Screenland (Sept 1922–Feb 1923)

Hollywood Divorce Ring Desertion covers a multitude of indiscretions, says Alma Whitaker, who explains amusingly how Hollywood film stars buck the divorce ring without incurring unpleasant publicity Right-minded screen stars may properly have their affections alienated by their Art, but by nothing else. No vulgar mention of parties of the third part is allowed. Mary Pickford's chief complaint against Owen Moore seemed to be that he was no longer the adoring husband she had married . . . that their temperaments were incompatible. NCE upon a time — and not so long ago at that — a good, zippy divorce scandal was considered excellent publicity, in film circles. The press agent who "planted" such a story in the daily papers, with photographs of all the principals and a nice spread in the Sunday Supplement, considered himself entitled to a raise in salary. And not infrequently got it. But those days are no more. .1 oday, with the public and Will Hays so suddenly moral and all, the film star who finds the holy bonds of matrimony a bit galling, seeks a divorce with as few fireworks as possible. A line or two tucked in as filler in among the vital statistics column strikes her as undue publicity. Desertion, in film circles as elsewhere, covers a multitude of indiscretions. Wherefore desertion is almost invariably the innocuous charge invoked against a recreant spouse in Hollywood. Think back over recent screen divorces and see if you can recall an instance of a star coming right out with direct accusations, other than the respectable and above-named one of desertion or non-support. Never any vulgar mention of 4 parties of the third part. Right-minded screen stars mav properly have their affections alienated by their _ art, but that is the extreme limit. 56 on our nicest movie stars give evidence of this restraint and good taste. The details of Mary Pickford's divorce suit in far-off Nevada are rather dimmed in membut we did rather ory now, Herbert Somborn destroyed Gloria Swanson's affections through only the most ethical means. It was a case of simple desertion, said Gloria ; possibly Herbert wore loud ties and hob-toed shoes gather that Mary's chief complaint against Owen Moore was that he had ceased to be the adoring husband that she had married, and that he had deserted her. But she never accused him of making eyes at lesser charmers, or anything really vulger like that. Of course the first Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks did rather break the ethical rule in the first flush of her indignation, but then she was not herself a member of the profession. But even she, when the case was actually tried, minimized "the other woman" charge and dwelt rather upon merely cruelty complaint. And although Mildred Harris found it urgently desirable to part from Charlie Chaplin, her charges were of coldness, cruelty, desertion never a wicked siren appeared on the horizon to take the blame. , . auline Frederick; who twice divorced Willard Mack, was most ladylike about it. Willard's faults and failings were well within the morality sphere. Nothing in any way nasty. Nor can we" recollect that Mr. Herbert Somborn destroyed Gloria Swanson's love for him through any but the most ethical means. As far as we can recall, it was a case of simple desertion— and possibly he wore loud neckties and hob-toed shoes. At all events the effect left upon our memory is entirely void of the more serious improprieties. And what was it that Constance