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WHEN WE REACH THE TOP OF THE LADDER
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IS success a state of mind? Those
who believe It is, think that it is
an impossible goal, for even if
we are successful in the eyes of the
world, we are "just on the way." I®
other words, success isn’t the top of
the ladder at all, for the ladder we
speak of has no last rung. It grows
and grows with time, and even if we
could climb to infinity, there would
still be plenty of rungs left.
How They Did It.
Let us now get an intimate glimpse
of some of the well-known screen
stars of today—to learn on which
rung they are standing, how they ar
rived, and how many more they hope
to climb.
One day Louise Fazenda realized
that Bhe needed some extra money
for the usual Christmas presents.
When a friend of hers told her of a
chance to go to the Mack SenDett
studios and work as an extra for a
few days, she accepted the opportun
ity. Soon she conceived a strange
make-up, with square-toed shoes and
••pigtails,” and her humorous ac
tions, so strangely suited to her
ludicrous appearance, aroused not
only Mack Sennett, but the theater-
x v • I hold this truth-whoever wins Must grow, and never cease to grow- . 'ttl
f | jQlOCn (f Man’s highest stature here beiow For when growth ceases death begins.
going public at large. After years of
successful comedy work, she realized
one day that she could “emote.” She
wanted to do a serious part in a pic
ture to prove that she wasn’t always
"funny.” The Warner Bros, gave her
that opportunity In "Being Respecta
ble," and Louise has demonstrated
her real ability as a versatile screen
star. She admits that she will be
satisfied for a while with her new
role, but she does not guarantee for
how long. "I shall always think of
something else I want to do more,”
she once said, “and then try to do it”
Monte Blue worked his way into
pictures almost over night, so to
speak. After being graduated from
a Western University and traveling
nearly all over the world as sailor,
soldier, lumber-jack, and cow-punch
er, he determined to work in a stu
dio, and the easiest way was to be
come a ditch digger on the D. W.
Griffith lot for $1.50 a day. One
wonderful day, which Monte will
never forget, an actor fell down on a
job as a stump speaker for some
scene, and Monte, who often was
seen talking to the workingmen at
noon, was asked to substitute. That
was the beginning of his picture
career. From that time on his rise
was rapid and continuous. Now that
Monte Blue is a star and has made
such a success of himself in “Brass,”
"Being Respectable,” "Daughters or
Pleasure,” and "Main Street,” and an
infinite number of others, he Is con
sidering something else. His ambi
tion is to become a director, then a
producer. Go to it, Monte, you'll get
there, all right
Incidentally, Monte Is the only real
American star In pictures today, for
in his veins flows the blood of the
Cherokee Indian.
The Original Vamp.
Many of us are not familiar wltn
the name of Theodosia Goodman, but
wc do know her screen personality
under the name of Theda Bara, orig
inal delineator of the “ramp” type.
Her rise to stardom was almost
instantaneous, from the suburbs of
Cincinnati tc the high lights of Hol
lywood. Her distinct type of beauty
and the air of mystery with which
the producers sumnyided her made
her an outstanding constellation In
the stellar realm, and although she
has been In partial eclipse for some
time, it is rumored that she is con
templating a return to fllmdom, to
add a few more rungs on her ladder
of success.
Then there’s Rodolph Valentino.
From a dancer in a New York cab
aret to an extra on the screen. For
a while he plodded along as an ob
scure satellite, until he gradually
began to flicker and finally shine
brighter than the rest of the stars.
Now the name of Rodolph Valentino
means a distinct type of actor, sug
gestive of romance, love. His very
poise gives him a certain quality
very much “Rodolphlan" that we
have come to look for In others an a
point of comparinon.
Speaking of distinct typen, Irene
Rich seems to be as Individual a
type of woman as we can find on the
screen. She wasn’t always a star,
but has been in pictures for quite a
few years, since she left Buffalo
where she obtained her education.
Not long ago, the public as well as
the producers began to see In her
something that was different, a very
sincere womanly beauty that was in
valuable in certain roles. The pro
ducers have seized their opportunity,
and now Miss Rich Is demanded for
parts which, it seems, are suttajde
for herself only. In other word*.
sh« has created a characterisation
for herself, for which very few peo
ple can substitute.
Once a comedian, not always a
comedian, necessarily! Willard Fouls
was a comedian for years, on the le
gitimate stage as well as the screen,
but today he is a portrayer of char
acter roles, and he has definitely de
cided to continue along those lines.
His characterization of the Prince of
Wales in "Beau Brummel” and
Goorgo Babbitt In "Babbitt” has
definitely placed him as a portrayer
of dramatic roles.
At 35 years of age, June Marlowe
started In pictures as an extra. Now
she Is rapidly rising to stardom. At
present she is on the Coast taking the
hading role in "Find Your Man.”
Her greatest ambition is to be a well
known star, and at the rate she is
going, there is no doubt of an early
arrival.
Nearly on -top at 17 Is doing pretty
well! At 4lt is even better. Bruce
Guerin Is the biggest tiny star In the
cinema world. He needs very little
coaxing or Instruction. All he needs
is to understand the scene In his lit
tle mind. 'The director will say,
"Now, Bruce, your mamma Is going
sway,” and his big blue eyes will fill
with tears. Bruce certainly la climb
ing fast; for a little boy he has
quite a big ladder.
Prom the Legitimate.
When John llocbe was graduated
from school, he began to study for
the opera, but soon his ambitions
were transferred to the stage, and ho
became a member of the Neighbor
hood Playhouse players in New
York. He appeared in many prom
inent roles, among them that of Ar
mand Duval in "Deburau" which, co
incidentally he will play In the film
version. He suddenly began to take
particular notice of motion pictures
and went to Hollywood where he had
no difficulty in making connections.
He 1« now completing the film ver
sion of the popular stage play, "Cor
nered."
Marie Prevost began her career on
the screen as a bathing beauty for
Mack Sennett. When she found she
con Id no longer endure the pie
throwtng contests so prevalent In
slapstick comedies, Marie decided to
go In for the serious drama. Now
she is one of the best little "emoters"
on the silver sheet. Her work in
“The Marriage Circle” will be re
membered as a masterpiece of ex
ceptional acting.
Gloria Swanson spent most of her
time in the water, too, before the
theater going public, as well as the
producers, realized she could wear
real clothes better than she could a
bathing suit.
Those of us who are "on our way"
cannot help feeling all this sudden
ness in a rise to stardom sounds a
bit like a myth, but when It comes to
us, wo will take it as a matter of
course and feel not at all as if it
were a gift from heaven.
A Little «f Everything.
Monta Bell Is one of the most
youthful directors In pictures, yet. In
his career, he has been reporter,
newspaper editor, feature writer,
publicist actor, theatrical manager
and stage producer,
“Daddy! Do you love me still?"
“Yes, dear. But you never are.”
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