Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20
Girls. Mov;;es and II ol1y.Dood

EAH BAIRD, one OF the popular
IL stars OF the motion pictures. who
has been featured since the days
of the ''one-reelers," was in washing
ton last week In connection with the
showing OF her latest picture. Els Di-
vorce q FaiiureT" Miss Baird had
much OF interest to say about girls
who want to 80 into the motion pic
lures, either rs actresses or as
scenario writer's, and also much
about the much talked-of Hollywood.
Il love California, although II Is
II was born In Illinois and have trav-
eled all over the country, but to me
there 10 no place more beautiful than
the Hollywood hills. And, as a COM
from any other place. immortality
and other vices are not any more
prevalent there than in other COM
munities of Its size. ] would much
rather have a daughter of mine In
motion pictures than acting as .
once alone with him most of the day
every day. Girls and children are
listed by the casting director just as
animals are. according to type and
"If you have noticed closely. beauty
is not nearly SO necessary for sue
cess in motion pictures az person
atty is" continued Miss Baird. More
than one screen beauty who has even
attained stardom has not held her
own with the old standbys because
she had no personality The movies,
like everything else, have proved q
veritable gamble. Take, for example,
Alice Terry, whom Rex Ingram made
famous overnight. She was an ex-
ira girl for years and years before he
saw her and her chance came. L
would not encourage any girl to go
into this profession. 1t is, like all
others, one where infinite pains must
be taken and work and disappoint-
fore success may come.
The chance offer three girls from
Washington audiences, as well as
from audiences IN other cities where
this trip. Is really a very large one.
I offer these girls the opportunity TO
appear in a small part in one OF my
pictures and have their names on the
cast list In Hollywood any extra
girl. II offered this chance, would be
deliriously happy. 1t would seem a
great chance for her. People away
from Hollywood do not begin to
realize how hard il Is to get into the
pictures. Why. l have known girls
being called to stand in a group be,
hind the star OF a picture. They call
II playing edges and feel they must
be pretty and possible as actresses
or they would not be called by the
director to take such position IN
the film"
Ruth Mitchell. a little Washington
girl. who has been doing extra work
in Hollywood for three years, had her
first chance to get her name on the
cast in this latest film of Miss Baird s,
in which she does a bit as a seasick
girl.
lently." said Miss Baird. Il DOUBT III IL
any one could do 1t better; but see
how long she has worked before she
was prepared to accept such an OPP
portunity.
Miss Baird. who is a striking bru..
nette, very tall and well poised, ana
who is also an excellent converse
tionalist. writes her own plays or
purpose. She has written ever since
the earliest days of motion pictures
when she felt very proud to be aole
TO add to her salary as an actress
the $50 or $50 week extra whlch
she earned by dashing of the stories
of three or four one-reelers Iooayi
however, she says practically every
, outside scenario has to be practically
rewritten when used and much 'ousi-
ness" changed, wherefore there are
not many chances for free-lance
scenario writers.
According TO Miss Baird. the aver
age extra girl who Is really good, re.
ceives a salary that averages apo9l
$40 a week Many OF the thousands
Who go TO Hollywood for pictures
and cannot make living at the pro.
fession, go to Los Angeles and gel
iobs such as they held before being
bitten by the motion-pi bug.