Picture Show (Oct 1920 - Apr 1921)

Si ricture Show, December Zth, 1920. When It's No Use Pretending. THE PRACTICAL WOMAN AND HER GREY HAIR. If you want to know anyfchiricy about Films or Film Players . '"THE gayest of us have our moments of hollow J. depression. Sooner or later we all have to give up pretending, even to ourselves, and relapse into unhappy candour. At no time, if one is a woman, docs one feel more acutely miserable than when one faces one's mirror in a clear, cold light, and marks the first signs of the " going off " of one's charms. I know a very charming and sophisticated woman whose nightmare is that she may one day find herself in the situation beloved by novelists — that is, alone or nearly alone on a desert island. " Just fancy," she wails, " having no comb or looking-glass or hairpins, and, worst of all, no tammalite. Because, do you realise, that I should actually be grey ? " To see her soft, brown hair one would suspect her of perverting the truth. But she frankly assures her friends that her hair would be nothing without an occasional timely application of a tonic made of bay rum and pure tammalite. " It brings back all the colour," she affirms, " besides making one's hair beautifully healthy. Why, I was in despair a year or two ago, because my hair was growing grey in streaks. But since I discovered tammalite, I haven't the slightest difficulty in keeping my hair its normal shade." And what a difference beautiful hair makes to any woman. It excuses plainness, it enhances beauty. What man pictures the woman of his dreams with anything but soft, abundant hair ? From Rapunzel to Mclissande, there is something romantic about lovely locks. It is deplorable nowadays to see naturally beautiful hair ruined by neglect, curling irons, harmful shampoos, and the like. Many girls, otherwise careful of their good looks, think nothing of going to bed without brushing their hair. Without constant brushing the hair can never attain to that glossy " sheeny " look that is so delightful. A good brushing for fifteen minutes night and morning should be included in the discipline of every woman, plain and pretty: A stiffish brush should be used, and it should be always scrupulously clean. It is not good enough to use just any shampoo when washing the hair. Care should be taken to find the very best one, and then to keep to it. A really excellent idea is to use only stallax granules, which are obtainable at all good chemists. A teaspoonful of stallax is sufficient for each shampoo, so a J lb. packet will last for a long time. This very simple shampoo gives splendid results. The delicious foaming lather it makes not only cleanses the hair "thoroughly, but brings out every atom of its latent colour and brightness. The hair dries quickly, and though beautifully soft, it is quite manageable. When the scalp is inclined to be dry. and the hair brittle, it is a good plan to massage it with olive oil before giving it a stallax shampoo. There arc few things which increase one's self-respect so much as the possession of lovely hair. It is a perpetual joy to oneself and others, and with a little care, one can defv hairpin-scattering winds and even trying, if lomantic, situations on an uninhabited island. TARKER BELMONT S CI.YNOL BERRIES FOR OBESITY. [A DVT.] STUPID COMEDIES. IF criticism continues to be directed ajainst some of the screen comedies which are being given us to-day, it is simply because the public is becoming obviously more bored than amused by such productions. So many ol them are being turned out from the studios with a kind of mechanical rapidity that it is not surprising that the humour in these turns is stale and flat. In fact, the majority of those who see them simply refuse to admit they are amusing. I was impressed by this fact the other night in a picture theatre when the item in the programme happened to be styled a " comedy." It depicted, of course, the usual bevy of bathing girls, without which no " real comedy " nowadays is apparently considered complete. But, bad enough as this recent and senseless innovation might be, it was rendered worse by the introduction of some of the old tricks that one remembered having seen in the days when the motion picture was really in its infancy.. There was the familiar hotel corridor with the two bedrooms one on each side, the same old rush from one to the other, and the tumbling of human forms over one another in a frantic, meaningless scramble. The film was not a re-issue, but a new one, and typical of similar comedies which are being shown to-day up and down the country. In my mind I tried to picture in this case bow very funny it must have appeared to the producer, and how undoubtedly hard the artistes must have worked in their somewhat pathetic efforts to amuse. Yet the audience was coldly unappreciative. The whole film was viewed without the sound of a single laugh being heard. It is by no means an isolated instance, as many can prove. Elsewhere this same type of comedy is being received with the same silence, and the absence of the laughter it is expected to raise should be sufficient proof of its failure to amuse. Yet there is no sign of its immediate disappearance. And unless some vigorous protest is made it will continue to bore us, with only the word '.' comedy " to remind us that it is intended to be something at which we ought to laugh 1 THE EDITOR. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Will readers kindly remember that as this paper goes to press a considerable time before publica. tion, letters cannot be answered in the next issue ? A stamped and addressed envelope must accompany any letter requiring an early reply. Every letter should give the full name and address of the writer (not for publication), as no anonymous communications can be answered. Address : The Editor, "Picture Show," Room 85, The Fleetway House, Farringdon Street London, E.C.4. A Correction-.— The answer to " Myra " (Liverpool) in the issne for November 13th. should have read " But now definite news has been received to the effect that she (Pearl White) is married to Wallace McCutchcon, etc. Alas, the "w" in "now" was left out , thus giving my reply a different meaning. Yes, you can blame that imp, the printers devil, if you like. " Canada Struck " (Abbey Wood).— So your mother and you have been having a strong argument all over a stout person who was seated in the lighting scene of " Broken Blossoms." I am sorry this stout person is causing all this domestic unhappincss ; but if he was somewhere in the audience, he was certainly not introduced by name. The boxers, of course, were Donald Crisp and Kid McKoy. Junnita Hansen was the heroine in " The Brass Bullet." E. C. (Catford). — I don't keep any notes of the weights of artistes, because it's information which cannot always be depended on. Patty Arhuckle, for instance, may decide to grow heavier than before ; and Gale Henry thinner still. There's no knowing what changes like that may take place. Maciste has appeared in " Cabiria " and Maciste, Alpine Soldier." " Mab " (Bradford). — This department favours the instalment system. A few each time is better than a lot at once. In answer to your three questions. Gladden James was born in Zancsville. Ohio, and has played in " The Heart of Wetona," " The Social Secretary," and " The Third Degree." He has yellow hair and blue eyes. Armand Kalisz was Doucet in " An Eastern Maid." In the cast of " The Lone Star Ranger," the chief players were William Faro am, Louise Lovely, anil Raymond Nye. Y'ou needn't forget to write again. You are welcome. " Ixqi isitive (Brentwood). — Y'our resolution as a new reader to take this paper all your life is a good one. May your years be many. At present. Norma Talmadge is the only married sister of the three. Mary Miles Mintcr is single, and her age is eighteen. Virginia Faire, whose rcai name is Brown, is quite a newcomer to the screen, and she will doubtless tell us more about herself later. " Nil Desperandum " (Tynesmouth).— Well, 1 don't want to make you despair, ton you may have better luck next time with your other questions. The only information I can discover just now is that concerning John Bowers. Some of his Alms are : " Joan of the Woods," " Sis Hopkins," " Daughter of Mine," " The Divorce Game," " Through ttie Wrong Door," and " The Pest." He was born in Indiana on December 27th, 1391, and is married to liita Heller. " Devon Entbtsiast " (Ilfracombe).— Write to Harrison Ford again and gently jog his memory. It you send him a letter like you liave sent me, he won't find it in his heart to refuse. Now to your questions. Madge Kennedy and Tom Moore in " The Danger Game " ; Rowland Hill, Bob Read, and Robert Balicc in " Kilties Three " ; June Elvidgc and Geo. McQuarrie in " The Tenth Case " ; Gerafdine Farrar and Wallace Reid in " The Woman God Forgot " : and Olga Petrova and Thomas Holding in " Tlie Daughter of Destiny." Y'es, you can get back numbers from the publisher of this paper. No, you must buy the whole set of postcards, but you will find it worth doing. M. M. (Wallington). — Douglas MacLcan does not state his age, but, as to the rest, I can tell you he was born in Philadelphia, has brown hair and eyes, and is 5 ft. 10 in. in height. His wife is a noii-professional. William Farnum, who was born on July -1th, 1876, is married to Olive White. E. W. (Stoke Newington). — I am afraid I cannot promise to give any particular art plate within a given' time, but one of your favourites will appear in due course. Ruth Roland has reddish-browu hair and dark blue eyes, and was born twenty-four years ago in San Francisco. Her mother, Elizabeth Houser, was at one time a well-known singer. " Inkstand " (Stonehouse). — Producers and others dont seem to think, somehow, that the proper giving of the cast is an important item, but they will probably change their minds some day. In " The Man in the Mask " the three names I have are those of Rene Creste. Millie. Manes, and Ed. Mat he. Lewis Stone was the star in " A Man's Desire," and Herbert Prior was the artiste you want in " A Model's Confession." " Ta-Please (Wallasley).— Herbert Rawlinson was opposite Mabel Noruiand ia " Back to the Woods.'' M. B. (St. JamesV — Glad to hear this paper is doing so well in your part of the world. Hete is a list of Betrv Btvtne's pictures as requested. ."Tangled Lives," " The Green God." " The Silver Horde," " A Game with Fate." " Over the Top," " The King of Diamonds." and " The Busiuess of Life," " CODY " (Chatham). — What strange new job is this you have found in the Army, of keeping ffw books relating to different information about Dim stars ? I am curious. Y'our first list, howevet. is much too long for me to tackle all at once, so I will select three for a start. Ksthryn Adams was born on May 25th. 1807: in St. Louis. Mo., and has blonde hair and dark grey eyes. Her height is 5 ft. 7 ins. May Allison was born in Georgia in 1808, and slm is two inches shorter. Her hair is golden, and her eyes blue. Janet Alexander only tells us that she has greeny-grey eyes, blonde hair, and Is married to Lauderdale Maitland. If you are going to work down the whole alphabet. I wish you a long and pleasant time. (More answers next week.) "PICTURE SHOW" PERSONAL. WRITING TO ARTISTES. — Please do not ask for any u.blr. ~ by post. |,„t j[ you wish to comniunicatc at onto with any artiste not named below write your letter, putting the name of the star on Hie envelope, and enclose it. with a loose 2d. stamp to the Editor, the P11TCRE SHOW, Room 85. The Fieetway House. Farringdon Street, London, E.C .4, nnd it will be forwarded by the next mail. A lett-r weighing more than one ounce will require an additional penny stamp for each extra ounce. Such lette. t cannot be specially acknowledged by the Editor. When writing to artistes always give your full namnnd address, including the name of your county atul country, and mention the Picture Show to ensure the safety of a reply. We cannot, however, guarant • • that such letters will be answered. Please keep these addresses for reference. ALAN FORREST, WANDA n.VWLEY. care ot Rcalart Pictures Corporation. 4'.!>, Fifth Avenue, New York City. VJB \ TOM MOORE, care of Goldwyn Film Co., Culver City. California. I S A. ENRICO CARl'SO. care of Lasky Studios. Vine Street, Hollywood, California, I 5 \ MA RJ OR IE HL'ME, CECIL HUMPHRIES, care of Stoll Studios Regency House, Park Road SurbKon. (More addresses next week.)