Nogales international., 1929-10-25
Seventh InstaIment
What Happened Before

What Happened Before
Remember Steddon comes West to avoid
revealing the result of an unfortunate love
affair to her father.
The Rev. DR.. Steddon. a clergyman of
kind heart but narrow mind who attributes
much of the evil of the world to the
''movies" and constantly inveighs against
them Mem, her lover Elwood Farnaby
having died in. an accident, at the advice
of DR.. Bretherick, gives her bad cough as
an excuse to get to Arizona and from there
writes home that she has met and married
'Mr. Woodville," wholly imaginary per-
son. Later she writes again to say that her
husband" has died in the desert. She
takes job domestic to avoid being a
burden on her parents. A fall prevents her
becoming mother. In Arizona she had
met
Tom Hobby, a leading man in motion
picture company, and through him gets the
opportunity to play part in q desert
drama With the company is
Robina Teele, Star, fond of Hobby. and
Leva Lemaire, an extra woman. After
her accident, Mem becomes friendly. with
Mrs. Dack. poor woman of Palm
in her bright little son,
Terry Dack, who has a great gift of
,nimcry. Inspired by letter from Leva,
Mem plans to go to Los Angeles to take
u JCD Ill Il ulfl ldDOIdCOTYs
She gets job in film laboratory, but
loses it. She meets a Mrs. Sturgs from
her home town, who talks of the evils of
the movies and says the stars are forced to
sell their souls. Mem then learns her
mother is coming to visit her, Mem is
worried about her finances.
Now Go On With tl1e Story
Well, she would sell what God
had made of her tor what man
might make of her!
At the studio she had met the
casting director, Arthur Tirrey. 1t
was he who said 10 this one or
that one, "Here IS q part; play it,
and the company will give you so
much a week"
He was the ST. Peter of the movie
heaven, empowered to admit or tc
deny. He was the man for her to
seek He had seemed a decent
enough man, and lie had looked at
Mem without insoience. But you
can never tell!
Mem studied herself long while
in the mirror, since her eyes and
her smile must be her chief ward
robe, her siren equipment. She
p:qcticed such expressions as she
They were silly and they made her
rather III.
She reached Tirr1y's Office and
'.-..-l iainl idly swapping stories
with his assistant. He spoke to |
her courteously, motioned her into
L;e 0ACa c10cod %bas d00r ond &OoL
his own place behind his desk.
The telephone rang. He called
into it: Sorry, Miss Waite; that
part has been filled. The company
couldn't make your salary.
begged you to take the cut, but you
wouldn't. Times are hard and
you'd better listen to reason. Sorry.
Goodbye r
This was a discouraging back
ground for Mems siren scenario.
Eut she determined to carry out
h@r theory and, in all self-1oathing, |
aii~9ted herself in her big chair to
she imagined was a Cleo
1u.'a sinuosity. She thought of
ler st lines; secretly twitched up |
lcc S irts and thrust her ankles |
we'll in o view.
She turned upon Mr.. Tirrey her
most languishing eyes, and tried
(, pour enticement into them as in
t bowls of fire.
he pursed her lips and set them
fu.. She widened her breast with
deep sighs.
Tirrey seemed to recognize that
she was deploying herself He
grew little uneasy. But he was
as polite to Mem as if she had been
Il bina Teele.
What can l do for you?
I want a chance to act"
What experience have you had?"
he asked.
Iem was suddenly confronted
with the fact that all actors must
offer themselves for sale-not the
Iietty women only, but the old men,
q. and the charac cter women.
Actors are much abused for talk
i4 of themselves. Few Of them
q when business is not involved,
li;,: when it is they must discuss
to goods they are trying to SELL
>.l3e merchants talk shoes; railroad
dents, railroads; politicians, pol
clergymen, salvation. Each
man must recommend his, own
&, ck and talk it tip. NV:
Q Mem had to grope for ex-
nee and dress her window with
Md she had had so little she
] little, as one does who tries to
S anything:
was with the company that
Tom Hobby and Robina Teele
I,aved in / took the part of an
abian women. Mr.. Folger, the
octor - er-praised my - er -
work"
Well, he knows" said Tirrey,
"hut he's not with this company,
you know. Have we your name
and address and a photograph out
side in our files"
No"
"Well if yc1'll give them to Mr..
Dob35, "ith your height, weight,
co,or OF eyes and lair, and expert
cnce, we'll let you know when any
thing occurs. III introduce you to
Mr.. DobJs and he"
He moved toward the door tC
e.cape from the cruelty Of his
ice, but, frenzy moved her tc