The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-11
EASYCASH,
EASY LIFE
IS SLOGAN
PolygIot Complexion of Film
Colony in West Natural
Creator of Evil.

motion picture colony at Holly
wood here. and numerous inauir-
les about that colony and the life
Of its people have followed.
Who're All Classes Meet.
Hollywood is the general name
assigned to a section of Los An
geles, lying about eight miles from
the downtown business section.
Many motion picture studios are
scattered through Hollywood and
thousands Of people from all classes
OF society are employed at the
studios.
Where SO many types are gath
cred, there are all variations of
character and morality. Some of
those who come to the lots as hum
BILE extras succeed because of some
trait of personality in reaching star
dom almost before they have be-
come know generally in the indus
try itself.
Sometimes 1t Is real ability that
drives them upward; sometimes 1t
is the favor of director or producer;
sometimes II Is a pair of cross
eyes or funny legs or unusual size
that provides the needed leverage
for the lift to success.
When people spring from poverty
to affluence, often within a few
weeks, their mental equipment is
not always equal to the strain
They have money, an unaccus-
zarre ways. They may buy auto
mobiles Of the usual styles and
finishes known in the trade here
as movie trick machines" or they
may take to having wild parties"
or they may indulge in other forms
of relaxation and excitement.
Many of them spend all they
make. One well-known male star
testified in the divorce court re-
Gently that he was getting 500 n
week. He said he had 500 in bank,
as pay day has just passed; that he
had three automobiles, an extern
sive wardrobe and no other assets.
Many of them come in from other
work, in which habits have become
fixed on them. In the pre-pro-
hibition days there were many
country clubs" and all-night res
taurants that drew a heavy pat
ronage from the ranks Of motion
picture people. They went there to
be seen by one another and the
public.
Sometimes they drank a good
deal. Sometimes very little. Since
prohibition came in many Of them
who had no liquor stocks turned
to other stimulants. The dealers in
Illicit drugs found growing
clientele.
With liquor, and to some extent
drugs. there were some few who
combined irregular relations in life.
Motion picture people themselves
admit that immoral and sometimes
perverted persons are to be found
in the industry, but they insist
that the percentage of these is
relatively small and that only their
position in the public eye has made
them at all conspicuous. 1t is not
denied that some drug users are
connected with the industry, but
the producers take the position that
these people are being eliminated
rs opportunity offers.
These various conditions have
caused property owners in Holly
wood and in other sections to look
on motion picture people with dis
favor when they seek to rent prop
erty. The owners have even adver-
tised rental property with the
phrase, mo movies wanted" and
in many instances leases are made
with the provision that all damage
done by the tenant shall be repaired.
Many Lead Quiet Lives.
There are, however, scores and
hundreds OF motion picture people
who live lives in no way dissimilar
TO those of other American house
holders. They go to the studios, do
their work, return to normal homes.
and spend their evenings at thea
tiers, at home, at club. or in ordinary
pursuits. Many of them have pur-
chased handsome homes; many Of
them saw war service; many of
them were-ahd are-holders of Lib
erty bonds and other investments;
some Of them are Regular church
attendants and some of them are
church officials.
The industry numbers in its ranks
all sorts of people, with all sorts of
training and education. In the
same set 1t Is possible to see a noted
actor-director with college-bred
scenario writer at his elbow, direct
Ing scene in which the leading
woman may be one who fought her
way up from an old-time burlesque
chorus, while her leading man may
have stepped from a bank or even
a pulpit almost directly to a stars
position, because OF some charm of
feature or superiority of physique.
A violinist may kneel at one side,
playing sad music to help the star
to tears, while n short.sieeved me-
chanic with dropping cigarette and
protruding jaws stands by his light
switches.
Everybody has heard the query:
whats the matter with the
movies?" and observers in Los An
geles think they know the answer.
In their belief the trouble with the
motion picture industry is the pres.
ence within 1t of a relatively small
proportion of people whose senses
were beclouded by sudden pros
perity; the lack of demand on the
part of the producers for a stand.
ard OF morality to be observed by
their employees; the lack of thrift
and the presence of extravaganza,
and the fact that character has not
been demanded by either producers
or public>as an element to success.