Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, May 1922 · page 15 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #33 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a Hollywood gossip column from an early 20th-century satirical magazine. The content tracks romantic entanglements among silent film stars: **Main story**: Director Marshall Neilan is romantically pursuing actress Gloria Swanson, causing distress to actress Blanche Sweet (his former romantic interest who supported him during his first divorce). The column suggests Blanche is upset but the romance hasn't fully "culminated." **Other items**: Brief mentions of actor James Young's recent divorce and new dancing partner Virginia Faire; actress Grace Darmond selling her home, supposedly for a European trip. **The satire**: The final line ("This is no bull. Just a bum steer") appears self-aware mockery—the columnist admits these are unverified rumors, not facts. The column traffics in Hollywood scandal while acknowledging its own unreliability. The page reflects early 1920s celebrity gossip culture and the magazine's humorous, irreverent approach to tinseltown drama.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Captain Bill's Whiz Bang 13 bert has filed suit for divorce, charging deser- tion. THE “eyes” have it that Marshall Neilan is looking amorously toward Gloria Swanson these days. He gave a dinner party with Gloria as guest of honor on New Year’s Eve, at the Midwick Country Club in Pasadena and there have been other affairs of more informal nature. Blanche Sweet pro- tests, not always too gently or without earshot of others. Blanche, you see, has done her duty. She has been quite constant to Marshall since the days his first wife began blocking his divorce plans and said she never would give him his freedom. The divorce has since taken place, however. Marshall is free, but although he is often seen with Blanche as in the old days, the culmination of their romance has not taken place. It is gossiped about Hollywood that Blanche is none too pleased and friends fear fireworks. * * * James Young, now neatly redivorced, dances often with Virginia Faire. Pretty Marjorie Daw steps about with Johnny Harron. * * * Grace Darmond’s $10,000 home in Hollywood was recently sold at auction. Grace reports the need of a trip to Europe. * * * This is no bull. Just a bum steer.