Variety (Sep 1928)

Gray Matter By Mollie Gray Tommy Gray'a Sister Bophle Tucker not only returnea from Europe on the same ship as Sdy Louis Mountbatten, tout the Britiah peeress promised to visit the 22" singer at the Park Central. Ster stopping -with the CorneUus yandcrbllts at Newport. So Soph aald Lady Mountbatten said. And the tabs printed it And the tabs denied it. And Soph £Sd nothinff after that. But^pub- Mclty plenty either way and the yucker shortly opens at the Palace, The Mountbattens, who, before *he war were Battenburgs, have lieen regular patrons oC the Kit Kat Club in London, where Soph sang, end the greatest heiress In ^"^'^f^^ can even follow the Bed Hot Mamma through a Yiddish sequence, for her millions (pounds, not dol- lars!) came from grandfather Cas- eell, a Hebrew. When the Mountbattens were here last at the same time as Lbuis' STusln, the Prince of Wales, they vere entertained in Hollywood by Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie C:hapUn. Another London society friend of Soph Is the Hon. Dorothy Paget, daughter of Lord Queensborough <now married to Edith Miller, Of New York), by his first wife, the late Pauline Whitney of New: York. Dorothy is a niece of Harry Payne Whitney arid a'first cousin of Cor- nelius Vanderbllt tVhitney, Again the chosen people come in, for Cor- jielius married a daughter of Sheri- dan Norton, granddaughter of the late Benjamin Einstein, of 125th street, and rilece of Arthur Einstein, who married Dorothy Solomon, Lil lian Russell's daughter. therinore^ she Is a daughter «f G. Maurice Heckscher, one of several, so Is a stepdaughter of Luella Gear, the! musical comedy favorite^ Remarks at Random By Nellie Revell Ingram's .8tud!os Constance Talmadge, after being idle for six months, starts a picture at the Rex Ingram studios, Nice, and plans to; remain in Europe a year. Ingram is finishing "Three Passions," featuring his ;Wife, Alice Terry, who has dark hair. but . Uses, a blonde wig. She halls from Vin- cennes, Ind;, and. waia originally Alice Taafe. At the Nice studios Capt. Alas- talr Macintosh has been working as studio manager. He was the second husband divorced by Miss Talmadgei At this studio Sir Hugo de Bathe has hung around and even suped, for fun. He is. the Englishman who years ago married Lily. Liangtry, considerably his senior. The Eng lish actress, who had been a friend of King Edward, as Prince of Wales, was: later followed by Cora Urqu hart Potter, American actress. Nowadays Lady de Bathe and Mrs. Potter both have villas oh the Riviera. Mrs, Potter. Is the mother of Mrs. James A.. Stillman of New York. In. the same Monte Carlo set are Lady Wyndham, who was Mary Moore, English actress, widow of Sir Charles Wyndham; aCtor, and Lady de Preece, who for some 25 years was Vesta Tilley, English male impersonator. ;: Frances Alda Remains Frances: Alda will continue as prima donna at the Metropolitan despite her divorce from Guilio Gattl-Casa«za, director of the or ganization; It is rumored Gatti may marry Rosina Galli* premiere, dan- seuse of the Metropolitan. Alda was originally Frances Adler of Australia, bearing the same name as the American actress now known as Franclne Larrimors, But, in- stead of being, like Francihe, a niece of Jacob Adler, the Yiddish actor, she was a granddaughter of Mme. . Simonson, a music teacher in Mel- bourne. Like her aunt, Florrie Sl- monson, she started in musical comedy by way of the chorus. Like another aunt, Frances Sa;ville, originally simonson, .she graduated Into grand opera. Alda first sang at the Metropolitan In 1908, after Aunt. SaVille had sung there. She met Gatti in Milan, when he was impresario of La Scala. They were married in 1910, and have been separated for three year.^. She has spent the summer at her house at Great Neck. Capt. Macintosh's Bride The marriage of Capt. Alastair Macintosh and Lela Emery has pic- turesque accompaniments. He was once court e.qucrry to King George. Populai- in the best society in Lon- don and Paris, it is said the cap- tain's smart friends did not enthuse over Constance Talmadge, whom he married after her divorce from John Pialoglou of New York. So there was another divoi'ce. At that time Lela Emery, heiress to millions, was reported engaged to ^Michael ArleUi the Armenian. n.qvej^- 1st, whose real name Is Kouyoumd- Jlan. Later the. author of "The Green Hat" married Countess' At- lanta Mercati, daughter of Count Alexandre Mercatl by his first wife, Harriette Wright, of Cleveland. That lady is now married to Baron Emcrich von ipfiugci. Count Mercati then married the wealth^ Mrs. NeW- bold Le Roy Edgar,» of New York. Capt. Macintosh's bride is a daughter of the late John J. Emory of Cincinnatti. Her mother is now the Hon. Mrs. Alfred Anson. Anfion is a son of the late Earl of Litch- field, and two of his.brothers mar- ried Americans. Mrs. Macinto.sh.is a sister of John J. Emery, who mar- ric-d Mrs. . Gibson Post, divorooo, daughter of Charles Dana Gib.^on, and another sister is Princcas Ilyin- ski, wife of the Grand Duke Dmitri of Ivussia. Louise Groody Report Louise . Groody . returned from Europe last week and rumors re- •vived as to her engagement to young Ogden Goelet. Ogden is. a son of Robert Goelet, and brother of peter. Their mother was the first of three wives of the New York multi-^millionaire and is now the second, wife of Henry Clews, with Whom she shai-es an estate on . the Riviera. The first Mrs. Clews, now: known as Mrs. MoiTig Clews, living at Biarritz, with her son, Henry Clews, Jr., who wants to be an actor; Ogden Is a cousin of Craig Blddle, Jr., who has been a picture extra,, real estate agent and conductor of an; etiquette column on a New York tab, and of George Drexel Biddle, now. married to an heiress, but formerly assistant cameraman for William C. deMllle. Ogden, a nephew of the Duchess of Roxburghe, is half brother to children by his father's . second and third wives. The second, Fer- nanda Rocchl, an Italian, had di- vorced Riabouchinsky, a Russian, finally marrying Vladimir Notarbolo. The third was Roberta ■V\(illard, of Newport, who has sold children's dresses on commission, Ditrichstein's $10,000 "Dltrlchstein Leaves $10,000" was the heading of an item in the New York Herald-Tribune, the paragraph, proceeding "an estate valued, at more'than $10,000." This phrase is a technicality, in general use. The late Leo Dltrichstein was known to bB in very comfortable circumstances, and the widow, a non-professional, is the sole legatee; Born in Hungary, in 1865, son of Count Dltrichstein, Loo acted Jn Berlin for some years before his Amc^iclffl Tlebut^in-ISOOat-the-Gcr man theatre. New York. In 1893 At the Palace Possibly because the prlnclpal.s weren't so well known there weren't so many guests at .the "Wedding o£ the Circuits;" celebrated at the I'al- ace. The entertainment was plenti- ful and real., and naturally the fem- inine part was the most important, as at aU weddings. : Louise Groody could have been the bride, her first appearance be- ing In white satin and tulle, very lovely even though it made her va- cation complexion more noticeable than the pink crepe which followed. Diamgrids around her neck arid-a good part of one arm and two beau- tiful pins made a brilliant, display. Material unchanged for some un- known reason.. Lucille La Verne was splendid arid her company good, too. Pro- gram credits her pipe tobacco, among other things,, so the girls will know the brand . when they reach that stage. It that Is Loma Worth's own hair she'll never get credit for it from her feminine audience. She is a talented young woman, but her gifts don't include the art of making up or choosing a wardrobe. She changed her costume with her intstrument, hut orily her first, of taffetta with skirt, figured with everything from cats to airplanes was any . help. . Pilcer arid Douglas were among dancers; naturally there were many at a. wedding. Miss Pilcer's first dress' .was mostly . ostrich tit'rs, white, tipped with . green; slippers green, too, and an odd. costunie was orchid deepening irito purple, throe tiers making this skirt, one shoulder bare, the other covered, ending in a double puff sleeve. Gaston and Andree might have been playing a supper show, going on after 5 o'clock; very unfair to two artists. Frock at the State Nan Blackstone makes an attrac- tive picture at the State in a frock of pooch color taffeta with squares, of silver cloth set in near the hem and pale green ribbon trimming both Skirt and bodice. Not only hor slippers matched, the green, but her infant upright piano.did too. West and Stanton play up the comedy strongly in their revue. Of the girl's costumeiS one of ^reen crepe with a rose spray from tlie waist was the prettiest. Braile and Pallo and theif six- piece orchestra are a real darice act. Adagio , very good, an Apache too, both in the usual costum&s, only a colorful one being of coral velvet, the scalloped edges silvered. "Forgotten Faces" won't be listed among the. forgotten movies. Many original touches in both story arid ca:moraand fine work by CUve Brook and Baclanova. Mary Brian sup plied the sugar coating in many at tractive frocks, one of white chifCon with many small flares scattered about the long skirt; another of figured taffeta,, dark, a short tier doubled under and very full, the rest of the skirt long and openin in front. While biow.Mng in tiie PuMio Library the other day, I U-:vrnf«.l that V wliile on cm toll a book by.lts cover, you can't toll a boolv-h.v.r by his^ F'1-in.tance. I found that inmates .of the old ladies ho.u.o hk.e " '^'-J.-fJ love .'^torlos instead of the kind of literature you would, oxpeo . 1 ney are trying to forget and .vant romance and aavonture," the house 11- ^7'fl?eS'reSosted the^supervisor. who sends books to his stntlmi to- be read on reserve hours,, to. forwanl him a volume of Lyron i,^ p>k-Ii>, . "wrapped in a special package and niarlced for me so the boys-won t, see it." A policeman requested that KaiVt Critique of Pure Rc;^son • bo substituted for a current novel. , ■■■ ^ ^ . ^ , or. A lady wanted to rosorvo;'•The::\l.'irri:i.i^e Ilid." And n clci,i;Mnan asked for "The t^ins of Hlie Clerical Life" by George Eliot, meaning of cour.se"SceneS of Clei-iCal Life.'.' . •. . , . \-, There is no limit to the freak information deniancu:d of the hbi.xrj.. Here lire some examples.: .■ . . , i'.,i*r>/i ■ • A man phoned to find out if there was any provision for Cats m 1 lUted States post-ofiico.s .a; former onicer wanted to .find the army ea.!.s of Nanoleon's troops and whotlior .the French army carried musu-al instru- ments into' Russia..... .•.mother sang a tune to the listening librarian and asked If she recognized it;.... .and a foreiKu iriuslciai^ aslanl..foi- a song called "My Wild Irish Rose" when ho meant "To a "W ild Ro.'^e by MacDowell. . , ,• .'. „^ Yes, I hopo the poor, patient librairians get their salary increase, of $3.C3 per Week. » " Lou Ilouseinan, veteran Chicago newspaperman who Is now looated / In Hollywood, lias returned to the Coast, after two weeks in N.my lork, . conferring with Al Woods and. various picture interest-s. . Each liner westward bound these days is briiiffirig its quota of .the- atre folks. Among recent arrivals, are Clifton Webb , and his mother, aCter a summer abroad. Also Tom Ryan and his leading lady, Miss Harrington.' Ada Mae Weeks has also been vacationing In Europe .and arrives'. tomorrow (Tliur.sday).' Miss Weeks does not return to "Rio Rita' but expects to appear in a new musical.this season. ■■ No one in the opening night atulience of "Machinal." at the. Plymouth, luiew the hcart-pariffs Tom Waters was suflToring as he went through his perform.ance. Three . days prior to'the premiere Mrs. Waters, prp- fes.sionally known as May Wallace, \vas removed to a home for Incurnhles and there she died last Sund.ty night. Monday and Tuesday evenings of this week, following her death and prior to the funer.al. Tom g.ave his performances as usual. . The Waters \yere recognized as. one of the most devoted couples oh the stage. The retuin to Broadway of Edna Best, loading lady, of "The High Road," recalls a bon mot made by Charles Dillingham on the occasion of the English actres.s' arrival in this country three years ago to .ippear in Michael Arleris "These: Charming People" with Cyril MaiWle. The late Will A. I'a.ge was IMllingbam's general pi-ess agent and was in Philadelphia handling the opening of tlie Marilyn Miller show "Sunny;" . Tho lamented Bruce Edwards, gcnei'al manager for C B., thouglit Page .«;hould run over to New York to greet Mi.ss Best when the bo;it docked. But Dillingham, wanting Page to. remain in Philly, demurred. "Tell. Bruce," he Instructed Page, "that you love l2dna Best but Marilyn more. On the sidewalk at the entr.ance to the Bijou theatre, on 4otli sU-eet, stands a dummy policeman. Alongside tlie wax figure is a placard readr ing: The box office man is too busy seUlng tickets to 'Gang War' to answer questton."3. If you want to know anything a.sk the poUocman." The other mcjrning the porter found this line appended: "And learn aia much." It didn't stand there long. Sonie one In the John Golden office has a penchant for bizarre ad- vertising and is exercising his fiair On"Tlie Niglit Hostess." The wall of the Martin Beck theatre, on West 45th .street facing Eighth avtmue, bears a huge Cloth sign reading: "Tho Night Hostess BKCKons You to the Martin Beck Theatre," with a feminine forefinger crooked invitingly; And on doors of recently, padlocked speakeasies, and other premises, are to be found yellow posters ilroclaiming: "Clo.sed for Violation of the Prohibition Law—Moved to 302 West 45th street" (the address of the Beck theatre) and in small letters In the lower right hand corner, ''Have you..seen the Night Hostess at tbe.Beck theatre?" Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Marks (Rita Welman) have returned from a summer abroad. They arc engaged on a new play, their fiist collaljora- tion. , • he played his first part in English, in "Mr Wilkinson's Widows." After playing leads in several Belasco. productions, he became a star. A. generation a.go he married Josephine Wehrle. heiress.daughter of the pro-, prietor of the old Belvedere hotel, with the late Clyde Fitch as' best man. Short Honeymoon Although Jascha Heifetz. ih.: f.'imous violinist, and riorence Vidor the movie star, were only married Aug. 20. thoy wore forc.cd. throurch professional duties; to cut .sliort the At The Capitol "Oddities" gave the Capitol some thing to "Oh" about, prlhcipally a jazz number by the Capitol Grand Qrchestr^, a. woodland scene with the liaTlct IrT^ceirls^^ purple, yellow and pink and tho (Inale with half a dozen of the. girls lowered from the heavens npr parcntly standing 3n, air wliilo tho rest curved themselves Inside lioop.s of revolving lights. • The ■ black set, ...bead em.hi'<'Hl''i'f" ■ and. the girls in a.short black ruffl'O and black tights' topped by f.f atii- (rrcd iicaddres'scs made a ;;ood .slvowlng. Ruby Koolor was a pi<'- turo in pink velvof with a .sfft frill odL'Ing t)K! neckline, Maxine T/'Wl:-; wor(! scarlet taffeta with narrow frin^'f odfcing both the sliort and l..n'_' li<'rs of the skirt and 1 I'h- Charlf>s E. Bray, who recently joined the Metropolitan Booking Agency In Boston, has severed hi.s connection With that organization. ■ Charles MaoArthur, co-author of "The Front Page," has a serial run* ning in Liberty called "War Bugs." According to Liberty's billing, it is a private's uncerisorcd version of what happened In France, MacArthur having gotten his material Avliile serving as a private with Jj;ittfiy F, 149th Field Ariillcry, Rainbow Division. "Havp you wired your house yet?" an eXhlldtor asked JIarry lieichcn- bach. "I just wired to dose it," replied Harry. W'a3-s~d o.- - Pe pi -Led erer, h f-r n I cgc, had a small'part. Laughs and Gasps Be it ever so embarrassing, "The Duebolor Falbor" i.s. so cleverly written the laughs drown the gasps. June Walker and Adriana Dorl.are: line as Amr-rican and Italian moni- bf-rs of the international family, Mi.ss Doii Willi just enough voice to irnp'T.sonatf a budding . prima donna.' .She wore:green [or two of ii"M' coslum.'s, hor attractive auburn liair proliabiy deciding the color, one an' eri.-;"mblo with double skirt ;'.s well as- the, capo t'ouejied with tlifi llmsered silk of Ihtf blou.se and' ;jn()tbcr (>f li>.',bter "green, crepe with .skirt and. only long brown, for color. beads Night Line Vindicated "The Albany ' Night IJoaL" wear it.s life preservers now halos, its fair name has Ijeen stored by t:wo: resoucs, both .same girl, , oriee . from water can for re- tlie and .velvet for .a girdle. . Marion Davies in "The (V-irdb/ord honcvmoon. After a week together! r,„,;.,-.- aided by Nils A.-M'"'". lo.'.de ■ ^ ^^^^^^^^^ only along string 'in liollvwood thoy came to N-W , if. r..i,ly entertaining. Jett;i. - - ^ Vnrl- Jleifetz i:oes abroad for a | i-.^ve had . Cleopatra .Ml'! | r onr^rt tour. His wife will return j p,^.n ..vith envy. Her co.'-tnn:es w-re TTnllvU 1 e.vtraordinary though a creat-.-n of .J01. V- .-^ , , ^irj_Y]t be ! of c'lral for contrast •. Mi.^-s "VVi.Oker arrived- in .a fur ehol.-er and Mivall muff fit w.'jsMav 1) f)ver ji li'.'.lit ooat and red li-.cured si 1 k-.<l r*^'Jr=a 1 l=a^'f'.fj.*isories^Ueirig= later from fire. Olive" I'.m-den's white sleeveless frock had no e.ollar but double reveres were dark edged and the skirt fiared in. front. A house frock had a white apron bor- dered to match it. Hero was a one- arm operator of the scarelilight. Tiie C'anieo seems to biy carrying on tlie wai- all by it.self; e\cry oth'-r week -it has an "autlionlic" w.ar iilrn. .".Memories of <'onllict" pre- eede thus , and this vv<'ek is still another, "Q, .4bips." I''or a little place it's t'rriiily bloodlliir.'-iy.