, Lanes, England. A Fan's Wish. In that distant day when they make movies for adult intelligences, I should like to see "Under Two Flags" done again as Ouida wrote it — not as a sheik-mad public is supposed to prefer it — with John Gilbert as Bcl-a-faire-pcur, Pola Negri as the fiery, unconquerable Cigarette, and Blanche Sweet as the proud Lady Venetia. The few scenes granted the latter would be numerous enough to justify her appearance in such a role. I should like Von Stroheim to direct the picture — the Von Stroheim of "The Merry-Go-Round" and "The Merry Widow," not of "Greed," for much as I admire his intensive genius, there is no need to carry reality to brutality, as he is likely to do if unrestrained. And if they took pains to translate all of the story as faithfully as they did "The Sea Hawk," I see no reason why it should not be as successful, if not much more so, than "The Sea Hawk" proved to be. A. C. M. 243 West Sixty-second Street, Chicago, 111. "If... FREQUENTLY you near a man say, "If Fatimas were sold at fifteen cents everybody would smoke them." No doubt, but that's easier i said than done. For without the finer tobac•cos, the subtle delicacy, made possible by a few cents more, Fatima would not be Fatima ""What a whale of a difference just a few cents make" Liggett 4 Myers Tobacco Co. Go to the West ! But if you can't go to the West, or if you do go to the West, read True Western Stories It tells you just what the West is like. Its departments tell you just where to go, just how to get there, anil just what it will be like when you arrive. These departments also put you in touch with others, not only in the West, but all over the world, who are interested in the open life, in all things pertaining to the great outdoors. Most important of all, True. Western Stories is filled with illustrations and stirring stories which truly depict the wonderland of the world. True Western Stories is published monthly. High Prices Paid for Old Books!! We are in the market to buy first editions and old books of the following authors. THE BOOKS MUST BE IN FINE CONDITION! Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Walt Whitman, James Fenimore Cooper, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell. When Writing Please Describe the Books, Giving Date and Place of Publication. PHOENIX BOOK SHOP 21 East 61st St., New York City