Screenland (Nov 1935-Apr 1936)

74 Spotlight Cover Contest 1,000 Prizes Awarded Just Answer Two Questions: 1. Your selection for Spotlight Cover Girl? 2. Why you think she deserves this tribute? PRESENTING an opportunity for every person interested in pictures and picture stars to assemble a wonderful collection of color portraits of the most glamorous ladies of the films ! This new and novel Screenland contest also affords opportunity to give tangible expression to your admiration for your favorite actresses. Here's how you go about this fascinating Glamorous Miriam Hopkins, Spotlight Cover Girl this month. Name your favorite for a forthcoming Spotlight Cover. Enter the contest now. It's easy to do, and you may win a fine reproduction of our cover portrait of Miriam, in full color, without printing, and suitable for framing. Read contest rules below. competition to take an active part in picking the feminine star whose portrait will grace a future issue of Screenland. And, SCREENLAND at the same time, acquire a valuable gallery of original star portraits. First read the rules carefully. Then fill out the coupon on this page, and send the coupon with a brief letter in which you name your selection for a Spotlight Cover Girl portrait, and tell why you think the favorite you select deserves this honor. Mail your letter to : Spotlight Cover Contest, Screenland, 45 West 45th St., New York, N. Y. One thousand entrants in this contest this month will receive reproductions of our cover portrait of Miriam Hopkins. The screen stars naturally are delighted to have the honor place on a Screenland cover. The distinction has added significance since it expresses the wishes of the public, whose opinion is the final word of judgment on their ability as actresses and personalities. To the most eminent star, such a tribute is an encouraging and high compliment.': The public, likewise, through these contests, has opportunity to take an active part in the selection of the stars whose portraits are to be featured in a Screenland Spotlight Cover. In addition to the portrait on the cover, the Spotlight Girl is also the subject of a special and exclusive story featured in the magazine. Thus you help the star while helping yourself to win a prize you will be proud to possess. RULES OF THE CONTEST 1. Use coupon printed at left filling out with name of your selection, and your name and address. 2. Write a letter, not more than 100 words, telling why you think the girl you select deserves this distinction. 3. This contest will close at midnight February 3, 1936. 4. In the event of ties, identical prizes will be awarded. 5. Judges' decisions are final. No entries will be returned. 6. Mail entries to: Spotliqht Contest Editor, Screenland, 45 W. 45 St., New York, N. Y. I am entering the Screenland Spotlight Cover Contest, with my letter enclosed. My star selection is Name Street address City State Merle Talks About Miriam— and Herself strange to me and I didn't know many people and they didn't seem to want to know me, and when Christmas came around — it's always such a heavenly time in England, you know — I thought I would simply die. I remember that Maurice Chevalier and I had Christmas dinner alone on my kitchen table and I could hardly swallow the turkey I was so choked with sobs thinking about other Christmases I had had in London. You have no idea what a home-sick girl I was. Well, Miriam sort of scented that I was having a dismal time of it, so she took charge, introduced me to her friends, and assured me that it takes a year for Hollywood to 'take.' She was right. I like Hollywood so much now that as soon as I am financially able I am going to buy a large ranch here and raise all kinds of animals, but especially dogs. I love dogs. You should see my two Dalmatians. I brought them to the studio one day when they were puppies and they made themselves quite at home on Mr. Goldwyn's rug so I haven't dared to bring them here since. "When the studio wired me that Miriam would co-star with me in 'These Three' I was on the Atlantic and was so thrilled that I nearly fell over-board. I have great Continued from page 23 admiration for Miriam as an actress. I have been quite a fan of hers for some time, and am certainly delighted at the opportunity of making a picture with her. She flew to New York and met me at the boat, you know, and with her and David both making a fuss over me I really felt quite the returning actress. She had a cocktail party in my honor at her lovely New York home in Sutton Place, and I don't think I have ever met so many important people at one time. They were all well known authors, playwrights, decorators, painters, architects, and tops in their professions. Miriam's friends are people who do things — people with ideas — interesting people. Most stars, I have noticed, surround themselves with satellites who bask in the glory of the Great One. But not Miriam. She doesn't mind having friends who are more important than she is. "Another reason I like Miriam is because she is so frank. There are very few people with whom you can be frank, you know that ; and being frank with an actress and hoping to keep her friendship is just about as dangerous as slitting your throat with a razor and hoping to live. But true friendship is based on frankness ; that is the only way it can survive. Miriam and I realized that appearing in a picture together would be a great test of our friendship— you know how difficult it is to be friendly with any rival without the old demon jealousy raising his ugly head — so we talked it over beforehand and definitely promised each other that we would be frank with each other. No sulking over some unintended slight. No pouting like a couple of children. If either of us hurt the other's feeling we would say so. No moods. No temperament. I'll have you know that it has worked beautifully. We have both been frank from time to time — ■ oh, no, I'm not going" to tell you what about and here we are in the midst of the picture and as good friends as ever." But just to cinch it, and just because she is superstitious, Merle Oberon knocked on wood. Merle is quite enthusiastic over "These Three" — (Joel McCrea is the third)— and she and Miriam both declare that it is the most beautifully written script they have ever read. (Miss Hellman, take a bow.) They had been making that scene where Aunt Lily (played by Catherine Doucet), comes to visit Karen and Martha who are up to their ears in a bit of house-cleaning.