The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • 96

JAZZ AGE i The Answer to That Question Is Here Furnished by Filmdom's $dlsY7 "4 Younger Stars, Who (kfctfh Declare Hollywood 1M ffllfcm Has Gone Sane iw I )rAjW Njj -t Last I A vv A tXrSMfc-'--' Richard Cromwell be- I 1 I I iV ern music, decidedly not the quiet kind. Ms if 1" x. 1 'i; ftv When I tried reading the book one fir I I klpWE55 1 VV night while tuned in on a Tschaikowsky I R'vsN I 1 A viX iLJ symphony, I made little progress. An- fm' 1 fa V''-4v v5j other night I tuned in on a dance pro- ern music, decidedly not the quiet kind. When I tried reading the book one night while tuned in on a Tschaikowsky symphony, I made little progress.

Another night I tuned in on a dance iiWw pi i iiiiiuiiiiiiWawwBWife mmmmmmmmmmmmm4 $: ky "As long as we have youth we will have a jazz age," says Gloria Stuart. "It may be known by another name, but It will be just tha same," she further declares program and got through page after page. "I'll admit that there's a fashion trend toward bygone days, but observe that while the girls try out demure effects in dress, they do it to the accompaniment of high-powered lipsticks and nails blazing with vivid tints. "Music keeps its jazz effects, and there's nothing conservative about the latest automobiles speed in every line. "Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me that it takes jazz to drown out the macabre note being struck in the affairs of nations.

A battle was never won to the music of a dirge, and why should life be lived in a minor key?" anything is like eating too much candy. You get sick of it. Sometimes the mood demands quieter recreation, good books, symphonies or classics of the theatre. At other times we must have strenuous sports. Again, we want to be foolish, and what's the tune for frivolity? Why, jazz." It is Ann Sothern's notion that the jazz age was the result of the aftereffects of the war.

"People felt that life was futile, that the best of our younger generation had given their lives for nothing, that there was no meaning in anything, so that they adopted a do-as-you-please, what-does-it-matter, devil-take-the-hindmost attitude," explains Ann. "Now we have turned from futility. Our generation has things in common with the generation before the war. Life is sweeter and more mellow. We feel we have something to look forward to, we can plan and look ahead to the future.

We no longer feel that we are here today, gone tomorrow." Under New Name pOSEMARY AMES, Fox's newest star overnight, who has spent her most grown-up years in England, confesses that she knew nothing about jazz or flappers. Says she: "No self -consciousness, no shyness, able to hold their own with anybody, yet never what used to be called I think it's ideal for girls to be like that. If that's Jazz, then I'm In favor of it." Busby Berkeley, who directs hundreds of young girls in his amazing dance numbers, thinks we should have a new word for "jazz." 'Modernistic' might be a good term," he observes, "but it doesn't quite express the swiftly moving current of life today. Fashions have changed to modern adaptations of long-ago styles, but you notice that crinolines aren't in. Imagine getting into an airplane in a crinoline I "At the moment, it happens to be out of date to wear the brief garments of a few years since, to have the hair shingled, and to go without stockings, but the mind hasn't gone into long trains.

"Girls today feel the need for culture and mental stimuli. I see girls on the sets reading the latest books and hear them discussing current events, but I observe also that they are not at all serious whtn they are having a good time." Ivpuriyht hv Pvblit Ledger 'f 'l 'fib Alice L. DARBARA DIGBY LESLIE, editor of the Junior League Magazine, declares that the jazz age has come to an end; that there is less drinking at debutante parties and that social affairs are quieter; flasks have disappeared; manners have returned; there is a more Continental, grown-up attitude generally, and conversation Is no longer "just the old line" An important fashion authority adds his testimony, decreeing that brlght-rolorrd bed sheets are no longer in but snow-white bed linen marks the Uitrst style. Mid-Victorian fashions are being worn and it is rumored that high heels are to he taboo. The old-time waltz Is popular once more, people are drinking buttermilk, and lemonade may now be served without a "kirk." Librarians report that there is a rush for Dickens, Alcott, Thackeray and Scott, and shelves of sex novels are forsaken.

Hollywood No Model "TVO YOU find these things true? Holly-D wood, considered by many as the Jazz City, has several answers. "I don't think it's fair to judge the ending of a jazz age by what goes on in Hollywood," argues Richard Cromwell, regarding me through blue eyes widely spaced and candid. "There is never a great deal of drink-in? and partying in the picture set because actors always have to watch their looks. If they are working, they must appear early in the morning minus circle under the eyes, lines about the mouth and generally drawn-through-a-knothole expression. "If they are not working, they know they may be called in for a test at any minute, and oh, those tests! You never know when you'll turn up in a projection room and ruin your chance at the fattest part ever written.

"But aside from all this, I believe there is less drinking among the younger set now. Partly because, as it's no longer against the law, there's nothing especially daring about it. Partly be Tildesley cause it's begun to be considered 'smart' to refuse a drink. "Good manners are coming in, too, and why? Because pictures show them on the screen. No longei do flappers make smart-cracks to their horrified parents to provide laughs for the audience; rudeness is old stuff.

"For one thing, Franchot Tone, who looks as though he'd know exactly what to do in any circumstances, is a screen favorite, He's cultured and courteous, he's evidently a man of the world; he's greatly admired and the kids are imitating him. "I don't think there's a more serious attitude toward life, though. I haven't heard any deep conversation nor come across any one reading books of philosophy. But then, I don't go out a lot. When I'm not working or studying, I'm trying to write.

I've written several stories and now I'm doing a book. At least it keeps me busy." "I think the jazz age is over," chimes in Alice White, one-time flaming flapper, "because producers don't ask me to play loose-baby, gangster-moll or hotcha-girl roles; they give me more sedate characters to do, and the screen is the greatest barometer of modern life. "I think the reason for the passing of the jazz age, which was simply an age of pretended sophistication, is that the world has become wise. We had pawd through a period of chromos, plush sofas and shotguns for boys who wouldn't do right by Our Nell. The facts of life were hushed.

"Then, in reaction, came daring. Pent-up sex burst like a flood and continued for years of its own momentum. Now everybody knows about the stork and it's no longer exciting, so we can concentrate on something besides whoopee." "A Jazz girl is just as out-of-date as ten-year-old hat," asserts Merry Fahr-ney, "madcap heiress" of Chicago, now successfully breaking into pictures. "Drinking parties always bored me and I'm glad to see that they are beginning to bore other people, so that en- Flapper Age Out mHE age of the flapper is definitely gone," put in Dorothy Dell. "I believe that period was Just part of a cycle and that it will probably return.

It's impossible to say that any age is over forever. It's like styles in clothes. They run in cycles and return after a certain number of years." "The way girls dressed had a lot to do with the jazz age," comments Helen Mack sagely. "Short hair, short skirts, bare legs, absolute freedom in dress was conducive to freedom in manners. Long hair, long skirts, trains, take away liberty.

You can't Imagine a girl in little puffed sleeves and ruffled skirt that trails on the floor doing the Charleston! "Screen actresses have a great influence on girls of today, too. Marlene Dietrich and Norma Shearer are fine examples of womanly dignity. It seems to me that we are going to the opposite extreme today and are simply dripping with sweetness and charm." Sidney Fox regarded me with an earnest little frown. "Last night I went to a cocktail party," she told me, "and the mother of the hostess remarked that since repeal she had noticed that young people seem to be drinking less. After she mentioned it, I looked around, and It seemed to me that the group was engaged in real conversation instead of wise-cracks, and that they didn't appear to need the stimulation of what was In their glasses.

"Whatever the truth about the passing of the Jazz age, I think It all depends on women. Women always set the tone of behavior for men, and If women want dignity to come back into social life, they'll arrange It and men will follow their lead." "Youth demands variety that's the answer," laughs Florine McKinney. "Jazz and good times are an important part of our daily life, but too much of Alice White is of the opinion that the jazz age i passing on; that young people have learned their sophistication and find that it it no longer exciting tomorrow will be sane and sensible. But don't think for a moment that there won be orchestras bleating, moon shining brightly, corks popping freely, naive whisperings, curious exploration into hidden territory. "If I may coin a saying which is always true: youth is intoxication, old age is a hangover." Dick Powell is Inclined to agree with Gloria.

"Don't let them fool you," he says. "The jazz age isn't over it hasn't even started yet. In spite of the bad times the country has been through, we're coming back stronger than ever. Money may be a necessity, but the spirit of the people is more important. "It happens to be the thing now to read such books as 'Anthony But quite often this type of thing is read with the radio giving forth mod- tertaining means more than merely pouring something from a bottle.

"Today, a girl must have poise, finesse, intelligence and dignity, in place of that weird quality known as Gloria Stuart laughs and brushes away the idea of 'youth settling down. "As long as we have youth, we will have a jazz age," she insists. "It won't have the same name, but it will be in existence. It is easy for a person growing older and saner to say that the Jazz age is over. "But there is a new crop of boys and girls every year and the jazz age continues, possibly in direct ratio to enlightenment.

The closer the supervision of morals during a period, the wilder the next period will be. Remember what used to be said of ministers sons. "Today is open and frank; therefore,.