PRINCIPALS OF THE PAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21141, 26 March 1932, Page 9 (Supplement)

PRINCIPALS OF THE PAST.

DESCENT TO OBSCURITY. OLD NAMES RECALLED. Few of the principal actors and actresses of the screen to-day have been well known for many years, and few of the popular players of 10 years ago or less are prominent to-day. The fates of the oncefamous are often difficult even to trace. Comparatively only a handful of them — Valentino, Milton Sills, I .on Chancy, Louis Wolheim, Wallace Eeid, John Bunny, Sidney Drew, Dustin Farnum, Larry Semon, Max Linder, Barbara La Marr, Jeanne Eagels, Mabel Normand, and a few others —have gone into the retirement from which there is no return. No fewer than fifty-five other men and women, once the talk and toast of continents because of their glamour on (he screen, have passed into obscurity. Some of them, almost unnoticed as yet, but full of hope, are steadily attempting a return to popularity in the talkies. Clara Kimball Young has carved herself a new niche in Hollywood with " Women (!o On For Ever" and " File 113." Ethel Clayton, once one of Paramount's brightest stars, recently played a role in " Hotel Continental " at a minor studio. For a time she ran a shop in the film city, but if folded its balance-sheet and facied away. Flora Finch, the unforgettable sparring partner of John Bunny, recently returned to Hollvwood to make a spirited second assault *Oll the filmgoing public. Carlyle Blaekwell, armed with a large-as-life contract, is similarly bent. Alice Joyce, who shared his heyday in Kalem pictures, is touring the music-halls with her exhusband, Tom Moore. Mae Marsh has proved her present-day worth in '' Over the Hill." Her children caused her retirement, and it was her children's encouragement which made possible her re' urn. Not so spectacularly, but as effectually, Enid Bennett came back in " Skippy " and '* Sooky." Many former film favourites have drifted into vaudeville. Hp and down the vast continent) of America the curious may decipher on the bills of provincial musichalls the once world-exciting names of Charles Ray (now remembered in Hollywood almost solely for tho Babylonian party he gave to announce his bankruptcy), Blanche Sweet, Alice \\ lute, Bettv Ply the, Bessie Barriscale, and Wesley Barry, who now leads a dance orchestra. Julanne Johnston, the luscious princess of "'1 lie Thief of Bagdad, dances at hotels and night clubs. Dorothy and Lillian Gish have had a few successes on the Broadway stage. Cranes Wilbur makes a comparatively obscure but steady living in legitimate drama. Francis X. Bushman, who confessed to having run through six million doll a s before his bankruptcy, lias also adopted a theatrical career and is now playing in a Chicago stock company. Olga PetYova and Billie Burke, former First National star and now the wife of Florenz Zietjfeld. the famous "Follies" producer, make occasional stage appearances. So floes En'd Markov, whose name vividly recalls the old Triangle Film Company. Conspicuous stage successes are Nazi mo va and

Alice Bmfly, ex-film stars, who have ridden hack fo fame on the enthusiasm for O'Neill's " Mourning Becomes Electra." A handful of once famous film actresses have sol tied down to matrimony and memories. Thedu Bara, the. original vamp of the big dark oyes and voluptuous curves, is the wife of Charles Brahin, the film director. Olive Borden is content with ii Wow Jersey lawyer for a husband. Marguerite Fischer is married to Harry Pollard, the director, and Kosemarv Thehy to Harry Myers, the screen comedian. Marguerite Clark, whom many filmgoers still remember with a thrill, is happily settled on.a cotton plantation somewhere in the " South." Helen Holmes wearied of being roped to railway lines in serials and married, a California stock-breeder. Three other former stars who much prefer matrimony, even in Hollywood, are Florence Vidor, Elaine Hammerstein, and May Mac. Avoy. Phyllis Haver, whose husband is reputed to be a multi-millionaire, has refused half-a-dozen offers to resume her screeji career, which she forsook at the peak of her success just about three years ago. Ruth Stonehouse, who contributed many thousands of pounds through boxoffice windows to the early fortunes of Carl Laernmlc, lives very quietly in Los Angeles with her husband, Felix Hughes. A few once-upon-a-time stars have lived happily ever after by going into business on their savings. Edith' Storey and Belle Bennett run flourishing chicken farms. Esther Ralston appears to be making a success of her new beauty parlour, and Ruth Roland has grown rich in the real estate business. A few saved enough to retire on their means —among them Norma and Constance Talmadge, still faithful to Hollywood,

though deserters from the screen. Pearl White is reported to be living in luxury in Paris, while Seena Owen lives quietly in Hollywood. Kalherine Mac Donald, once known as " The American Beauty," tdso retired to a Hollywood side street. William S. Hart bves on his own ranch, but Maurice Chevalier is trying to coax him back into films. Many former film favourites are eking out a dim existence in occupations where autographs are never roquested. Guy Coombs was last heard of in the service of a Florida hotel. Ella Hall, made famous by Lois Weber, sells gowns in a Hollywood store. George Walsh, once adored as a Fox athletic star, now works in a minor capacity behind the camera, unhonoured and unsung. Monroe Salisbury, former Universal star, works in a Hollywood restaurant. Most pathetic of all are those who have sunk from fame to obscurity in their own profession. Florence Turner ("The Vitagraph Girl"), Mae Busoh, Alice Lake, Kathlvn Williams, Grace Conard (one of tho greatest of the serial heroines), and a score of others keep body and soul by playing bits and small roles. Every crowd of extra players in Hollywood includes a former world favourite, now forgotten. The other day King Baggot, once a great star and director, did twelve hours' crowd work for the Radio studio. His pay cheque amounted to £2.