FILM PERSONALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17352, 17 May 1924, Page 20

FILM PERSONALS.

Helen Morgan, prominent in the cast of the William Fox offering, “ Six Cylinder Love.” is a Canadian beauty winner. Miss Morgan, a slight, charmingly proportioned brunette in her early twenties, won a trip to New York as her beauty prize. While there, she was offered a role in the picture and did not neglect the opportunity. Mrs Walter Long, wife of the featured player in ” The Broken Ming,” was in a tearoom when she heard her husband’s name mentioned. Said one woman, “That Walter Long is too convincing as a villain. He must have a. bad disposition.” Then Number Two added, ” I pity his wife.” Airs Long smiled to herself and said nothing. Marguerite Clark, who several years ago was one of the most popular of all film stars, is now one of the leading social lights of New Orleans. Miss Clark was married to Harry Williams, a wealthy lumber man, and retired from the screen. Her home on St Charles Avenue, New' Orleans, is one of the show' places of the city. Just previous to her marriage Miss Clark was offered a film salary of 8,000 dollars a week, which she refused. Miriam Cooper, like many other screen stars, began her screen career under the tutelage of D. W. Griffith. She made her screen debut in ‘'The Birth of a Nation.” and followed her success in that with ” Intolerance.” •‘Betrayed” and “The Silent Lie.” She has" the dark vivid beauty peculiar to the Spanish type, and this is one of the reasons why she was chosen to play the feminine lead in ” The Broken Wing.”

Florence Turner, who was the first big screen star of the old Vitagraph, is reported to be destitute in England, and a fund is being formed to relieve her condition. Miss Turner was known as the “ Vitagraph Girl ” and was most popular among the film folk for her generosity and kindness during the early days. Two years ago she went to England, where she was moderately successful until the slump came in British film productions. One of the most unique film libraries is owned bv William V. Along. The collection, which is made of seven reels of film, is an index to many of the greatest characterisations ever given to the screen. Believing that he could profit greatly in his work by studying the methods of his contemporary artists. Along started his film library several years ago. In the 7000 feet of film that goes to make up the collection. are hundreds of scenes taken from scores of different, photoplays in which some outstanding bit of character acting was done. Along managed to secure a few' feet, of film from the prints of various pictures and by joining them together he has a permanent record of the costumes of foreign lands, studies in facial make-up and bits of stage business employed on various occasions. In “The Racing Kid,” a Century comedy now in the course ol production with Buddy Alcssinger ns the star, a new leading‘lady w ill make her appearance. Kite is twelve-yon r-old Martha Sleeper, who played an important role in .Emory Johnson s ” Hie Mailman.” Little Aliss Sleeper has had a great deal of stage experience, although her appearance in ” The Mailman ” was her debut in filmdom. She is the daughter of the. executive staff that controls the Keith vaudeville circuit, and conceded to be a clever pantomimist and impersonator. She is well known throughout New York as one of the most promising former pupils of G'halif, the famous Russian dancing master, and has appeared in dance programmes at the Aletropolitan Opera House. Carnegie Hall and Professor C'halifs studio, with great sue* Of Charlie Chaplin’s new leading lady, selected by the great screen comedian to fill the place left vacant by Edna Purviance’s elevation to stardom, a New York 11a per says : —After u long and diligent search among the dazzling blondes and the vain pish brunettes of Hollywood. Charley Chaplin has at last made his selection of a leading woman to succeed Edna Purvianoe in his screen comedies. Her name is Lira Gray, and she is described as a descendant of an old Spanish family. She is nineteen and beautiful. Her experience on the screen has been meagre -she performed a “bit” several years ago in “The Kid” with the inimitable Charles Spencer—but Charlie thinks she’s a real find. If Miss Gray wins the heart of America in her new position as completely as Miss Purviance did in hers, it will be a happy eventuality, indeed. Miss Purviance is a blonde : Miss Gray has lustrous dark hair (inherited from her Spanish an cestors). her eyes are a deep brown and her skin is as ivory, tinged with olive Excepting for her colouring, she bears a striking resemblance to Miss Pur-