Screenland (May–Oct 1927)

young, ambitious actress in Hollywood. And Sally is "It" — and deserves it. She was Billie Beck, a dancer in a vaudeville revue, once upon a time. High kicking, intricate stepping was Billie's business; and she was making good at it. Then a tour took her to California — and it was there that she heard the siren call of the kleigs. Billie Beck became Sally Rand; and high kicking and fancy stepping made way for heavy emoting and plain and fancy dramatics. SallyBillie is making good all over again — as one of the most promising youngsters in pictures. P. S. She hasn't forgotten how to dance. Because Dorothy Sebastian has a keen sense of rhythm and the ability to dance to it, Dorothy is at the head of the line of candidates for M'G-M featured honors. The li'l gal from Alabam' became a dancer because she knows her ukelele, words and music; and she knows the steps to match the tunes. The Sebastian dance to film fame and fortune was to Music by George White's Scandals. It was like this — stop me if you've heard this one. No? Dorothy had made her first public appearance doing the mannequin strut at fashion shows. She rather liked it, but how much more fun, she thought, to appear in a real, live show — with music, and dancing, and everything. No sooner thought than put into practice, with Dorothy. She'd heard the music for (Continued on page 94) The Babe Bats Out (Continued from page 3 5) so that Babe could reach training camp in time, strangely enough no one seemed to mind working so hard. It was for Babe. So that he could finish on time, and that was enough. It was a "ca'rry on" spirit that always turns work into play. The last scene was shot, and true to the end, the gang met at the train to see Babe off for the east. We were laughing and talking, talking and laughing, with not a thing funny to talk or laugh about. Even the title, hitched across the back of ^the train, was sad. "Babe Comes Home," it read, while really, after all, wasn't he going home? They threw "lies" round our necks — \ve never do quite know what those are all about. They took a flashlight picture — maybe two. Babe was leaning over the rail of the car, sort of smiling and speaking to the gang altogether as if he didn't dare look at any single one of us too long. Then, like a straw to a man who is lost, the musicians tuned up with the saddest song on earth — "Aloha." I'll never forget Babe as he stood there — all the big six feet of him, the broad shoulders, the massive, athletic frame, and still for the life of him looking like a sorry little boy, aching, just aching to cry and not quite able to keep the awful sob away. So the train pulled out. Wiping his eyes, we heard him call rather trembly and weak: "Aw, darn it, Boys, good-by. I'll be coming back soon." — o — • "After all, it's kind of hard to say good' by, isn't it Mick?" I asked on the way out. "Didn't it make you cry a little tiny bit?" "Me, cry!" came back the kid, sort of fierce-like and turning his head to keep away a dampish cheek. "Fellas never cry." His chin quivered, his eyes shone, and he took a deep, deep breath right from his ten-year old soul as he asked me: "Say, ain't he the greatest, greatest man that ever lived?" What would you have said? SCREEN LA ND HOTEL AND TRAVEL 93 HOTEL AND TRAVEL glamac Hotel Broadway and Seventy-First Street New York City The perfect selection when visiting the Metropolis. COO Rooms each with bath, shower and Servidor. Not too large, not too small — a hostelry that offers personal service and courtesy. Renowned CONGO ROOM & Aerial Balcony Coolest Place in Town! Htcause of location it is an ideal summer hotel. ^Many garages nearby — plenty of parking space. k * * °i PHILADELPHIA Chestnut and 39th Street HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT FIREPROOF Unrestricted Parking GARAGE 600 Rooms 500 Baths Rooms with Running Water from $2.50 per day Rooms with private Bath and Shower from $3.50 per day Food and Service the best Near West Philadelphia Station Pennsylvania Railroad