Ann Sothern To Divorce Husband

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 253, 25 October 1941, Page 15

Ann Sothern To Divorce Husband

x /OFFICIALLY announcing a long AJF rumoured break with her husi band, Roger Pryor, orchestra leader s i and pome times movie actor, actress [ - Ann Southern last month attempted ; -to soften the blow by calling it a ; -"trial separation," states our Holly- ! t/Wood correspondent. But friends ' ' insist that their five-year union—

5 ... \ . ' they were wed on September 27, 1936, in Los Angeles—lS definitely \ off and that a divorce will ensue \ soon. ! Ann didn't resort to the customary I - .trite, insane Hollywood pattern of T"' painting'a glowing word picture of the njatei with whom she couldn't ""get along. Nor did she * even 'hint that "we shall always remain the best of friends.";; So. chalk up one for "Maisie," who has "been mentally and' physically ill over her marital troubles for six months, to the extent that it has often impaired her work.

Gribbon is a Storm Trooper, Silly Gilbert impersonated Goering. vhile Chester Conklin, Hank Mann ind Heine Conklin are extras. Of all the early Chaplin supers, Edna Purviance, the comely blonde 'or whose hand the pathetic little igure constantly sought, is most vividly remembered. Selected by Chaplin from 5000 answers to an advertisement in a San Francisco newspaper, she appeared opposite nim for the first time in the Essenay short, "A Night Out." This was in 1914. For the next nine years she was leading lady to Charlie in "The Pilgrim," ,r A Dog's Life," "Shoulder Ariris," "Sunnyside," "The Kid," and other films. Purviance reached her full stature as an actress in "A Woman of Paris." opposite Adolphe Menjou, which Chaplin produced and directed. It was her last role on the screen, and Chaplin gave her an interest in the film so that she might continue to have an income. When the royalties from that picture expired it is reported that Chaplin placed her on his studio payroll. To-day Edna Purviance lives in retirement at Manhattan Beach in Hollywood. - Chaplin's "Heavies" Chaplin's heavies—Alan Garcia, Mack Swain and Eric Campbell— were almost as well known as his leading ladies. Campbell, called "Big Eric" by millions of movie goers, was the most villainous. He was a hulk of a man, six foot five, and weighing close to 300 pounds. After appearing opposite Chaplin in twelve Mutual snorts Big Eric was killed in an automobile accident in 1918. The most trusted member of Chaplin's brain trust is Henry Bergman, the comedian's nersonal aide-de-camp for more than 25 years. Bergman, who was recently credited as the assistant production manager of "The Great Dictator," left the popular vaudeville team of Clarke and Bergman in 1915 to join the Essenay Studio. One of Chaplin's closest friends, he has worked on every Chaplin film since, appearing as a maitre d'hotel so often that he finally acquired a restaurant of his own, and now he runs Hollywood's famous Henri's. Three of Chaplin's sidekicks in the Keystone comedies continued to gain fame in their own right. Chester Conljlin and Mack Swain, the Mr. Ambrose and" Mr. Walrus of the comedy series, rank among the most colourful figures' of the eatiy films. Swain, who was six foot six, was at one time called "the funniest fat man on the screen." When his fame dwindled, before his death, he returned to Chaplin's company and appeared as a super in "The Pilgrim," "The Idle Class/' and "The Gold Rush." Conklin later appeared in "Modern Times" and "The Great Dictator." Ben Turpin, whom Chaplin originally brought to the Coast and featured for th£ first

Many Still Playing Many Chaplin supers are active on the screen to-day. Jessie Ralph, the character actress, was recently seen in "The Lady From Cheyenne." ■Hank Mann, who has appeared in 25 Chaplin films and is best remembered for his role of the prize-fighter in : "City Lights;" Edgar Kennedy, Eddie Gribbon, Leo White and Carl Stockdale are often seen in current films. Two of the least known but most distinguished Chaplin extras, Wesley Ruggles and Lloyd Bacon, are now leading Hollywood directors. Ruggles played in a number of Keystones and later received billing in "Carmen." He appeared in the role of a tramp. Lloyd Bacon acted in a number of Mutual shorts with Chaplin and in "The Floorwalker" he was the comedian's double. Just as Chaplin has continued to use the same faces in each of his films, his studio personnel has remained intact over the years. Alfred Reeves, Chaplin's studio 1 manager, has been with the come- ' dian for 30 years. Rolland Totheroh ■ has been camera man since the ■ "Gold Rush." Tom Wilson, assistant - production manager; Frank Testera, . chief electrician; Bill Borgdanoff, construction head, and Danny Hall, t art director, have had their jobs since the early 'twenties. ; Chaplin's loyalty to his staff and > his supernumeraries is well known i in the film colony. Some attribute I it to sentiment, others to supersti- • tion. But one may assume either I that these old-timers are essential to , Chaplin's technique; or that fame, > unlike a rolling stone, does gather t moss.