Screenland (Jun-Oct 1935)

for September 1933 71 It's Not Always Their "Dear" Public signed autographs and tried to ignore it. It was like trying to ignore a red flag on a bull. The only thing that made it possible for me to stay was the fact that not a single person about the booth laughed! If she did it for a gag, or to embarrass me publicly, it failed so far as the people about the booth were concerned. The real fans were so considerate in not adding ridicule to injury that they alone made it possible for me to remain and "take it.' " "Gene's right — there is usually one heckler, at least, in every 'admiringthrong,' " corroborated Clark Gable when he was asked about any experiences he might have had in Public versus Star. "The point, of course, is to try to ignore him, her, or it, and not lose your temper. That's a lot easier to say than to do, but it is the only way. To answer back, or to become obviously irritated, always amuses your 'admirers,' and the first thing you know, where there was one heckler before there will be a dozen. "It's the darndest experience in the world to find yourself signing autograph books, beaming your most pleasant smile on the little circle in the foreground, and pretending totally to ignore a loud, brassy voice in the background demanding to know how a funny-looking guy like you ever got on the screen in the first place. "The funniest, and at the same time, the most embarrassing experience I ever had with a stranger took place in the publicity department right here at the studio. I happened to drop into Kay Mulvey's office one day and a woman interviewer was sitting there chatting. Miss Mulvey introduced us, and the lady started in immediately on how much she always enjoyed my screen roles, etc., etc., etc. — the same old story. After about ten minutes of this ego-building flattery I bowed myself to the door but not through it. That's the catch! The lady's back was turned and she thought I had departed. As it happened I had stopped to light a cigarette. "Imagine my surprise to hear the same voice that had just flattered me into thinking I should ask for a raise in salary actually snort as she said to Kay : 'My dear, it must be an awful strain to have to sit and flatter these hams all day long.' Kay's face was something glorious to behold — you see she was facing the door and she could see me standing there ! But before anything could be done, the lady launched into an attack on how very much she particularly disliked me on the screen, and how in heaven's name did I get where I was? "I suppose I could have been the perfect little gentleman and gone on my way. But I just had to poke my head around the corner again! The effect was so swell I couldn't bear to tear myself away. So I just sat down and chatted on for about twenty minutes longer — and believe me, I did all the chatting. My former admirer couldn't seem to get her mouth closed !" Kay Francis says that the most terrifying thing in the world, next to lapsed contracts and wrinkles, is to be cornered, (trapped, really), while waiting for a taxi or for a purchase in a department store, and be recognized by a couple of ladies who proceed to "talk you over." "You might be deaf, or a statue or something stuffed," Kay laughed, helplessly, "for all the attention the ladies pay to what emotions you may be feeling. "My last experience of this kind took place in front of a restaurant where I was waiting for a cab after lunching with friends. "One of the women nudged her corn Continued from page 13 panion and said : 'There's that tall brunette in pitchers — what's her name?' This, mind you, practically in my ear and right under my nose. The other one replied : 'Kay Francis, and they say she's been married six times.' Then they both agreed the many divorces in the film colony were nothing short of 'awful !' I thought that cab never would come! On and on went the good women about the most personal things in my life. They even made up their minds whether they liked the clothes I was wearing ! By the time I found refuge in that taxi I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!" Jean Harlow is a crowd magnet everywhere she goes, and even shock-proof Agua Caliente is no exception. But on Jean's last visit there she created one of those sensations you just love to forget, thanks to a lady tourist and her salesman husband. Jean, as usual, was having herself one grand time at the dice table in the Casino. (Incidentally she has the little galloping ivories hypnotized and if you're ever lucky enough to get at a dice table with Jean you're liable to come out with the wherewithal for a new hat or suit if you just string along with her. But that's off the subject). The table was jammed not only with players but with admiring fans and onlookers, equally impressed by Jean's platinum hair and her almost uncanny luck. A very small, timid looking little man standing next to Jean had been "riding with her" and, of course, winning just as she was. In a little while, Jean had had enough of it and was about to cash in her winnings, when the little man turned, pulled out an envelope, and handed Jean a pencil. "I sure am grateful to you, Miss Harlow, for all this money I've won on your luck-^ I wonder if you'd autograph this envelope here?" Jean smiled and reached for the pencil — but she never got it. A very large, angry hand slapped it to the floor and a very large, irate lady wedged herself between Jean and her admirer. "Don't be giving my husband your telephone number, you Platinum Blonde!" the woman shrieked in the tones of a fishwife. "You leave my husband alone!" "A fine scene it was," said Jean, shaking Notable newcomer to Hollywood! Warren Hull, stage and radio star, recently signed by Warners. her head. "I was never so embarrassed in my life, and the poor little man almost fainted, he was so humiliated. Everyone in the place was doubled up with mirth, and, of course, the woman had made an awful fool of herself. But even that didn't save my feelings much — my evening was ruined !" To this day, Mrs. George Temple has not recovered from the shocking event that took place in a local department store just before Christmas when she had taken little Shirley "down town" to see the beautiful tree in the toy department. Of course, lovely little Shirley was immediately recognized and almost stampeded by the avalanche of women who descended on her goo-ing and gurgling. The poor child was bewildered, but she was smiling and trying to be sweet though jostled and pulled and jerked as her mother tried to lead her to safety through the mob. Suddenly Mrs. Temple let out a shriek that was heard over the entire floor — and then some. For one of the women had jerked off Shirley's hat and was clipping off her curls for souvenirs ! "This almost unbelievable happening," explanied Mrs. Temple, "has, of course; made it impossible for me ever to take Shirley to see the Christmas trees or the Easter windows or any of those other 'downtown' treats children love so much. It is too bad, because this preposterous thingwould probably never happen again in a million years. It is not at all indicative of the feeling I know true fans have for my little girl. The sweet letters they write her and the thoughtful messages they send have proved that point. But still I feel I just can't take the chance of such a terrible thing again !" Madge Evans, fortunately, is a very eventempered and amiable young woman, so when she is "heckled" she can always smile and take it, even to the extent of contracting writer's cramp autographing albums. Even her patience was taxed to the limit, though when she was besieged on the boat to England. Her smile wore a little thin before the crowd finally left her. Fred MacMurray says that if there is any benefit to be derived from a heckler in a crowd, or an unflattering remark, it is in puncturing an inflated Ego ! _ "I don't mean outrageous things like clipping Shirley Temple's curls," the new rage of Paramount went on to explain. "But sometimes it is pretty good for us to hear an off -note in the chorus of approval. Otherwise we might begin to believe what the press agents wrote about us." He laughed as he remembered a very recent little Waterloo of his own : Soon after "The Gilded Lily" was released and the reviews started flooding the prints all about what a white hope of the screen Fred was, he invited a young lady to be his guest at the opening of a swanky newcafe in Hollywood. As usual the street was jammed, and Fred's taxi was making very poor time through the crowd that had gathered to see the celebs. A couple of young girls had broken the police lines and were running from car to car, peering in, commenting enthusiastically on Marlene Dietrich, Norma Shearer, Clark Gable, Robert Montgomery and other occupants of motors in front of Fred. Finally they got to his car. They poked in their heads : "Oh, come on," one of them yelled to the other. "This is nobody!" "Which was certainly a darn honest reaction !" chuckled Fred. There's certainly one thing about it — if the public isn't always dear, it's certainly never dull !