Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

30 Over the Teacups Anna Q. Nilsson is the sort of invalid who takes airplane trips. £ Merna Kennedy gave a dinner party for her at the Ambassador. But that isn't like being taken into \ people's homes ! Texas will probably be pretty glad to trek back to New York when she finishes \ j§ her one picture for Warner's. "Oh, well, the celebrities who come out here now won't get the rousing welcome New York favorites used to get. There are too many of them. And § with talking films dragging out all the old stagers, even the I ones who have to be dusted off and carried in are apt to give strenuous competition to the young and pretty boys and girls. "This is a changing world we're living in," Fanny announced with undue solemnity. "Really, the picture business is getting so complicated, you never can tell what may happen. Once upon a time you could feel fairly sure that certain players would make sweet, happy and guile ' less pictures, and others would lie on tiger skins and lure. But now you never know what to expect. The voice of an exquisite and wistful creature may sound like a foghorn from the screen, and change your whole idea of her. "Of course, it is still possible to see silent pictures, and I am seeing all I can. I saw 'Excess Baggage' and loved it. In fact, I wanted to stand up in the theater and shout, 'Atta Eddie !' during the big scene, for fear the leading woman wouldn't do it. "I saw Phyllis Haver, in 'Sal of Singapore,' the other day. That hasn't been released yet. It's great entertainment — so Ruth Elder's nightly prayers are for another engagement i n pictures. good that you feel like choking Phyllis Haver for having her lips made up in a rigid, dark line, when she is supposed to have been sitting for hours agonizing over a sick baby. "Phyllis may go with Metro-Goldwyn, now that Cecil DeMille is making pictures there. He holds her under a personal contract, and certainly he'll have a hard time finding any one else as beautiful or as clever. "Now that talking pictures are the sensation of the studios, there are apt to be a lot of changes. Bessie Love, groomed for them by all her weeks in Fanchon and Marco prologues, has signed with M.-G.-M. to play in The Broken Melody.' Louise Dresser has a marvelous new contract with Fox. Pauline Frederick is going to do talkies for Warner's, and Jeanne Eagels for Paramount. Lila Lee is just making her first talking picture for Warner's, and she is so thrilled she looks like a joyous kid of sixteen. Madeline Hurlock was pretty bored with pictures for a while, but she has made a sound film for Fox and now she is as excited as a debutante. "As usual, a lot of girls are rushing to make stage appearances. That's one of the most conspicuous and successful ways of calling their talent to the attention of picture producers. Virginia V alii, Pauline Garon, and Duane Thompson are all to be in a production of 'Tarnish' at the Hollywood Music Box. Lois Wilson and Leatrice Joy both made such an impression on the stage, that they received offers to go to NewYork. But that wasn't what they really wanted ! "Gloria Swanson hesitated a long time, and made exhaustive voice tests, before she decided to do part of her new picture in dialogue. When 'Queen Kelly' comes out, it will be the very first time the public will have heard her voice. She has never been on the stage and she has never made personal appearances, or been the guest of honor at night clubs. "Zasu Pitts is thrilled to death, because she is to be in Gloria's picture. Partly because she will have a chance to play a wicked woman, instead of one who sits at home and languishes. And partly because it gives her an opportunity to work with Von Stroheim again." The restaurant was jammed with people now, and still there were few celebrities in sight. I ventured that they must be working — horrible thought. "Oh. there's a lot of activity in the studios now." Fanny reported. "Practically everybody has gone