Talking Picture Magazine (Oct 1929 - Nov 1930)

Fage 6 TALKING PICTURE MAGAZINE January, 1930 SKYROCKET Lewis C. Carey ANN was so bored with it all! What if she did have a beautiful home on Park Avenue? What if she did have a handsome and devoted swain? "There is no romance in a home on Park Avenue." Nor was there any romance in Paul, her ardent suitor. He was perfectly content to rest on the laurels he had earned playing football at college. Paul said: "Why should I work? Father makes a big pile. He need* someone like me to spend it for him." Just as Ann was arguing that she wanted thrill and adventure out of the marital state instead of a ready-bought life, in rushed her dad, Henry Pennypacker, a midde-aged copper magnate. Neither Ann nor Paul can fathom his sudden enthusiasm. He fairly shouted: "Just think of it — a couple of boys and girls circling the globe in the air without once coming down or stopping for fuel. 1 tell you, we're going to fly too." Paul immediately refused to accompany Henry on his crazy adventure, until Ann made it clear that his refusal meant their separation. Much against his will, Paul finally complied. The next scene finds the three adventurers on the west bank of the Mississippi. By mistake they have landed at the Tourist Camp instead of the Airport Camp. Henry Pennypacker was finding his bearings when he walked into Stella, a beautiful young athlete who was working at the camp. Before they realized it, Henry has persuaded Stella to join their crew. Then in walked Paul and Ann, who falls into Stella's arms. It seems that they were classmates at Vassar. Between Ann and her father, Stella was persuaded to join the group. The thrill of adventure caught them all. And the beautiful night brought Ann and Paul, and Henry and Stella closer together. In the third scene, the crew discovered themselves stranded on a desert. They have lost their way. They were down near Mexico when they had expected to reach California. And it was so uncomfortable. Such heat! No water! Suddenly, with much suspense, they sighted two hoboes approaching. They also had lost their way — these two gentlemen from Chicago. And they intended to force the crew to give them a lift in the aeroplane. But Henry and Paul (much to their respective girl friends' delight) tackled and routed the enemy. But that was not the end of their difficulties. — A few minutes later they heard a gun-shot. It was none other than Caballero, the Mexican bandit. He had just been forced to shoot his horse. Stella in her excitement had been pawing the ground with her foot. Suddenly she realized that she had unearthed copper. In the meantime, Ann, in her desire for adventure, flirtatiously invites the bandit to the cabin of the aeroplane for sandwiches. Suddenly a scream was heard, and the drone of a motor. Caballero had kidnapped Ann in their plane. There was nothing left for them to do but hop a freight to Los Angeles. The next scene takes place in the interior of a box car. The occupants are having a humorous argument about whether "sitting on your haunches is better than standing up." Paul, however, hasn't joined in the discussion. He was worried about Ann. The love making of Henry and Stella only intensified his worry. But they assured him that with Mr. Pennypacker's influence they can easily track down the bandit. Suddenly the freight car arrived at the yard. They heard the voices of the two hoboes they had met in the desert. As they all piled out they found themselves face to face with the glittering barrel of an automatic. They were under arrest for vagrancy. There is a scene in the police court. Scoop, a reporter, has walked in and is telling about the Copper King's plane found crashed that morning. Henry, of course, insisted that he was the Copper King. But the policeman has classified them as a 'bunch of Mexican bums.' The case of the two hoboes was taken up first. They were given twenty-four hours to get out of town. The judge threatened to hold Henry in contempt of court because of his insistent interruptions. The judge was sure that Henry had been using his piece of copper for "knocking people on the head." The judge decided to find him guilty of -every possible offense. Suddenly in rushed Ann and the bandit. She rushes to her father and proves the court that he is the Copper King. In the meantime a stranger who had been watching the case, offered Paul ,a lead in the new hobo classic 'Vag Roamer.' The two couples decided to get married. They had enough of adventure! FLATS FIXED Stillman Taylor BERT REED receives the following letter from his father: Dear son: You must pull yourself together and cut loose :from the wild night life. Your explanation that you "lack inspiration" is not convincing. Dissipation is ruining your life. The whole town here is talking about your latest escapade with Dolly Fox. How a son of mine can associate with so notorious a dancer is beyond my comprehension. Your mother bids me say that Patricia Royce has finished her art studies in Paris and is now settled in a studio in New York. Mother suggests .that you call on her, but for the present 1 do not believe it advisable to give you Patricia's address. She has grown up to be a very beautiful young woman and will, I hope, never learn of your disgraceful conduct. I enclose check for $2,000 and inform you that it is the last cent you will receive from me. It is up to you to reform your erring ways. Buckle down to work. Break away from the jazz life of Broadway and amount to something. Dad. Bert decides to buckle down. Only last night he has come home drunk, left the door of the rooming house open, the lights burning. Right across the narrow, littered, oil-spotted street from Tillie Barney's rooming house, a big sign on a new garage flared in luminous lights FLATS FIXED, and Bert was reminded constantly that he was a FLAT. After settling with the landady Bert sets out to find Patricia. En route he meets Dolly. "Come on Berty, let's make whoopee," and he cannot resist the siren. They imbibe freely and when he leaves her he is followed by some thugs who waylay him. From his wallet drops a card. "ALBERT WINDSOR REED — PORTRAIT ARTIST" and the thugs return his money and ask his assistance, posing as detectives. They ride a taxi to headquarters of the gang and Bert is shown a clipping on an old master painting. It is a painting of a flute player and they induce Bert to come with them and "identify" it. In a studio building in Greenwich Village they make their entrance with flash-light and skeleton key. Examining the painting, Bert is surprised to see the face of a frightened young woman in the doorway. She 'phones for the police but meanwhie Bert recognizes her as Patricia. When the police arrive she tells them it is a mistake— merely her husband coming in late. "Lady," said Bert solemnly, "I'm a flat tire. I'm drunk as a lord, but I'm going to be sober forever more. Before 1 go, Pat, I want to know if you remember what you said ten years ago — if you will say it again when 1 make good." Patricia nodded her head. "I remember Berty. 1 still think the same way — I'll say it over again — now," she said softly. LOVE CHALLENGED F. Ravenelli EVERYTHING happened at once. Marion received a phone call from Dr. Illington notifying her of her mother's death. And soon after came the visit from Tom Rawlings. Marion did not suppress her wild desire to ask after Billy. "Don't you know?" Tom asked. "I thought you and Billy were very close. When did you see him last?" Marion answered, "The Tuesday before he went away to Siam, 1 met him accidentally down. town." Tom was amazed and worried. He noticed the platinum band on Marion's left hand. He remembered seeing that same platinum band in his brother Bill's room. After Tom left, Marion recalled how she had married Bill secretly, how beautiful their few days together had been, and how he had deserted her immediately after. In her anguish she fainted. When she recovered consciousness, she found Dr. Illington at her side. "Your baby is dead" he said. Marion wrote a letter to Billy telling him of their son. Surely that should get some response. She spent the summer months waiting. The newspapers were full of the Rawlings Hunting Expedition'. Billy was returning in a month. She noticed the picture of a young woman next to Bill's. Underneath there was a paragraph. ''Mrs. William Rawlings, who was formerly Miss Eleanor Josephine Boyd of Washington. Since Bill's father had been the lawyer for Marion's mother, Marion went to consult him one day. In the office a man approached her. It was Bill. Before Marion could control herself she started to reproach him. "Allow me to enlighten you," Bill said, "You are not my wife. 1 divorced you while I was in Siam." Marion rushed out to call Dr. Illington. She told him that she was going to pay a visit to her friend Beatrice in Virginia. He accompanied her to the station. There she was placed under arrest for the murder of William Rawling in his father's office. The janitor had testified that he saw her enter. There had been angry words. If it weren't for Dr. Illington, Marion could never have survived that week. He confessed his love for her, and persuaded her to marry him sio that the burden of the trial might rest on his shoulder. The trial was going very much against Marion. Her marriage was investigated. It was discovered that Bill hadn't divorced her. He was a bigamist. It was the night before Marion was to take the stand. The door bell rang. It was a telegram. "Have been seriously ill through an accident. Have just given myself up and confessed. I killed William Rawlings." Tom Rowlings. Tom, it seems, had heard the conversation between his brother and Marion that fatal day. He rushed into the room after Marion left, and fought with Bill. Bill took out a revolver. Tom grabbed his wrist. The gun went off and shot Bill. Marion looked five years younger. "I'm so haDDy. I am free." "But Marion, dear, you're not absolutely free. You are still married to me. Do you want a divorce?" Dr. Illington asked, his voice a little shakv. "Divorce!" Marion exclaimed, "Why, of course not, Gordon, I love you." THE GOD OF THE GRIGRI Harold J. Matthews THE Reverend Doctor Shadrach Kribs slouched in the crude wagon seat, encouraging his tired old mules down the dusty "settlement" road. The heavy wheels rumbled along slowly enough to count the spokes. The doctor wore a big felt hat and a heavy frock coat. A dog's eared Bible lay beside him at the seat. Rev. Kribs had made Brother Button's funeral one of the outstanding events of the year and he was now calling on Ocilla, sister of the deceased, with a collection for her. His mind kept drifting back to the object of his charity: this robust, deep-bosomed mulatto, with her even' row of white teeth. Her smile was cordial. Her biscuits were delicious. Once there, Shadrach makes a good impression. Throwing in much of the Bible, mixed generously with the signs of the grigri helps his cause. The next day Shadrach proceeds to sell a collection of farm produce for Ocilla's account. Shadrach was not a professional peddler, but he sold his stuff readily. His naiveness attracted attention. If a passer-by showed any signs of interest, he would usually sell him something. "Ef yo' don'' want to buy nothin', give de po widow and her chilluns a few nickels," he would urge. Shortly after six he had sold everything and had twenty-two dollars. He was proud of his efforts, and proceeded to reward himself with a good meal. He stopped in front of a pair of swinging doors. Among those drinking at the bar was a tall, bull-necked Geechee with a mustache like that of a Chinese Emperor. Shadrach had heard of Stipe — the bad nigger from the O'Geechee country. Nevertheless, despite his reputation, Shadrach risks his finances in a game of dice. After defeating all contestants in a thrilling game, Shadrach betakes himself to the bar and he leaves in a dilapitated condition, — all money gone. To put it mildly, this is embarrassing. He sells his conjure to one of the witnesses of his victory over Stipe and then makes his way to his congregation. Rumors of his conduct is turned into fact and he is placed on trial. He makes an impassioned plea. The offense was so serious that a discharge from the church was virtually decided upon. It was likely that complaints would be filed with the sheriff. It was hoped that no one would start throwing things as the pastor came in the church. He closes with "De Lawd, He say, ef you'all don't fergib. He won^t nuther. Dat's de trade He makes widcha. Is yo' gonna 'speck de Lawd to all time be fergibin' when yo' don't? Ah mount sin once in a while, but Ah sho' ain't neber lost mah religion " Subscriptions followed rapidly and soon the necessary amount to help Sistah Ocilla was produced. Shadrach sought a word with Ocilla and inquired after her health. "We's feelin' fine" she said, "say pahson, wontcha come and he'p us eat dat odder chicken?" ALISTER'S CORNER G. Elderfield Wall AT THE junction of Main and Objibwa streets, in a little town of the mid-northwest, stood a spreading frame building, across whose first-story front ran in bold lettering the sign: "ALISTER AND ALISTER— General Merchandise." The partnership of husband and wife it proclaimed had been approved by the voice and patronage of everybody in the region round except Jotham Gibbs, a cynical patriarch of the town, who declared that there ought to be 180 degrees of longitude between woman and business. Five years of quiet prosperity had rolled on when there came suddenly an unlooked-for break in the partnership. At the close of a particularly nagging day, Mary Alister, standing in leisure, marked the showy development on an opposite height of a mansion. — the property of Tom Manning, a former and despised suitor. His conspicuous success stirred her tired nerves to a fierce revolt against her prosaic slow life. She heard the clink of tools in the work-room where her husband and partner, compelled by the needs of general ministry to his kind, was making a pine coffin for Jotham Gibbs. The stock offered a well-finished casket, kept for the average demand, but Jotham had stipulated that his last habitation should be plain an'd pine. She flew to the scene of labor and, swept from fairness of judgment by her sudden flame of passion, upbraided the cheerfully toiling man for lack of ambition. The next morning her husand was gone; a letter was found downstairs, explaining his course of action, providing for her financial needs, and declaring an unchanged and unchangeable love. After a year or more of silence, Mary, proud but broken-hearted, believing it was Andrew's wish, obtained a divorce. Meantime the business at "The Corner" flourished as never before, largely through Israel Kelly's efficiency. A day came when Jack Harwell received a note. It announced that Andrew Alister would arrive that evening for a visit to former scenes and that Janet would accompany him, — "the dear little woman." In a short time the news of Andrew Alister's approaching return — and on a honeymoon jaunt — was whispered, telephoned and shouted over the town. Mary Alister straightened up after the blow. Israel Kelly made arrangements for a highly effective illumination. Then came the whistle of the train from the West, the blare of a brass band, and the din of a hilarious throng. The tramp of marching feet down Main street. The throng moved on its merry-making way. At Mary's d< came a knock. She opened it. Standing tb with sad and appealing countenance was An Alister. Explanations, persisted in by A were poured out. Reconciliation duly fo'i Mention of the Talking Picture Magazine is the best introduction to advertisers.