Screenland (Nov 1931-Mar 1932)

60 SCREENLAND Are the Screen Stars Some are — some aren't. Read on and learn about all kinds! H OW would you like to live next door to some popular Hollywood film celebrity ? "Gosh, wouldn't I, though !" murmurs little Miss Fan. "It would be Seventh Heaven to "Stuff and nonsense!" snaps Mama Fan. "You don't know what you're asking for. These stars are a noisy bunch and probably would keep us awake half the night with their parties and such. Then, too, they're all stuck up — they wouldn't look at any of us. If they did, it would only be to give us a vacant stare." "Oh, yeah ?" cuts in Papa Fan. "Well, don't kid yourself, Mama. Movie stars are all right — they're only human beings like us, after all. And say, that little gal I saw at the Palace last week when she was making a personal appearance, was as cute as they make 'em and not one bit ritzy." "Is that so!" retorts Mama Fan, which quenches that argument, but which brings us right to the point of our story : Are stars good neighbors, or not ? Do they make friends easily, or don't they? Do they invite neighbors to their homes? It all boils down to just this. There are stars and stars, and no two are alike. There are friendly ones, like Marie Dressier, who knows almost everyone on her street by name, who has a smile and a kind word for them all, and even swaps choice recipes, special samples of her cooking, and things like that with the two ladies who live next door. There are others who keep aloof from their neighbors — like Garbo, Swanson and Negri — because it's their "act" to remain mysterious, or because they feel they have few common interests and prefer, accordingly, to move among their own small circle of friends. Those in this group have been termed everything from dumb-bells to snobs, but they go merrily on their way, attending to their own affairs and disturbing no one. There is, alas, a third group which is the least desirable of all. Those that belong in this gathering aren't always seen by neighbors, but they are very much heard! They are good sports mostly, only too much so — being inclined to keep their neighbors walking the floor at night and tearing their hair. Virginia Valli's big romance, culminating in her marriage to Charles Farrell, began with neighborliness. It happened that she was vacationing at Malibu Beach, and Charlie Farrell was lounging about in his cottage next door at the same time. She was painting some outdoor furniture one morning when Charlie, in true neighborly fashion, called over and asked if there was anything he could do to help her. His offer was accepted and he went to work with a paint brush. By the time the furniture was finished, their romance had begun. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lyon, too, started their famous friendship by being neighbors on North Harper Avenue. Louise Fazenda knows all her neighbors — down both sides of the street. They often go on picnic parties with her, and there is a genuine friendliness about the whole community. In the boy who lives right next door, Louise has not only a picture fan but an enthusiast for her cakes and pies and cookies — something even more important. Will Rogers would have to ride miles to borrow a pound of sugar.' His huge ranch doesn't make for neighborliness. Just look it over — Will won't mind! Marguerite Churchill and Elissa Landi live near each other, work at the same studio, and are the best of friends. They often ride together on the Beverly Hills bridle paths.