Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

70 Tt yTAURICE CHEVALIER, the singing playboy l^r I °^ tbe French shows., is now a home holder in Hollywood. His is a name worth setting down in one's fan book. He is the snappiest chap that has come from abroad in a long time, but his knowledge of geography and distance is not outstanding. We met Chevalier at a luncheon given by the Paramount organization to celebrate his arrival. He is under contract to star in a series of pictures. Chevalier made a pleasant speech at the affair. He spoke gayly of his impressions of America. "I came to New York the first time about a year ago. I thought maybe I also come out to Hollywood. I arrived in New York on Friday, and I have to go back the next week to Paris. I say to my friends : " 'Here is what I do. To-night I go to bed early, and rest from my voyage. To-morrow night I go to the "Follies." Sunday I think I go out to see my friend, Douglas Fairbanks, in Hollywood, and then I come back to attend to some business of mine in New York on Monday.' " 'Ha-ha!' my friends laugh at me, but I do not know what is so funny to them, until they explain to' me. Now I know bettair — much bettair." Chevalier is fair haired and blue eyed. He mingles youth with a certain inveigling maturity. He is married to a French revue favorite, by name Yvonne Vallee. Chevalier will sing as well as act in the movies — pardon us, the talkies. Registering the news and gossip of the studio colony, gathered here, there and everywhere. Temperament Duly Chided. A rather ritzy young actress was out in front of the Paramount studio, upon solicitation of the publicity department, who desired to have her pose for a photograph with an automobile. For some undetermined reason, she was demurring and causing considerable embarrassment. It appeared to be some item of her costume or coiffure that was bothering her. However, at that moment Evelyn Brent happened along, and knowing something of the star's temperamental peculiarities, though not the reason for the trouble she was observing, tossed off, in passing, "That's right, After being wel n?Y de1ar ; be sure you don't pose with anything less than a Rolls-Royce." The Eclat of Dedication. The -formality of studio ceremonies that are supposed to mark the inauguration of something or other positively leaves one breathless. The dedication of the Fox sound-picture plant was typical. It was an affair of more speeches than a political caucus, or a meeting of the town aldermen. As far as stars went, Mary Duncan was the heroine of the occasion. She spoke the address of dedication, and made a radiant picture, while doing so in a rich, winecolored street dress. About 20,000 persons who^ were present gave her a great ovafion. Stars who were introduced to much, applause included George O'Brien, Lois Moran, Victor McLaglen, Sue .Carol, Nancy Drexel, June Collycr, . Louise Dresser, Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor, Virginia Valli, Farrell MacDonald, Helen Twelvetrees and various others. Most of them said a few words through the microphone, and to cap the climax, Louise Fazenda invoked considerable hilarity by neighing like a horse. Louise is never at a loss 5 to contribute something to relieve the strain of too much civic .seriousness. The huge crowd shared its applause with the builders of the studio, and for the plant itself. Madge Bellamy was unable to ,4 . attend the affair, as she was seriously ill of the flu at her beach ' ■ home. For a time she was threatened with pneumonia, but is well Photo by Bull corned as a celebrity and given a role opposite John Gilbert, Eva von Berne was sent back to Vienna and obscurity, because she was N. G. for talkies. Those Garrulous Flickers. Regard that day as utterly wasted, \\4iich does not find one new name invented for the speakie movies. Here is the latest: "The f/im-ema." Tom Waxes Patriotic. George M. Cohan has nothing on Tom Mix, when it comes to flag waving. Tom doesn't stop at a mere flag. He unfurls a whole banner of Americanism when the occasion arises. Tom did this to apparently great acclaim, when he announced he would not submit to a Parisian divorce action. He returned all papers appertaining to the suit brought by Mrs. Mix, which he was supposed to sign, to the attorney general of France, declining to fill them out. He simultaneously had a typewritten announcement issued to the newspapers, stating that his reasons were largely patriotic for so doing, and that if there was to be a divorce, it should be procured in California. This leaves the Mix legal separation very much up in the air — its habitual state for the past half year. Parrot a Movie Singer. A singing parrot is the latest acquisition of the talkie films. His name is Josephus, and he is said to, have a contratenor voice — that is,; if you're not particular about vocal registers. He probably will be-, heard in one of the early Pathe pictures, as he had a try-out at their studio. Josephus' repertoire includes "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles," "Over There," and "It's a Long Way to Berlin." Not entirely modern, to be sure, but efficacious for war-time films, anyway. He can sing all these through correctly, with the