Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

116 Advertising Section irnimini The Brand of a Good Book Chelsea House Popular Copyrights The biggest and fastest selling line of cloth-covered books. Ask your druggist — your bookseller to show you any of these latest titles. There's something doing all the while in a "CH" book. These books which have never before been published were written for men who love the sweep of the great West, the mysteries of big cities, the conquest of man over his environment. THE QUICK-DRAW KID THE "GOLDEN DOLPHIN" "LOOKOUT" LARAMIE THE TUNNEL TO DOOM George Gilbert Joseph Montague Paul Bailey Roy W. Hinds THE VALLEY OF THE MONQUIS Arthur Preston THE BLACK SANDER Loring Brent GUN GENTLEMEN David Manning BLUNDELL'S LAST GUEST Albert Payson Terhune THORNTON THE WOLFER George Gilbert THE COASTS OF ADVENTURE James Graham OL' JIM BRIDGER Joseph Montague THE SLEEPING COP Isabel Ostrander and Christopher B. Booth THE BAYOU SHRINE Perley Poore Sheehan THE SILVER SKULL George C. Shedd THE TRAP AT COMANCHE BEND David Manning HIDDEN OUT Howard Fielding YOUNG LIGHTNING Charles Wesley Sanders THE GLORIOUS PIRATE James Graham SCHEMED AT SANDY BAR George Gilbert THE HOUSE OF DISAPPEARANCES Chester K. Steele ISLAND RANCH STRANGE TIMBER THE FLYING COYOTES THE THUNDERBOLT'S JEST THE MUSTANG HERDER MUTINY Thomas K. Holmes Joseph Montague Raymond S. Spears Johnston McCulley David Manning Frederick R. Bechdolt 75c Per Copy ftlELSEA HOUSE 79-89 SEVENTH AVE..N— S 79-89 SEVENTH AVE.. NEW YORK CITY rious Pola, sung praises over the one and only Valentino, raved over the fascinating Garbo, but when V. Keith Sutton dares attack the charmingly sophisticated Florence Vidor, then I begin to bristle ! If that is a sample of your judgment, Mr. Sutton, never aspire to be a movie critic. Do you want to know why, contrary to your opinion, people think it natural for Miss Vidor to win the hero from her younger and, in some cases, more beautiful rivals? Because she possesses an elusive and very desirable quality — womanly charm! Alice Joyce, Lillian Gish, Irene Rich, Vilma Banky, and Miss Vidor are among the few who do possess it. It is something every woman strives for, but very few attain. In addition to this, Miss Vidor possesses an aristocratic type of beauty that is very rare indeed. I have been reading Picture Play for three years and I have never read such a prejudiced interview as the one with Pola Negri by Malcolm H. Oettinger. Evidently Miss Negri did not care to fawn over Mr. Oettinger in the hope of receiving a flattering write-up. There is a myth that women are catty and spiteful, but could anything be more so than the Negri interview, by a man about a woman? E. H. Trenton, New Jersey. What Of It? What if Mary Nolan is Imogene Wilson, and what if she did get into a mess? Does that affect her screen work? She may have changed her name, but, under the same circumstances, wouldn't any one else, in order to make a livelihood? Do you, F. S. Thorn, judge players by their acting or their character? Shirley. Texas. A Polite Disagreement. I disagree with Margaret Reid in her article "The Two-a-day Racket," in which she said Francis X. Bushman surprised his fans by the slightly inferior quality of his speaking voice. I saw him about two months ago, and his voice was anything but insignificant.. His sketch, "The Code of the Sea," was very dramatic, and he gave his role a wonderful interpretation, his voice playing no little part in the portrayal of it. He made a curtain speech in which his voice was rich and deep toned. Mae Murray made a personal appearance at our local theater, too. She has certainly kept her age, but the artificiality of her smile and the doll-like blankness of her face, together with the affected manner in which she spoke, were very evident. Margery Heffron. 4228 Raymond Street, Seattle, Washington. Why Forget Valentino? In a recent issue of Picture Play a letter by Hope Barahm advises the fans to stop raving over Rudolph Valentino. I think that Miss Barahm is cold and calculating, for I do not think that any one with any feeling could talk a'bout a man who has been dead not quite two years in the tone which she assumes. Why should we forget Valentino? Why should he not always remain a blessed memory to us? Another fan asks, what do you see in Ramon Novarro? I might ask the same question about Joseph Schildkraut. Personally, I like him very much, but why criticize Ramon merely because you happen to prefer Joseph? Every fan to his tastes, you know. Why doesn't Paramount stop adopting "Buddy" Rogers and other well-meaning but not-very-inspiring actors, and get Cul len Landis back? He is the best actor that ever appeared in a Paramount picture. Who could ever forget the "Fighting Coward"? I want to thank Mary Howard Gwynne for her lovely and inspiring letter about Rudy. I am glad that there is at least one American with a feeling of reverence toward the dead ; so far, the English seem to have the monopoly on it. But, thanks to Miss Gwynne, it can be said that all Americans are not cold and without emotions. Eve J. Robinson. Wilmington, Delaware. LWhy All the Fuming? I want to hand a large bouquet to all my fellow fans who have so nobly defended John Gilbert and Greta Garbo. If a fan doesn't like a certain star, for Heaven's sake why does he take the trouble to see that star's picture and then make a big fuss over it? How any one can say such mean things about that splendid artist, Greta Garbo, is beyond my comprehension. One writer says Greta is a "false alarm," and still another calls her an "eye-rolling" actress. Well, if these things are true, I'll wager both those fans would give anything to be "false alarms" or "eye rollers" if they could draw the salary Greta rightly receives. And as for Gilbert — well, Jack doesn't really need little me to shout for him. He is on the very top, has been for over two years, and will be for several years to come. Some one said Gilbert would be a "flat tire" if he weren't swamped with "necking" scenes. If M. A. T. calls "The Big Parade" a "flat tire," then that fan just doesn't know what he is talking about. The only Gilbert picture which has had more "necking" scenes than any ordinary photoplay was "Flesh and the Devil," and the continuity of the picture made such scenes necessary. Eve Robinson says that Jack is "the materialistic type and the pawing lover," and that she prefers ''the spiritual, whimsical type." Miss Robinson is a very un-~ usual person. The truth of the matter is that in real life nine tenths of the feminine sex admire the spiritual type, but when it comes down to brass tacks the materialistic lover and the swaggering, passionate hero is the fellow the girls fall for. I have only bouquets for Malcolm H. Oettinger, Helen Louise Walker, and Myrtle Gebhart. Their interviews are among the most fascinating features of your splendid magazine. Richard E. Passmore. Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Ask Us Another! I don't understand why some players of excellent ability, good looks, and personality are overlooked and put into the background. Why isn't Ricardo Cortez ranking with Gilbert and Colman? He is handsome, has personality, can act. Remember "The Sorrows of Satan"? Why is Leslie Fenton given "weak brother" roles? He should be leading man for Marion Davies, Clara Bow, Janet Gaynor. And, once upon a time, I noticed and liked a talented and charming young man named Pierre Gendron. What has happened to him? I hope that Ricardo Cortez will soon be a star, that Leslie Fenton will be given roles worthy of his ability, and that Pierre Gendron will be rediscovered and given back to the screen. Ada B. Oates. Charleston, West Virginia.