The Washington times., 1931-02-05
CHAPTER 10

! SenJ IN Lne caro- ana SLuT-
geon, himself, attired in puttees,
knickers, cap and sweater, and
with a script in his hand, came
out to greet me.
"I saw you last night" he
said, "And, I believe you are
Just the girl I have been look.
ing for to play Lorelei, in the
Lorelei Madonna I am going
to begin shooting it right away.
Do you want the part?"
What a foolish question.
Did want the part? I GER
tainly did. So far as I knew
the "Lorelei Madonna" might
have been q new kind Of break
fast food that you had to eat
with castor oil instead of cream,
but after almost a month on
the road, Rose La France was
equal to any and all emergencies.
"Au right" Sturgeon said,
when I had apprised him Of my
willingness. Let's get going!"
One Of his assistants brought
out a sleaZy, white drape affair
and threw it over my shoulders.
ALI the talking about my part
was done by Sturgeon and his
helpers. didn't say a word.
Now" he directed, when I
had been costumed to meet his
approval. Nov, just look like
o saint. Look like Lorelei.
Sweet. And tragic. A Ma
donna"
She Becomes LOrelei
Maybe I was good, at least so
far as my sanity appearance
was concerned, or perhaps Stur.
geon didn't know what Lorelei
looked like, either, because we
got along famouSly. He thought
my expression was perfect.
Nov, in this scene," he ex-
planned, after the camera had
been set up and the lights
turned on, you come in on the
stage, which is set for a Span
ish cafe. When you get inside
you see the sailor boy who be-
trayed you.
"He has gone all the way
back to Cuba, and you have fol
lowed him, because you are
about to become the mother of
his child.
you walk up to him and
throw your arms around his
neck. He repulses you and
hurls you to the floor.
Then, in a fury, you dash
aside your sanity costume, pull
this dagger out Of your stock
ing, and stab him through the
heart"
Just a minute. Rol, just a
minute" interrupted the lead
ing man, Phil Hart. She's too
anxious. Just explain to her
that she is only to pretend to
stab me through the heart;
that this is all in fun. She
has a sort Of a tragic look in
her eye that makes me kinda
nervous"
Everybody laughed, including
myself, and the others walked
off the stage to clear the way.
Dramatic Entrance Is Ready
Everything was in readiness
for my dramatic entrance. Hart
was seated at the table. The
camera man began to turn. 1t
was now all up to Lorelei. Up
to Rose La France.
Gathering in the folds Of my
costume and wearing my most
sanity expression, I blithely
tripped in.
Tripped in is correct, for
stumbled over low stool and
went sprawling at the feet Of
my mortified, sailor-boy lover.
The dagger flew out and stuck,
quivering in the floor.
Hey" shouted the leading
man, breaking the deathly
silence which followed my
spectacular performance. I'm
through with this picture. un-
less you get that girl a rubber
dagger!"
He meant it. too. And the
picture was held up half an
hour while Sturgeon complied
with his demand.
On the second attempt evrey
thing went smoothly. Lorelei,
eyes distended, arms swinging
wildly all over the place, and
painting, as I imagined all great
dramatics painted through their
tragic love scenes. carried on.
And, when the dead lover lay
on the floor. Lorelei picked up
her flowing white robe, kicked
aside the rubber dagger, resumed
her. sanity expression and
stroIled off stage, to be con-
graduated by the entire com.
pany, including the tragically
slain but miraculously resusci-
tated leading man.
Rose La France was on the
way to the top!
Salary Three Dollars
Sturgeon was pleased. He
drew me to one side and talked
salary. He gave me a contract
guaranteeing me five days a
week when we worked" and Q