Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

V h a t the Fans Think rHow Many Friends Have You Made Through These Columns ? "UST how many fans, I wonder, have formed friendships which could be termed "by-products" of the movies? A great many, I'll wager! For what fan js not written a fan letter ? And who can tell the iany things that might result from such a letter? The fans whose letters find space in the pages devoted "What the Fans Think" are really one big family, e who seriously read every word of this sincerest of the magazines devoted to the movies, have come to )w the writers of many letters — have come to watch a possible letter from this one or that one. Merely . land I recall the names, for instance, of Mrs. Lorenza :evens, Helen Brinkerhoff, Madge Baum, Trix Macmzie, Madeline Glass, Louise Laughron, Lillian Par, Jack McElveny. Quite a list, I think. My point is this : their letters have made us feel as 3ugh we actually knew the writers. We watch for :m, thrill at reading them, and are happy to see them print. Am I not right? -so much for an introduction. My letter shall treat = friends — a few of them, at least — whom I have •"hrough this magazine. Possibly — nay, probably are those who may be able to boast of friendships mge than these of mine, but I am quite sure i.ld ever be any prouder of the ones they may than I am of those I have made. I love "'ds truly. At any rate, the telling of my U prove that the luck does not all lie with ^.je of it is in the possession of us fans, ailiar Event Number One.— Because of a fan letter izing Thomas Meighan, some few years ago, my ler eventually found the girl who became his wife. ! did the Meighan "critic" realize what events he setting in motion when he so doggedly wrote that r ! Louise Laughron was the girl who replied to nan's unjust tirade against Meighan. I read her letter, wrote her my appreciation of her stanch rt of the stalwart Thomas, and from then on t and I were pen friends. It happened that my 'V in West Point was visiting in BroVrlyn, where lived, soon after she and I became friends. I ■ '^rpgg ancJ ne called. Result — they fell in 1 "ithin the year. Louise '"%m'>|; Meighan! Event Number Two. — When I first came to Los Angeles, I read a letter in Picture-Play entitled "Personal Impressions of Stars," from Helen Brinkerhoff. Fans, she had personal impressions of so many stars that I wondered however in the world she had obtained them. I wrote and asked her "How?" That was the beginning of one of the most pleasant friendships I have ever had. Oh, the long movie talks we have had ! Helen has met so many stars and has so much to tell me each time we meet that her visits are outstanding ones in my humdrum routine. She herself has been an extra. Incidentally, Helen has a friend whom she, likewise, made through PicturePlay, who since has come to Hollywood and is now on the road to success in the movies. Event Number Three. — I consider this event quite a fortunate and certainly a thrilling one. Madeline Glass, now a writer for PicturePlay, was a personality to me long before she ever became a writer of interviews. She always had something very important to say in those occasional letters of hers that found space in the "What the Fans Think" pages. After three years of being an unknown admirer of hers, I found myself asking her to lunch at my home. Fortunate indeed was I, for she came and has been coming ever since. I admired Madeline sincerely before she ever wrote interviews, but of course my admiration has soared since PicturePlay realized her worth and put her on its staff of writers. You can imagine how we hold forth when she comes — how we discuss the movies and Picture-Play and all that. Wonder of wonders, she has promised to take me along some time when she has an appointment at M.-G.-M, where she hopes I shall see my only favorite, John Gilbert! If only I could! It is unnecessary to go further. I have a deep and lasting regard for PicturePlay, not only because of its unusual originality, but because of the policy which has made possible the forming of the most valued friendships I have ever had. Mrs. Olive D. Thompson. Los Angeles, California. Shame on the Stars! While it is undoubtedly good showmanship on the part of an actor to keep himself before the public whenever possible, there is one method of gaining publicity Continued on page 10