Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

20 Unusual Fan Letters Among the thousands of letters for the players occasionally appear that are strikingly unique. InterBy Harold The most unique fan letter that Milton Sills ever received was from the wife of a jealous husband. A WEEK spent in a motionpicture studio might well lead one to believe that every man, woman, and child in the world is writing fan letters to the picture stars. Day after da}', weary mail carriers stagger in with the tremendous loads of letters. The fan mail of most of the stars is so great that speopening, reading, and cial secretaries are kept busy sorting it. Most of these letters are rather stereotyped affairs in which the writers admire the work of the players and request autographed photographs. Occasionally, however, a letter of unusual content is discovered in the vast number that come in. And, when such a letter is found, it usually is placed immediately before the attention of the star. It is surprising to see the variety of subjects that are covered in these outof-the-ordinary letters. Some are humorous, others pathetic— all are interesting. For example, Lloyd Hughes one day was handed a letter from a woman out in Iowa which may or may not have been in good taste, but w hi ch showed a keen interest in his work, at least. "I am writing to ask you why you place so much emphasis on the back of your neck," wrote the lady. "It seems to me that if I were a man and had a face as handsome as yours, I would not allow a director to make me have the back of my neck facing the camera as much as yrou do. If it is your fault, I hope yTou remedy it. If it is not, I am truly sorry for you." "There's a real friend," declared Lloyd. John Kolb, the New York truck driver who was snatched from the wheel of his machine and given the "heavy" role in "The Knock-out." declared that he received a surprising letter during the filming of that picture. He had never worked in the movies before, so judge his surprise when, about a week before the pic One of Ben Lyon's most touching fan letters came from a mother who was reminded by him of her dead son. A fan wrote Mary Astor asking her if she really used a certain kind of tooth paste. ture was completed, he received a letter from a woman in Jersey City. "I saw you in 'The Knock-out' and think you are a fine actor. Will you please send me a photograph?" was the' message. "The Knock-out" had not even been completed, much less shown on the screen. This ladymust have been reading the publicity stories and just took a chance. She received her picture. Doris Kenyon had permitted the manufacturers of a certain ring to use her picture in connection with their advertising, and had allowed them to photograph a ring on her finger. A short time later, an indignant woman wrote Miss Kenyon that she thought she should be ashamed of herself for being photographed wearing a cheap ring. "It is beneath your position to be seen wearing such cheap jewelry," wrote the woman, "and I hope you will stop it.'* Richard Dix is another star who offers an unusual letter. "This letter," says Dix, "was sent me by a farmer down in Pennsylvania. The man explained that he had just been married An indignant Doris Kenyon fan wrote to and had bought a her protesting against her being photo farm, stock, and imgraphed in cheap jewelry. plements and was badlyr in need of one thousand dollars to carry him through until he began receiving returns from his crops. "He said he was in deep trouble because his bank would not increase the mortgage on his place, and would not lend him money unless he could get some one of means to go surety for hi^ note. He stated that he was soriy to be so bold, but would I please go surety for him on this loan? I