Silver Screen (May-Oct 1939)

Hollywood Believe-it-or-Nots [Continued from page 2 1 ] patents on the machine, but as this would cost $150, Edison decided not to do.it. This economy cost him about a billion dollars ! But. back to Mickey Mouse. Believe it or not, this frisky little fellow that you admire so much on the screen started a riot in Munich, Germany, in 1926. Yes, Mickey himself, in the celluloid, was a real villain. The Nationalists were so bitter against Mickey that the authorities had to ban all his pictures. At about the same time, it was discovered that a railroad had been stolen — rails, trains, and stations, too. It was a railroad 100 miles long, built by the Germans in Roumania during the war. The government paid for its up-keep for years, before they found out that thieving officials had actually stolen the line. The chief culprit was haled into court. He had seen big headlines in the papers about the German ban on Mickey Mouse but didn't know who Mr. Mouse was. He took a chance, however, and boldly asserted that the great German bandit, Mickey Mouse, had stolen the road! Believe it or not, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Mickey, and, as it was never served, it is stdl in force to this day! That famous phrase, "Ay tank ay go home," was never spoken by Garbo. After her first day's experience in pictures in this country, Garbo was too nervous to say anything except a few muttered words to her sponsor, Mauritz Stiller, the Swedish director. Naturally, she spoke in Swedish. Director Robert Z. Leonard, who overheard the conversation, asked Stiller what she had said. Stiller interpreted her as saying, "I am feeling terribly nervous. I think I will go home." And, from those simple words, came the amusing phrase that signifies Garbo the world over— "Ay tank ay go home!" I think Fay Wray deserves the title of Hollywood's Pluckiest Star. In spite of the fact that she is one of the smallest and most feminine of stars, she is very athletic and more courageous in the face of danger than many of us might be. One time she was being blackmailed, and had been directed to deposit a package of money at a certain lonely spot. The California police told her that they would need her to co-operate with them by driving her car into the kidnappers' trap. She did not hesitate. She took the package of fake bills herself and dropped them at the proper place, thus enabling the police to capture the culprits. And, just about a year ago, when her burly cook suddenly went berserk and ran into her room, brandishing a knife threateningly, she stood her off, while the nurse grabbed her child and ran to the neighbors for help. Yes, that little lady has nerve. As for Sonja Henie, there, to me, is the most amazing person of recent years, a girl who has "everything"— Number One box-office "appeal," that intangible thing, "personality," which makes her audiences hers the moment she smiles, plus the genius of her skating and a business acumen that has built for her an imposing fortune in a few short years. It is no wonder that her king crowned her achievements by conferring upon her the highest honor which Norway could give. He made her a Knight of the Order of St. Olaf— first class— the fifth woman in all history to get the tribute, and the youngest living person by, perhaps, more than thirty years, ever to receive this honor! And, in token of appreciation to her two countries — Norway and the United States — Sonja Henie has vowed to divide Jean Hersholt is a great Ripley "Believe-it-or-Not" fan. On the other hand, Bob Ripley is a great Hersholt rooter. her life into two parts, living two lives,,! and living each thoroughly. In the sumj mers, she goes back to Norway. She* spends her time up in the mountains, fish-B ing and hunting, lets her hair go anyBJ way it pleases and doesn't use any make-B up at all. She is a Norwegian girl again,! eats Norwegian food, speaks Norwegian.! But, in the winters, she is an American,! doing as the Americans do, eating Amer-B ican food, and speaking our language,^ wearing American clothes, making every ■ effort to forget completely that other half I of her life, across the seas, until it is! time for her to take it up again — believe* it or not ! Our own little Shirley Temple is an-! other amazing personality of the day,ji and, that she is a genius, no one canB deny. When I met her in Hollywood re-B cently, I felt that I was in the presence!* of a truly great person, in spite of herji young years, and was most impressed!* with the dignified, unspoiled manner infi which she carried her fame. Incidentally, more babies have been named after Shift ley Temple than after any king, president, or other celebrity of recent times! Twentieth Century-Fox studios, where! Shirley works, have received thousands of letters from admiring mothers in this country and foreign lands, saying that they have named their baby girls for the famous child star. And, here's something about Robert Taylor— though one of the most popular; stars in pictures today, he is unknown by that name in his home town of Beatrice, Nebraska. Whenever one of his pictures reaches Beatrice, the local thea-| ter advertises him in big letters on th<? marquee — ARLINGTON BRUGH — ir. whatever picture he is appearing. Arlington Brugh is his real name, and hi: townspeople refuse to accept his screer name. Robert Taylor. Eleanor Powell, termed the '.'World's! Greatest Feminine Tap Dancer" by th( Dancing Masters of America, original]} took up dancing at her mother's insist ence, because her mother thought it wouki cure her of her acute self-consciousness 1 It did. But, her title of best dancer proveto be a handicap at parties. Men seldonjj ask her for a dance, because they anjt afraid they can't dance well enough tm lead her. Eleanor has to fight again§lB being a wall-flower — believe it or not|| Silver Scree KM