The Washington times., 1934-05-11

letters. When they were here
opened one of Ben's letters anC
written message demanded $1,C
Not wishing to worry husband
Ben she took the threat to the
Postoffice Department and two
plain clothes detectives were as
signed to cover their every minute
here. 1t took the joy out of the
trip for Beoe although nothing
developed. It explains however
why her baby, Barbara Bebe has
a guard night and day.
One of the fair scribes admires
Bebe Daniels nail polish. Let
me send you a bottle" says Bebe
and takes the address. Turns out
that she has. an interest in a
cosmetic firm. Smart business
woman. AS a matter of fact she
outsmarted Wall Street on Rio
Rita" She wanted $4,000 to
make this picture. Too much
they said. The banker from New
York who was supervising the al"
fairs Of the picture company pro-
posed $4,000 and a split of the
gross profits. Let me think 1t
over" Bebe replied.
Still Collecting
Next day she accepted the per-
centage contract for "Rio Rita" "
It was, as you know, a sensational
success. Has crossed well over
$2,500,000 and the Daniels split is
more than three times what she
originally asked. She still gets
checks for "Rio Rita" not so big
as they we're, but pleasant re-
minders that the film is still draw
ing customers. Hopes Warner
Bros. will give her an operetta to
90 when she resumes picture max
ing. Carries her voice teacher,
Grace Newell, with her on the tour.
Miss Newell has Bebe and jeanette
Macdonald as her prize pupils.
Ben Lyon likes to fly. Has his
own plane. Hates to talk about
the secret of happy marriage
which is generally the first ques-
ton popped at him by interviewers.
Takes no stock in the belief Holly
wood is going to pot because OF di-
Vorces. No more than elsewhere.
Only difference is they get more
headlines. The old trouper in him
crops out when you discuss box Of,
flee figures. He knows to the last
dime what the Lyon-Daniels team
crossed in every engagement.
He meets Arthur De Titta of
Fox Movietone and gives him a
glad welcome. Arthur photo
graphed Ben as leading man for
Gloria Swanson in Wages of
Virtue" 10 years ago. They remi-
nesce. Loves pictures and picture
people and can give you more in
side in five minutes than a bunch
of chatter writer's laid end to
end.
They are a popular couple, the
Ben Lyons. I think it's because
in a half an hours conversation
with them nothing but good words
were uttered about their Holly
wood playmates. They just don't
rap. They boost or say nothing.
It's good system.
Wei, well, well. I almost for
got the Carter Barron MUST line.
Ben Lyon and his lovely wife will
be on the Fox stage four times
a day for a week beginning today.
Kate and Shakespeare
Ray Henderson, the indefatiga-
BILE press agent for Katharine
Cornell, takes an exception to
this columns statement that his
star "shelved" Shakespeare on
her 17,000-mile tour which will
come to an end early in June.
Perhaps his letter tells the story
better than I could:
Dear Andrew Kelley:
Miss Cornell did not "shelve"
''ROmeO and Juliet" We played
it in every city where we stayed
more than one night through
Cincinnati the week of April 2.
1t was impossible to stage the
play in the South where we
were booked chiefly in one
night stands since the prOduc-
tion Of 20 scenes required from
eight to nine hours to set. Miss
Cornell broke even her own
record in The Barretts of
WimpOle Street" with Romeo
and Juliet in several cities.
Because Variety last fall pub
GShed a statement of "bad
business" - Variety which so
frequently is inadequately. in
fOrmed-this story persists!
Miss Cornell opens her New