March 16, 1932

PICTURE STAR AND WRITER WED AT L.A.

Joan Bennett, Gene Markey Principals;
Bride Attended by Her Sister, Constance

Los Angeles, March 16 (UP)

A city accustomed to taking its news of film celebrities’ wedding from anywhere other than Hollywood, and at any time, flocked to the fashionable Town House, an exclusive residential building, today for another kind of premier starring Joan Bennett, film actress, and Gene Markey, writer, in a much publicized marriage drama.

Unlike the average Hollywood wedding involving familiar persons of the screen who scurried to Yuma, Ariz., or Las Vegas, Nev., and came back as Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so, the engagement of Miss Bennett and Markey has been widely broadcast.

To Miss Bennett, herself, her public credited the statement: “There shall be no secrecy about my marriage. Photographers, press and public are invited.”

From out of a conference between spokesmen for the younger daughter of Richard Bennett, the actor, Markey, publicity men, and the press, have come the details of the marriage at the exclusive Town House at 11 a. m., P. S. T.

Writer Gives Bride Away

The bride was given away by C. Gardner Sullivan, a screen writer and husband of Anny May Sullivan, Miss Bennett’s closest friend. She was attended by her oldest sister, Constance Bennett in the movies, and the wife of Marquis Henri de la Falaise in private life.

Captain Allan Clayton attended Markey, while presiding Judge B. Works of the Court of Appeals, officiated.



Miss Bennett, who had been married before and is the mother of a three and one-half year old daughter, wore a gown fashioned in white rough crepe. The bodice was trimmed about the neck and sleeves with alençon lace.

Invited guests included Marquise de la Falais, Mrs. C. Gardner Sullivan; Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Howard; Miss Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst.

The couple left for a brief honeymoon by motor immediately after a wedding breakfast.




RUDY VALLEE BUYS BEVERLY HILLS HOME

Hollywood, Mar. 16 (INS)
A $100,000 Beverly Hills residence to-day had been purchased by Rudy Vallee, the crooner, his wife, the beautiful Fay Webb, daughter of a California police chief, announced before she departed for Washington D.C. to join Vallee.
The mansion will be christened “Three Palms.”




AUSTRALIAN ACTOR SCORES POINT ON BROTHER IN COURT

Los Angeles, Mar. 16 (AP)
The lone hand Captain Leopold McLaglen, 48, was apparently playing in the legal battle of the McLaglen brothers, was waved temporarily in triumph yesterday as one of his witnesses testified Victor McLaglen told him that “Leopold was no good.”

Leopold brought a $90,000 suit against Victor charging his brother with having damaged his reputation in Hollywood by saying Leopold was “unreliable and should be watched.”

The witness was Wellington Smith, an investigator employed by Captain McLaglen, an Australian actor.

“I went to see Victor in behalf of Leopold,” Smith testified, “and Victor told me that Leopold was no good. Victor said that the quota should be checked to see if Leopold was legally in this country.”




KENNETH HARLAN DEFENDS HIMSELF

Los Angeles, Mar. 16 (AP)
With a piece of chalk and a blackboard, Kenneth Harlan, former motion picture player, demonstrated to a jury today his version of a collision last New Year’s Day which brought about his arrest and trial on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

Harlan, denying that he was drunk, attributed the collision with a milk truck, to the winding boulevard on which he was driving. He said if the truck carried lights, he did not see them.

He said he had a cocktail hours before the accident and testified that if he had appeared unsteady it was because he had been weakened by a loss of blood from a deep gash in his wrist.

Doctor Denies Star Was Drunk

Dr. Reynolds Smith, police ambulance surgeon, testified that in his opinion the actor was not drunk when he treated him for injuries after the accident.

Miss Marvel Dobbs, Harlan’s companion at the time of the accident, said she did not see him take a drink while he was in her company and that she was with him nearly all of the evening.




PANTAGES TO PRODUCE OWN MOTION PICTURES

Hollywood, Calif. (Associated Press)

Alexander Pantages, theater magnate, announced today that within the next few months he would assume control of between 200 and 500 theaters scattered throughout the United States and produce his own motion pictures.

Pantages, who at the height of his career in the amusement business owned 60 theaters and had an operating agreement with 40 others, said his son-in-law, John Considine, Jr., and his elder son, Rodney Pantages, would be associated with him.

Pantages declined to say whether he had entered negotiations for the purchase of a Hollywood motion picture studio.




RECORD PRICE PAID FOR MOVIE

By Luella O. Parsons
Los Angeles, March 16 (Universal Service, Inc.)

The price paid Lady Mary Cameron for the title “Merrily We Go to Hell,” is said to be a record-breaker. Frank Orsatti sold it to Paramount and it will take the place of the original title, “I, Jerry, Take Thee Joan.” I am told there is so little left of the story its own mother wouldn’t recognize it. Zoe Akins has written an entirely new treatment and “Merrily We Go to Hell” will be the name. Another contract signed by Frank Orsatti on the Paramount lot is that of Slim Summerville. He goes into “Come On, Marines.” Remember him in “All Quiet on the Western Front”?




You couldn’t film a picture by the name of "Central Park" in Westlake Park, Los Angeles.

In other words, we do not agree with the classic remark made by a certain comedy producer that “a rock is a rock, take the western picture in Griffith Park.”

Warner Brothers evidently do not agree with that remark either, for they are sending the "Central Park" company to New York, headed by Mervyn Le Roy, the director.
Mervyn leaves next week and the company follows. Most of the scenes for this picture will be taken in the park where so many romances have developed and so many tragedies have occurred.

Ann Dvorak, under contract to First National, plays the lead and New York will get a chance to see her. She is a changed girl since she had her hair blondined. Maybe that is why she is getting all these roles.




Lights were ablaze last night at the Venice boulevard studio of Bryan Foy. He was shooting the first scenes for “And God Smiled,” an independent feature he is about to put on the screen. Mr. Foy is sure, if he turns out a good picture he will have no trouble in getting a release date. In fact, Universal already had put in a bid. Today is the time for all worthwhile independents to come into the fold, for a good picture is the only thing that really counts. Mr. Foy’s cast is interesting. He is trying to get Lila Lee for the lead. Beryl Mercer, Dickie Moore, Alec Francis, Alexander Carr, Hobart Bosworth (this is his third picture engagement this week), Lee Kohlmar, Mischa Auer comprise the cast, with Lew Seiler directing.




Perhaps it’s a good thing that Tay Garnett has been spending his vacation on his own boat. He gets a taste of the water that will help him when he directs two boat pictures. One of these will be “S. S. Atlantic” at First National starring Kay Francis, and the other, “S. S. San Pedro” at Universal.




Eileen Percy is at the Good Samaritan hospital following an operation for sinus trouble. What with her newspaper job and her chance to play a good part in “State’s Attorney,” Eileen’s sickness comes at a bad time, but we are assured she will be well in a short time.




Tallulah Bankhead doesn’t mind being reported engaged, but she would like to meet the man before she is credited with an expected husband.

A friendship in Hollywood that is interesting many people is that of the Pichel and Barrymore families. The two men met at the Radio Studios where Pichel is directing “State’s Attorney,” and now the children and wives have become close friends.




Marian Nixon is to be opposite James Cagney in his next picture, “The Main Event,” in place of Frances Dee, who was scheduled to be loaned by Paramount. And no mention whatsoever of Joan Blondell. Like “The Roar of the Crowd,” “The Main Event” is a prizefight story.




Ruth Chatterton returned to Paramount studios a few days ago. She visited her husband, Ralph Forbes, and had lunch with him. He is in a Paramount picture. What a royal reception she received.




Lilyan Tashman wires she is on her way home from New York. She has been gone for seven months.




Estelle Taylor has gone to Palm Springs to give the sun a chance to do its good work on her fractured vertebrae.

Hollywood gossip says that the good looking son of James and Lucille Gleason is lunching these days with pretty Frances Dee. Frances and Russell are both in “The Strange Case of Clara Deane.”




Spencer Tracy took his mother to a polo game to show her it was just a gentle sport. Three fellows were hurt in spills, two of them getting badly cracked ribs. Don’t ask Mrs. Tracy what she thinks of polo.




Vivienne Osborne is displaying a new Scottie, presented as a companion to the one she already owns.

Joan Bennett gave her prospective mother-in-law, Mrs. Eugene Markey, a luncheon on Tuesday. Mrs. Markey is returning to Chicago in a few days, and she has given her enthusiastic approval to her son’s choice.

Eddie Buzzell begs to state he is still at Columbia. You see, yesterday I gave him a job in “It Has to Be Big.” I really meant to write Eddie Quillan. Says Eddie, “Several papers copy your article so you see you weren’t only wrong yourself, but you made fibbers out of two other reporters.” Sorry, pals.




REBOUND FEATURE AT STATE THEATER

Ina Claire in “Rebound” will be the feature film at the State theater to-day.
As its name implies, the story deals with a girl who catches the man she loves on the rebound of his dismissal by another. The waxing and waning of their marital affections, the trials and triumphs of their life together, are treated in light comedy fashion.
Ina Claire, who played in the stage version of the play, is again seen in the stellar role, while Robert Ames plays opposite her.
Others in the cast include Myrna Loy, Hedda Hopper and Robert Williams.