Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

Hollywood High Lights 57 Mack had only just begun to gain real success in Hollywood. He was originally a D. W. Griffith discovery, and his first screen work was in New York. There he played the English dandy in "America," Griffith's historical picture about the American Revolution, and won much praise for his characterization. Just a young chap, Mack had nearly always played somewhat tragic parts in films. His role in "The Rough Riders"— his last — was typical, and the portrayal that he gave of the boy who dies so bravely in that film seems now all the more deeply appealing because of his own pathetic end. Two Parties in the Colony Anna Q. Nilsson has so many friends that it is impossible for her to entertain all of them at once in her own home. So recently, when she gave a lovely buffet supper, she asked about a hundred people to meet her at the beautiful and spacious home of one of her friends in Beverly Hills. Stars, directors, and authors composed her guest list. Noted authors as guests are, we think, a particularly wise choice on the part of any hostess. They are usually so belligerent that they can be relied upon to start a small war, and thus add stimulus to the part}'. Mabel Normand also gave a buffet supper recently, a short time after Anna's soiree. It was a joyous occasion for every one, as it was the first large party at which Mabel had been hostess since her illness, and was, in fact, given in celebration of her recovery. Mabel is looking very fresh and lovely. And among other things, she has had her hair bobbed. Mabel and Lila Lee are among the latest to have capitulated to the mode that has persisted these many years, and now, with Lois Wilson and Mary Astor also among the shorthaired girls, the ranks are almost complete. Marv Pickford, to be sure, has not succumbed, and we hope she never, never will. The same holds good for Dolores del Rio and Vilma Banky. Mabel and Lila and Lois and Mary Astor had to endure a bit of good-natured jollying from the other girls in the colony because of having waited so long to be bobbed. Meantime, Gloria Swanson, Aileen Pringle, and some others have decided to let their hair grow again. Some Old, Old Films We spent a most delightful evening recently, witnessing the screening of several old pictures from the famous film library owned by Andre Beranger. "George," as Andre's friends call him, has one of the most complete and unusual collections of old films in. the colony, and he brought about twenty-five of them over to Carmelita Geraghty's house one evening not long ago and screened them for a small group of friends, including Laura La Plante, Bill Seiter, Lois Wilson, and a few others. Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin in their very earliest pictures were the thrill of the evening. Mary's film was "The New York Hat," and Charlie's, "His Trysting Place." Both artists were just as wonderful in their personal appeal fifteen years ago as they are today, despite the old-fashioned photography. Time has not materially altered their personalities. Blanche Sweet in "Judith of Bethulia," with Henry Walthall, directed by Griffith, was a revelation in her potent dramatic talent and personal beauty. Films of John Bunny, the Sydney Drews, and Max Linder, the French comedian who committed suicide a little over a year ago, also brought back many pleasant memories. The Linder farces, made abroad, contained situations good enough to be used again to-day. Doug's New Toy Douglas Fairbanks is going to fight with a new weapon. He will use it in "The Gaucho," his new picture. The contrivance is known as a bolas. It is the lariat of South America, but differs from the ordinary lariat in that it is completely released when thrown, and whirls through the air at a terrific speed, entwining whatever may happen to be in its course. The bolas is made of three narrow but stout strands of rawhide, joined together at a common center. The ends of two of these strands are heavily weighted. The remaining one has a handle. Holding the handle, the person throwing the bolas swings the contraption with a circular motion over his head, until it has acquired momentum, and then sends it flying on its way with a quick, sharp twist. We saw Doug use the bolas to knock down an upright pole that was stuck in the ground, and he split another one in two. He probably will do even more extraordinary things with this new weapon before he is through. Irene Rich Changes Her Name Irene Rich may now be privately addressed as Mrs. David F. Blankenhorn. She was wed recently to a well-to-do real-estate and bond man of that name. The ceremony took place near Monterey, California. Irene had been married twice before, first to Elvo Deffenbaugh, and then to Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Rich, an army officer. Bobby's in Love Bobby Agnew is head over heels in love — but not with May McAvoy. He is reported engaged to pretty Kathryn Perry presented such a pretty picture among her snowballs that the camera man simply couldn't resist it.