Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-01-25
By Ruby Berkeley Goodwin
WwYHAT Flo Ziegfield
NM has done for the
V v American girl, Hol-

V V American girl, HOl-
lywood seems intent upon do
ing for the Negro bootblack.
During the filming of Metro-Gold-
Wyn-Mayer's all Negro drama, Halle
lujah," Harold Garrison, known on
the lot as Slickum, rose to the height
of assistant director. Then at re-
cent filming of one of the Cohen
comedies on Christie lot the studio
bootblack was called in and given
very important part in the picture.
While Paramount has gone even
farther by giving a bookblack long
term contract.
Oscar Smith. known as the Cute
Kid" of Central avenue, has been
Paramount's official bootblack Tor
years. Every since the passing OF
that most beloved actor, Wallace
Reid, he has held that position. Be
fore that time he was valet for the
great movie star and bond OF
friendship grew up between them that
has always been the talk Of the studio.
Oscar became friend. and confidant
to "Wally," whom he affectionately
called my Boy"
Oscar had talked quite while be-
fore noticed the suffering that won
the contract for him.
IT was born in Topeka, Kansas
quite few years ago." Oscar cheer
fully stated. IT was S-s-SiXteen years
old b-before I could t-talk at all. l
w-went to school tho for c-could
listen and in that way I learned
whole lot. I remember one day l
got w-w-whipping. I was innocent
of any wrong doing, but 1 couldn't
say anything. never blamed the
t-teacher for Mr.. Roundtree thot that
he was d-doing right. He was f-fine
old man."
When Oscar finished the grammar
grades ne came west to Phoenix and
for five years he played tunes with
his shoe rag on the boots of the fas-
tidious in that town. Still being guild
ed by the saying, go west, young
man, go west" he left Phoenix and
came to Los Angeles, where he Sc
cured work as head porter in Cook
sizes barber shop. 1t was here that
he met Wallace Reid and it was at
this time he won the nickname, Cute
Kid"
When Oscar was younger he was
short and slender, now he is inclined
to be little rotund. For years 1t was
his habit to blaze forth three or four
times a day in a different and re-
splendent outfit of clothing, from
hat to spats. But with the passing
of years, Oscars taste has quoted
down. He now goes in for real es-
tate and he has acquired some very
valuable holdings around and in Los
Angeles.
Since have been on P-paramount
lot I have been playing small parts
in the pictureS-bellboyS, W-Walters,
elevator boys. When Richard, DIX
made Warming Up I was the base
ball teams mascot; in Beau Sabreur,
1 played the part of the faithful Sud-
aneSe servant"
Sometime ago when S. S. Van
Dimes Canary Murder Case" was
adapted to the screen, suffering
bellhop role developed. Oscar was
cast for the part. That was the
biggest role he had ever played. When
the picture was previeWed in Holly
wood neighborhood picture place the
house almost became historical,
laughing at oscar, the frightened,
wide-eyed, suffering bell-hop, who
had become unwillingly entangled in
the weird murder case.
Far-sighted officials saw great pos
sibilities in Oscar, so they rushed to
him with contract and told him to
sign on the dotted line.
Bootblacking may be lowly pro-
fession and one despised by many, but
Hollywood bootblacks have learned
that "the way up is down." and they
have been called in to work while
many a white collar man has stood
impatiently outside the Central Cast
ing Office, waiting for call that never
came.