Evening star., 1924-02-11
Behind the Screen
Intimate, Sitter Sheet
by Georsc II. Doan

| Sennett'S projection room, ana MS
actors, shivering from the cold damp
ness. used to gather together after
the days work around the one coy
spot in the studio-the oil-StoVe in
Mabers dressing room. Here, by the
| hour Chaplin. a slender little fellow
| of twenty-five or three, attired un-
varyingly in a checked suit, used to
sit and talk with Mabel about work,
books and life. They were great pals.
these two. and whenever Charlie
wanted raise he would go to Mabel
, and say, Come now, you ask Mack
| for me-"
Sometimes. according to those who
worked with the pair. the friendship
| was invaded by a little feeling Of
pars pxary This sspssay waa hardly s,1nnee
, for Mahers talent as come
! dienne was undoubted, and to this
gift she added not only her expert
| ence on the screen but a very excep-
| tiCnal beauty. or course. the senti-
! ment was only fieeting. but every now
and then something would bring it to
! the surface.
One day when Chaplin entered the
| studio he found Mabel standing be-
side the camera. Running over to Sem
nett. he asked the producer what it
| all meant.
"Oh. nothing" replied Mack. "Only
| I've asked Mabel to direct you to-
day"
Chaplin said nothing. but for an
hours or so he was quite evidently
ruffied. Before the end of the day.
however, all irritation had vanished
| in the boxing bout which represented
| the favorite muscular outlet of the
two young comedians.
Charlie and Mabel, as will be re-
| membered. appeared in many come
| dies together. One of their scenes
| which the public was never permitted
to share involved a motor cycle. On
being asked If he could ride this
vehicle. Charlie had replied promptly
| that he could.
! Now you'e sure you know how,
Charlie?" Sennett inquired of him
again as on the day the scene was to
be taken he confronted the comedian
with this modern mechanism.
! Why" of course. / do" maintained
Charlie stoutiy. Il used to cycle all
! about London With no apparent
! trepidation he mounted the cycle.
Mabel jumped on behind him. An
instant afterward those watching the
| whirling down a steep hill with a
, fury that made noreaster look cool
and collected.
Talk. about Jock Gilpins ride."
laughs Mabel today as she tells the
| story. Il know from the moment we
set out that Charlie hadn't the least
idea in the world how to guide or
stop that machine. and as the trees
atiu "i,iS "HiAIeu py US closed my
eyes. My only wonder was when and
how badly. At last it happened
When / opened my eyes again il was
| from long unconscious state.
had been dashed into a ditch at the
side of the road. and a little farther
| on they found the souvenirs of poor
old Charlie. You see" she concludes,
'he hadn't realized that there was
any difference between a cycle and
T,,ct 60
up the thread of Miss Normands s
| career where 1t became interviewer
with my own professional interests.
In the meanwhile closing these
glimpses of the Sennett studio in it's
early days, 1 shall proceed to de-
velopments in the Lasky Company.
1t had long been apparent to me
that merger of the Iasky and the
Famous Players organizations prom
ised many benefits. 1t would put an
stars and stories and it would effect
a corresponding reduction in other
expenses. To all such arguments
however, Mr.. Zukor turned a deaf
J succeeded in overcoming his re-
luctance. Then. under the name OF
the Famous Players Lasky Company.
these two enterprises, which only a
few years before had launched out
with a capital representing conjointly
| less than one hundred thousand dol
lars. were incorporated at twenty
five million.
1t was a radiant day for me when
the vision of this gigantic unification,
held so persistently for many mon tbs,
finally took form. But, as so often
happens. the fultillment of my most
cherished dream proved to be a
weapon. turned against me. Mr..
Zukor was the president of the new
organizations; 1 was chairman of the
board of directors. I shall not enter
here into the differences Which
sundered us. both men accustomed to
domination, i shall merely relate that
only few months after the forma-