Evening star., 1934-10-21

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curious admiration which the
emulators and worshipers.
No clearer indication of the change
may be found than comes from COM
parison of the behavior of crowds at
Lilyan Tashman's funeral less than a
year ago, when ruthless mobs tore at
the clothing of the mourners, ripped
the flowers from the very casket and
had to be clubbed back by police, and
the attitude Of crowds at Marie Dress
ler'S funeral. A curious public which
lined the streets on the laSt-named
occasion seemed to feel genuine sor-
row and made no overt moves.
Fans, at less mournful events, have
carried on in the best tradition Of
fandom. however. High-water mark
was the premier of City Lights"
Charlie Chaplin's last picture. when
police could do very little to keep a
howling, muttering mob off the run
ming boards of stars limouSines.
Gloria Swanson, on that occasion,
huddled into a corner Of her car while
fans swarmed its running boards and
even climbed onto the roof to swing
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ermine-swathed terror.
Norma Shearer wore cape Of white
ostrich fronds and found herself the
object of some souvenir plucking which
sent her home at the conclusion OF
the evening looking like a moulttng
bird.
In the British Isles the old-time fan
is regarded with distinct disapproval.
No clearer indication of this may be
sensed than to quote from a recent
article by Gordon Beckles, in the Daily
Express, which hays the fan and his
unreliable worship which fluctuates
unbelievably and is as apt to turn to
hate any moment.
Says Beckles in part: "As I walked
down Grosvenor street yesterday saw
Office door The name belonged to
Douglas Fairbanks, ST. Symbolical
that: 1t marks the swift passing Of
Mr.. Fairbanks from the British film
scene. 1t also may prove to mark the
passing of the amazing Hollywood
illusion of glamour which has held
the millions of this country enthralled
for over decade.
Justice, that: For Mr.. Fairbanks
and his smiling wife, Mary Pickford-
started it all in the Summer of 1920.
And to Mr.. Fairbanks, fate seems like
to allot the task of closing this ex-
traordinary hero-worshipping phase
in the social history Of the British
people.
'The last of the tens Of thousands
80 yryI,irh
been flashing the tawdry Doug and
Mary story across the Atlantic for the
past IA years reads: Miss Pickford has
left for Cleveland. Mr.. Fairbanks Is
remaining in Hollywood
mot very romantic, is it? 1t was
| in June of 1920 that Fairbanks and
Miss Pickford arrived in London from
New York. And London had never
before seen any such hysterical well
come as this couple received from the
moment that they stepped of the boat
train at Waterloo till the minute that
they were smuggled away through
kitchen doors of their besieged hotel
some days later.
From 6 o'clock in the morning un-
til nearly midnight large crowds Of
admirers blocked the pavement in Pic
cadilly. When the actor and his
little wife prepared to enter their car,
40 policemen struggled with cheering
watchers. When the couple visited
the theatrical garden party. Miss Pick
| ford was only rescued from a serious
maulng by being hoisted on the
shoulders of her husband and
blushing policeman. Tt is all beyond
the power of ordinary words rhapso-
died Fairbanks to the reporters, I see
it as a kind of cubist picture, waves
and waves Of welcome with huge
number Of smiles and outstretched
hands, and in the middle two tiny
figures, just Douglas and Mary. Gee,
it's great' Then they escaped to the
country and became the guests OF
minor royalties.
Thinking people were shocked.
Who were these posturing and rather
insignificant-lookin little troupers?
What had they done in the midst
of the world cataclysm to merit well
come denied to even the immortals
of England at the crossroads?
Nothing, really, beyond appearing as
Pickering shadows on the screens OF
hundreds of modest halls all over the
country-for it was before the day
when cinemas had become palaces.
It was explained that the hysterical
fervor inspired by this couple was
merely an expression Of the war
weary masses, starved Of glamour and
romance and paSsionately eager for
heroes and heroines who had nothing
to DO with war"
Beckles goes on to describe Charles
Chaplin's reception in England IS
years ago, when almost 10000 people
greeted him at Waterloo. How he,
too, was besieged in the same hotel
and how serious disaster on Piccadilly
was avoided only by the appearance
on a balcony of the little comedian,
who bowed, very much like royalty.
to the masses below. A staff Of Sec
retaries tried to get through his enor-
nous mail. He almost tainted when