The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-25

Undismayed by this blow to my ~
tistic ambitions, decided to go into
the motion pictures.
Accompanied by girl friend who
had already played extra parts, ! de-
scended on a studio.
We climbed three fights of car
petless stairs and entered the BALI
room which occupied practically the
entire third floor, and, in conjunction
with the roof, was used as the studio.
People were packed in like sardines,
all hunting jobs. Over in one corner,
on small platform, Director Frank
Powell was taking scene for "A
Corner in Wheat" Everyone was
making fuss over the money spent
on the production, but 1t was a very
cheap little affair compared with the
productions Of nowadays.
One day we were working in the
studio when Mary Pickford entered.
She was the only one with a regular
contract from the company and had just
been on vacation to Maine. ! remem.
Der exactly how we all looked at her
and marveled. She had blue beaver
hat on and a simple blue dress.
NJ ISIS P1cKFoRD looked then
mi just as she does now, and as she
IVA was the first person to ever be
starred in motion pictures. everyone
bowed down to her; but it did not turn
her head bit.
After l was made up, several OF u:
girls were hustled out to another
corner OF the ballroom and my first
scene in a moving picture was taken
/ was given S. and told to come back
the next day.
/ worked there for several month,
on a guarantee of S. day until final.
ly the news came that the company
was going to move to California to
take pictures
One day the Director sent for me; ]
had been late and thought he was going
to fine me.
do you think you can act" de.
mandcd Mr.. Powell.
| admitted l thought I could. ]
explained that | was no Bernhard
but still | thought was pretty good
considering the little experience hae
had.
"Wcll, you are to play the lead in
"a NJ, With Three Wives, he
snapped. "You had better make
good. Now go see the wardrobe
woman about your costumes"
l know | must have gazed at him
open-mouthcd.
"Run along" said he And as ]
turned, you had better push your
eyes back where they belong or some.
one will knock them of"
How l did work over that part. ]
would lie awake nights and plan what
I would do in the morning. I re.
hearsed so much around the house
that my dear grandmother was driven
to distraction.
Later l was given the lead in
"Judith of Bethuiia," THE Escape
and many other films produced BY
D. w. Griffith. .rtyt,g la1
q HORTLY after the production Of
~ "The Escape" received an offer
- from the Jesse L Lasky Feature
Play Company to appear in Paramount
Pictures. They wanted young woman
to play Agatha Warren in "The War.
rens Of Virginia" II
Cecil B. De Mile, the director gem
eral of the Lasky Company, was very
particular about the selection. The
story of the Warrens is really the
story OF the experiences Of the De Mile
family at Fairfax, Virginia, during the
Civil War. The stage version which
was produced by David Belasco, was
written by William De Mile, the
noted dramatist, Cecil's brother. -
The offer from the Lasky company
was so Aattering and was promised
so many splendid parts that ! accepted.
Since then have appeared in THE
Captive" Stolen Good" "The Clue"
1.-THE Secret Orchard" 1.-THE Case Of
Becky" and 1.-THE Secret Sin," all on
the Paramount Program, fact Of which
I am very proud.
never expect to 60 back to the
stage again. The lure of Southern
California has crept into my blood. I
love the open, the fields and trees.
Really the only time | am in the
house is at dinner time. I even sleep
out of doors on a big, broad sleeping
porch, open on three sides where can
get the scent of the neighboring orange
orchards