Screenland (Nov 1925–Apr 1926)

fll I have stayed in California for all she has seen of Fifth Avenue and Broadway. She came to play with Ben Lyon in The 7<[ew Commandment. But before she left she managed to dash to see Blanche Yurka in The Sea_ Woman, which Blanche made for the movies. * * * Miss Sweet — or to call her by her correct name, Mrs. Neilan — is a hearty advocate of American clothes for American girls. When she was abroad she bought dozens of dresses from the fashionable French modistes and came back prepared proudly to display them to her friends. But she found to her dismay that the frocks she had spent hundreds for might be purchased at any one of a row of New York shops for a mere song. Naturally, Blanche didn't feel much like singing. * * * HIS friends are still kidding Dick Barthelmess about his camping trip. Dick and Bill Powell decided, as they had finished their work in The Beautiful City, that they had earned a vacation and that Indian summer was just the time to take it. So they stocked up on provisions, blankets, a radio, and a good many other things they had heard were important, and landed on a small island somewhere in the Sound. They told their boatman not to call for them until late the next day — and prepared to "rough it." Before they had been there very long they discovered they had neglected to bring most of the things they really needed — such as mosquito netting and things like that. A fog descended with the mosquitoes; and to make matters worse, the tide began to rise. It rose and rose until the intrepid adventurers began to wonder if they were appearing in a motion picture serial. When the boat came back for them — at dusk the next day — they were still alive, but equally determined to do their roughing at the Ritz in Atlantic City in the future. SCR EENLAND The Warner Brothers just had to have a Broadway theatre in which to show their stuff, so they bought the Piccadilly as readily and as easily as you or I would buy a new hat. And of course they gave a luncheon to celebrate the event. But it was a nice luncheon, at that. There was a jazz band and the Charleston was performed by professionals. What more could any one ask — except, maybe, that John Barrymore had come from Hollywood for the occasion? * * * MONTA Bell is busy directing Menjou in The King on Main Street and some one who should know says that when Monta was trying to convince the producers that he would make a good director it was this same King that he particularly wanted to make. He couldn't convince 'em then, but it's no effort now. * * * John Robertson and his wife, Josephine Lovett, who writes the Robertson scenarios, went to Europe to make scenes for Queen Calafia, the Ibanez novel which Robertson will film. It will be the first time he has left the Barthelmess company for several years. Dick was down to see them off. Nita Naldi, according to report, will soon go abroad to play the Queen. NILES Welch was in a hotel the other day when two gfrls of the flapper variety stared at him, whispered together, and finally came up. "Pardon me," said one, blushing furiously, "are — are you Niles Welch, the movie actor? Niles has a sense of humor. "Why, no " he replied. "There, Marie," said the girl triumphantly to her companion, "I told you so!" Niles Welch wears glasses except when he is facing the camera. He looks more like a successful business man than a movie hero. And he's just as well pleased. Gloria Gould is now a full-fledged motion picture theatre director. She is "he presiding genius of the new and intimate Embassy which opened its doors on roadway with The Merry Widow. Miss lould, who is Mrs. Henry Bishop in pri■ate life, is tiny and cunning enough, with ler black bobbed hair and big eyes, to be in the movies instead of merely presenting them; but she's very well satisfied with her fob. She entertained at a garden party efore the opening and charmed every one nth her sincerity and evident desire to Imake good. There's always room for one more Gloria! At the premier, the little impresario wore black .satin costume gown, very long and nth bouffant skirt — she looked like a Velasquez come to life. She's only twenty, and the mother of a baby girl. She has naively remarked, so they say, that she wishes to be known for her efforts in directing the theatre rather than as a Gould. But it is as Gloria Gould that she presides at the Embassy, just the same. The new house seats only six hundred so it can be called exclusive without fear of contradiction. The first-night audience included Edna Murphy and George Hackathorne — yes, together; Betty Jewel, Dagmar Godow[sky, and others; while standing at the back of the theatre peeking over the heads sur i ing lhlm was a little' ^uiet man named dolph Zukor. He couldn't get a seat. IT would seem that one way to g*t a job in pictures would be to call a director "uncle." But as it happens, it doesn't always work, even when family ties entitle you to the distinction. Juliet Brenon is a beautiful brunette who has won distinction on the stage. But she wanted to win more in pictures. So she said, "Uncle Berty, I want a job in the movies. Let me play an extra in one of your pictures and work up." Uncle Berty frowned. He didn't want her to do extra work and he didn't want to be accused of favoritism by giving her a part. So Juliet took matters into her own slim hands. She got her own extra jobs and made good. She went to Herbert Brenon again. This time he listened. Her screen tests looked great. But she had to go about getting a job in the regular way before she was finally cast in the important part of the broken-down mother in The Street of Forgotten Men. She played it so well she won praise from everybody — even her critical uncle. And he felt he could conscientiously engage her for his next picture, A Kiss for Cinderella. Strangely enough, though off the screen the smartest and gayest of girls, Juliet has so far drawn sobby mother roles. But she cries very well. Now that she's on the eve of "arriving," she says she might have arrived sooner 'if she hadn't had the handicap of being a famous director's niece! WHEN THE MOVIES WERE YOUNG By LINDA GRIFFITH WOW you would enjoy sitting down for an evening, or for more than one, to listen to Mrs-. D. W. Griffith talk of the early days of the old Biograph Company on 14th Street! And as she talked of the years between that and the production of "The Birth of a Nation" you might be turning over her fine collection of photographs, finding unfamiliar pictures of stars you have known — Mack Sennett, Mary Pickford before her curls became a feature; Mabel Normand, Dorothy Gish, and many more. This is what is given you, . with the privilege of enjoying it as often as you like, and of sharing it with as many friends as you like, in the book When the Movies Were Young By LINDA GRIFFITH Price $3.00 Freely Illustrated E. P. DUTTON & GO. 681 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK Ernest Pechirj _ _ cTs^z° How to Win Success in Music Begin with the right instrument. This is the advice of the world's foremostartists. Conn instruments, used and endorsed by the most successful players, are easier to play, most beautiful in tone, perfect in scale; reliable in action— possess many exclusive features, yet cost no more than others. Free Book by Sousa and nine other famous artists on "Success in Music," helps you choose the instrument for your talent. Send now for your copy and details of Free Trial, Easy Payments on any Conn instrument, C. G. CONN, LTD. 1184 Conn Bldg. Elkhart, Ind,