February 16, 1932

NORMA TALMADGE SEEKS DIVORCE IN PARIS COURTS
Hollywood, Feb. 16
Within the next ten days, Norma Talmadge, well known screen star, will sail for Paris to start divorce proceedings against Joseph Schenck, her producer husband. Miss Talmadge, now in New York, said over the telephone yesterday:
“There is no other man and I have no intention of remarrying. I will consider Mr. Schenck my best friend and I shall always have a great affection and esteem for him. If I needed a friend tomorrow he would be the first one to whom I would appeal. We still have many business interests in common, mutual real estate both in New York and Los Angeles."
Schenck, who returns home to-day with Paul Block in the latter’s private car, corroborated his wife’s statement that they would be divorced.
“If her freedom will make Norma happy, I want her to have it,” said Schenck. “We have been separated for five years. We were married on October 22, 1916, and the first nine years of our married life were very happy. Our business interests were the same and we were seldom separated.
“Then,” said Schenck, “I made the mistake of leaving my wife alone too often. I became president of United Artists and business took me to New York. Norma could not go out alone and she became unhappy and lonely. Business caused the rift and not Norma’s interest in any man. I shall always consider Norma the most beautiful woman in the world.”
He said to-day that there is no one else and never has been. “I am only sorry that I did not realize sooner that my preoccupation with business was breaking up my home. It’s only natural that a woman as beautiful and talented as my wife should want more attention than I was able to give her.”




MAURICE COSTELLO IN CRITICAL CONDITION
Los Angeles, Feb. 16 (AP)
One of the screen’s first matinee idols, Maurice Costello, was in a critical condition to-day at the California Hospital as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage. The actor, who first appeared on the screen twenty years ago, has shown improvement since he was stricken and has “a good chance to pull through,” his physician, Dr. John Bonfiglio, said.
Costello was stricken yesterday when he was seated in a Beverly Hills drug store. He is the father of Dolores and Helene Costello, the former being the wife of John Barrymore and the latter the estranged wife of Lowell Sherman.




COLLEEN MOORE WEDS IN SOUTH
Miami Beach, Fla. Feb. 16 - (AP)
Colleen Moore, former motion picture star, has become Mrs. A.P. Scott. She announced here last night that she was married earlier in the day at Fort Pierce, Fla. to Scott, a New York stock broker. Mrs. Scott formerly was married to J.F. McCormick of Hollywood.
Mrs. C.R. Morrison, mother of Colleen Moore, said Scott was introduced to Miss Moore at a Hollywood social gathering by Charles Farrell, the actor. Miss Moore obtained her final decree of divorce from McCormick, once a film producer, in May 1931.




RICHARD DIX MENDS AFTER OPERATION
Baltimore, Feb. 16 (AP)
Richard Dix, motion picture star, was convalescing today from a slight operation performed yesterday at the Johns-Hopkins hospital. He will leave the hospital within two or three days, physicians said.
Dix, here with his wife for the last week, guarded his presence under strict security. He registered at a hotel under his correct name, E.C. Brimmer, and was known in the hospital as Burke Johnson.

LUBITSCH TO TURN BROADWAY PRODUCER
New York, Feb. 16. (UP)
Ernst Lubitsch, German motion picture director, arrived from Hollywood today and announced his intentions to produce Broadway musical shows.
Lubitsch’s contract with Paramount expires on March 8. He explains he had been asked to sign a new contract and that negotiations were still in progress. The film director refused to discuss reports that the new contract entailed a salary reduction.
Lubitsch said Dimitri Tiomkin, composer pianist; Albertini Rasch, ballet director, and Walter Wanger, former motion picture executive, will be associated with him in his Broadway adventure.




UKELELE IKE SUED FOR PAY BY EX-WIFE
Los Angeles, Feb. 16 (UP)
Cliff (Ukelele Ike) Edwards, singer, was defendant today in a suit for $21,999 brought by his former wife, Irene, alleging breach of contract. The suit alleged that he agreed she was to receive one-third of his gross earnings, but that he had paid her nothing out of a $1750 weekly salary between April 1, 1931 and February 10.

TOM MIX WEDS TRAPEZE ARTIST AT MEXICALI
Calexico, Feb. 16 (AP)
A romance which began under the big top culminated in the marriage yesterday of Tom Mix, prominent film and circus cowboy, and Mabel Hubbel, trapeze artist.
The widely known pair hurried to Yuma from Hollywood to escape the three-day marriage law in California, and when they found all offices closed there because of the observance of Admission Day, they drove to Mexicali, where the ceremony was performed by General Juan N. Vasquez, judge of the Mexican civil court.

TALMADGE SISTERS’ MOTHER ROBBED
Beverly Hills, Feb. 16 (UP)
Beverly Hills police revealed today that the home of Mrs. M.L. Talmadge, mother of Constance and Norma, was looted of $20,000 in jewels during her absence last night. Marcelino Sandon, Filipino house boy, was taken into custody by detectives for questioning.

FILM ACTORS ON LONG TRIP
Hollywood, Feb, 16 (AP)
Maria Alba, Spanish film actress, was packing hastily today for a long location trip.
This morning she was notified by Douglas Fairbanks of her selection as leading lady in his new picture to be made in the South Seas Islands. The star and his party, including Edward Sutherland, director; William Farnum, actor; Tom Geraghty, writer, and Mrs. Aileen Bauer, with Miss Alba, leave tonight for San Francisco, whence they will sail tomorrow for Tahiti.
Mrs. Bauer, formerly of San Francisco but lately engaged in studio foreign departments, will serve as linguist and Miss Alba’s chaperone.
Mary Pickford will go to San Francisco to see the party off, but will return to Hollywood.




JOHN GILBERT TO STAR IN OWN PICTURE, DOWNSTAIRS
By Luella O. Parsons
Los Angeles, Feb. 16
Is Jack Gilbert happy these days? He is positively treading on air, and it isn’t because he is in love or because he has just inherited a fortune.
It’s because Irving Thalberg has just made arrangements to produce “Downstairs,” written by Jack, and of course starring him as the chauffeur-hero. Four years ago when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was hunting for a story for Gilbert, he wrote “Downstairs.” It was put away and forgotten until a few days ago. Suddenly Thalberg remembered the story and decided to put it on the screen with Monta Bell directing. Lenore Coffee is writing the adaptation.




HUSBAND’S HOLIDAY ON STATE BILL
Juliette Compton is starred at the State Theater in “Husband’s Holiday.” Her part is that of Christine Kennedy, the young woman who causes all the domestic trouble in the Paramount talkie based on the novel and play, “The Marriage Bed.”
Clive Brook plays the leading male role. Charles Ruggles is seen as Clyde Saunders, a ‘near relation’ who lives in perpetual fear of his nagging wife. Vivienne Osborne is cast as Brook’s wife.
Juliette is, like Tallulah Bankhead, a southern girl who went to New York for a career on the stage. Like Tallulah, she became a hit in London later. She returned to the United States only a year or so ago.