Evening star., 1934-04-30

Mack SenneCC.
"She has that certain something"
said Mack Sennett to me once in
speaking Of Gloria Swanson. 1T isn't
beauty, in the conventional sense, and
it isn't personality in the exact meas
ure with which we identify person.
ality. But it's a certain something
that's a promise and lure and
hint of deeper, more glamorous and
more mysterious things that most
women ever know or feel"
Perhaps that certain something"
is responsible for Gloria's acquisition
Of four husbands; perhaps that Ger
tain something" will be responsible
for her acquisition Of fifth husband,
II and when that event takes place.
All Hollywood knows that Gloria's
affections are located for the fifth
time, but the realization of that
dream is a fact which cannot be
accomplished in a moment.
Gloria Swanson. like many others
who have made good, Is a Mack Sen
nett find" One morning. the versa
tile Irishman was sitting in his Office
gazing out into his studio lot think
ing over some problem.
''See that girl there" he said to
his assistant, "the one crossing the
lawn to the left?"
"Sure, I Sc. her." was the reply.
I've been seein' her every day and
wondering how she got in here and
how she stays here. Sallow skin,
legs not up to snuff, big mouth, lotta
teeth, funny eyes, running up at the
corners-sure, I see her. What Of
it?"
She's got something" said Sen
nett, "a certain something. don't
think she belongs here; she's got too
much for a pie line in bathing suits.
She ought to do serious things"
That was the beginning of Gloria
Swanson's career. Out of the bath
ing beauty line, with its rough COM
edy, its horseplay and pie throwing,
and into the clothes-horse career
with Cecil de Mile stepped Gloria
Swanson, the sallow-skinned girl, who
had that certain something"
Wallace Beery sensed the glamorous
and more mysterious thing which few
women possess and married Gloria
Swanson. They lived simple sort
OF existence, in a little bungalow
which Gloria often passed later when
she was on her way to a stars dress
ing room and a stars prerogatives.
And Wallace Beery passed out OF
the picture to make way for the late
Herbert Somborn, cafe proprietor of
Hollywood. who began the Brown
Derby restaurants which are men
toned whenever an article on the
gelatin village is written.
Now when you said "a cafe pro-
prietor" you did not really do Som
born justice He was one Of the most
charming men you could wish to find.
He was widely travelled, he pronounced
his French with a very creditable ac-
cent, and he undoubtedly inspired
Gloria to the study of that language.
His presence in Gloria's life undoubt-
edly awakened in her a number of fine
points Of chic, of luxury. of thought
that she hadn't yet experienced.
When Gloria passed out Of SOM
born's life. other and charming wom-
en- found in him a delightful escort
and companion for their leisure hours.
For some time, his devotion to Loretta
Young was believed to be with matri-
monial intentions. Then that ro-
nance blew over and Somborn went
his way, smiling, charming and ex-
panding the business interests which
have grown to great proportions.
But Gloria Swanson, who now spoke
French, knew that there was whole
world of luxury and culture outside
of Hollywood. She was taking her
vacations abroad, and small Gloria
Somborn, her daughter, was learning
her A-B-C's in France and Switzer-
land
Into the picture swan title, Henri
de la Falaise. Marquis de la Coudraye,
and Gloria was sunk She returned to
Hollywood Nine. la Marquise and, for
a time, began the most colorful part
of her career. She lived here in quite
regal state with footmen in knee
breeches and all the crests and what
nots of marquise.
Playing marquise isn't sport that
can go on forever, particularly if
you're holding your own in a gelatin
world. where lot Of younger, prettier
and determined gals are crowding on
your heels and trying to snatch your
crown with their pink-tipped fingers.
Gloria struck out with self financed
picture, Loves of Sonya," think 1t
was called. and it was flop. There
was a shortage Of money, a need to
center all attention on business if the
career was to be salvaged, and less
time to play the aristocrat for the
benefit OF a marveling Hollywood au-
dience.