MARY'S ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 5 (Supplement)

MARY'S ROMANCE.

WITH "BUDDY" ROGERS. COMMENTS ON MARRIAGE. WILL VACATE "PICKFAIR." HOLLYWOOD, December 7. Mary Pickford adjusted the golden curls peeking beneath her Cossacklooking hat, smiled at her handsome third husband-to-be, "Buddy" Rogers, and said calmly:— "Bud and I will lead separate lives— in a working sense—after our marriage in the spring." When Miss Pickford's engagement to youthful Mr. Rogers was announced in mid-November it was rumoured the couple would unite in picture making, Mary producing in her capacity as a member of United Artists, Buddy acting. "Bud, charming as he is, has set notions of what he want* from our future," continued Miss Pickford. ""He thinks it would be a bad idea for me to control his film work. He wants to make good on his own. I agree with him." . Before sound topsy-turveyed film careers Rogers was a popular . romantic juvenile lead. In recent years he has worked as band leader; "People don't realise that Bud made quite a large sum of money with his orchestra in the theatre and on the radio," said Mary. "I'd like him to keep contact with his orchestra, so that, when We return from Europe, he can do some radio work as well as making pictures." Honeymoon Trip to England. Mary's own future working plans are not as clearly defined. "I need a rest. This has been the busiest year in my life. With Jesse Lasky as co-producer, I've made two pictures—'One Rainy Afternoon' and 'The Gay Desperado'— appeared on the radio for 20 weeks, written several magazine stories and sponsored many charity projects." For several months Miss Pickford was act-ing-president of United Artists, and was responsible for banker Giannini's recent entry into the organisation. Miss Pickford now holds office as first vicepresident. "I'm following Bud to Europe—visiting England, Germany and Italy. I shall be away about two months," she added. While in England, Rogers will make a picture for a British company. On their return, Miss Pickford will vacate "Pickfair," in which she lived with Douglas Fairbanks after divorcing her first husband, Owen Moore. "We want something less formal," she explained. "A place where we can put our feet up and have dogs around." The future Mr. and Mrs. Rogers will occupy a ranch in the San Fernando Valley, where Buddy will raise polo ponies. They also plan to build a small house at Santa Monica, near the Marion Davies mansion and within a stone's throw of that occupied by Douglas Fairbanks, sen., and his bride, the former Lady Sylvia Ashley. Battle of Dog v. Baby. Mary was emphatically negative when asked whether the prospect of relinquishing "Pickfair" saddened her. "I'm ,not sentimental about places. I believe in going on. There's a zest to change. I'm happier right at this minute than since I was a little girl. I'm not so much of a Madame Atlas—carrying the burdens of the world on my shoulders. I've learned never to say 'never'—to live for the minute and not look too .-far ahead. People think they're going to live forever—and neglect the most important thing of all, to make the most of the present." Within recent years, Miss Pickford has. pondered the problem of adopting a child. "I may do this after my marriage," she said. "If I have time." Meanwhile, Mary gives a large measure of devotion to her Pekingese. "At one time, I thought it was terrible for a woman to fondle a dog instead of a baby. There is no substitute, of course, for a child, but you can leave a dog. A i baby is a full-time 24-hours-a-day job." In a cabled interview in Hollywood on j Christmas Eve, Mary Pickford said: "Youth isjt question of interest in life. I don't think the differences in our ages is any problem at all. I know there are many arguments against it, but it is an individual thing, to which no rule can be applied. Why, 'Bud' feels much more settled than I do, and I do ' not think I look old. I don't feel it." Questioned as to children, she said: 'I would like some of my own, but I am a mother to all babies. I am not one of those whose vanity demands a child of her own. I love all babies."