The Washington times., 1931-02-10
CHAPTER IA

"A LAAOIlOIl 1hJCA Wco again
hack at work on the Triangle
lots, none the worse for my sad
marital experience, but, per-
haps, a little wiser.
Three months afterwar6 met
DR. Daniel C. Goodman, then
about 40, and whom married
after a long courtShp.
Goodman was then head OF
Triangle's story deoartment,
having given up a remUnera-
tive pratice in st. Louis because
OF his fancy for the movie lots.
But for an unfortunate occur
rance l might have been now
in the position on the screen
occupied by Gloria Swanson.
and, perhaps if I hadn't missed
my golden opportunity, I might
never have married Dr.. Good
man, or acquired the orug
habit.
OF course, there is no use cry
ing over spilled milk, but I
simply must tell my greatest
regretted 1T must have been"
I had just been cast with
William Desmond and was four
days advanced on the picture
when Cecil de Mile, who dis
covered" Gloria, and carried
her up the ladder to riches and
fame, telephoned asking that I
call at his office for an inter
view.
Hard at Work
was so busy on the picture
that it was not until two days
later that I found time to
answer the summons. And, in
the meantime, he had seen and
talked with Gloria. with the re-
suit that he signed her up on a
long contract.
When I entered the room
and 1 took off my coat, his
first remark almost floored me.
"Heavens!" he said. "You
can't wear an outfit like that"
Then he laughed.
I looked myself over, and,
finally, I laughed too. My
little suit was cheap little
affair with long black sleeves.
/ had altered them to make
them even longer, snaky ap-
pearing things that I had
thought would make me look
like a vampire.
I suppose 1 must have been
thinking of Theda Bara, whom
I had long admired, and felt
that if 1 could adopt a little
of her personality I'd make
. hit on Broadway.
DR.. Goodman's reception some
what dampened my aspirations
along that line, however. Espe-
cially when he said Pathe had
given him money to buy me
complete new wardrobe.
I bought an entire OUTFIT
modish and expensive, before
we went to the Pathe offices
where I was to sign contract
to play the leading role in
"Thoughtless Women" with
salary of 500 a week.
Gee! I couldn't believe it.
One hundred dollars a week.
For days and days pinched
myself until I was black and
blue, believing was in the
midst of a pleasant dream.
ALMA is HOMESICK
MY first thought after being
handed my initial salary was
to save So 1 could send for
nv mother. I liked DR.. Good
man a great deal. He was the
first man with whom I had
come in contact that had failed
to get familiar. 1 adored him
for that. But, despite his kind
ness and his efforts to keep
me happy, longed for my
mother.
Her arrival, soon after I fin
ished my first picture in the
East, was one of the happlest
days in my life. She, TOO. liked
DR.. Goodman. He was a quiet,
studious sort Of chap. He
talked of things that enchanted
me. And he taught me things
that I really wanted to know
and appreciated
read my first real love
novel, Virgin Soil" at his re-
quest. I was so enamored with
tt never had read anything
but the cheapest trash in the
past-that clamored for more.
After that I devoured book
after book, written by the best
fiction writer's. DR.. Goodman
always counSeling me in their
selection.
Then came that great day of
days, that on which I signed
my first real contract as a
"start." And at thousand a
week!
Afterwards, I heard from an
intimate of the great director,
that he had been impressed
with my ability and that he
really had wanted me instead
Of Gloria. but hadn't seen fit
20 pursue me when 1 had failed
to respond Immediately.
Became Her STEADY"
Shortly after this 1 was in
troduced to DR.. Goodman. who
liked me at once. and invited
me to accompany him to
party. He saw me home that
evening and became my reg
ular attendant.
Then he resigned from Tri-