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20.
Are All Movie Stars High Hat?
Norma Talmadge high-hats people she doesn't like, and it makes no difference to her whether they are princes or paupers.
Mabel and Pola had crossed from Europe on the same boat and, just for the devilment of it, Mabel had told her she would get along better if she didn't speak to any one but Jesse Lasky, and not too often to him. Pola was new to the American studios. She thought Mabel ought to know. So when she reached Hollywood, she put on one of the prettiest acts in making herself disagreeable that you ever saw.
I remember one occasion in particular. It was on the second night after Pola's arrival. In the interests of charity, the movie players were giving a performance in the Bowl of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Shirley Mason, Viola Dana, Conrad Nagel, Bill Russell, William Farnum, Mary Miles Minter, and a whole host of others, were in the cast. Other illustrious stars were asked to be present and make appearances on the stage between the acts. Among those asked to do this was Pola. Yes, she said, she would do it. Yes, she would even come
to the dress rehearsal of the performance to find out what she was expected to do.
You might not think that film players would get very much excited over seeing another of their kind. You might think that the native talent might even resent an imported actress. But never in my experience have I seen a group of people so excited as were those players in the benefit when they received word that Pola was to appear among them. She was a great artist, and Hollywood had fallen in love with her in "Passion." I remember that, about nine o'clock on the evening of the rehearsal, a prop boy came running onto the stage, interrupting the proceedings with a shout — "Here she comes!" Ever}-thing stopped. You could have dropped a pin and heard it. The players drew to either side of the stage, making a pathway for Pola. Every man, woman, and child in that auditorium got to his or her feet to welcome the artist who had captured their hearts. And when actors get to their feet for another player, it is a real tribute. They will do it for Mary Pickford and for a few others, but not for many.
Enter madame !
Upon that group of smiling, welcoming, upturned faces, Pola turned the haughtiest mien it has ever been my misfortune to witness. Without glancing either to right or left, she received her instructions, gave a curt nod, and disappeared from the scene.
Well, everybody had a lot of fun after that panning her, and it was that little stunt more than anything else she did that earned her the reputation she long enjoyed of being bad-tempered and temperamental. But Pola is naturally a friendly, impulsive sort of person, and it didn't take her long to learn her mistake. At the present writing, she's one of the most approachable stars. Irving Thalberg, to whom Norma Shearer recently announced her engagement, has Continued on page 98
When Pola Negri Hrst came to Hollywood, she was about the most ritzy person the film colony had ever seen, but it developed that she thought that was what she ivas expected to be.