ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

GLIMPSES OF STARS’ LIVES. TALKIES NOW IN SIXTH YEAR. Advice has been received that Mr. Colin Tapley, who won the New Zealand search for beauty contest, which was conducted by Paramount Pictures, has been given a six months’ contract at Hollywood with a possible extension.

It is just five years since the appearance of the invention that revolutionised the motion picture and the industry behind it—the talking picture. The first “all-talkie” was a Fox one-reeler, although at about the same time many pictures included fragmentary passages of sound. Owing to many technical defects the first talkies were received with mixed feelings, but to-day, if a theatre advertised silent pictures they would no* sell a dozen tickets!

• # * • When Tallulah Bankhead, tired and hungry after a long flight in a ’plane, was accosted by a gushing mother with a youngster in tow, she was not very pleased. “Oh, Miss Bankhead,” the mother beamed, “I want you to meet my little boy. He’s studying French, German, Latin, and Algebra.” “Darling,” answered the tired film star, “do speak to me in Algebra!”

It is estimated that the American public pay 1,100,000,000 dollars a year in admission to motion picture theatres. This is taking into account that the admission prices dropped 25 per cent, in 1932.

Douglas Fairbanks, junr., was perturbed when he discovered that Solvelg Dietz, the girl whose husband filed suit against him for alienation of his wife’s affections, had booked to sail to Europe of the very ship he intended travelling by himself! He cancelled his booking, and travelled by another ship.

Henry Garat made his American debut in “Adorable,” now showing at the Opera House, New Plymouth, under the most distressing conditions. He suffered most of the time from an ulcerated stomach; his wife had to leave for England several weeks ahead of him; and, lastly, when about to leave Hollywood, he sent his trunks on ahead, only to discover that he would have to stay an extra week for “retakes.” So there he was, sick, lonely, and practically without clothes! • • » •

Here are a few things a girl must have to stand a chance of becoming a motion picture actress: (1) Real histrionic ability. (2) 500 dollars in cash to tide you over the first year. (3) An inside friend at one of the studios. If you haven’t got this, you have only one chance in 80,000 for “extra” work. There are 80,000 listed “extras” at the Central Casting Bureau. (4) Some experience on the stage.

Lee Duncan, owner of the late Rin-Tin-Tin, has presented Greta Garbo with a descendant of the famous dog star.

George Brent’s marriage to Ruth Chatterton seems to be a great success, but it certainly seems to have played havoc with his screen career. Nine months ago George Brent ranked with George Raft and Clark Gable as one of the outstanding of the new actors, but now interest in him has waned considerably. The only reason can be that a great number of picture-goers lose their craze for a star once he is off the marriage market. Mr. and Mrs. Brent are the stars of “Crash” showing at The Regent to-day.

There Is no end to the gentle hoaxes put over the movie public. We now learn that Chee-ak, supposedly a native Eskimo brought from the Arctic to Hollywood for Van Dyke’s film, “Eskimo, is really Ray Wise, a former cameraman. and well known to the motion picture industry.

C. Aubrey Smith, veteran screen and stage actor, captained one of the first British cricket teams which journeyed to South Africa and Australia for international matches. This was in 1888 and 1889. Smith has a leading role in the Fox production, “Adorable,” which has Janet Gaynor and Henry Garat as its stars, and is now at the Opera House. C. Aubrey Smith also has the distinction of having crossed the Atlantic more than 50 times to fill theatrical engagements.

Carter the Great, who is considered the star of all magicians and spectacular illusionists in the world to-day is now in New Zealand. In America he has the distinction of being the only entertainer of his kind who appears solely in the principal New York theatres. For the tour, Carter is travelling with an enormous quantity of paraphernalia necessary for the many wonderful illusions of which he is the creator, and he will present to the public of New Zealand something entirely now in the art of magic. Carter and his company open at his Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, on December 7 for a short season.

Henry Garat maintains a small zoo at his home in Paris. Included in his collection are horses, dogs, goldfish, parrots, a monkey and a Siamese cat.

Do you realise how many of the most successful stars on the screen are English? Here is a list of them: George Arliss, Diana Wynward, Leslie Howard, miasa Landi, Clive Brook, Boris Karloff, Benita Hume, Herbert Marshall, Dorothy Mackaill, Lilian Harvey, Ralph Forbes, Colin Clive, Heather Angel, Sari Maritza, Victor McLaglen, Lilian Bond, Phyllis Barry, Charles Laughton, Margaret Lindsay; Maureen O’Sullivan, Miriam Jordan and Elizabeth Allan,

One of the biggest laughs Hollywood has had for a long time occurred when Jack Oakie, master of ceremonies at a benefit performance, made a dramatic speech introducing Peggy Hopkins Joyce —and Ben Turpin came on the stage instead! The comedian hadn’t been listen-ing-just thought his turn was next.

The mother of baby Leßoy, the infant in Maurice Chevalier’s “Bedtime Story,” is a child herself in the eyes of the law. She is only sixteen, and has to have a guardian so she can sign movie contracts for her baby.

Constance Bennett’s husband, Henri de la Falaise, has gone to the West Indies to make a picture, and expects to ba away about four months.