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

shed be school teacher. She had completeO
her normal school course and had holiday
befo-e taking a class. There were two invita-
tion--one for Coney Island and the other TO
sec the studios a. Fort Lee. Evelyn decided to
20 to Coney Island, but the alarm clock didn't
wolk and she missed the train, so had to 60 on
the studio party instead. There some one made
a lest of her and--she isn't a school teacher!
The comedy company that employed Betty
Compson fired her because she wouldn't make
a personal appearance with a bathing-girl
picture. That was break, because she
wouldn't have been looking for job If they
hadn't, and then she wouldn't have landed the
part in THE -Iiracle Man" that made her q
star overnight
Seeking your foreman in the jaw isn't usually
q fortunate occurrence. But when Jack Mulhall
did 1t to his iron foundry boss he knew better
than to return to work, go he joined circus.
The circus led to the stage the stage to pictures,
and look at him now.
Gloria Swanson glimpsed John Boles' profile
when he was playing in "Kitty's Kisses" on
Broadway and decided to make one more test
for the role of her leading man. The test put
John into pictures
Constance Bennett became restless after
making her bow to society in Washington, D. C.
Her father, Richard Bennett offered her part
in a play he was producing but during re-
hearsals warned her that If she signed it must
be for the run of the play. anywhere from two
months to two years.
While she was making up her mind Connie
attended an equity ball with her father and
was noticed by Samuel Goldwyn.
Suppose you do 'Cytherea' for me-" he sug-
gested. Connie accepted and so settled her
career.
Bob Armstrong says luck directed his foot
steps into the Office of Broadway producer
one day just as Lucille Webster Gleason got
there. The producer didn't give Bob a job.
but Lucille, who was recruiting players for q
Summer stock company, did.
That's not all. The season wasn't good and
the last week found Jim and Lucille Gleason
without funds to pay for the rights to play.
Lets try out that thing we wrote" suggested
Jim. lie dug into his trunk. found the manu-
script of a play with a good part for himself
and one that wsud de for Bob, and put It on.
1t made more money than anything they'd tried
all Summer so when they got back to Broadway
they made the rounds again, with the result
that Us Eat SOP" ran for years on Broadway
and in London and made them all rich
Too bad it's so hard to get into studios now
adays. Lots of stars owe their starts to being
seen by the right people at psychological mo-
ments while visiting other stars on SETS
There was Johnny Mack Brown, who called
on George Fawcett an old family friend, and
was observed at lunch in the studio cafe by q
director who suggested a test.
Sue Carol fell in love with Nick Stuart while
dancing at Cocoanut Grove, and in order to
see him again dropped in on Janet Gaynor at
the studio where Nick was working director
asked her to make a test.
Carele Lombard, who went to lunch with q
school friend at Mack Sennetts was seen by
Mack himself and signed before she left the
lunch room.
. USSEIL GLEASON who went to watch Bob
~ al
was selected by Edward H. Grinith for o role
in Shady Lazy
Polly Moran was playing in vaudeville in Los
Angeles when her old friend, Charlie Murray.
asked her to come out and see how pictures
were made. The set was hotel lobby and
Charlie dared Polly to go and do a bit.
Just anything that occurs to you, darling"
he said lightly.
Polly walked in, registered at the desk,
thoughtfully wiped the pen on the clerks shaggy
hair and brought such a laugh that Sennett
wouldn't let her leave without contract
Talk about lucky breaks! Florence Britton
applied at Sam Goldwyn's office for extra work
on Ronald Colmans picture. An executive,
passing, saw her and gave her test for the
part Of the sister. She's had no chance to do
extra work since, for she's been so busy playing
leads.
Bette Davis was training to be dancer when
FRANK conway stopped IN TO watch class and
advised the youngster to try the stage. Sidney
Fox might still be stenographer if John
Martin hadn't been late going to lunch one day
and so been caught at his desk by eager
aspirant who persuaded him to give her
chance. And Lew Ayres might have left Holly
wood disguised If he hadn't passed Carl Laem-
NILE, jr.. on the Universal lot one day when
they were making tests for the great war
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