Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

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52 Loved at Last As the wan and ethereal Princess Cecilia in "The Wedding March plays a typically pathetic role, though in lovelier guise than princess had fluttered over her cradle to endow her with outstanding beauty and grace. She was destined for weary drudging in a land peopled with beautiful girls. Painfully conscious that she didn't fit in, she knocked timidly at the magic door through which a wealth of beauty was passing, and wedged herself in only when the need was found for some one to contrast with beauty. By perseverance and by slowly winning popularity among the fans, she has made her little niche secure. And now, at last, so strong has become the public liking for her, that the keepers of the magic castle have had to make a bigger, more important place for her. Zasu's charm lies in her complete naturalness. Her brown hair is usually flying in all directions. Clothes always look utilitarian on Zasu. Her dress is usually dark, of serge or some other serviceable material, or in the summer, it's a simple print, without trimming. She wears, usually, a plain coat and a knock-about felt hat pulled down over her eyes. This description is not meant in disparagement — quite the opposite. I'm trying to make clear her most likable quality — absolute freedom from pose. That she has remained the typical small-town girl is the greatest thing to her credit in an atmosphere where even the most sincere are apt to be touched by theatricalism. "Why did you return to comedy after the magnificence and tragedy of 'The Wedding March ?' " I asked. She did not give me one of those highsounding reasons which most actresses have on tap to explain the various vagaries of their careers. "Don't be silly," she rebuked me, over our common-sense vegetable luncheon — which, of course, we topped off with an indigestible dessert. "I'm a working woman. I take what I can get. It was the only thing offered me just then at anything approaching the salary I wanted. "Besides, I like comedy. After crying for five months in 'The Wedding March,' as poor, limping Princess Cecilia, comedy was a welcome relief." It's customary for Zasu to be disappointed. At times she is raised to a point of feverish expectancy, almost certainty, that some cherished wish will be gratified, only to be let down with a thud. She longed to play Lovey Mary, but lost the role because somebody thought her too tall. Twinkletoes, which Colleen Moore did, was another fond hope of Zasu's. "My dreams are all bubbles," she said. "Everybody laughs at them. I used to feel sad that the ugly duckling had to be content with drab, unlovely things, but I've discovered that I've got a lot of worth-while, permanent things out of life that many of the pretty flappers haven't. Might mention Tom and the two kids, for instance," she concluded, with an elaborate air of indifference, referring, of course, to her husband, Tom Gallery, and their two children. Ann, five years old, is their own child. Sonny is the youngster who was adopted by Barbara La Marr, then, after her death, adopted by Zasu and Tom to be a playmate for Ann. "We've found the records of Sonny's birth," said Zasu. "He's two months younger than Ann, so we're going to make them twins, celebrate their birthdays together, and tell them that, as they are twins, they get only one present between them, which they must share. Will teach them generosity, and be economical for us." But don't believe it. Zasu and Tom will follow no such procedure. They can't do enough for those two children, and simply lavish affection and toys upon them. They live at the beach all year round, despite the discomfort of the long drive into Hollywood, just because the beach is healthier for the children. As long as you will listen, Zasu will regale you with anecdotes about the children — how they call Sunday "God's day," and anticipate it each week because they are allowed to dress up in their best clothes and accompany Zasu and Tom to church, and so on. And how furious she gets when some thoughtless writer tacks an "e" on Ann's name, which Zasu says she gave her because it was the shortest one she could think of, and incapable of mispronunciation. "I'm sick," she said, "of being pronounced Sassie or Zuzu or something equally bad. That comes from having two doting aunts, syllables of whose names had to be combined in christening me." If it were any other two people than Zasu and Tom, Continued on page 112 Miss Pitts usual.