Screenland (Nov 1929-Apr 1930)

for Jiovemher 1929 111 How Laura La Plante Entertains Continued from page 69 skiff moored for rescue purposes in case the ocean gets too playful with a guest. After a half-hour in our 'private ocean' came a little 'light' exercise with the medicine and beach balls on the sands, topping off with an archery duel before refreshments were served and the first call gonged for dinner. "Yep, we get most of this in every day, morning or night, unless we work all hours," said Bill. "Makes us feel marvelous. Why, say, when I came home from the studio to our apartment in town I was dog-tired. So was Laura. We had to drive ourselves to get dressed to attend the many functions that are part of the price one pays for Hollywood success. Of course, we came down here to rest. We do. Even with this long drive back and forth, we never feel tired any more. We're living advertisements for Pep!" The dimpled blonde vision known to the world as Laura La Plante, and in private life as Mrs. William A. Seiter, appeared in a doorway to interrupt friend husband's oration which would have been balm to the ears of a California real estate salesman. "Bring some of that pep into the house," she advised. "We have things to do." It appears that Bill in his enthusiasm often invites more guests than Laura expects. "I'll show you the house," said Laura, "while Bill exhausts his pep. Our apartment in town is in the Louis the Fourteenth period, as you know; but Bill and I have always longed for a little hideaway home where simplicity would be the model. If we had a retreat in the mountains, we'd naturally like a rustic cabin, but for the beach I think we hit apon a great idea in designing our home in a Norman-French architecture. Of course, we must have certain modern improvements, the radio, piano, tennis court and beach equipment, but as to the furniture and furnishings, we have succeeded in keeping it in true Norman simplicity." And they have. Even to the etchings on the walls, the candy, cigarette and match boxes, the lamps and fixtures, the hook and rag rugs, the gayly-colored pots with flowering plants which stand 'midst the books in the quaint shelves built in the walls, the peasant service in the tiny dining room, the chairs and couches covered with glased chints, gingham and calico, and made to be used in solid comfort; all are in keeping with the motif of the house. The living room is quite large, with many doors opening out onto the beach porch, and an enormous window facing out towards the ocean. Up the winding stairs one climbs to the bedrooms, meantime halting step by step to gaz,e at the antique maps which are shellacked on the walls. In the bedrooms, one may either gaze out over the Pacific through a smaller duplicate of the living room window, or peer out onto the tennis court and past to Pauline Frederick's lighthouse and the bay beyond, through quaint little dormer windows. Here, too, the motif is strictly Norman, beds, chairs, chests and appointments. "I suppose the inside is yours and the outside Bill's," I ventured. "No," replied Laura, smiling gravely. "All ours! We both got big thrills out of planning our home. I took as much interest in the tennis court and beach plans and he did in the furnishings. You know, Bill is artistic even if he is he-man. He couldn't be the successful director of both Colleen and Corinne unless he were, you know. But, since you mention the athletic exterior I'll let you in on a little secret at Bill's expense. (Apparently Laura had overheard the early morning studio call story.) As you can see outside, Bill tried to buy out a sporting goods store to see that we had enough games to play. Well, one day when Bill was playing hooky from the studio, his brother discovered him with a canoe strapped across the open top of his car, driving for the beach. I'm really proud of my husband's ability as a golfer and tennis player, but I don't think he ever paddled a canoe before. At least he never had in the Pacific Ocean. And he never has yet. He has lost a lot of bets trying, and now if you'll go outside on the beach you'll see the capsized canoe with a 'For Sale' sign on it. Howard and I put it there and Bill has too much sense of humor to take it down." The score was even. It goes without saying that the writer is inoculated with the same nature germ that bit the Seiters. Being an old friend of both Laura and Bill, it is my privilege occasionally to share the delights of their solitude. True, it's not always solitude, as Laura and Bill delight in entertaining thenintimate friends on convenient Sundays. Among the twenty or thirty guests who drive down on Sundays to enjoy their hospitality one may see Colleen Moore and John McCormick, Corinne Griffith and Walter Morosco, Dorothy Mackaill, Jack and Evelyn Mulhall, the Alan Hales, the John Boles, Gene Markey, the Reginald Dennys, Louise Dresser and Jack Gardner, and many other celebrities. They have charming parties which are totally lacking in that common variety of Hollywood pest, the week-end drop-in. Their guests are always congenial; if there are any arguments they are friendly ones. No obvious effort is made to entertain the guests. They can dance, ride, swim, play games, or just talk. Best of all, the Seiters enjoy their guests as much as their guests enjoy them; they don't just give a party, they have one! When the guests troup out into the balmy night they have enjoyed real hospitality. A day of swimming, beach games, tennis and archery, a buffet supper with trimmin's, and a quiet evening of bridge, charades and the new indoor sport of throwing darts at a mark over the fireplace. That's real recreation. Over the outer entrance to the La PlanteSeiter beach home there is a sign that reads: "Chez Vous." It means "Your House." And that's the meaning of true hospitality! Ronald Colmans tennis rackets and balls were awarded to Miss Priscilla Kenthall 4235 South 18th Street, Flushing, Long Island, N. Y. ARTISTIC PORTRAIT ENLARGEMENTS FROM ANY PHOTO or SNAP-SHOT* SIZE 16x20 INCH (or smaller if desired) The usual price of this worfe is $5.00 but by taking advantage of this Special j Offer you can get a beautiful life-like enlargement of that favorite picture of mother, dad, sweetheart, baby or any friend for only 98 cents. SEND NO MONEY— Just mail us the photo — any size (Full figure, bust or group) and in about a week you will have your enlargement guaranteed never to fade. 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