Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

112 Advertising Section Fashions in Etiquette Change Good Form To=day is Different from the Good Form of a Few Years Ago The Very Last Word on the Subject of Correct Behavior is The Book of ETIQUETTE By Laura Alston Brown Every Possible Topic dealing with the social relationships in which human beings participate is covered in this comprehensive volume of 244 pages. In all, 176 topics are treated. These include : The Etiquette of Christenings Conduct of the Engaged Girl Conduct of the Engaged Man Entertaining Guests Table Manners Calling Customs Letters of Intro* duction Wording of Invi= tations Accepting or Declining Invitations Funeral Etiquette Courtesy to Servants The Woman who Travels Automobile Etiquette Public Dances Street=car Etiquette The Etiquette of Sport OTHER VOLUMES OF ETIQUETTE—MANY OF THEM NOTHING LIKE AS COMPREHENSIVE AS THIS ONE —ARE SOLD AT FROM $2.50 TO $5. "The Book of Etiquette." by Laura Alston Brown, the most complete, up-to-date and authoritative work of the kind ever issued, is priced at ONE DOLLAR In an Attractive and Durable Fabrikoid Binding Order from Your Bookseller or from CHELSEA HOUSE Publishers 79 Seventh Avenue, New York An Interview Enters His Life Continued from page 73 lilting ha-has. From him, to show what a jolly, fine old joke the whole mixup had been. From me, to prove that the interviewer's feelings were as good-natured as ever. "Say, I've got to apologize for acting the goat," Bill said. "But I was expecting Arthur Lake to call just when you did. We're always kidding each other over the phone. Arthur will change his voice and say, 'I represent United Artists. Will you call at the studio to-morrow morning to consider a contract ? Or I'll call him, and say something equally crazy. And being interviewed was the last thing I thought would ever happen to me." The shock he received had evidently bereft Bill of all his alertness, for he had not thought up anything striking to say about himself, as many a more seasoned player would. Bill was himself, and much more pleasant. He admitted that there was little to write about — yet. He was born in Los Angeles, and went to a military academy there. Three years ago he started in pictures as an extra. "I always had been crazy about pictures," Bill remarked, as the only excuse for his present position. "That's not original with me, I know, but it's true." Unlike his friend, Arthur Lake — that rare humorist — he has no theatrical connections, so he cannot say acting was in his blood. But it obviously is there, nevertheless. His work shows he is an actor, and that he will improve with time. Bill's first bits came at the Fox studio, in a series of O. Henry stories. That was over two years ago. Then, with plenty of presumption, according to him, he went to Universal to see Emory Johnson, to try for a juvenile role in "The Last Edition." A test came into his life, also a fairly conspicuous part. Later, and more recently, "Mother" and "The Devil's Trade-mark" were made with Belle Bennett. These two pictures followed "The Heart Thief," in which Bill played the juvenile opposite Lya de Putti. Lya, who knew hardly any English then, insisted on speaking her titles in her funny accent, nearly causing poor Bill to burst out laughing in the most serious scenes with her. Of course, an occasional disappointment has come our young hero's way. He and Constance Howard had important roles in "The Waning Sex." Both were completely cut out of the finished picture. Again, in "The Magic Flame," Bill and Con stance played juveniles. Again they graced the cutting-room shelves. very good However, it was his work in "West Point" that attracted the notice of reviewers and fans. He is now getting an increasing fan mail and, to date, an interview. To-day, Bill is twenty, and has grown several inches since his O. Henry days. Naturally, he looks older, too, though you'd take him for seventeen or eighteen. He is a bright chap, not a bore, not self-conscious, nor overconscious — not yet. He is vitally alive and — praise Buddha ! — not sophisticated. That is, he doesn't pose. He lives with his mother, and has a good time with his friends. He is not overeager to tell you what he can do — not yet. He did admit that, next to acting, he likes swimming and tennis best, and I have heard he is most proficient in both. While Bill was answering a phone call, I was able to glance about the room. A photo of William Haines stood in a conspicuous place. "Dear Bill," ran the autograph of the inimitable Haines, "you may not believe me, but I enjoyed working with you." A picture of Belle Bennett, with a beautiful autograph, was also obvious. I regarded a silver cup of modest size, with "Presented to William Bakewell, for possessing the best school spirit," inscribed on it. A scrap book, the size and thickness of a small trunk, with "William Bakewell" stampedon the cover in letters of gold, is being used for present, and subsequent, press clippings. Only several pages are used — yet. Inside the cover is written, in a <boyish hand : "I am going to be the greatest actor on the screen. This is a promise I make to myself. Signed, William Bakewell." He never mentioned* anything like that in the interview ; he <may in the next. Anyway, the chief distinctions in his life at this moment are: That he is the youngest member of the Maskers' Club ; that he is working under D. W. Griffith ; that he has already done something sufficiently worthy to make him the subject of an interview. He was, he confessed, completely bowled over. Let us hope he doesn't become Holly woodized ; that he keeps on getting bowled over ; that he does not, like many of the more seasoned players, come to expect interviews and prepare angles,wise saws, and modern sayings.