Screenland (May–Oct 1927)

98 ENTERTAINING AND INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS The Romance and Reality of Film Life Is Reflected in the Books Listed Below IF you arc interested in photoplay writing, screen acting, directing or production, the books listed below will be of great interest. Each book is handsomely bound in gold decorated cloth cover and will be delivered anywhere in the United Slates at prices mentioned; Canadian and foreign orders extra for shipment and duty. SCREEN ACTING (By Inez and Helen Klumph) Tells what the opportunities are and the training required. This work was developed through the valuable assistance and advice of Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Colleen Moore, Mae Murray, William S. Hart, and other distinguished screen stars, directors and experts. PRICE — $3.00 MOTION PICTURE DIRECTING (By Peter Milne) Of special interest to those in or intending to enter this field. The author, a well-known critic, was a member of Scenario and Production Department of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. This work contains data about William C. DeMille, Rex Ingram, Cecil B. DeMille, and other famous directors. . PRICE — $3.00 MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION (By T. O'Conor Sloanc, Ph.D., LL.D.) The enormous growth in number of motion picture theatres has created a large and increasing demand for operators. It is an interesting, good paying field and requires but a short time to qualify as a projector. This book includes the fullest details of practice. PRICE — $5.00 PHOTOPLAY WRITING (By William Lord Wright) The author was formerly Editor for Pathe Exchange, and Universal. The book is a thorough and authoritative presentation of this lucrative field for writers. Every year new writers achieve fame and fortune. Complete information on how to write for Motion Pictures and how and where to submit vour ideas. PRICE — $3.00 SCREENLAND (Book Dept.) Desk 5 49 W. 45th St., New York, N. Y. SCREENLAND / Helped Raise Hollywood (Continued from page 21) of these articles my work carried me into every department of practically every studio in Movieland, so that I came in personal contact with all its functionaries from the biggest star to the lowliest worker. And still furthermore, I have worked with all these pleasant people in every capacity from that of gag man to director. Yes, I have even acted! And though none of you ever wrote and asked me for a photo' graph of my Greek facade, Charlie Chaplin assures me I acted much better than the dog whose life he was filming. And still, still furthermore, I have known these people socially; I have slept in their beds, eaten their artichokes and played with their dogs and children — and they mine. So why shouldn't I know about your film favorites. I have seen Malcolm St. Clair grow from a bashful little art student of mine into a great director. I have watched Monte Blue emerge from a handy man on the set to one of our brightest stars. I have travelled the world over with Charlie Chaplin and have been with Charles and Clara Ray through fortune and failure. I have helped Lubitsch with his English while he introduced me to newer beauties in German home life. I have laughed with Harold Lloyd and cried with Mabel Normand. In other words these people are my friends — friends with whom I am still growing up. And so if I appear partial in my pictures of them it will be because my partiality is rooted in love. And love always overlooks one's superficial defects and seeks the greater and ofttimes hidden virtues. Charlie Chaplin stingy? I have seen him give away more money than I shall ever earn. As for me, well he is as interested in my success as though I was his brother. He would have the world believe him to be unsentimental but I've seen him keep his whole studio crew on salary months and months on end without doing a stroke of work. Do Doug and Mary live on bees' knees and bubbles? One day I said to Doug; "Why don't you and Mary get out and mix more? You live up on that hill like a pair of hermits." Doug doesn't smoke. They serve no liquor and their greatest excitement of an evening is to run a picture in their own home and then discuss it. "Bob," he replied, "we don't dare go places. If Mary and I attended a dinner at the Ambassador and the hotel happened to be raided who would be on the front page of every paper in the country? The fellow with the liquor? Not at all. Mary!" And then with a regretful look at the fun they miss he added. "It would cost us a million fans who believe in us and a million dollars. No, we can't afford to take the .chance." One night after Charlie Ray's financial collapse we were all sitting around the fire place in our Beverly Hills home and I was talking the elder statesman stuff to the melancholy boy. 'It's true that Clara and I have been dreadfully extravagant," he said looking thoughtfully into the grate, "but after all, Bob, the bootlegger or the night clubs didn't get it. We spent it all on our home. And we loved our home above everything." And if you only knew the beauty of that home and their home life — you could understand and forgive their 'extravagance'. No, the world knows little of the hopes and heartaches of these children of the cinema, and so if you will regard this first piece of mine rather as a promise than as a fulfillment I shall let you know a lot of pretty things that may give you a new estimate of your heroes and heroines.