Screenland (Nov 1938-Apr 1939)

John Garfield follows up his sensationally successful film debut with a dramatic role opposite Rosemary Lane in Warners' "Blackwell's Island." JEFFREY LYNN is taking this click of J his with unusual modesty. He stayed pat in his tiny room at the Hollywood Athletic Club until he was positive Warners were going to keep him. With his first savings he gave his sister a trip West from New England; it was a high school graduation present for her. He got a tremendous kick showing her the sights he's just discovered himself. Now Jeff has rented a tiny cottage in the country and there he's living all alone. He employs no servant, caring for the house and garden himself. An alumnus of Bates College, Jeff's saneness has already been noticed by Rosemary Lane. They're cooing. GLADYS SWARTHOUT regrets that she wasn't a wow in pictures more than she regrets anything else in her life. She thought she could follow in the meteoric footsteps of her pal Grace Moore. Far more a student than Moore, Gladys conscientiously did everything she could to Cecil Broadhurst, young Canadian who makes his first appearance on the screen in "Youth Marches On," the film concerning the Oxford Movement. click on the screen. Her wise singer hus, band abandoned his own career to carefully manage her rise. She photographed beautifully, but for some reason the spark wasn't there. But at least she left the Coast with the best wishes of a multitude of studio friends. Gladys is as sweet to nobodies as she is to helpful somebodies. Nevertheless, Paramount cast Gladys in a "B" melo for ; her final assignment. If she hadn't wanted so desperately to be good in Hollywood, Gladys could just laugh and laugh. They did have to pay her $60,000 for this film because originally they'd been that enthused over her. Back in New York again, she's attempting to forget the excitement she experienced getting glamor ; vows she'll think only of opera and concert hereafter. Frances Farmer with her father, E. M. Farmer, Seattle lawyer, and her mother, who visited the star during the filming of "Escape from Yesterday." THE new mystery man for the ladies is Walter Pidgeon. He's mysterious because he and his wife have separated and, so far, he hasn't given any other woman a tumble. Distinguished looking, experienced, Walter's been taking up much of his spare time buying clothes with and for his young daughter who attends a private school. Metro, anxious to capitalize on his suave ways, refuses to let his daughter's age be told. "But," grins Mr. Pidgeon, "she's too old to sit on my knee. Or do I mean — too young ?" ROSEMARY and Lola Lane had a shopping date with Gale Page the other day. They met per agreement for luncheon at the Brown Derby first. Bob Cobb, shrewd owner of the eatery and husband of Gail Patrick, dropped by their table. When he heard they were going on a buying bust he proceeded to give them such a lecture on what happened to stars who didn't save their dollars that the three alarmed gals called off the spree and went for a good clean game of ping-pong instead ! THE Sunday night jitterbug contests have been packing the stars in at the Hollywood American Legion stadium. They can't resist staring at the fantastic carpet-cutting of the high school kids who have swing in their systems. You can see practically every famous player in the reserved seat section. Mickey Rooney mugs madly as his favorite couple goes wild. Margaret Lindsay cries, "I want to be a hotsy-totsy, too !" No Hollywood name has actually tried to compete with the dizzy kids, but the craze has had some effect locally. Hawaiian music, which had prevailed, is out at the night spots. It's swing supreme from the Troc on down. CPRING BYINGTON is neither fluttery >-5 nor overly-stern where her own two grown daughters are concerned. She'd been sending them to Columbia University, but decided to let them enjoy Hollywood if they wanted to. They didn't think much of the Coast, so now they're away from her again. The elder daughter is assistant stage manager for a road show ; the younger is studying at a New York fashion academy.