Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-01-23
This Popular Star
Began His Career
Through Accident

= ARLYLE BLACKWELL. one of the most
popular stars appearing in moving Pic
lures. was born in Syracuse. N. z. While in
school young Blackwell what Ii known as
a poor student. He put far more time in the
study Of deviitry than he did In exercising his
mind with "Readin'. 'ritin and 'rithmetic."
and other useful things. In spite Of this SEEM
ing indifference to the pursuit OF knowledge he
never fell behind in his classes. and managed
to accumulate a great deal OF miscellaneous
learning
In later years heNstudied at Cornell Univer-
sity. but he and his father could never agree
the exact amount of money a young man
should spend at an institution OF that char
acter. neither did they jbe the course Of
study to be pursued, day Blackwell
senior gave the young hopeful 500 and told
him in gentle but firm tones that he was
very expensive luxury. and suggested that he
do something"
Blackwell took his hundred down to a ticket
ONCE and bought transportation with It He
was not particular where he went. he just
used up the money and stopped where 1t landed
him, in a small town in the Middle West.
Here. after working at many things he got
a fairly good job at driving a delivery wagon
for a grocery.
One day he tried to speed up the ancient
horse had a spill, and gave coop of chickens
their liberty and a lot of people free chicken
dinner the next day
After this he resigned. There was nothing
else to do in the small town, he worked his
way to Denver, where he discovered just what
~
first appearance on the stage-he found tia
groove that fitted him and his talents. he was
no longer round peg in a square hole.
After learning the rudments OF acting. young
Blackwell went to New York. He had very lit
tie cash about him but loads of nerve and con.
hdence. and was lucky enough to get on with
the Keith and Proctor Stock Company.
There his good looks willingness to work. and
his serious intention of becoming great actor
carried him forward rapidly. After short
stock company experience Blackwell went on
the road with the Great White Way Company.
the Brown of Harvard. and other well-known
plays Of that day
His first work in moving pictures was with
the Vitagraph Company. where he played the
part OF George Shelby" in Uncle Toms Cabin.
Much to his surprise. Blackwell made a hit in
the films, and decided to stay in studio work
permanently.
His rise in films was more rapid than on the
regular stage He stayed at the Vitagraph
plant a few months then went with the Kalem
Company for a short season. where he wrote.
produced and acted in his own plays for a
while Then he Joined the Famous Players.
working opposite Mary Pickford in Such a Little
Queen.
About this time he decided to start oom-
pany Of his own. He formed a company and
produced four very fine pictures. which are still
being shown all over the country. They are
The Man Who Could Not Lose, The Key to
Yesterday, The Last Chapter, and The High
Hand Internal trouble caused disruption in
the organization.
Blackwel's name had come to stand for good
work and high degree OF artistic excellence,
and he received offers from many companies
He went with the Jesse L. Lasky Company for
while, and then with the World Film Cor
poration, where he now is.
Blackwell is one OF the most popular players
in moving pictures He believes in the future
Of the art and is one OF group of men with
brains and talent working for the general up
lift of the industry.