This piece is full of flawed reasoning. If the beard serves as a marker of sexual attractiveness, then it has a biological function. If you have ever participated in winter activities with a beard then you probably know what an effective ice covered shield it can become, reflecting harmful UV and maintaining skin warmth. And a 1916 film, c'mon, they had no idea of the massive numbers of helpful bacteria in and on the human body. What researchers today say about the degree of sexual attraction is hardly relevant, culture/media factors play the strongest role in determining currently "attractive" features, and those factors change with the wind.