NEWS OF THE TALKIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 16 (Supplement)

NEWS OF THE TALKIES.

Daughter Born to Gloria Swanson. Gloria Swanson, the film star, who in private life Is Mrs Michael Farmer, gave birth to a blue-eyed daughter at her house in Farm Street, Mayfair, London, last month. “My wife stood the ordeal bravely, and bolh are very well,” stated Mr Farmer. Mr Farmer, who is a young Irish sportsman and landowner, and reputed to be a millionaire, is Miss Swanson’s fourth husband, her previous partners having been Herbert Somborn, a Los Angeles business man; Wallace Beery, the “he-man” film star; and the Marquis de la Falaise de la Coudraye, now the husband of Constance Bennett. There was a mix-up over her fourth marriage. It was announced last November that this had taken place secretly on August 16 last, but it was then pointed out that her divorce from Lire Marquis de la Falaise did not become absolute under Californian law until November 10. So Gloria went through her fifth marriage ceremony a few days later.

Miss Swanson, who was born in Chicago, and was 33 quite recently, has another daughter, 10 years old, named Gloria, and has adopted a hoy named Joseph. As one of the most famous of film “vamps” she is said to have earned £200,000 a year.

More “Horror Films.”

More “horror films" are planned by the producers of “Dracula” and “Frankenstein."

Already in preparation are “The Invisible Man,” “The Old Dark House,” “The Suicide Club" and “Cagliostro," with “The Wolf Man” as a possible addition to the series.

Reduced Prices at Christchurch

Theatres.

With a view to meeting the economic conditions, Christchurch Cinemas, Ltd., has made reductions in prices of admission at the Crystal Palace, Majestic, Everybody’s, and Liberty Theatres.

The prices are now’: Stalls Is and Is (id, dress circle 2s.

English Actress for Hollywood.

Yet another Englishwoman has been signed up for U.S. films in the person of the well-known actress Diana Wynyard. Miss Wynyard Is touring America with Basil Rathbone, another English star, in “The Devil Passes," but on the completion of the show’s run she will proceed to Hollywood, there to commence work In a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture—as yet until led.

Miss Wynyard appeared In a number of lug Wcsl End successes before going lo America. She played in, among oilier productions, “Lean Harvest,” “Petticoat inlluence,” and “77 Park Lane.” Heather Thatcher, another wellknown West End actress, recently appeared in a screen version of Ivor Novello’s “The Truth Game,” and according to American reports was a terrific success. Charlie Chaplin’s Next Film. Charlie Chaplin recently stated that his next picture might he about the world crisis, of which his travels were giving him a good “bird’s-eye survey.”

lie has not yet made up his mind, lie said, as to whether it was to be a silent piclure or a talkie, but be felt that bis special characteristics were better adapted lo the silent screen.

Hollywood “Speed-up.” The latest production device in Hollywood is the revolving soundstage.

The principle of the revolving sound-stage resembles that of the revolving stage which is so popular nowadays In big musical shows and occasionally In spectacular dramatic productions. For the purpose of flhn production, however, it adds a numb etc of advantages which seem likely to make this latest improvement a permanent feature of the w'ell-equlpped screen studio.

One advantage is that It permits the building of two “sets" for a picture simultaneously. Then the cameras and microphones are set up, one scene is “shot," and the stage is revolved with the second "set” all ready. * The cameras and microphones art already in position on the non-revolv-ing portion of the stage, and very little change in their position is required. The resultant saving in time and money is said to bo considerable.

It Nevep Hurts!

Motion picture comedy actors who fight with chairs and other implements use furniture made of wood that is so light it never hurts. A club may shatter realistically over a comedian’s hca-d, but he hardly feels the blow. Guns and hammers that appear to be dangerous weapons on the screen actually weigh only a few ounces.

The lightest material that the studios can obtain for this furniture is the pith of the yucca, otherwise known as the Spanish bayonet. Scouts are sent into the south-western desert to gather the stalks, some of which are 30 feet high. The pith of the yucca has the same texture as heavy wmod, hut it feels softer than cork. A block of it can be crushed easily in the hand, yet It is sturdy enough to cut into thin hoards and make into such articles as tables and pianos.

Why She Sought a Dlvoroe. Lucille Mendez has been granted a divorce from her husband, Ralph Ince, the film producer and director (says a Reuter message from Los Angejes). The couple were married in July, 1926.

The grounds of her petition were that her reputation was injured by his refusal to permit her to fill a theatrical engagement. Mr Ince did not oppose the suit.

Noted 1 Actor Divorced.

There was an echo of a stage marriage of 26 years ago when Godfrey Seymour Tearle, the actor, was respondent in a divorce case heard by Lord Morrivale in the Divorce Court in London.

The suit was instituted by his wife, Mrs Mary Essy Tearle, to whom he was married at Marylebone Register Office. The proceedings were undefended.

The case for Mrs Tearle, who had frequently acted with her husband, was that they were on affectionate terms until 1929 or 1930, when, she alleged, he became familiar with Miss Stella Freeman, while on a tour in a 1-day. He eventually admitted that he was in love with Miss Freeman, who was 21.

Actress Leaves £14,200. Estate valued at £14,200, with net personalty £12,500, was left by Lilian Davies, the musical comedy actress, who died on March 3 after an operation in a Manchester nursing home. Her will was dated February 19, a fortnight before her death. She left £SOOO to her brother (Mr David C. T. Davies), £3OO to Mrs Christine McLelland Brady, and £IOO each to tier aunts Gwendoline Burgess and Constance Lcnnard.

After providing for payments of £1 a week for life to her cousin, Hilda Bai bara Davies, and to another aunt, Irene \Villiamson, the residue of her estate is 101 l in trust for her brother. Old IVJelodramas Revived.

The old melodramas, “Ten Nights in a Bar-room,” “East Lynne,” and

Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” arc to be revived in New York. They are to be played quite seriously, and it will be intcrcsling |o see how modern sophisticated audiences will react to them.