Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-01
QUEEN Of FILMS
REVEALS $4,000
PER WEEK PAST
Mary Pickford Fills
Court While Denying
$1O8,OOO Fee Claim.
Resentfully Challenges
Story She Owned Pink
Fluffy Waist.

New York. Feb. 2S.-Mary Pick
ford. "herself, not a movie" attract
ed large crowd to the federal build
ing Tuesday when she sat in a wit
ness chair and denied that she en-
gagged Mrs. Cora G.. WiIkenning to
get her big boost in salary back in
1916, but her husband, Douglas Fair
banks, was bored by the proceedings.
on radiator, Lit a cigarette, and
spent the afternoon gazing at nearby
skyscrapers.
Miss Mary. as her lawyer called
her. looked Mrs. Wilkenning straight
in the eye and denied having told
her in 1916 that she was distressed
over business affairs. She also de-
MED she engaged her at 10 per cent
commission to get offers from other
producers so Adolf Zukor would feel
like increasing the $1,000 a week sal
ary she then received.
Denies Claimant Aided Salary
Mrs. Wilkenning is suing the movie
queen for S10S.0OO. which she claims
is due her for having Miss Pickfords
pay envelope increased
Not then or ever was the way
Mary put it when asked If she had
discussed salary with the plaintiff in
1916.
On cross-examination it was
brought out that another phase Of
Mary's testimony conflicted with
that given by her in a previous trial.
planned. ''but I'm not nervous now"
Into her testimony the actress in
jected a word about an Interview
attributed to her.
1T says | wore pink fluffy
waist she exclaimed. with bit of
resentment. Il never owned a pink
fluffy waist in my life"
Zukor Hurt Her Feelings
Miss Pickford said she had planned
early in 1916 to leave Zukor's employ
because she was informed that her
secretaries had been showed out of
his office into the hall There were
other unpleasant incidents. she adj
ded which moved her to go to Mr..
Iukor and ask to be released from
her contract.
Mr. Zukor. she pictured as saying.
MARY, you're excited. Go home and
think about it and if you're of the
same mind tomorrow. III let you go"
She did not change her mind over
night, but upon going back to quit
the next day. she was persuaded to
stay until she had made one more pic
ture. Later. she continued, she was
told by her representative, Dennis
O'Bren, that Zukor denied having re-
leased her and would hold her to her
contract.
Had Big Options
The news that Mary was going to
leave got noised about the studio and
pretty soon Mrs. Wilkenning came up
on the scene, the actress testified.
Later, Mary admitted, she signed an
option with Benjamin B. Hampton. in
Mrs. Wilkennings office but only after
he had promised to tear it up if Mr.
O'Bren was dissatisfied with it.
Describing this scene. Mary's mother
Mrs. Charlotte Pickford. who testi-
fled earlier in the day, said she asked
Mrs. Wilkenning at the time where
she came in OH this She quoted the
agent as having replied. Il don't want
a thing but the pleasure of having the
contract signed in my office. 1t will
help me in business way"
Refused Job as Slavery
Mary said she refused to accept
contract offered by John Freuter. be-
cause he expected ten pictures a year
from scenarios by unknown writer's.
81 felt that he couldn't make any
money that way and I knew 1 would
be killed artistically," she went on
II wanted to come out bigger than /
went in. 1t is impossible to make
ten good pictures year.
Mrs Wilkenning had testified that
Freuter's offer was made through her
efforts and that it called for $4,000
week for S5 weeks, with a bonus of
S15OOOO.
Miss Pickford's mother told about
the days when Mary got SIS week as
child actress on the stage Mother
and daughter then split Mary's earn
ings $3.50 and they still do, Mrs.
Pickford said
The mother testified that Mrs. Will
kenning got Jack Pickford a movie
contract once that called for $500 a
week. Mrs. Wilkenning accepted S75
as her fec, after her request for five
or 10 per cent of Jacks salary for two
years had been refused. she said.