Evening star., 1923-10-14
LATEST MOVIE GOSSIP
FROM HOLLYWOOD
Jackie Coogan to Be Versatile
By Ha11ett Abend

LOS ANGELES, Calf, October Ii
Jack Coogan, senior, is defying Holly
wood traditions with his declaration
that even If the public loves little
Jackie Coogan in ragged, pathetic
parts, his son shall have a variety OF
vehicles in order to prove his versa
tiIity and will not be held to one kind
OF part just because the public likes
him in it,
Mr.. Coogan cites the fact that once
an actor or actress has become what
he calls marked player" it is ex-
tremely difficult to branch out into
other lines of work. Mary Pickford
with her sugary parts is an instance
Valentino was, kept as a juvenile
heavy for three years because he
once scored as a heavy.
Ernest Terrence was years and
years making the break from villain
parts to the comedy in which he eN'
cells.
Mr.. Coogan also cites Russell Simp-
son, who made a hit years ago in
The Barrier" as whiskered old
gent and was kept playing whiskered
parts until Coogan himself gave him
u smooth-face character in Circus
Days" Another case is Arthur Ed
years until Coogan gave him the Part
of a sympathetic father in Jackie's
Daddy"
In Long Live the King" Jackie will
always be remembered as prince, but
even if he succeeds in ermines and
HAlvets he will not be kept in costume
sts.
Too Many Amateurs.
Marshall Neiian, who is now direct
Ing Mary Pfckford in Dorothy Yer
nf Jol n h,f
the pilgrimage to Hollywood of un-
trained screen aspirants has assumed
dangerous proportions. He has issued
4 warning against amateurs coming
here in the hope of getting into the
pictures"
Nowhere is competition SO keen as
here" says Neilan. "and in few in
dustries is there less chance for the
novice to gain a foothold. Hundreds
OF men and women try to get into the
studios every day in the hope of Sc
curing parts in film plays. 1t may
seem heartless, but the directors in
order to accomplish anything have to
close their doors to these people. The
most that the newcomers accomplish
in the majority of cases is to get a
Few moments time with the general
studio casting director. who permits
them to leave their photographs, their
addresses and telephone numbers. If
the director wants certain unusual
type these photographs may reach
us hands, otherwise they stay in the
hles.
Girls are no longer being chosen
merely for their beauty. nor men be-
cause they resemble the popular con-
seption of a Sheik. Persons chosen to
appear in motion pictures are selected
because of ability, and that ability
cannot be known unless ii has pre-
vfSusly been tested.
Ecreen aspirants come to Holly
woeI with an idea Of pluneiug into
soMf,Shing big, whereas something
ing. Most of our great stars started
IN small theatrica1s, many getting
their initial training on the home
talent stage. Mary Pickford, Charles
Chaplin, Charles Ray, Nazimova,
Douglas Fairbanks, Hobart Bosworth.
Blanche Sweet Raymond Griffith and
conrad Nagel all had stage training
Those who have not come from the
stage have been prepared for stardom
through long years of work and wait
ing for the big chance"
Directors to the Fore
This is emphatically the season for
directors rather than the season for
stars. Chaplin. Rex Ingram, Marshall
Neilan-theSe are men who have
made or will make names for them
selves this year as directors. and now
comes another one in the person Of
Hobart Henley.
do not mean by this that Mr. Hen
ley is a new arrival. He has done
constantly fine work for years, ard
moreover, his work has shown steady
growth and refinement. But Mne!.
Uniyersal's "A Lady Of Quality" is
released this coming winter Mr. Hen
In FINLAND.
This Frances Hodeson burnett