Los Angeles Times

August 25, 1929

Joan Crawford stretched and squirmed until the little yellow white spot on her shoulder that just wouldn't take on the "high yaller" compliments of old man Sol was revealed. She was lolling on the sand, half in, half out of the shade supplied by a giant umbrella. A crimson bathing suit revealed a tan that challenged the best efforts of all the cocoa butters and olive oils on the market.

But outside of letting her hair grow, furnishing her new home, and burning a light mahogany color … only three things in the world, at the present writing, interest Joan Crawford: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., alias Doug, alias Dodo.

"Have you seen `Our Modern Maidens'?"

At the mention of this picture showing at Loew's State, Joan came completely to life, in spite of the sun's endeavors to exact the last ounce of pep.

"Wasn't Dodo marvelous?" she beamed. "He gave one of his finest characterizations! It has been awarded an `outstanding performance of the month' distinction. It was his first. He was so thrilled."

"Why, I couldn't really tell you what I thought of my role. You see, I was so busy watching Dodo. Just wait until you see him. He's wonderful.

"He does his characterizations – his father, John Barrymore, Jack Gilbert. He's really more like them than they are," she added enthusiastically.

"'Modern Maidens' is undoubtedly a good picture. I don't know that it will be as successful as "our Dancing Daughters' … sequels seldom are. But then it should be – Dodo's in it."

"No, I don't think it's a good thing to play the same picture with one's husband. People seem to lose interest. Of course, we weren't married when `Modern Maidens' was taken. That makes a difference …"

"Swim, Joan?"

A group of friends, who were about to hit the briny in self-protection from the sun, broke into the conversation.

"Not without Dodo," she called back. "Thanks awfully, but I'm scared when he isn't with me."

"You know, Dodo is a marvelous swimmer," getting back to the conversation. "I don't mind swimming anywhere when he's along. Even out to the raft. I do wish work on his picture was finished. It's getting dreadfully lonesome."

And in truth time is hanging heavily on the hands of this young lady. Fate ruled that, in spite of their recent marriage, she and Doug should not vacation together. And so when the final scenes on "Jungle," her first talkie for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer were shot … Doug began kicking a pigskin from the hither to the yon for "The Forward Pass," in production at First National.

But Joan isn't the type to remain idle long. So that she won't lose her precious tan, she is spending one day on the sand, and the next shopping for furniture. When it comes to shopping, as well as a good many other things, Joan knows exactly what she wants.

There was a time, for example, when an interior decorator insisted upon a French bed for an Italian room. Joan balked. Result: a cabinet maker is now carving a bed after an Italian design that Joan unearthed in the library. Practically all the furniture in her home, however, is being worked out from sketches planned by the Fairbanks Jrs.

"And in the meantime … we sit on the floor," Joan demurred.

"Any modern furniture?"

"No, I despise it. It's too much like a movie set," Joan answered.

Indeed, Joan seems to be very much Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and very little Joan Crawford, motion picture star … on her vacation, at least.

She doesn't know what her next picture is to be … but she hopes it won't start the day Dodo finishes his. It will be a talkie, she's sure of that.

"You've heard Dodo in talkies, haven't you? He's grand. I don't see how anyone can pay attention to others when he's on the screen. I can't."