The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-12
Kids Learn
Movie Ways
Side by Side
Tommy Clifford Finds Pal
in Daughter of
Warden.

TWO of the youngest featured
Il players in moviedom r pur-
suing their careers side by side at
the Fox Film Corporation studios
One of them, 11-year-old Tommy
Clifford, feels like a veteran, because
he has already appeared in one pic
.ture. Song o. MY Heart but for
all his nonchalance little Tommy is
still hay about the responsibilities
of being a Fox Film featured player.
The other, 8-year-old Joan Marie
Lawes. daughter Of Warden Lewis
E. Lawes of Sing Sing prison. hides
her wonder at the world of lenses,
.ricrophones and movie stars which
surrounds her at Moyietone City be-
reath a grown-up poise.
When Tommy is not looking with
wise Irish eyes at the great stars
he is borrowing a typewriter in one
Of the numerous business Offices in
order to answer his fan mail.
The Beginning
Recently he approached a stenog-
rapher in the casting office and
asked if he might use the type
writer. See this?" He showed her
a letter. This is from a man in
New York who saw me in Song O.
NV Heart He wants me to send
him a picture with my name on it.
See, he says he wishes he had a
how like mo and wants to know if
1 behave myself.
81 want to answer that man"
Tommy went on seriously, land ask
him for a picture of himself with
his name on it. I've got to e what
nv fans look like, haven't l, or l
won't know what to write them"
The Joy and delight Of Tommy's
DAYS is to be called into the photo
graphic studios to pose for publicity
pictures. He is a t~ireless worker
and will wear any two photog-
raphers out with his suggestions
and numerous poses for the camera.
Already he is worried about his
following" and his aunt, who &C
companied him to Hollywood from
Ireland. reveals that Tommy scrubs
his face and combs his hair more
often than he did while attending
school in Ireland.
When they put makeup on Joan
Marie's face to pose her for pic
lures. the little girl felt that she
had indeed become a f~ull-fedged
movie person But then she was
introduced to Tommy, and gazed IN
W upon that young man, who
could claim to have acted and
talked for the screen. Soon her
chance will come in up the River"
to be directed by John Ford from
an original story by Maurine Wat
kins.
If Tommy can boast of being an
experienced actor, then Joan may
boast of having led an unusual lie
before she became an actress. Borss
inside the prison gates in the war
denis home. Joan has been a friend
to prisoners. Her nickname, Cherle,
was originated by prisoners. Aside
from her SchoolmateS at OSSlnlng
seminary, her only associates were
the prisoners, some of whom are
also servants in her fathers home.
AS vet the new addition to the
Fox films roster of players has not
begun to bother about her numer-
Gus and attractive freckles; nor has
she decided that her longing for
the fat little pony she left behind
at Ossining, and her love for her
dolls and other toys, are unbecom-
ing to the dignity Of a featured
player.
But. PLAYERS though they are, at
regular salaries and with contracts,
they're just kids. Cherie still has
to eat her cereal when she's told to,
and Tommy knows that if he fails
to eat his spinach he's likely to be
spanked, and spanked properly.