Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

Manhattan MedleV 57 Judith Anderson, Ina Claire, Francine Larrimore, Edna Best, Helen Ford, Irene Bordoni, Richard Bennett, and Fannie Ward were among those present, not forgetting for a moment Hope Hampton who, in case you have not heard about it, is now an opera singer. She made her debut as Manon in Philadelphia recently. A gracious act on Chevalier's part occurred just after dinner, while coffee was being served. In response to Mr. Lasky's request — a delightful host is Mr. Lasky at functions such as these — Chevalier sang some of his most popular songs for the benefit of those who had not heard him abroad. American audiences in the great, open spaces have something to look forward to. He is refreshing, this young man from France, with the merry eyes and jolly ways, and brings an enviable vitality and humor to his interpretations. Photo b A Working Girl's Holiday. Laura La Plante hid her dimples and her flaxen hair, not beneath the proverbial bushel, but within the recesses of her hotel suite on her arrival in New York for an abbreviated holiday. It was scarcely more than a week-end, when you come to think of it, but the poor working girl seized on it as a reward for six months' steady toil in the studio on "Show Boat." During her brief stay she improved the shining hour by watching the other fellows at work, if you know what I mean. She spent all her afternoons and evenings in the theater, denying herself to all visitors, but dashed about, meantime, in the busy marts of the city, shopping, being fitted, and what not. She managed, somehow or other, to catch the Twentieth Century back to Hollywood, despite the handicap of numerous bundles, hat boxes, and gift bags. On the Wing. George Jessel has been "doubling in brass" — working morning, noon, and night, that is to say. In the evenings he dons his make-up and goes on the stage in "The War Song," and in the daytime he transfers his little song and dance to the talkies. Margaret Quimby came all the way from the Coast to be his leading lady, with the influx of people from Hollywood. Among them is Vilma Banky, who arrived under the Goldwyn banner, accompanied by a battery of assistants, to make an unnamed picture under Alfred Santell's direction, in which she will play a waitress. It was difficult for the fair Vilma in the scenes which were taken near a public school, because she was mobbed when the school disgorged its excited horde at three o'clock. Not only was she stampeded daily _ in the Bronx, but the responsibility of making a talking film Richard Dix at last has and will work in New has always preferred Betty Blythe sets a record by saying she is through with the screen, because the screen is through with her. was great. When Vilma arrived in America some years ago, her American vocabulary consisted of "lamb chops" and "pineapple." Rod La Rocque has naturally proved an ardent and devoted teacher of the language, and she has become fairly fluent in the new tongue. With the speakies, however, it is a different matter. One must be more than fluent — one must be expert. So Vilma's days in New; York, in addition to her acting activities, were necessarily devoted to the mastery of her role in good, colloquial English. Nick Stuart barely took time to look the old town over before he hurried off to Hollywood. He arrived one day and took the train out of the city next morning. While in Europe, like Uncle Sam's navy, he saw the world in making "Chasing Through Europe." He literally chased the Prince of Wales from one end of France to the other, and likewise he "captured" Mussolini on his tour through Italy. Thence the party went over to Morocco, where the sultan's physiognomy was added to the list of celebrities who will appear in' the picture. Spain also was fitted into the proceedings,, and pictures were taken of the famous bullfight in which, Valencia II. lost his life. These and other incidents, such as flying over Mount Vesuvius, will be seen in the picture. gained his point York, which he to Hollywood.