Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-03
How I Broke in The Movies.

How I Broke in The Movies.
How did get into tho movies
Well, altho hate to admit 1t, really
did nothing more than to follow
Norma in, and that's the truth-but
It Is also the truth that I stopped fol-
lowing her as soon as was in and
had chance to look about for
| myself"
Such is the confession OF Constance
Talmadge, one of the most popular
of Americas screen stars.
when I was "A years Old" she con-
tinues, Norma had job with Vita
graph and I used to go to the studio
with her and hang around until the
directors were so used to seeing me
longed there. Then one day I just
walked right in front Of the camera
and no one thought to put me out.
And once really in / wouldn't go, so
here am.
When Norma went to the coast, I
went too, for mother didn't like to let
her go alone, or to leave Natalie and
me here. 1t was like the old puxxle
or the man crossing the pond and
taking over one at a time, the fox.
the goose and the bag of grain. Which
two could he leave behind? So We
ali went along, and i did a little work
here and there, but nothing very
much until ID. w. Griffith started to
make Intolerance He wanted some-
one for the part 90 the mountain s.:!
and at last chose me, telling me that
| was to be a sort of a lioness- girl
and not afraid of anything ! had to
drive charlotte and while I wasn't
afraid to do it, l had to learn how.
Norma can tell you that every night
after came home from practicing to
drive that chariot l was bruised from
head to toe.
After this success l began to
dream of something besides being
just Norma's little sister. I wanted a
regular Job with a name all to my
self. Then / met Lewis J. Selxnick
and he decided to try to make a star
of me-tho he didn't promise he really
could do it-for usually when two
sisters play on the stage or on the
screen there is just one who becomes
known. For the other there Is plain
obscurity behind the title of 'so-and-
SOS little sister, Mr.. Selznick and I,
| however, decided to make the Tai
madge sisters the exception to the
rule, and when he did his share by
starring me it was my duty to make
good.
Before starring was leading
woman for Douglas Fairbanks. Star
ring isn't half the strain that playing
with Douglas was. After watching
him risk his life so many times for
picture and telling him that Asa
men make no hlms, decided to take
the risk myself, and have done quite
4 few stunts before the camera.
First of all I don't want to be a
pretty-pretty actress. am very will
ing to be ugly or as funny looking as
the part demands, for the public
knows how I look anyhow. and after
| an ugly part they may think me pref
tier than really am. thru pure con-
trast. My debut as a star came when
Select Pictures presented me in Cos
mo Hamilton's Scandal
"At the expiration Of my contract
with Select formed my own COM
pany, the Constance Talmadge Film
Co., Of which Joseph NJ. Schonck is
president. My pictures are now re-
leased thru the First National Ex-
hibitors' Circuit I have finished five
pictures, four Of which have already
been released-A Tempsramental
WIFE "A virtuous vamp.' Two
Weeks and In Search of Sinner
My next picture will be The Love
Expert
Mix Again Dsfyins Death.
Desert Love-" the latest Of the
Tom Mix fthrillers, IL one Of the
greatest stunt pictures this actor Of
thrill roles has made. In this pic
ture Mix Is said to defy death thrs>
times. The triple feat IL accomplish
| cd NV Mfx with ont his horse or Gun