Whisperings From Hollywood

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 5, 19 August 1927, Page 6

Whisperings From Hollywood

The motion picture has put its mark upon the times. [t first started that broadening movement which is being continued and expanded by radio. It shows peoples to peoples, races to races. It tells stories, records events, educates and amuses. With the dramatic side of motion pictures, with those who made the stories that thrill us, we have here a few intimate glimpses through the eyes of Mr. Lester Browne, now representative of Fox Films, formerly well known through Australia and New Zealand by management of such as Grace Palotta, Marie Eaton, Carrie Moore, Jack Carnot, Talleur Andrews and Frank Green.

The grandeur that was Rome, is now the grandeur that is Hollywood! Belind the flickering mafe-believe the stars are living in a world of reality. Hollywood’s own sociat life is a thing apart from its professional success, yet a part of it too, For social prestige is based, to some extent at least, on professional achievement. ‘The public is occasionally afforded a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes when the celebrities step out from their own social circle to travel abroad When a large feature has its premiet, throngs gather round the doors of the theatre to: watch the stars arrive in their fashionable attire and glittering jewels. These evenings are filled with splendour and acclaim for the celebrities There is applause when thev enter from the congregated crowd, lights flash, and the photographs are taken, aud names are announced = through meraphones and loud speakers. Then, too, at the popular dining and dancing resorts of filmdon, the public have a chance to rub elbows with the luminaries as they glide or Charleston hv, to some jazz time-or as thev thread their way among the closely-crowded tables. Luncheons at the Montmartre on Wednesday or Saturday is reasonably certain to vield a glance at film people in informal array. ‘Tuesday evening at the Coconut Grove at the Ambassador, is another avenut open to the eager fans who wish to watch their favourites at parties The annual Wampas Ball affords a crowded opnortunity to witness many of the picture people on 6irersion bent. But the true film social life exists in a smaller and more ex. clusive domain. Social events at the residence of Marv Pickford and Dourtas Fairbanks are distinctive. Within the precincts of their Reverley Hill Estate a favourite few eniov a charming and onict hospitality unlike anv other in the film wotli-or prohahly anvwhere else in the world. Y micht mention that plans are now heine develoned for the hnildino of an old Snanish Rancho hy the two film.stare near Del Mar on the road ta San Dievo, The estate fs the realisation of two dreams. Done has alwavs wanted a larve ranch where fe can entertain and Pniov to the ful? the ontdonr fe he loves. Marv hac loneed to indutre her fandnese of 911 the ald ramantie Snart ish enstams and ideals Bioht thandena and fiftv acres have heen nurchased and an old-time rancho of the time of the sons in Califarniq hag heen ro. produced. While Donelas Fairhantre and wMarv Piekford entertain seldae and in a aniet fochinn, Norma ‘TI madee and Tasenh Schent, an the other hand, dienence thetr hasnitality witt. the all.emhracine deranrratio veature Thety. North, Foatlewand Ranteward bat ic the serene af many charming affaive The hasis of all narties nt their Thame? is, of coursé, the distinctly clannish

Talmadge family, comprising "Peg" Talmadge, mother of the three girls, Norma, Constance, Natalie ‘Talmadge Keaton, and her famous husband, Buster. In Benedict Canyon, adojining the old Ince Estate, is a large acreage owned by Harold Lloyd and his wife. ‘The most original teature of the Lloyd Estate is a miniature waterfall which drops from a considerable height to feed a private canoe course winding through the grounds under overhanging trees and sheltering shrubberies. Under the waterfall is a tiny summer house, where Mildred Davis Lloyd entertains her guests during warm weather, and where little Gloria plays hostess to her young friends. : Another attractive social centre is the lovely Beverley Hill Ettate owned by Tom Mix, prominent Fox star, and his wife. In fact, just before I left flollvwood Mr and Mrs. Tom Mix gave an afternoon tea partv to the famous William Fox, Winfield R. Sheehan. Seorge O’Brien, Olive Borden, J Far‘rell MacDonald, Edmund Lowe, and Dolores Del Rio, of "What Price Clorv" fame, and also Mr. Staniev S Crick, managing director for Fox in Australasia, was present. Tt certainIv was a most delichtful gvatherine. Little. Thomasina Mix often gives parties for the children of professional fathers an? mothers. The nurehace cf the Thomas FI Tnce estate by Carl Laeminele for 650,000 Antlarg is one of the noteworthy devel ments of recent date, This rambline Snanich hame jis one of the largest and most heanttfnl in filmdom. In Hollw woodland Mack Sennett has inst commeneced a larve California-Snanish home an an eiehteet acre estate. Foam infarmed that the comnleted investment soil probably represent a million dolars, Tony Moreno and hig wife remain ir cechusinn on the ton of the hilt, called ‘Tarenn BHiohlands, elase to Lor Asteefog while Colleen Monre and Tahn MeCormick intend hnitding a hoantifnl nlace snon in Reverlev, At. theneh Cecit R. Ne Mille Tiveg in Hatte wand. hia main interect Hea in Para. dise,? a monntain Tame hack of Sor Fernando, For the past five years the

foreign colony has been growing stead- | ily. Englishmen have been well represented for a long time, and the Scandinavians have been coming in for vears. The Germans, the Russians, and arrivals from Central Europe are more recent. Victor MeQaclen is an Trislanan, We nossesses some interest to New Zealanders, as he has a brother residing in Christchurch. This fighting son of a hishon is starring in New Zealand in "What Price Glory?’ the great comedy to which Charlie Chanlin referred shortly before T left Hollywood as the most thoroughly eniovahle picture be ‘had aver seen. ""T laughed, wept, and was thrilled," the little told me, MeLagten has a broken nose, ‘his is a souvenir of an encounter for the.

heavy-weight championship of the world with Jack Johnson. After serving with the British Army during the Great War in France and Mesopotamia he is now in the pictures. He is the most Iusty and primitive man who everlaughed or scowled at you from the screen. Pola Negri was in the vangnard of the celebrated European arrival. Her advent was accompanied by a great fanfare. Among the Engtish residents are Charlies Chaplin, H. B. Warner, Alec B. Francis, Ronald Colman, Svd. Chaplin, Reginald Denny, Clive Brook, Lionel Belmore, House Peters, J. Stuart Black: ton, Perey Marmont, Herbert Rawlinson, and Nigel Barrie. Dorothy Mac-. Kaill and Himily Fitzroy are practically

the only English actresses of playing note. Australia has sent Enid Bennett, Mae Busch, Frank Lloyd, John T. Murray, Sylvia Breamer, Dorothy Cumming, Louise Lovely, Harry Pollard and Leon Errol. A New Zealand star is Nola luxford. ‘ The English actor has never had much success in English-made films. Dorothy Gish is the biggest star in Unglish-made pictures nowadays, and Dorothy hails from the United States. The Scandinavians constitute a picturesque portion of the colony. Anna Q. Nilsson is perhaps the best known of this section. a Others coming to the fore inciude Greta Garbo, Karl Dane, Greta Nissen, and Jean Hersholt. Bodit Rosing, the mother of Mrs. Monte Blue, has the arming eustom of serving Danish pancakes at the onen house which she /keeps every Sunday morning. The beautiful Lya de Putti is about the only feminine member of the German contingent. Limited in number is the French groun. Rene Adoree came to Australia with Guy Mapelev, and they~ ‘were known as the Moaclevs in the | Review Samoles, which T had the nleasnre of producing at the Tivoli Theatre, Svdnev. I must sav that Rene Adoree made a tremendons suecess as a dancer in’ Australia. She left with Gry Magley: to try vandeville in the hited States, but when I reached Hollywood she had attained wonderful success in flmdom., Rose Dione, who Visited New Zealand with Panline Frederick, who will renew her acquaintance with New Zea-: | land in ‘‘Camille,’? is another member of the French colony. Nazimoya, not acting before the camera now, was one of the first Russians, and lived in one of Wollywood’s. most beautiful mansions. I might mention that the Moore brothers, Matt, Owen, and Tom, are, of course, Irish, likewise Creighton Hale, William Desmond, Belle Bennett, and Eileen Per®y. George Fitzmau--rice, is an Trishiman born, and educated in Paris. Mary, Lottie, and Jack Pickford came from Canada, likewise Norma Shearer, Pauline Garon, Allan Dwan,, Mack Sennett. and Huntly Gofdan; Such stars as Mary Pickford, the. Talmadges, and Gishs, entered the’ studio! so tong ago that it should appear that: they must surely be middtfe-aved-vet they are all in their early thirties, Kren in their instances success "was not an overnight occurrence, ‘There were monthe and even vears of struevle with Gloria Swanson, Mav Atlicon, Priseilla Dean, Phvilis Haver, Mareuerite Ae Ja Motte, Billv Deve. Teatrice Tov, Retelfe Tavior, Lois Wilson, Ressie ove, and Eva Novak, who was in New Zealand the other dav, and none of their aves nasses the thirty-one vear mark, Several are as young as twenty-six and ~ twenty-seven, ; ,