Silver Screen (Nov 1938-Apr 1939)

Shirley Temple in color! Think of seeing her blushes and all in "The Little Princess." a combination gun room, candid camera laboratory, machine shop, office, sporting library, clipping files, and fan gift collection. Strict orders are left with servants in the house that nothing is to be disturbed. The downstairs of the garage is devoted to a wood-working shop and generators to supply current for batteries. His hunting trailer is stored al the back when not being used on a trip so that Wally can install racks and equipment himself. Oh, yes, there's room for the Beery cars, too— believe it or not. Robert Taylor s new ranchhouse in San Fernando valley is the most modest abode of any of the film stars. It has only four small rooms, but there is still space enough for a gadget or two! Cool winters or hot summers will hold no discomfort for Bob, for he has had a complete air-conditioning plant and oil-heating system installed in the ranch house. A special electrical control keeps the temperature in the house constantly aired regardless of weather. Other gadgets include electrical fly-catchers for the stables and a water pump to supply his alfalfa fields. Fred McMurray has a complete workshop in his new house where he putters around to his heart's content. And Allen Jenkins has installed a flashing red danger signal at the top of a flight of stairs in his home following falls by members of his family. If the family trips now it's not Allen's fault! Janet Beecher proved herself a mechanic by building a sundial for her garden. She made it with two thin pieces of sheet metal, a nail for the gnomon and an old book-table stand for the upright. She did the testing for the markings of the hours by timing Old Sol through a sunny day. Janet says it was much more fun making it than buying a ready made sun dial. It took the staid, conventional Gary Cooper to introduce a new fad that is nothing short of amazing. Gary, who has extensive grounds around his house, has had telephones concealed in convenient trees and bushes, thus saving many steps in answering important calls. Maybe you'll be interested to learn that hanging on the wall of the library of John Barrymore's home is a letter to his grandmother, Louisa Drew. It has two distinctions. The first— it is signed by "A. Lincoln." The second distinction— the word 'acknowledge' is misspelled Which proves that even presidents aren't letter perfect. When movie stars go to Hugh Herbert's hacienda they frequently have the privilege of quaffing a drink from a glass bearing their own likeness. Hugh has different pictures on glasses so they won't be Silver Screen for January 1939 come confused when refilled. If he can't give an actress her own "picture-glass" he lets her pick her own star. (THAT should be fun to watch!) There is a fish pond sunken in the floor of Hugh's charming and sunny living room, with a fountain in the center of the pond. Hugh turned it on for me and demonstrated the cooling effect of the fountain on a warm afternoon. The beauteous Constance Bennett has a private beauty shop in her imposing Holmby Hills mansion; which is probably most women's dream of heaven. Her friends are invited to drop in for free finger waves, facials and manicures when they visit with Connie. Mae West has a huge white bed in her white and gold bedroom and the ceiling of the room is entirely covered with mirrors. Virginia Bruce has created a new color scheme for her lovely Brentwood home, because Virginia thinks the popular allwhite is too monotonous. Her home is a light beige, with a brown roof and sapphire blue shutters, this color scheme being carried out inside and out. The garage matches the house, too. She had special balconies built which are encircled with sapphire blue pots containing geraniums, Virginia's favorite porch flower. Owing to the distance of Warren William's ranch from the Van Nuys fire department, the star has installed an alarm and hose system of his own. Five fire plugs are placed at strategic points on the estate, with a central hose house and chemical stations. Fifty thousand gallons can be pumped from the swimming pool by a compressor attached to the ranch tractor, and neighbors on three sides are also protected by the system. Warren's gardener, butler, chauffeur, cook and maid go through a fire drill regularly once a week. The music room in the charming Brentwood home of Joan Crawford is one of the most distinctive in all filmtown. The walls are of leather and the ceiling is of cork. The lounge is leather and green corduroy with cushions of green corduroy. And at one side stands the piano— a green piano. The entire color scheme in the room is green and tan— and very smart it is, too. The drawing-room is in Crawford blue (almost a Royal blue) and white. Joan is one housewife who could never be called a snooper. When at home, she wears mules with bells on them, and her servants can easily hear her approach some distance away. And then there is the well-known star whose name I shall not mention, but who has a reputation for being modest and self-effacing. When I entered his livingroom for the first time, I thought I was seeing double, for no matter on which part of the wall my eyes rested, there was always before me a large and beautifully framed photograph of our shy little violet himself! 71 BOTHERED BY CONSTIPATION? Get relief this simple, pleasant way! 1, TAKE ONE or two tablets of Ex-Lax before retiring. It tastes just like delicious chocolate. No spoons — no bottles! No fuss, no bother! Ex-Lax is easy to use and pleasant to take. A. YOU SLEEP through the night . . . undisturbed! No stomach upsets. No nausea or cramps. No occasion to get up! Ex-Lax is mild and gentle. It acts overnight — without over-action. 3. 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