JOHN GILBERT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 102, 21 December 1931, Page 7

JOHN GILBERT

SCREEN'S GREAT LOVER PREFERS ALE TO ROMANCE STAR ON HOLIDAY "Have a beer. It's very good beer," said John Gilbert, great lover of the silent screen, when aslced about Romance. John Gilbert, generally kno\yn as Jack, wants to forget he is a Great Lover. He likes beer, and golf, and tennis, and the society of men, but questions about romance frankly bore him. Recently he arrived in England, having crossed the Atlantic in a ship simply crowded with fascinating females. -They were blonde, brunette, silver-gilt, and rich red in tresses. Their complexions were adorable and their figures superb. What happened? The Great Lover of the silent screen and the highestpaid male star in the world simply did not see the feast prepared for him. He spent hours and hours in the smoking saloon and hours and hours on deck taking part in horribly strenuous games. He was polite and charming to ladies about 65 years of age. Missed the Moonlight When the moonlight was at its best he was missing having found a pal among the officers. In vain did the band play; Jack Gilbert . never once danced! Never once did he seek seclusion on the boat neck with one

of the beauties. No, with his officer friend he tramped up and dowrt, up and down, in that masculine manner so devastating to romance on shipboard. At Southampton the beauties ranged along the rail to see the Great Lover leave the ship. They saw him, although he never saw them! He said friendly and even grate.ful farewells to a number of people. They were the purser, several of the officers, three deck hands, and five stewards ! "I Like This Beer" He was interviewed on arrival, and

the first thing he said was "Have a beer. I like this beer, and Fm on high holiday." "Do you," asked the interviewer, "find it easy to make love for the screen?" "Oh, have another drink, and let's forget it," was Jaek's cheerful reply. Asked about his hobbies, he stated clearly that he liked the society of men better than cnything else in the world. His big idea of enjoyment was a keen game of tennis. "Give me," h ^ said, "a good fasfc game with Ronnie Colman, Bill Powe-11, and Richard Barthelniess, and I'm as happy as a king." In vain did the interviewer murmur Greta Garbo's name. Jack r.eplied that Greta was a grand woman, and a good friend. But sentiment! "Oh, spare me; I can't be bothered with sentiment. Have another beer, and do remember that I'm on high holiday." Lupe Velez? Wasn't there something between John Gilbert and the lovely little Latin, some affair in which the young millionaire-director, Howard Hughes, played a part? "Well that certainly hands me a laugh," was the brisk reply. "I must tell that one to Lupe. It'll keep her cheerful for a week. Lupe happened to be in New York when I left, and all this fuss was because she came to see me off." Then the interviewer very earefully mentioned Ina Claire, once Mrs. John Gilbert, but now divorced. Jack was keenly appreciative of his exwife, both as an actress and a beautiful woman. On the subject of his career the man who will receive over £500,000

in all because he could make love i better than anyone else on the screen, • was quite candid. He did not know ! what he would be cast in next. Any- | way, if he had no future in talkies ' he had no groueh coming. He had had , a fine time; intended to have a splenI did vacation; and, as he had looked I after his money, the prospect of fin- 1 ancial trouble. was remote, whether he ever worked again or not. He was young, in magnificent physical condition, intensely keen to play tennis all over Europe, and — "let's have another beer! It's very good . beer."