Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-28
BY ALICE L. TTLDESLEY.


Prepare the breaks for me!
- HUS runs what is said to be. Holly
woods favorite song. And whether
you believe in luck or not, the fact
remains that most of those who have
won success in the city of stars trace
Lady Lucks fingerprints On. its
pattern
There's Helen Twelvetrees for example
Helen, brought to Hollywood after a successful
season on the New York stage had been given
such inappropriate roles that she asked for
her release from contract Utterly discouraged
Helen was weeping over her failure when
Dorothy Ward, a player of small parts, dropped
in to help her pack the trunks.
You're making yourself sick" said Dorothy.
"Suppose you drive out to Pathe with me and
pull yourself together. You needn't go in"
While Helen was sitting in the waiting room
of the casting Office, Edmund Goulding, looking
for leading lady for his picture. 1.-THE Grand
Parade passed through. The wiStful hurt
that had become Helen's natural expression at
the time attracted his attention.
will you come in and take test?" he asked.
She not only got the part but q long-term
starring contract
IF William Haines hadn't walked down Broad
] way on q certain day at a certain hour he'd
probably still be selling bonds. But he did,
and Bijou Fernadez, an agent scouting for new
talent for Sam GoldWyn saw him as he swag-
gered by. She turned and ran after him.
Excuse me-" said she. but how would you
like TO make movie test?"
"Ha! hat" replied Bill in the Haines manner.
But he took the test, won over some hundred
other youths who had entered Of their own
volition, and has been working steadily for
eight years
Miss Fernandez, in her role of Lady Luck,
also saw and approved the photograph Of
Eleanor Boardman, then posing for hosiery
ody re IN no act
on the same train with Haines. Eleanor's
contract didn't last so long as Bills, but she
drew husband and two babies, which wasn't
so bad.
Sometimes the break doesn't seem good one
at the time
Maurice Chevalier thought his capture by
the Germans during the World War most I'M
fortunate then, but during his term behind the
barbed wire he met English officer, who
changed lessons in English for coaching in
French. Mastering another tongue enabled
Maurice to enter talking pictures
Richard Arlen broke his leg. but it was a
lucky break. AS messenger boy, the future
star delivering a package at the Brunton
Studios when a studio hit his motor cycle
and smashed both package and Dick. The
casting director, glancing from his window,
saw the accident and visited Dick at the hos
pital. In spite of being a casting director, he
had kind heart and, learning that the boy
was without funds, put Dick on the studio list
for extra work that kept him busy for q year.
The break that sent Warner Baxter soaring
wasn't at all lucky for Raoul Walsh. Warner
discouraged with lack of work in pictures, had
turned to selling automobile insurance when
"In Old Arizona" first outdoor talking picture,
was cast. Raoul, the director, had cast himself
in the role of the "Kid" and was on his way
to location by night when a terrified rabbit
jumped through the windshield of his car
Glass from the windshield put out one of
Raouls eyes and made it impossible for him to
act the role. Tests of available actors were
ordered, and Warner as a favor to Raoul, left
his insurance work to make one, the result of
which decided his future.
Virginia Cherrill happened to be seated next
to Charlie Chaplin at dinner party when the
comedian was looking for a leading lady. Since
she wasn't trying to get into pictures, that
must have been Lady Lucks doing.
IVt performance at the Egyptian Theater
when that house was the showplace Of Holly
wood The "Sheik" was with her. During the
prologue Rudolph pointed out an exotic-looking
maiden who was doing sinuous dance. IF
she could only act" he murmured
Mrs. Valentino went to see the exotic one
who answered to the name of Myrna 10y; liked
her better on close inspection and decided to
give her chance to act in her picture. The
picture was never released, but the "Sheik's"
wife's choice was given opportunities elsewhere,
and is now steadily mounting the ladder
to fame.
Norma Shearer. Norma and her sister were
struggling along in New York, failing to get in
anywhere, when word came that extra girls