Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 41

Theaters I Society i PART FIVE Pages 1 HARTFORD, SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 1931. it 43 i every' sense of the word. Her cradle i wa a property trunk when the Drews i and Bernhardt were making theatri Talkies Announce Bumper Crop of Wampas Starlets Iff" i After Lapse of Three Years, Hollywood Chooses Its 13! Most Promising Young Players, Who Have Proven I Worth by Voice, Camera Tests and Mental Equipment I 4 i -sir 111 sne Decame lnuwnatea wiui uisu dashing spirit of the Spanish Main which at 17 landed her the role of Trilby opposite the great John Bar-rymore. MaTion's uncle was collector of customs on the Island of Trinidad, where her father was a chocolate trader. The latter moved to Boston and pursued his business on Win-throp Street.

The Ksauth family lived first in Summerviile, then moved to Springfield. Marion was the baby, and beauty, of the family consisting of Jeanne, George and Edward all in pictures now. Jeanne was the first to have Hollywood aspirations. She was a member of the historic Paramount School. Awarded a contract, she came to Hollywood and brought the rest of the family along with the express purpose of boosting them into pictures.

She kept house on a strict budget and the youngsters at their studies preparing for their opportunity. Thrusting Her Way In. cal history. Before Broadway knew tfr she had played with her rawer. Ed Blondell known as the original KaUenjanrmer Kid" and her mother, Katherine Kane, in vaudeville all over the world.

She has played tank towns in the West and split weeks in China. She has been everything from a circus hand, a singing and dancing comedienne, to ribbon clerk in a department store, a Follies girl, and leading lady in "Broadway." While appearing in "Penny Arcade" Warners signed her to play the title role in the screen version released as "Sinner's Holiday." Then a long-term contract, and outstanding work in "Office Wife," "Other Men's Women," -Illicit," "Millie'' and others. Joan Blondell's star was ascending in Hollywood as Alice White's was setting. Directors say no actress on the screen can read wise-cracking lines like the Blondell, explained thusly by a contemporary: "When you see Joan Blondell playing the all-wise, all-knowing girl of the modern generation, please pay homage accordingly. For you are seeing the real stuff, and no imitation." A ptvtty nifty bunch of babv starlets are the Nineteen Thirty Oners! There will be no untimely "washing out' 'for Dick Grace.

The nee of Hollywood stunt aviators, who has written three sensational air novels based on his film crashes and the story for Radio Pictures' "The Lost Squadron," declares that he will absolutely end his neck-brenkmg enterprises upon the conclusion of six sensateional crashes in the picture. To date the stunter has had 34 smashes in a broken neck and 48 fractures of ribs, arms and legs. Upon the conclusion of his 40th crack-up he will hang up his gogglets and devote his time to tamer and safer pursuits. The picture, soon to go into production, will feature Pat OBrlen and von Stroheim under the direction jjf Paul Sloane. Wilful Marie.

Marie Dressier was at work picking a chicken for a scene in her new picture, "Politics." "Next time," shs remarked, "I hop they cast me as a lady who buys all her food from the corner delicatessen." pftili J. L- yA i I Lionel Barrymore, so stydio news announces, is to have a fine role in the forthcoming production of "The Man I which Ernst Lubitsch is directing, and for the leading role in which, Phillips Holmes has been selected. This will be first departure since "The Patriot," and the famous director says, "I am going back to sheer drama." Hollywood, whose inhabitants like nothing belter than to give lavish gifts, is showering gifts in groat numbers upon Hebe Daniels, Mrs. Ben Lyon, who is expecting soon to become a mother. The gifts range all the way from sand slides to a trousseau that might grace the nursery of any royal babe.

She is in her senior year at hlgi school which she attends on the Radio Pictures lot under the watcn-f ui eye of the Los Angeles Board oi Education which provides her Extreme youth prevented a siase career for Rochelle. The law of Will Rogers' home state bars minors from the legitimate stage. When Rochelle and her mother couldn't get the law changed after the youthfully aspiring actress got fed up on appearances before clubs, societies and school audiences, they packed up and came to Hollywood. Here they ran amuck the law again, which provides that minor players have to continue their schooling. So they compromised, and signed a contract with Radio Pictures to study and act.

Rochelle served an apprenticeship posing for fashion sti.is bathing suits and what-not, and was rewarded with a good part Edna May Oliver's "Fanny Foley Herself." Now she is playing the feminine lead in "Are These Our Children?" And they do say on the Riutio lot that Rochelle gives rare promise 'of one of the coming comediennes From Theatrical Family. Marion Schilling comes from a theatrical family and knows what it is all about. Her father, Edward Schilling, was a stock company producer for years, acting as loading man in many of his own plays. Marion filled any child roles that came along, and during school vacations later plaved with her father in his rood shows. While playing with hun in "Dracula" which he brought to the Coast, casting directors saw her and invited her to take screen tests.

Practically every studio sought Marion Schilling for a picture. Paramount cast her with William Powell in "Shadow of the Law." Radio gave her the feminine lead in Richard Dix's "Yourg Donovan's Kid." She played in "On Your Back" for Fox and in "The Common Law" with Constance Bennett for Pathe. Pathe then signed her to a long term contract, since which she has played with Lew Codv in "Beyond Victory," and in "Sundown Trail" opposite Tom Keene, Pathc's new Western slur who formerly was known as George Duryea. Asked For Marion asked for the Western role, declaring to be the finest of screen training. You see, she is still learning how to act.

Every night after dinner, her father coaches her in scenes or puts her through a one-act play. Yet, he is wbe enough to keep away from the studios; permits his sensible daughter to manage her own business. In her leisure, she studies singing and French. You can down a girl like that. Frances Dade is following in her mother's footsteps.

She is the only child of Frances Pemberton, of Philadelphia, who played with Joe Jefferson and she created a sensation when she went on the stage alter making her bow to the Quaker City. Now, as head of a real estate company in New York, she has the distinction of being the largest woman operator the.e. Frances came to Hollywood as member of a road show "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." A Fox eating director saw ncr and signed her to a contract. An automobile injury threw a monkey wrench into Frances' screen career. When she recovered, she treld extra work and came to live at the Studio Club.

Duly, she was known as rne of "the gang" a rollicking group c-ut for a good time. Not All Rose. Frances was so lovely she had loads of attention but no parts came her way. Finally, disgusted, she left Hollywood and joined a stock company then playing at Ann Arbor Mich. She returned to New York from whence Sam Goldwvn brought her back to play opposite Ronald Coleman in "Raffles." Costumes were made for Frances, who was thrilled to death, when suddenly It was decided she "wasn't! the type." No, it isn't all roses.

Far from it Anyhow, they w.ote a little part in the story for Frances Dade, after which they loaned her out. Paramount borrowed her for "Grumpy." And times locked up. Frances was in demand. Sh" recently played the ingenue lead in Anna May Wong's "A yanghter of a Dragon." and now is playing opposite Conway Tearle in Pleasur Constance Cummings- first experience was one of those real Hollywood iieart-breakers. After appearing in Vinn.p cUn 1, haired, haswl-eyed Sidney Fox pho-1 tographically perfect! Joan iiloiHtell is llcllywoixl latest 1 At the Theaters Today ALLYN-PUBLIX, 200 Asylum Street "An American Tragedy," Sylvia Sidney.

Phillips Holmes. 1087 Main Street "Night "Talk of Hollywood." CAPiroL, 591 Mam Street "The Common Law," Constance Bennett. CENTRAL, West Hartford Center "Politics." COLONIAL, 492 Farrnington Avenue "Politics." LENOX, 959 Albany Avenue "Night Nurse." LOEW 174 Asylum Street "Arizona," Laura LaPiante LYRIC. 585 Park Street "Ladies' "Night Nurse PALACE, 645 Main Street "Young As You Feel," Will Rogers Fifl Dorsay. REGAL.

42 State Street "Caught Plastered," Bert Wheeler Robt Woolsey. RIALTO, 255 Franklin Avenue "Smart Money RIVOLI, 1755 Park. Street "Good Bad "Just a Gigolo" STATE, 70 Village Street "Man in "Young Donovan a Kid, STRAND, 1017 Main Street "This Modern Age," Joan Crawford. Neil Ham i. ton.

East Hartford ASTOR THEATER "Ex-Bad "It Pays to Ad- 1 9 xx 'I 5 jit MX p' mV tmf. The minx of mirth walks off with the picture concealed n. KIm- Is a trouper in $55-00 Quaker Pay i wmwiii-T tiii I AUGUS ANGE and HEATER L' llnii a prodigy. Daughter of a native daughter of Alsace, Lorraine, she speaks French and German as well as beautiful English. When 8 years old, she won the scholarship of the National Association of American Speech hitherto awarded only to University students.

Also won five trophies last year for her piano playing She plays the harp well and also is an accomplished dancer. Add to this two trips to Europe, the first one to appear as the little sweetheart In 'The Life of Franz Shubert," produced in Vienna, and you will have an amazingly cultured young woman of 15! Compare the preparation of Anita Louise with that of a certain curly-haired little girl named Gladys Smith when she started out in the silents. Interesting, isn't it? Miss Cummings was at the station, preparing to turn her back forever on Hollywood, when Harry Cohn of Columbia caught her before train time and offered her the lead in "Criminal The rest is history new. Miss Cumminss almost rah awav With Bet.tv Comnxnn'c "liwr BY MAYME OBER PEAK. NOW that the talkies have had time to grow a crop of baby starlets, the Wampas after three years, have revived their good old annual custom of selecting 13 of the mast promising young players for special grooming and exploitation.

And trust this high-powered organization of screen publicists to put over a big one 'for the talkies' first debs! Their coming-out party at the Olympic Stadium, September 11. will be the highlight of the Fiesta de Los-Angeles. Pretty clever of the publicity boys to introduce their young buds when the city is celebrating its 150th birthday! Next year's Baby Stars, I'll wager, will make their bow in the international spotlight of the Olympic Games. Nothing less! 1931 starlets just announced are: Joan Blondell, First National Studios; Constance Cummings, Columbia; Frances Dee, Paramount, also Judith Wood of the same studio; Sidney Fox, Universal; Frances Dade, free lance; Anita Louise, under contract to Charles Rogers of Pathe. Marlon Schilling, Pathe: Rochelle Hudson, Radio Pictures; Joan Marsh and Karen Morley, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Marion Marsh, Warner Barbara Weeks, United Artists.

Demands Greater. There are quite a few beauties in the group. The screen remains a photographic medium. But the demands of talking pictures are far greater than made upon starlets of the si-lents. In this new group of youngsters who have proven by voice, camera tests and mental equipment that they have what the talkies need are several seasoned troupers, college girls, and girls with social and artist backgrounds.

One is a native of New England-Barbara Weeks, of Melrose, Mass. Another was brought up and educated there in Summerviile and Springfield Marion Marsh, who happens to have been ushered into the world in the Isle of Trinidad Rochelle Hudson was born in Will Rogers's famous town. Claremore. Okla. Iowa claims Karen Morley; Seattle, Constance Cummings; Denver.

Marion Schilling: New York, Judith Wood, Anita Louise, Sidney Fox and Joan Blondell; Philadelphia. Frances Dade. Joan Marsh and Frances Dee are California "native daughters." Frances From Extra Ranks. Frances Dee is the only girl chosen from the extra ranks, which is significant of the talkie trend when you consider that she is a product of two universities of Chicago and Southern California. Due to her father's vocation of civil engineer, she lived "in spots." While residing in Chicago 'she became a Liberal Arts student at the University.

Before that, she entered the Drama School of Hyde Park High School with two objectives to be vice-president of the senior class and to play the leading role in the senior clav. She achieved both. Later, while attending the University of Southern California, she heard tiat Fox was casting for a picture of campus She applied at the studio for work ia the production." "What have you done?" the casting director asked. "I'm a college girl." Frances Dee replied. "I've never been in a studio before, but I heard you were looking for real co-eds." The genuine article appealed to the director and he put Miss Dee in the "asmosc-here army." A striking brunette with gorgeous big eyes and evident intelligence, she couldn't helo attracting attention in the exra mob.

She received such encouragement that she never returned to college. 'Breaks' of Blue Moon. One day Maurice Chevalier was lunching with Director Ludwig Berber in the Paramount Cafe when he looked across the room and saw Frances Dee. "There, is just the girl for my 'Playboy of Paris' he excitedly pointed, "let us call her over and talk to her." And so Miss Frances got the "break" that happens once in a blue moon in Hollywood! Since then, she has gone sieadily ahead. In her last two pictures "Confessions of a Coed" and "The American Tragedy," she shares honors with that fine young actress, Sylvia Sidney.

Critics agree that Frances Dee is one of the most attractive of the new-comers. Barbara Weeks didn't enter via the college diploma. She laughed, and danced her way in. Greater Boston will remember Barbara as a dark-liaired, blue-eyed, mischievous girl attending the Melrose public schools where they never dreamed she had any dramatic talent. She wasn't a bit bookish, being far more interested in dancing lessons than any of her school studies.

When Barbara Laughed. When she was 15, she went to New York on a visit. We've already told in these columns how a friend on the musical comedy stage heard Barbara laugh and was so intrigued she introduced her to the stage director. The latter was more interested in the recruit's ability to execute high kicks, and installed her in the chotus of his next show, "Take the Air." You know the rest. At 16 she was dancing in the chorus of Ziegfeld stage production of "Whoopee," coming to Hollywood last summer with the original show girls when the pro-! duction was screened by Sam Gold-wyn.

When Eddie Cantor's next talkie, "Palmy Days," was being cast, Barbara entered the race for leading Ingenue against a hundred or more well-known players. The dark horse won. Now 17-yenrs-old Barbara Weeks is on the road to film stardom, they say. Grandmother Ehrensmann, back in Melrose, who was Barbara's grpat booster, spends mast of her time these days looking through fan magazines for photographs of the lamily celebrity. And wasn't she proud when she saw recent "stills" of her granddaughter wearing the iirst Chanel styles sent back to Hollywood by the Parisian designer for United Artists! Marion From Trinidad.

Curiously enough, Marion Marsh also got her first chance in "Whoopee." She is a child of adventure, and has the brain power of Hollywood charmers twice her gc. Eorn Vioiet Krauth, of English. German, French and Irish parentage, then and there to give up her art career and try her fortunes in the movies, the then Helen Johnson came to Hollywood. A lucky break came in the shape of a screen test for leading feminine role in "Children of Divorce" with Wynne Gibson and Lawrence Gray. She got the part and made good.

Since then the slim, green-eyed blonde has been seen as Conrad Na-gle's scar-faced wife in "The Divorcee." and in Paramount productions, "It Pays to Advertise," "The Vice Squad' and "Women Love Once." Recently, a new recognition came when Voward Hughes borrowed her for the leading feminine role in his gangster picture "Scarface," opposite popular Pat O'Brien. Youngest Leading Lady. Fifteen-year-old Anita Louise the screen's youngest leading lady but has a background of training few veterans can boast of. Her screen debut dates back to the days when she appeared with Gloria Swamon, and Huntley Gordon. A frail, blond beauty of the ethereal 'ype, sh hps bridged the difficult gap between child actress and leading woman and stands on the threshold of a brilliant new future.

You might almost call clever Anita SALE Auto Coal Range Monthly Unfortunately, Jeanne was too tall to make a hit in fijms. She had to return to extra work. Trudging from studio to studio, she put in one word for herself and three for her brood. "Of course I'm all she would say, "but you ought to see my sister Marion" or "Can't you use a handsome boy at 20 in this? (You've seen Brother Edward Morgan in "Sporting Youth," "Men of the Sky" and "Ex-Mistress." Now he has a Warners contract). Being absolutely unsnubbable in a perfectly sweet way, she thrust Sis- ter Marion on Sam Goldwyn in a small part in "Whoopee" and thence i got her a screen test at Warneis.

Meantime, Marion served an appren- ticeship on the local stage in Sinners." One day the directors at Warners, seeking a Trilby for John Barry-1 more's "Svengalie" came across stills of Marion Marsh. Struck by her startling likeness to Dolores Costello. he sent for Marion and asked her to go to the home of Mr. Barrymore who was sick in bed with jungle fever. "On the way to Mr.

Barrymore house," she told later. 'T racked my brain to remember just what an act- i ress should do or say. I was terribly i nervous. Mr. Barrymore was so sort i of concerned about the whole mac- ter.

He asked me a few questions, and then calmly said: "I think she'li i do'." On Way to Fame. "I went home and walked in to the family very high hat. 'You're now -looking at Mr. John Barrymore's new leading I told them. Of course, this brought a chorus of 'Oh Yeahs? But the family had nothing on hie.

I couldn't believe it either." Big-eyed, golden-haired Marion ha "something." She is different. I thiiiK she would have been an instantaneous hit even if she hadn't first appeared with John Barrymore who has the reputation of "making'' the actresses he discovers. She plaved with Barrymore in next production "The Mad Genius." went from that to "Five Star Final" and then opposite William Powell in "The Other Man." Jeanne's little sister Marion is doing her proud. She is a hard worker and will go far. At this writ ing.

Marion is in New York enjoyinj i a deserved vacation. While there she presented Mayor Walker with an invitation to the Olympic Games. Joan's Debut At 3. Joan Marsh is the beauty of the bunch a blue-eyed platinum blonde strikingly like Jean Harlow. She is no relation to Marion Marsh.

In fact, was born Nancy Rosher 17 years ago on a ranch in San Juaquin Valley. She was a baby star 'way back yonder when she made her debut at the tender age of 3 with Mary Pick-ford in "Daddy Long Legs" arid later Pollyanna. With a brief interval for schooling, she re-entered pictures at 15 years, signing a contract with Universal under the chaperonage of the local court. Then Nancy Rosher became Joan Marsh. Now she is under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; has appeared in small parts in two Garbo pictures, and played the ingenue lead in "Polities' co-starring Marie Dressier and Polly Moran.

Judith Wood is the Ann Harding type. Her real name is Helen Johnson, under which she played until Paramount changed it for screen purposes. Her father is Merle John son, well-known cartoonist, also rec ognized bibliophile. Judith's life naturally gravitated to an art career. After a year in the art department of Skidmore College.

Saratoga, she went to Paris with her mother for two years of art study there. Bour-delle. the famous sculptor, was amon? her tutors. Judith's Career In Art. While in Paris, Judith -worked as an apprentice designed for Mme.

Lanvin and also learned to speak fluent French whieh was a strone influence in her choice bv Para mount while seeking a young actress to norlrav nonnix muntc with perfect French and English. Stage work was taken up as a side issue to her art work, heiievin? it would aid hej- designing to know haw to act. She had an apartment over the Cherry Lane Theater in New York; went in forvery type of stage and commercial art, also posed for advertisements ana ror' magazine illustrations relating the heart-rending love confessions of modern youth. "I was always the little girl reading the love letters of the moustached rascal who had broken my heart she laughs, "or barring the door against the attacks of a villain, or taking a whirl in wild life. I posed as the little wife left penniless because her husband hadn't taken out life insurance, or hearing the great new from friend husband who had studied at night and Just been made head of the mailing room." Entrance Into Films.

It was a good fling at this thing called acting, hqwever, and influenced Judith to become affiliated with a little theater group and later to play in an amateur imotion picture a friend wanted to enter in a contest conducted by Photoplay Magazine. She becamt the tar of the picture which won third prize and brought her favorable comment. Deciding Come Back." Another Youngster. Rochelle Hudson fs another youngster who requires a tutor and a guardian in spite of being a starlet. Circulator Heater Cn.it.

nun Inner heavy porcelain enamel front. Will keep several rooms g.vr.s an intc.ise heat, with less fuel, Down This low price Iri.s never Iwcn tjuoied bclore by us and we me the sole The range has an enviable repulalion for bak mid luel saving. It is Just pictured above. 1 See the Plaut Three Room Ensemble $15.00 Down $10 Living Room Red room Kitchenette All Modern and Very Comp'ete if; I U1HT 2 171 IV BM'rtO, 1 1 I "lilt II" I unner com race 10 rur. noiuwyn wim feems to hav? a changeable mitiri to play opposite the incomparable Coleman.

When she failed to click n.s the greatest heiiess in all Britain, with whom the prodigal son of an English lord falls in love, there wn.s much to do. The whole production stopped: even directors were changed. Left School For Stage. Karen Morley is now giving Lupe Valez a run for her money as the aristocratic l)cauty in Lawrence Tib-bett's "The Cuban." She was In her sophomore year at the University of Calfornia when the urge to act became so great she quit college to Join the Pasadena Community Players In Fata Morgana." This definitely embarked her upon an acting career. She was calling on the casting director at, M.

(1. M. when a streak oi lightning luck flashed across her trail in the form of lamty mod Montgomery, who was seeking someone to Inke a test with him for Garbo's "Inspiration." He spied Miss Morley, she looked smart, and he asked iier If she would read some lines with him. Director Clarence Brown supervised the test, and according to Bob "was knocked over" when he heard the stranger read those lines. Her voice was so impressive that the director signed her forthwith for a part In the (iar-bo picture.

This led to a long-term contract with M. G. M. Too Pretty For HuslnrM. sidiity Fox was brought up in a wealthy homo for a sscial career.

When the family fortune was lost she took a business course, worked In a law office by day and took a course In law by night at Columbia University. Later, she wrote fashions and advice to the lovelorn for the associated new.spaixrs. She modeled gowns for a fashlonab'e Fifth Avenue shop, too. Her friends told her she was far too pretty for business career, and advised her to go in the movies. So Sidney did via the stock detour.

Young Caemmle saw Miss Fox on the New York stage and offered her a screen test and iHter a contract. Her debut was made In "Bad Sister" with Conrad Nagel. Now she l.i at work on the lead in "Strictly Dishonorable George Jean Nathan calls her "thai charming Ingenur Cameramen consider the dark- Cabinet Gas Range Bungalow Range $1.50 Cms and coal the firebox will bum any solid fuel. Extra oven. White mantel, grey and white porcelain doors.

J5.00 Monthly Fi'H nnda rd size, black with porcelain door and drawer fronts, choice of rmnt or left-hand lute the deep service drawer under the grill. Monthly immrnxm The glamorous Pola Negri as she looked upon her arrival in Hollywood several months ago. Pola, with a combination of appendicitis, the "flu" and a lavish Russian dinner, has been en the sick list for the past 10 weeks at full salary, but now, unfortunately, her producers have placed her on the vacation list. This means that she will receive no pay until ready to go back to work agaia it.