Screenland (May-Oct 1938)

yOU dare not drop in at Loretta Young's unless you are ready to pass a camera test. Loretta has gone wild over her 16 m.m. movie camera, and she insists upon preserving all comers in Technicolor. It's painless enough at the time, of course; the blow falls when you see yourself as others actually see you. The bookshop closest to the Young mansion reports an amazing sale of how-to-rebolster-your-ego books ! But Loretta's prize for this month is her little feature starring the four generations in her family. Her grandfather, Dr. Robert Royal, her mother, her sisters, and her nieces are the performers. She admits she got them at their best angles ; why shouldn't she give them the benefit of her technical knowledge 1 BING CROSBY is changing! It's news when the placid, casual Crosby develops a streak of formality. When he began trying to dress his brother Larry up folks gasped. Bing's always scorned the very suggestion of correct dressing himself. But that was only the beginning. Next he ordered eight walnut trees pulled out of his front lawn. Seems they shed leaves on the grass. CHEERFUL NOTE: newcomers are still getting the big jumps from the nowhere into the spotlight. Richard Greene, from London, is the handsomest of the new finds and he's a star overnight. RKO has an English hero, too; he's Derrick de Marney. (How veddy elegant, wot?) But the local talent isn't squelched. One "Hank" Luisetti came to town with the Stanford basketball team, to play against U.S.C. Before he left he'd been signed by Paramount. When he graduates in June he'll report for a basketball filiru He'll get $10,000 for his performance in it, and will have Mary Carlisle to screen-love. They even have the title for his epic — "Campus Confessions." But they'll probably re-title him. QUITE by coincidence Dorothy Lamour chose the lot next door to Ray Milland for her new house. Since she's done several films with Ray a lot of fans have blandly assumed the two are really in love. Each, however, has a perfectly good mate. Mrs. M. is a non-professional, while Mr. L. is Herbie Kay, orchestra leader who's currently the dance draw at the Cocoanut Grove. Dorothy is singing there three night a week as his "unknown" guest star. Evidently Paramount doesn't want her publicly billed as an attraction in a night spot. So Dorothy does her bit for love more or less incognito. She tossed a cocktail party to introduce Herbie to the press. Everyone gave him the OK sign after in Reunion at Paramount! Gary Cooper, back to his former home lot to do a film, visits Fred MacMurray and director Al Santell, left. The camera wouldn't wait, so June Lang is caught applying lipstick as her luncheon companion, Allan Lane, looks on, upper right. Horseplay on the iron horse that took Hugh Herbert, vacationing after his work in "Gold Diggers in Paris," and Jimmy Durante from Hollywood to New York, for a holiday; right. specting him. But speaking of Dot's screen hero, again : Ray almost went flying down to British Guiana this month. In a recent magazine interview he reminisced about his boyhood pal and their escapades. He'd completely lost track of the fellow. One day a letter from a doctor in South America arrived. Now a student of tropical diseases, his pal had come in from the jungle and had purchased the magazine. "I never thought you'd remember," the letter began. Ray was so delighted he immediately planned to fly down for a between-pictures visit. His studio stopped him, however. They had a million-dollar epic ready for his attention. Moral : if you actually were a chum of a star "when" don't hesitate to write a word of greeting. HOST-CARDS drifted back to Hollywood ■ from Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Raymond off on a long planned vacation toot. They railed across the continent, both very much in the holiday mood. Of course, it wasn't as quiet a vacation as they anticipated, for as soon as they were spotted the fans rallied around. Gene, because of his blond hair, rated recognition first. You might not realize Jeanette is who she is, if unwarned, for she has a straightforward gusto not usually identified with Hollywood stars. She doesn't bother to wear make-up unless she knows she has to be on display, and she's an outdoor type. Don't be alarmed by that rumor that she and Nelson Eddy will part, professionally. As soon as she returned he had completed his annual concert tour, and they'll again be breaking your heart in true sentimental style. Two scripts are readying, and they'll be summering on sound stages, probably in "Sweethearts." Gene Raymond, meanwhile, has cannily refused to be rushed into any more long contracts. He's picking his roles, to regain his niche. EVER plan to build your dream house? If so you can sympathize with Virginia Bruce. She relapses into a sea of blueprints every time she has an idle hour. For months she labored over her plans for precisely the kind of retreat she wanted. Unfortunately, it was ideal for a bachelor girl and not for a bride. When she fell in love she had to junk the whole idea. Now she's practically finished another noble notion. This time there is plenty of room, even, for bundles from the stork. Fly high, fly low! Mister Stork, don't let the Bruce reputation for glamor scare you away from her new chimneys. She's old-fashioned about babies. CO ANITA LOUISE just took another •J' bite of pie and laughed and laughed! While dining she was listening to a radio gossiper's program. He announced, authoritatively, Anita's engagement to one Al Stern of New York. The truth is that she hasn't the slightest intention of an engagement with anyone, at this time. Least of all with Al. He is an old friend who visited in Hollywood three months ago; while West he escorted Anita to one party. Thus is "news" manufactured! NOW the Hollywood gang really has another "beautiful friendship" to talk about! For a while Marlene Dietrich had three or four escorts, varying them. But even an English earl is taking second place to Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now. Maybe Doug's teaming with Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne, Danielle Darrieux, Janet Gaynor, and Joan Bennett — that's his picture or professional line-up since his return — has made Marlene more aware of his charm. Anyway, Dietrich drops in on him at his studio for lunch almost every noon. She sweeps onto the lot in an imported limousine which makes all the other lady stars gawk. Her liveried chauffeur bowing her 68