Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-12-21
Tommy Warner Calls


II am very glad you got the part.
Gloria, you know, asked to be ex-
cused. She has some very great
trouble that makes it necessary
for her to leave the city at once" :"
"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed
the little bride. "Oh, don't mean
that" she added quickly. II don't
mean it is lovely that she has had
the trouble, but 1 do mean it is
lovely that she was not let out
That is the gossip that has been
going over the studio. will d.
my best to stop it, now that you
have told me-"
"And your husband is not well
Mrs. --?" l hesitated, for !
did not know her name.
"Oh, don't you know my name!
1t is Ruth Drayton. Poor Ralph
has not been we'll since he arriv-
ed here. / think it is because he
was SO worried when he could not
get a job either as a publicity
man or as a reporter on one of
the papers, and my job in the
pictures, which was partly prom
ised me, did not show up. II the
truth must be told, Miss Winston,
Ralph and l should never have
married. for while he has not
really got tuberculosis his lungs
have been affected since he return
ed from overseas. He has never
fully recovered from gas attack.
The doctors tell us that out here
he will get better, but of course
he hasn't had time yet. He was
way down in the depths when l
came away this morning and / am
just crazy until lunch time, when
] l can telephone him the good news
You will come and see us won t
you, Miss Winston? Ralph will
be 80 happy when he knows that
have met you out here again.
We have spoken of you many times
since we came and told Ralph
that l had seen you at the studio
when I went home last night"
"On the set, Miss Drayton," "
called Tommy Warner and he
stopped to whisper to me: Il
would have given you the. part If
you had had any experience at all.
That little girl has been on the
stage"
I didn't know 1t then, but since
l have grown to hate that word
experience. About every picture
studio in Hollywood the word
hangs like pail over the enthu-
siasm, ambition and talent OF
those who want to break into the
profession.
Directors will tell you: 1--WE
think you can do the part. 1t Is
absolutely your type, but we can't
give it to you for you have had NO
experience.
i think directors and producers
are the most fearful people in all
the world. And they are incon-
sistent, too. They will take long
chances and produce a common
place story by an author who has
had more or less popularity. In
deed, it is whispered about Holly
wood that many of the producers
are SO afraid that some other one
j might get the production of the
pen of this of that author that
they have signed these men and
women up at large salaries, only
to find their stories worthless foI
the screen.
. l have often wished, and SO has
every other youthful aspirant, for
screen fame, that they would take
the chance with the actor that
they do with the author. But NO
} They toss the word experience tc
you, and that is to be given a
chance.
The day seemed interminable
l did not know what was happen
: ing to Ria. l heard the whispers
and saw the glances of those about
me, and 1 knew that the word
was going about that had been
turned down for Gloria's part,
Tommy Warner, also scenting this,
was especially nice to me.
Jack Thompson and l were Civ
en- all the prominence possible in
every scene in which the atmos-
phere was used. Jack was rather
disappointed that l did not get
the part, but when l told him
about Ruth Drayton and her hus-
band and how much she needed
it than l he said: "You are a
good sport, Virgie. thought SO
the moment l looked at you.
know it now, when 1 find you
are a good loser"
couldn't make him understand
that l had never had the part.
They only shot three scenes in
which the atmosphere was used
during the whole day and with the
thoughts of what Ria might be
going through just at this time
l thought l should go mad. The
usual waiting was absolutely un-
bearable today.
But at last as / was In Ria's
dressing room, which was now
sharing with Ruth Drayton. Tom
my Warner came to the door.
!. "Virgie," he said. II have just