February 23, 1932

VIRGINIA CHERRILL’S BETROTHAL RUMORED
Hollywood, Feb. 23 (UP)

Reports that Virginia Cherrill, motion picture actress, and William Rhinelander Stewart, socially prominent New Yorker, would marry in Tahiti were unconfirmed today by Miss Cherrill’s mother.
Her mother refused to confirm or deny the report.
The actress sailed from San Francisco on the S.S. Makura, aboard which are Douglas Fairbanks and party en route to the South seas for motion picture work.
Stewart is now in the South seas with a Vincent Astor yachting party. The couple were seen together frequently in New York, and there were unconfirmed reports of their engagement.
Miss Cherrill was leading lady for Charles Chaplin in “City Lights.”

ACTOR, HIT BY AUTO IN HOLLYWOOD, DIES
Hollywood, Feb. 23 (UP)

George McFarland, 52, for 25 years connected with the stage and screen as an actor and producer, is dead today as the result of an automobile accident. He was struck and killed while crossing the street last night by an automobile driven by Harold Davis, 31. McFarland’s wife, Viola, is playing with Al Jolson in “The Wonder Bar” which is to open an engagement here next month. McFarland came here from New York. He recently appeared in the film productions, “Taxi,” and “Union Depot.”




From Luella O. Parsons
Irving Thalberg has had his eye on Phillips Holmes ever since he looked at the test Holmes made for Strange Interlude. Today negotiations were on to borrow him from Paramount to play the lead in Night Court. Shows an actor seldom loses by submitting to a test, although some of our players feel it is beneath their dignity. Young Holmes will be in good company on the M-G-M lot. Karen Morley, a girl that all Hollywood expects to become a headliner, is slated for a part with Walter Huston in the leading character role. W.S. Van Dyke, of Trader Horn fame, is the director of this opera written by Mark Hellinger.

I have never seen a sadder lad than Tay Garnett was over Prestige. Tay isn’t the kind who does much talking but he felt that the picture was given bad advance publicity after Ann Harding asked to buy the prints. He was so upset that Patsy Ruth Miller, his well known spouse, marched him off to New York. Tay returns to direct S.S. Atlantic for Warner Brothers. Darryl Zanuck says there will probably be other offers for Garnett, who enjoys writing when he isn’t directing. Darryl is making plans for an all-star cast for S.S. Atlantic.


FILMDOM’S INVALIDS ALL OUT OF DANGER
Hollywood, Feb. 23 (UP)

All of Hollywood’s invalids were reported to be out of danger today and to be recovering from their illnesses.
Erich Von Stroheim, film director, who has undergone two operations for tumors, told the United Press from his hospital bed that he “spent a bum night but I feel pretty good.”
Edna Purviance, former leading lady to Charles Chaplin, was reported as having spent a comfortable night at the Hollywood hospital. She is suffering from heart trouble and an abdominal disorder.
Although Miss Purviance was said to be out of danger she was not told of the death of her father, M.G. Purviance, 84, of Biggs.
Maurice Costello, stage and screen actor and father of Dolores and Helene Costello, both film stars, was said to be improving at his home. He was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage last week.

MABEL NORMAND’S MOTHER IS BURIED
Los Angeles, Feb. 23 (UP)

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Normand, mother of the late Mabel Normand, screen star, were held here today. Mrs. Normand was buried in a crypt adjoining that of her daughter in Calvary mausoleum.