The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-25
How | Grew Up With the
Motion Picture Business
Still Very Young, One of the Most Popular Screen Stars
Tells Her Own Story of the Early Days In the
"Infant Industry"

Undismaysd by this blow to my ar-
tistc ambitions, decided 70 so into
the motion pictures.
Accompanied BY a girl friend who
had already played extra parts, de-
scended on q 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 sardincss
all hunting jobs, Over in ono corner,
on 8 small platform, Director Frank
Powell was taking q scene for "A
making a fuss over the money spent
on the production, but = was a very
cheap iittie 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 a vacation to Maine. remem-
Der exactly how we all looked az her
and marveled. She had a blue beaver
hat on and simple blue dress.
M ISIS PICKFORD looked then
mi just as she does now, and as she
was the hrst person TO ever be
starred in motion pictures, everyone
bowed down to her; but It did not turn
her head a bit.
After was made up, several Of as
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 months
on a guarantees of S. a day until hnaip
ly the news came that the company
was going TO move 20 California 10
take pictures
One day the Director sent for me. I
had been late and thought he was going
to fine me.
do you think you can act de-
manded Mr.. Powell
admitted / thought I could.
explained that ! was no Bernhardt.
but still I thought / was pretty good,
considering the little experience ] had
had.
"Wefl, you are 10 play the lead Ia
"A Man With Three Wives, he
snapped you had better make
good Now go see the wardrobe
woman about your costumes.
/ know ! must have gazed AZ him
open-mouthed.
%Run along" said he. And as I
turned, You had better push your
eyes back where they belong or some
one will knock them of"
How / did work over that part
would lie awake nights and plan what
would do in the morning. re-
hearsed 90 much around the house
that my dear grandmother was driven
to distraction
Later / was given the lead in
Judith of Bethuiia," THE Escape"
and many other films produced By
D. w. Griffith.
@ HoRTLY after the production Of
The Escape" received an offer
from the Jesse /. Laslgy Feature
Play Company to appear In Paramount
Pictures. They wanted a young woman
TO play Agatha Warren in The War
rens OF Virginia"
Cecil B. De Mile, the director gene
eraI of the Laslsy 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, CeciPs brother. ~,
The offer from the LaslCy company
was so hattering and was promised
so many splendid parts that / accepted.
Since then have appeared in THE.
Captive" Stolen Goods The Clue"
''The Secret Orchard" "The Case OF
Becky" and The Secret SIN" all on
the Paramount Program, fact Of which
! am very proud.
/ never expect 20 GO back 70 the
stage again. The lure Of Southern
California has erept 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 I can
get the scent Of the neighboring orange
orchards.